Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 12:45:09 -0700
Reply-To: VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: VW Doka <vw.doka@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Labor, 28 hours, customer say, i have no money....
In-Reply-To: <46BA0D38.2020706@gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Mike,
Not true about paying up front. It is common practice amongst shops to get
"good faith" deposits prior to undertaking expensive repairs. We often have
jobs here that exceed $10k and I will rarely undertake one (except for known
customers) without a deposit.
For example, we recently did a partial mechanical restoration on a '67 MB
280SL, the estimate was $12k and we required a $5k deposit.
Another method often used is to bill as the work is progressing, or as
expensive parts are ordered.
Even after all these steps, you can still find the a**hole who will pay via
credit card and then dispute the charge. Although, I have won all these
disputes, it still holds up the funds for months.
Cheers,
Jeff
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com]On Behalf
Of Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
Sent: Wednesday, August 08, 2007 11:37 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Labor, 28 hours, customer say, i have no money....
In California, one never pays up front. The auto shop provides a written
estimate. The owner is not obliged at that point and may shop elsewhere.
If the owner decides to get the work done, s/he signs it, agreeing to
pay for the work. If the job becomes more expensive the shop must tell
the owner before proceeding. When the work is done, the owner is
expected to pay for the work. The invoice is generally presented by a
large man holding a wrench in his greasy knuckles -- this is generally
reason enough.
This all applies to a business licensed to perform automobile repairs.
If you take the van to some guy working out of his back yard, I have no
idea what the legalities are.
Mike "Rocket J Squirrel" Elliott
71 Type 2: the Wonderbus
84 Westfalia: Mellow Yellow ("The Electrical Banana")
74 Utility Trailer. Ladybug Trailer, Inc., San Juan Capistrano
KG6RCR
On 8/8/2007 8:57 AM David Kao wrote:
> Maybe it is just me but I have never heard of paying
> a deposit for a repair up front. Maybe this is between
> you and your mechanic. Ever heard of a term called
> Mechanic's Lien? If you are willing to pay up front
> you may want to learn what Mechanic's Lien is.
>
> David
>
>
>
> --- Dave Vickery <davevickery@HOTMAIL.COM> wrote:
>
>> That's not the description of an honest mechanic in my mind, it is one
that
>> is living hand to mouth. Sorry, I don't mean to be insulting, but if a
>> mechanic asked me to pay up front, I would know it was not a well funded
>> (and I would assume) not a well run business, unless it had just started.
>> I've heard of contractor's that do the same thing, and there it is
probably
>> more common, but I wouldn't not do it.
>>
>> I had Just Brakes ask for payment before they finished the job that was
>> taking longer because they wanted to count the sales in that week's
figures.
>> That sets off questions in my mind that they have that much pressure to
>> make numbers.
>>
>> Dave in Denver
>>
>>
>>> From: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
>>> Reply-To: Kenneth Wilford <kenwilfy@COMCAST.NET>
>>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>>> Subject: Re: Labor, 28 hours, customer say, i have no money....
>>> Date: Wed, 8 Aug 2007 08:03:17 -0400
>>>
>>> Ben,
>>>
>>> You have to cover yourself on these jobs. I always get at least a 50%
>>> deposit on jobs larger than just a couple of hours. I make up an
>>> estimate and try to estimate high because there is usually always
>>> something that you didn't notice or can't see until you get it all
>>> ripped apart. If you estimate high and come in under it the customer
>>> thinks you are awesome (like Scotty on Star Trek), if it goes up a
>>> little at least they are more prepared for the price. Once I get the
>>> estimate typed up I can either email or just give it to the customer.
>>> The customer approves it, I get the 50% deposit via cash, credit card,
>>> even a check since you can wait for it to clear before you start the
>>> job. If it is an extremely large job, I get 50% then at another point
>>> that the customer and I agree to, I get another 25%, then the final 25%
>>> on completion.
>>>
>>> Parts cost money. I don't have extra cash sitting around to buy all of
>>> the parts that a customer might need for a large job. But if you get
>>> the 50% deposit you should have at least enough to cover your parts and
>>> keep things rolling until the job is done.
>>>
>>> A real customer that wants the work done will have no problem giving you
>>> a deposit. Any changes that I have to make to the estimate that are
>>> larger than $100 I call the customer and clear it with them first. When
>>> it is all done we go for a ride together in the van and any questions he
>>> (or she) has are addressed and then when they are happy, I get the rest
>>> of the money and they get their invoice with "Paid in Full" on it. Now
>>> everyone is happy. I am happy because I have done a great job and have
>>> gotten my reward for doing so. The customer is happy because their baby
>>> is back on the road and they can have more confidence in it.
>>>
>>> I have learned these painful lessons after doing this for almost 10
>>> years now. But if you learn something from the lesson, then at least it
>>> is not in vain.
>>>
>>> I am posting this to the list so that list members know how an honest
>>> mechanic does business. Checks and balances on both parties. I even
>>> keep the old parts until the customer comes and checks out the van. If
>>> they request them, I can show the old parts that were removed and
>>> replaced so that there are no questions. Again you have to cover
>>> yourself. I recommend all female customers who are dealing with a shop
>>> for the first time, request that they show you the old parts after
>>> completing the job. Do this when you approve the estimate that way they
>>> know to keep the old parts. Even if you have no clue what the parts are
>>> that you are looking at, it lets folks know that you are going to check
>>> on them and keep them accountable.
>>>
>>> Hope this helps,
>>> Ken Wilford
>>> John 3:16
>>> www.vanagain.com
>>>
>>>
>>> Benny boy wrote:
>>>
>>>> Me:
>>>> Sir, you Air-Cool van is ready and working fine (new heads, pistons + a
>>>> lot
>>>> of small stuff), 130psi all around, temp is fine, tested. Ready to
drive,
>>>> don't forget, drive smooth, oil change between 700-1000km.
>>>>
>>>> Customer: Ok, thank so much. I can go camping now, how much?
>>>>
>>>> Me: 3399$
>>>>
>>>> Customer: ho, ok, can i make a check?
>>>>
>>>> Me: NO check, i had to many problems with those, sorry, cash, credit.
>>>> Debit
>>>> as a max of 1000$ per day just so you know.
>>>>
>>>> Customer: ho, i don't have enough on my credit card, what shoud i do?
>>>> Maybe
>>>> i have enough in my bank account???
>>>>
>>>> Me: Sir, i have spent 3.5 days in a row in your van, i have grease up
to
>>>> my
>>>> a**... find a solution... CREDIT, CASH or NO van, sorry but i'm sure
you
>>>> understand my point of view.
>>>>
>>>> Customer: Well, i'm no sure how to find the money!
>>>>
>>>> Me: Sir, i told you before an approx of the total bill, you didn't say
>>>> nothing, you said go ahead!
>>>>
>>>> Customer: well, i will find a way, how can i pay again?
>>>>
>>>> Me: Cash or credit (me sound VERY COLD)
>>>> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>>>>
>>>> The conclusion...
>>>> This is not the first time this happen to me, far from it, what the
hell
>>>> is
>>>> the problem with people like that??????? i work my ass off... and this
is
>>>> the answer i get.
>>>>
>>>> Frustration! yes, it is.
>>>>
>>>> We always blame the business men, the customers is always right...
yea..
>>>> sure.
>>>>
>>>> I tell you all because if this happen to me.. i'm sure some of you did
so
>>>> one day!!! think twice before doing it again!
>>>>
>>>> Ben
>>>> http://www.benplace.com/bjp3.htm
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>> _________________________________________________________________
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>
>
>
>
>
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