Date: Sat, 29 Dec 2001 00:04:52 -0800
Reply-To: "Steven X. Schwenk" <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Steven X. Schwenk" <steve@SYNCRO.ORG>
Subject: Re: Karmakanik in Berekley (long, but in his defense)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
He should make good, then, for those who got the shaft, like my friend, who is
not on the lists. Passion is great, but no substitute for skill and experience,
which is why people went there, not to pay for training the inexperienced and
unlearned. Torn upholstery, curb-gouged rims, shoddy work, work not done and
months of delay. I have seen it myself. Why should the customer foot the bill
for moving, if that's what it was? He should not.
We are documenting the screw ups and will ask for reimbursement and will report
back. If Steve makes good, then that will say a lot. I sent the guy there. I
feel responsible. I told him that Steve was good and would take good care of
him. What a disappointment.
Antaki wrote:
> Sad to hear of your experiences with Karmakanix.
> I have had just the opposite experience with Steve Nechodom, Mr. Karmakanix
> himself. He does a lot of Vanagon work, and owns two himself. He just had to
> move his shop, with one month's notice. This caused at least a month's delay
> for many customers, but he had no choice. By the way, he is co-located with
> German Auto Salvage (Berzerkeley, CA) now and has a great assortment of new
> and used parts at hand.
>
> There are many Vanagons always parked around his shop, and in fact, that is
> how I could tell his move to the new location was complete. Perhaps in the
> previous location, which is in a somewhat lower class location, someone
> moved into your friend's van.
>
> He does have apprentices working for him. I have spoken to them and watched
> them work, including on my Scirocco 16V. They are passionate about what they
> do, have Steve's excellent guidance, and do good work. I trust them in this
> situation. They're getting some of the best training around.
>
> Maybe part of Karmakanix's problem is that Steve is so good, he got
> overwhelmed. I've observed a steady stream of folks dropping in for a quick
> fix, in addition to all the scheduled work. He's had to turn work away, at
> least until later. I can deal with that problem better than having someone,
> at my convenience, turn my car into dung!
>
> Talking with him on occasion reveals a man who knows far more about cars,
> and what makes them run right, than many an average mechanic. He has been
> involved in research projects, done a lot of his own performance-enhancing
> modifications on VWs and Audis, and is learned and clever in electronics,
> and no doubt other technical areas. I respect him, and will be taking my
> Vanagon and Scirocco in for repairs as they need. I'll just be sure to
> schedule with him.
>
> My 2 pesos worth,
>
> Ron Antaki
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
> Of Steve Schwenk
> Sent: Sunday, December 23, 2001 1:20 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Karmakanik in Berekley
>
> I had previously recommended Karmakanik in Berkeley as
> a good shop run by an experienced vanagon/syncro
> mechanic, with reasonable rates. Allow me to withdraw
> that endorsement and say that I have heard of
> unpleasant experiences with the shop as of late,
> including from a friend whom I sent to Karmakanic. His
> van sat unworked on for months, when it was finally
> worked on, the interior was trashed and some of the
> work was never done and some was done poorly. Another
> person reported an apparent botched drive shaft rebuild
> attempt.
>
> Maybe these were isolated experiences, but the one
> involving my friend was truly hideous, so I feel i have
> to warn people since i used to sing the shop's
> praises.
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