Date:         Wed, 8 Feb 2006 20:32:19 -0800
Reply-To:     Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Robert Fisher <refisher@MCHSI.COM>
Subject:      Re: mystery mechanics
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

If you take what the guy posted as true, what is there to defend? Even if
others could say they had problem-free experiences with the same mechanic(s)
it has no bearing on this guy's experience or the possibility in other
situations that the mechanic(s) throw their hands up and make excuses when
the going gets tough or the profit margin is threatened.

I'm not sure what you mean by "the system that makes it difficult for honest
tradesmen to prosper is at fault here". I make my living running a small
business (more like a micro business) myself, and while there are any number
of things about 'the system' that could and need to be changed, I don't see
how that flies as an excuse for incompetence and/or dishonesty. If you have
a service or product that is in demand, you are honest with, communicate
well with and provide good service to your customers and you perform your
end of the deal with expected competence (and basically do what you say you
will do), you will make all the profit to which you are entitled- and that
_always_ includes having to absorb the costs of mistakes you make along the
way (and be sure to offer a sincere apology when you screw up). That's just
part of it.

I have 'caught' two local mechanics telling older apparently single women
(y'know, the kind with the big targets or their foreheads) that they didn't
need some costly repair that somebody else tried to push on them. Guess who
I send people to when somebody asks me. I've had people catch up to me later
and thank me for recommending those guys. I have a customer that's my best
salesperson- which is nice, 'cause I sure as hell ain't. She wouldn't be
recommending me to other people (other local small business owners) if I
wasn't doing right by her.

You don't have to screw people over, and pretty much everything your old
Grandfather told you about business (at least on this level) is true.

Sorry for the rant-
Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jake de Villiers" <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 7:02 PM
Subject: Re: mystery mechanics


You're not crazy, the system that makes it difficult for honest tradesmen to
prosper is at fault here.  There are some good guys out there if you ask the
right questions of the right people.

That said, Thanks for the heads up on SmallCar.

 How come nobody is jumping to Brian's defense?

On 2/7/06, John Bange <jbange@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > The installer had routed the cooling tubes backwards to the radiator....
> > All the while SmallCar had claimed the radiator was at fault.  Never
> > bothering to actually analyze the problem or admit to any fault in the
> > matter.
> >
> > Stephan White helped analyze the cooling issue and also noticed an air
> > leak
> > in the tubing.  Repairs were made but in the process it was noticed that
> a
> > considerable amount of sand was found inside the tubing.  Sabotage?
> > perhaps.  Not likely but then who knows.  Most likely poor preparation
> in
> > the original installation.
> >
>
> Argh, what a nightmare. Stories like that further convince me that no
> mechanic but me will ever touch my precioussssss... and I could certainly
> never pay $20K for an SVX Syncro. Unless I was there personally to see the
> mechanic NOT smoking crack, I don't think I could ever believe he
> wasn't...
> Ugh. I'm so crazy.
> --
> John Bange
> '90 Vanagon - "Geldsauger"
>



--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
www.crescentbeachguitar.com