Oppo shop people, I have a Dear Abby type question.

"Honeybunchesofgoats" (honeybunche0fgoats)
10/06/2019 at 15:32 • Filed to: None

I have a mechanic I like a lot. I think we have a pretty good, but new-ish relationship. His shop doesn’t need my money, which is why I chose it.

A few weeks ago, I made an appointment for an oil change, and he slotted me in, presuming I could drop the car off when the shop opened. For personal reasons, I couldn’t drop the car off. I considered calling to say I wouldn’t make it, but didn’t. This is a really busy shop and they’re really good about not overbooking, so I definitely materially impacted them by not canceling in a timely manner.

Do I:

1) rebook and apologize for not canceling the last time .

2) rebook and pretend nothing ever happened.

3) rebook but also get a change of tires, so they have a higher profit margin.

4) find a new shop.

DISCUSSION (26)

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 15:49

1 or 4

3 if your made of money i guess

but tbh... if its a good shop i’d go with the apology

good shops are few and far between

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 15:49

Not a shop guy and I HATE taking my car to the mechanic because I rarely have a good experience, but I would apologize when I rebook and leave it at that. They probably have no-shows very regularly who never apologize so I think that’s all you need to do. Unless their oil changes are super cheap and a loss leader I wouldn’t think they need any more profit from you so no need to spend more to ‘make it up to them’. While it’s good to have a good relationship with a shop I don’t think that should be a pre requisite for professional service.

Honeybunchesofgoats > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
10/06/2019 at 15:51

The oil changes are definitely overpriced, but they make up for it on decent priced regular work and never pulling anything shady.

Honeybunchesofgoats > farscythe - makin da cawfee!
10/06/2019 at 15:52

That’s why I’m in this quandary, because it’s a really good shop and they’ve turned me away when I’ve come in with things that weren’t actually problems.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 15:59

I think you have to move to Peru and assume a new identity.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 15:59

You were bad. You have to apologize. A good shop is worth it. They’re not going to care that much anyway.

MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick) > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 16:14

If you really like them and want to be nice , and decent work for decent prices is hard to come by, maybe buy them some pizzas or coffee/donuts or something to make it up.

Akio Ohtori - RIP Oppo > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 16:18

I think the Car Talk guys would recommend r eturning with baked goods. Fresh baked cookies would be my vote.

fhrblig > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 16:19

Apologize first, then re-book. That’s what I’d do.

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/06/2019 at 16:20

I vote his new identity should be Cracklin’ Oat Bran.

Honeybunchesofgoats > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/06/2019 at 16:20

Señor Sucralose LotsofRams likes this

Brickman > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 16:21

They demand an edible flower arrangement and you have to crawl on your knees over there and beg for forgiveness.

/jk I m sure they don’t care for one missed appointment. Just reschedule and apologize you couldn’t make it last time.

Honeybunchesofgoats > MKULTRA1982(ConCrustyBrick)
10/06/2019 at 16:22

I tend to over-tip, so I’m hoping that counts.

farscythe - makin da cawfee! > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 16:23

id go with 1 then....and maybe not do that again :p

Svend > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 16:45

1. Rebook and apologise. It’s the right and polite thing to do.

2, is not all that polite, 3 and 4 is way over thinking it.

After rebooking and attending, if you’ve had good service, give them a tip.

There is a balance with being apologetic and overly apologetic though.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 18:10

Not a similar story really, but one time I needed some help getting some exhaust bolts unstuck , as my normal attempts weren’t handling it.

I asked Science of Speed to help me with it but they were booked months out. In a gesture of goodwill, they told me to leave it over the weekend and if they could get to it, they’d try and get those bolts out.

I expressed my thanks by leaving the lead mechanic tech a six pack of his favourite beer that Friday of said weekend.

Lo and behold on Saturday not only were those bolts out, but the exhaust I’d been intending to do myself after was also in.

My lesson was never underestimate the power of a good, thoughtful gesture.

Honeybunchesofgoats > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
10/06/2019 at 18:18

I’m all about that. The last time I went to this particular shop, they did an oil change, brake check, and A/C recharge. I gave them $40 and after some debating, we agreed that they’d spend it on beer.

MM54 > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 18:19

Probably #1, and if you still feel bad about it, a 6-pack with his name on it left in the car can’t hurt (did that now and then when I lived in PA for the guy that did my inspections and the occasional “fuck this” work)

Your boy, BJR > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 18:54

Ignore it ever happened, re book. Do the no call/no show every other time you have something booked. Let them know that just as much as they don’t need your money, you don’t need their work. Establish dominance.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig
10/06/2019 at 18:56

Nah, should be something generic like "honey crunchin' goat clusters"

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/06/2019 at 19:10

I actually meant to type Cracklin' Goat Bran, but then I started thinking about that cereal and I got distracted. It's so good.

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig
10/06/2019 at 21:00

You're such an old man.

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/06/2019 at 21:32

I'm not wrong, though. It's like a bowl of delicious cookies

If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent > fhrblig
10/06/2019 at 21:58

Yeah, cookies that turn to nasty mush if you don’t gobble them up within two minutes.

WildlyMild > Honeybunchesofgoats
10/06/2019 at 22:17

Apologize and if you feel bad a large plate of cookies. Cookies and brownies go a long way in our world.

fhrblig > If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/06/2019 at 22:58

I wouldn't know. They don't last that long.