You know what grinds my gears?

"Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras" (jegoingout) 01/14/2018 at 11:18 • Filed to: None

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15

I don’t work in the car industry anymore, but still this bothers me. I’m currently at my friends shop and this woman dropped off her car for I don’t know what. She was told it’d be a 2 hour or so wait since they’re backed up. Fast forward a couple hours and I guess her car is almost done. She’s currently pacing around the waiting area and continually looking out the window to the service bay. A watched tech doesn’t work faster...

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 01/14/2018 at 11:30

4

i always screw up when i know someones watching over me shoulder....drop a tool... snap a bolt... that kinda thing... rarely happens... but when it does... someones bloody watching..

makes ya feel like a right tit

Ash78, voting early and often > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 01/14/2018 at 11:30

10

3 out of 5 lug nuts isn’t bad. The lady is in a hurry, after all!

I miss my old indy shop which had a sign saying:

FAST

CHEAP

RIGHT

PICK ANY TWO.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 01/14/2018 at 11:32

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I try to think that I don’t have the whole story when I see people like this. She might not have an alternative ride or someone to pick her up. She might be nervous over what’s wrong with her car. She may have a previous obligation she needs to meet but played roulette by taking her car in. Or she might be incredibly impatient. I think people are people: varying degrees of decent to tonedeaf.

cbell04 > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 01/14/2018 at 11:43

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She could be like me and just not be able to sit in the room without moving around. I usually take a long walk because I know my pacing gets looks. Also all shop waiting room tv’s are too loud! I turn them down and if i cant i leave. Nothing better that trash daytime tv at max volume with 10 people all trying to ignore it on their phones and laptops.

smobgirl > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras 01/14/2018 at 11:44

0

I’ve called a few shops in the past that avoided this entirely by ALWAYS saying they need at least 8 hours to do something. Oil changes included. I mean...I guess it works?

smobgirl > cbell04 01/14/2018 at 12:07

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The dealer I take my car to now not only has loaner cars (Fiat doesn’t participate) but has a couple mountain bikes! I probably wouldn’t take them on anything technical but there’s a really nice flattish gravel trail nearby that would be a good distraction for a 2 hour job or so.

cbell04 > smobgirl 01/14/2018 at 12:23

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Now that would be cool! Great idea. Anything is better than Dr. Phil on max volume!

cluelessk > farscythe - makin da cawfee! 01/14/2018 at 12:24

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Our management kicks them out pretty quickly.

Our shop now does in house inspections for insurance claims and those customers are the worst. Pointing out every little ding and dent that is obviously not related.

Last week we had a customer claim that he hit a deer, it split in half and part flew over the truck catching the trim on the tailgate. It was obviously bent while unloading something from the back.

Frenchlicker > cluelessk 01/14/2018 at 13:19

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I wouldn’t believe it if I hadn’t seen something similar happen. Although it’s not too hard to see the nature of a dent.

cluelessk > Frenchlicker 01/14/2018 at 13:31

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Damage was old and rusty. Also all the damage was on the grille or lower. The hood wasn’t touched so it seems odd that the deer went over the top.

Weird things too happen though and trying to get a straight story from a customer is hard.

Frenchlicker > cluelessk 01/15/2018 at 00:46

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I mean I can’t blame them for trying but I understand it would get annoying. I’ve noticed if one doesn’t say anything a body shop will sometimes fix a little extra and write it as part of the damage. That depends on your insurance too though.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/16/2018 at 10:08

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...might have kids to pick up...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > smobgirl 01/16/2018 at 10:11

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Those shops have enough business that they don’t need yours. There a well-regarded Euro repair/speed shop in town and they don’t take appointments by time - you get a day, and you drop it off in the morning, and you get a call when it’s done (and they don’t have courtesy drivers, and they don’t advertise). If you do great work, you can choose your clientele.

smobgirl > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com 01/16/2018 at 12:39

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Hah. I can see that argument in certain cases, but they don’t do great work. One of them was the shittiest Chrysler-associated dealer in town, the other tried to give me a list of bullshit repairs after they charged twice what the (Alfa/Maserati/McLaren) dealer does for an oil change because they insisted I needed Ferrari branded oil. Yeah, no.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > smobgirl 01/16/2018 at 13:59

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My M3 requires liquid gold, I can only imagine how much they want for unicorn tears!