"Robert Jones" (thealtarbo)
06/07/2015 at 00:59 • Filed to: None
2
9|
"Robert Jones" (thealtarbo)
06/07/2015 at 00:59 • Filed to: None | 2
| 9 |
I think I want to get my mechanic a gift. Is that weird? What would be appropriate? What do mechanics in general need? Gojo, zip ties, beef jerky? Is a $20 bill offensive?
Months back I paid this mechanic to change my fuel pump, because I didn’t have the time or space. He was straight, so later on when I had this weird intermittent roughness I couldn’t figure out I dropped it off at their shop. He looked it over for three days, said it ran “textbook fine”, and handed me my keys back. He didn’t try and swindle or push any products.
He said it was probably just bad gas. So I took the car no problems.
Problems came back. I started running Torque graphs of various sensors. Car sporadically runs lean/rich and misfires randomly. Only in spurts though. I realize only when it’s humid/raining. I remember this mechanic saying, after I described my problems and before he looked over my car that it could be a fuel delivery issue, bad gas, or the coolant sensor. Never would have thought to even check the coolant sensors, but I leave a coolant temp graph up on my dash when a good storm came through. Sure enough, the graph occasionally dips down to freezing; it’s so brief that I don’t even notice it on my cluster gauge. Dips are directly tied to fuel mixture and misfires.
Problem looks like it’ll only take a few bucks to fix.
So I feel like I should get this guy something. What? I dunno.
AM3R shamefully returns
> Robert Jones
06/07/2015 at 01:06 |
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Bring him a pizza or two. Good way to show appreciation, it's what I occasionally do when my shop tackles a big job.
little_boots
> Robert Jones
06/07/2015 at 01:07 |
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Beer and loyalty
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Robert Jones
06/07/2015 at 01:08 |
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I’ve gotten tips and gifts before, it’s unusual but feels great. Cash tips are always appreciated, but things like restaurant gift cards are great too. Don’t go for an item they use on a daily basis, that would be like getting your wife a vacuum cleaner. Bonus for you is that he will be more inclined to help you in the future.
Birddog
> Robert Jones
06/07/2015 at 01:09 |
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As a former Mechanic and Body guy. $20 would not be offensive.
A case of Beer and $20 attached to said Beer would be even less not offensive.
Goggles Pizzano
> Robert Jones
06/07/2015 at 01:11 |
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Maybe it is weird, I’ve done it.
Great service and no bullshit pricing for my first three visits had me think a formal thank you was in order. A large stack of great car magazine back issues for his waiting room.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Robert Jones
06/07/2015 at 05:29 |
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beer!
415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°)
> Robert Jones
06/07/2015 at 09:18 |
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Buy a v12 AMG, or an old Jaaaag
west-coaster
> Robert Jones
06/07/2015 at 09:59 |
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I’ll second the gift card idea - I’ve done it.
Do a quick recon of the immediate neighborhood to the shop, and figure out what places a guy would visit on a quick lunch break or breakfast on the way to work. Mickey D’s, Subway, Quizno’s, etc.
Pizza? I don’t know about that, unless you can time it right. If he's in the middle of a big messy job when it arrives, he's either going to be eating cold pizza when he finally finishes and cleans up, or looking at the empty boxes after his fellow mechanics have helped themselves to his gratuity.
deekster_caddy
> Robert Jones
06/07/2015 at 10:22 |
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it’s probably the connector being corroded or a broken wire, not the sensor itself. And give him a $50 for saving you a couple hundred bucks. Then send me the cost of the sensor you were about to buy that wouldn't have fixed your problem ;)