The mechanic rip-off rort

[Pis-ton broke]

Originally Posted by phat_stak_tipa

............, now imagine some poor person that has no idea, and just coughs it up, unbelievable!

thats the point i was trying to make, wheres the professionalism in that?

[Road Games]

Originally Posted by phat_stak_tipa

As a known car guy at work i get asked for advice heaps, this story is a cracker, a workmate who has some idea about cars had been getting his car serviced for years at his local AUTO MASTERS, well he comes in one morning and says the water pump has **** itself in his VZ commo, it was leaking but he managed to get it back to the workshop, anyway he gets a call after they have diagnosed that yes its the water pump, NOW the fun bit.....

He was quoted 5k to sort it, supposedly it had done the head gaskets and would need the timing chain done too and on and on this quote went, i asked my mate did the car overheat? Nup! I said mate they are taking the ****, a second hand donk is cheaper than that fitted, but anyway take it across the road to ultratune and see what happens, so he did and it cost $200 to fix the water pump, that was it, now imagine some poor person that has no idea, and just coughs it up, unbelievable!

When the intake gaskets fail on those things you get emulsion under the oil cap which can be misinterpreted as a head gasket failure... Kfart pull this on all the time , anyway the X wife has a friend with the XU6 from HSV i qouted up a few things and stretched the intervals out over a month or so to help her budget and i would make a couple of hundred dollars ?

One day i was transferred to another shop and she got a flat battery, so it came in on a tow truck, one of the mechanics found my list in the glovebox and gave her a qoute drive out totalling $5500 !!!

Her mum paid for it on her credit card and the commo was there for two weeks !

I didn't get a cent out of the time i had already spent on the thing and i no longer play the nice guy , especially with neighbours that wake me up just to help them out ..

Peace out.

[Falcman0o7]

Never been to a mechanic

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by ronwest

I sold a car to a fella on the forums. Nice guy.... I think you know him?

Anyhoo, our neighbour 2 doors down wanted that car right or wrong.

There's no way I'd sell it that close to home, at any price. You can bet that I would have been fixing whatever problems arose for the life of the car.
Or, there would have been a falling out with the neighbour.

Whichever way was drama that I don't need.

Really depends though, I bought my Fairlane off the a close family friend and neighbor at the time too (Actually I'm close with his daughter, but being neighbours for quite a while meant our parents become very good friends too, hence the family friends now). But anyway, the car had just clocked 400,000km and he sold it onto me for 1.5k, of course he let me test drive it thoroughly, told me literally every detail he knew about what was wrong with the car and halved the asking price of 3k (which it definitely would have sold for in NZ) himself when I inquired about it.

Cars surprisingly not had any issues at all since I got it nearly 6 months ago, which came as a surprise to both him and me as it had been sitting unused for nearly 2 years. But my point is had something gone wrong, I definitely would not have gone back and put the blame on him. In fact I'd actually make it a point to never bring it up around him cause he'd probably feel guilty about it. I definitely don't think selling a car onto a neighbour or a friend would be an issue as long as you inform them completely about the condition of the car and let them test it themselves. I don't see how anyone in their right mind could blame you (the seller) if you did that.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Qwerty321

I definitely don't think selling a car onto a neighbour or a friend would be an issue as long as you inform them completely about the condition of the car and let them test it themselves. I don't see how anyone in their right mind could blame you (the seller) if you did that.

I wasn't concerned about fallout from the car sale.

What did concern me was in 6 months time "it's got a bit of a squeak from underneath" or "it was a bit hard to start this morning.... what do you think that could be?

So, what do you do? Tell him to take it to a mechanic or have a look?

The neighbourly thing to do is have a look. From there it's a short step to a few spanners and not so far from there to the thing spread out all over my garage floor.

No thanks...

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by ronwest

I wasn't concerned about fallout from the car sale.

What did concern me was in 6 months time "it's got a bit of a squeak from underneath" or "it was a bit hard to start this morning.... what do you think that could be?

So, what do you do? Tell him to take it to a mechanic or have a look?

The neighbourly thing to do is have a look. From there it's a short step to a few spanners and not so far from there to the thing spread out all over my garage floor.

No thanks...

True true. I never considered that aspect.

[GO FURTHER]

Any time I've taken any of my cars in for a service or repair I prepare 3 lists;

List 1 - Things to remove from the car before dropping it off.
E.g. All valuables, coins, GPS, all tools, spare key, etc
I basically empty the console, boot and glove box, check under the seats, etc.
Trust nobody!

Often they will leave your car unlocked in the yard / car park when finished, so anyone can get into your car including the public.
If something goes missing, it's too hard to point the finger without proof. Best to just avoid temptation in the first place.

List 2 - An itemised list I give the service supervisor of what I don't want them to do or touch and things I want them to do
e.g.
a. Don't replace the wiper blades
b. Don't put "Ford's favorite" windscreen washer additive in my reservoir (I have that filled with "RainX" in the correct diluted ratio).
c. Don't wash the car! (No dirty sponge and swirls marks wanted)
d. Stamp the logbook.
e. Don't use a ratchet gun on my "locking wheel nuts".
f. Any items that have been done recently elsewhere (e.g. brake pads, wheel alignment).
g. Make sure that my oil filter "sandwich plate" (for my oil pressure gauge) is on tight before putting on the new oil filter.
h. Don't stick a "reminder service" sticker on my windscreen. (I hate stickers!)

3. List 3 - Things to check when I pick up the car
e.g.
a. Check log book is stamped
b. Check tyre valve caps are put back on
c. Check wheel lock nut key is put back in car
d. Check oil level is correct
e. Walk around car - Check for scratches, dents or damage.
f. Check odometer reading (I make a note of the reading when I drop it off, don't want my car being used for errands).
g. Check all chrome engine "bling" covers and items are still there!


Also I tell them that no extra work or repairs (not initially agreed too) is to be performed without contacting me first for approval.

If I ask them to replace certain items such as a fuel filter for example, I will get a permanent marker and place a secret mark or black dot here and there on the item the night before, so I can be sure the part has been actually replaced.

[Mercury Bullet]

I always leave a few coins, for ***** 'n giggles.

[Top_Ghia]

I had a Honda Accord in yesterday. I serviced the car about a month ago and they complained about the rear wheel bearings being noisy. So I checked all the wheel bearings and find no issues, but the rear tyres are badly scolloped. I tell them to go and get new tyres fitted.
So the car comes back yesterday and the customer is insisting the rear wheel bearings are noisy and wants them replaced. After driving the car I lift it again and check the bearings. They're fine but the tyres are really badly scolloped. So I rotate the tyres front to back and send them on their way again to get new tyres.
They'll probably be back next week for front wheel bearings. 👍

[falconhell74]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

I had a Honda Accord in yesterday. I serviced the car about a month ago and they complained about the rear wheel bearings being noisy. So I checked all the wheel bearings and find no issues, but the rear tyres are badly scolloped. I tell them to go and get new tyres fitted.
So the car comes back yesterday and the customer is insisting the rear wheel bearings are noisy and wants them replaced. After driving the car I lift it again and check the bearings. They're fine but the tyres are really badly scolloped. So I rotate the tyres front to back and send them on their way again to get new tyres.
They'll probably be back next week for front wheel bearings. ��

I hope you recommended a wheel alignment also

[Interceptor]

Workshops try to up-sell products to improve their profits? REALLY?

Originally Posted by Highway star

I live in a small outback town in Qld

Makes two of us....

Originally Posted by Highway star

Shed rent here is very cheap, some own their own and were bought very cheap for under 60k. Rates are good , no excess water, no environmental BS with on site oil seperators etc. No dump fees for tyres and the council takes the old oil at no charge.

Unless you're living in a place where you can throw a rock clean across town, the council amalgamations we had years ago would mean you have your new, you-beaut environmentally concious councils, and believe me, even in my pokey little town the council comes down on you like a woman scorned for environmental non compliance, they dont let you dispose of ANY tyres or commercial quantities of used oil for free, (surprise surprise the number of tyres getting dumped on the side of the road) and the rates are straight up bull****
Then you have to factor in insurance (public liability nevermind insuring your workers against crashes, etc), workcover, superannuation payments, pay for public holidays and annual leave, electricity, phone, training, equipment, annual inspections, etc.

Originally Posted by Highway star

Here's what they charge for :
Coolant $9 p/litre
Diff oil $24 p/litre
Front brake pads for a RTV $99
Fuel filter $20
Engine oil $7 p/litre

Prices are pretty much on the ball for retail pricing for quality products

Originally Posted by DOC

I rang them up and said to put my motor back into the car as we will not be buying into some unknown motor, and I was coming down to pick it up.

Surprised they didnt put a blob of valve grinding paste in the oil filter.....

Originally Posted by Qwerty321

Well I was under the impression that timing belt intervals were only an issue if you have an interference engine. My mechanic also agreed with me on this and said that he does the same with his old mitsi (not interference). Just run the car till the belt breaks then get the job done. He said in his experience the belts tend to last a lot longer than the manual says they will, often more than twice as long. Mind you my first car was interference so I had it changed at the correct interval... only to grenade the transmission 4 months later and write it off

Anyone know if Barra 182's are interference or not?

They run a timing chain.......

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Supercheap are so tight. I worked for Repco for many years and bought a lot of things on my staff account. Yes there were guidelines but GI Joe never kicked the door in because I sold some cheap pads to a mate.

I can vouch for both sides of that, it was to the extent that management even encouraged it in some circumstances (ie: variety club bash entrants, etc) I never worked for supercheap though.....

Originally Posted by mechanic

So, what is the profession, trade or occupation of the OP?

Well call it a wild guess, but that brilliant piece of "investigative journalism" was written by someone with the qualifications and equipment to be a hooker....

Speaking of getting ripped off......

[Franco Cozzo]

Hows this for doing the right thing, Thursday I dropped off a customer back to their work in town, then we finished the job and I picked them up again early so they could run to the bank.

As they needed to go to the bank, I printed off an invoice, gave it to them and showed them the direct deposit details at the bottom of the invoice and said just pay me via internet transfer when you get home, so you can quickly get to the bank before they close.

I still haven't been paid.

Go to fookin Coles/Woolworths and see if you can have an account with them and see what they say.

[DoubleTrouble]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Hows this for doing the right thing, Thursday I dropped off a customer back to their work in town, then we finished the job and I picked them up again early so they could run to the bank.

As they needed to go to the bank, I printed off an invoice, gave it to them and showed them the direct deposit details at the bottom of the invoice and said just pay me via internet transfer when you get home, so you can quickly get to the bank before they close.

I still haven't been paid.

Go to fookin Coles/Woolworths and see if you can have an account with them and see what they say.

You being too nice to your customers, by the way do you have a tattoo on your forehead starting with letter "D"

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DoubleTrouble

You being too nice to your customers, by the way do you have a tattoo on your forehead starting with letter "D"

Nah but I'll have a stamp of the offenders forehead on my fist when I rock up to their house and workplace to collect payment if they want to play these games

This is a two way street, I'm a nice guy when the business relationship is working assuming they do their part in this business-customer relationship.

If they don't deliver then I'm not so nice, I don't mind if people say to me, look I'm having a hard time paying some bills at the moment, no worries as long as I get my money in the end its fine, I'm happy to help people out.

If you intentionally try get work and intentionally run off without paying, then problems.

Someone ripped me off $900 last year, I know which town they live in and what car they drive but not an address, I've been driving around pretty often going street by street looking for them, I'll find them eventually

I pay ALL of my bills on time, I've never left anyone else out of pocket and never been on stop credit with any of my suppliers, so I take big offence when someone does it to me intentionally.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by falconhell74

I hope you recommended a wheel alignment also

Yeah I did recommend a 4 wheel alignment. Hondas are bad for business. Nothing ever goes wrong with them. Everyone talks up Toyotas but Hondas are in another league. I service an Odyssey that's done 400,000km and it drives like new.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Yeah I did recommend a 4 wheel alignment. Hondas are bad for business. Nothing ever goes wrong with them. Everyone talks up Toyotas but Hondas are in another league. I service an Odyssey that's done 400,000km and it drives like new.

Even electrical wise we never see Hondas and Mazdas, good cars.

[GXL078]

I remember reading about a customer with a late model efi Windsor V8 who took it to a Ford dealer for a service. They told HIM that his lifters were noisy and then charged him $2.5k to replace them, bloody thieves.

[GXL078]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

Yeah I did recommend a 4 wheel alignment. Hondas are bad for business. Nothing ever goes wrong with them. Everyone talks up Toyotas but Hondas are in another league. I service an Odyssey that's done 400,000km and it drives like new.

I did work experience at a Honda dealer in 1985 and they were saying the same about them back then.

[Top_Ghia]

Originally Posted by GXL078

I did work experience at a Honda dealer in 1985 and they were saying the same about them back then.

It's so boring working at a Honda dealership. You never get to fix anything.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Top_Ghia

It's so boring working at a Honda dealership. You never get to fix anything.

I started my apprenticeship at a Honda dealership, one of the mechanics there was fed up with life, saying he woke up in the morning and wonder how many major services they are going to do today

[falconhell74]

The only issue with Honda are their spare parts , as years ago If you needed a new drive shaft , they charge by the badge not the part number , was quoted X amount for said shaft on a integra and Y amount on a civic , integra one was nearly double the price of civic and they were the exact same part.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by GXL078

I remember reading about a customer with a late model efi Windsor V8 who took it to a Ford dealer for a service. They told HIM that his lifters were noisy and then charged him $2.5k to replace them, bloody thieves.

did they remove the heads?

[GXL078]

Originally Posted by ratter

did they remove the heads?

Don't know, the guy wrote to ask Smithy in the Friday Telegraph cars guide. Probably 5-10 years ago, asking if he thought it was reasonable.

[ratter]

pretty sure the last of the windsors ran roller cams and the heads had to be removed to replace the lifters, if so I could see an invoice going $2500 pretty quickly at dealership rates

[GXL078]

Yeah, but he didn't even complain about the noise. They told HIM they needed replacing.

[Phildo]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Someone ripped me off $900 last year, I know which town they live in and what car they drive but not an address, I've been driving around pretty often going street by street looking for them, I'll find them eventually

If you've got their full name then you can get their address from the electoral roll.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Phildo

If you've got their full name then you can get their address from the electoral roll.

Send me a PM if you could on how to check that.

But I was thinking about making a Facebook profile with a girls name, choose a pic from a not so well known porn star's gallery on pornhub and add him as a friend.

Then try chat him up into organising a meetup and Big Damo and Co turn up instead

We could make a reality TV show out of this as well

[DoubleTrouble]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Send me a PM if you could on how to check that.

But I was thinking about making a Facebook profile with a girls name, choose a pic from a not so well known porn star's gallery on pornhub and add him as a friend.

Then try chat him up into organising a meetup and Big Damo and Co turn up instead

We could make a reality TV show out of this as well

You can check your local electoral roll at your local MP office, hopefully your customer is on the roll.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Mitsubishi are also guilty of price changing. They have a different price for the same model depending on the year it was bought which makes no sense if it's the exact same car and work being done!

Actually that makes perfect sense.
Capped Price servicing is fixed at the time you buy the car. It wouldn't be capped if the price simply increased. So if you buy a Lancer this year, servicing is capped at $240 a year for the first four years. If you buy a Lancer next year, it will probably be capped at say $260 a year.

[Crazy Dazz]

Originally Posted by falconhell74

The only issue with Honda are their spare parts , as years ago If you needed a new drive shaft , they charge by the badge not the part number , was quoted X amount for said shaft on a integra and Y amount on a civic , integra one was nearly double the price of civic and they were the exact same part.

This also makes perfect sense.
Firstly, because parts like most goods are priced according to market demand. People seem to think that items should always be priced at "cost + X%" but that's not how the world works. A retailer may make a big margin on some products, and not much on others, depending on what customers are prepared to pay. Over time they will tend to devote less shelf space and inventory to lower margin items.
Secondly, differential pricing has been around since Eve sold Adam his first fig-leaf. Its one of the great equalisers in life. Try buying the same product for a Holden and a Mercedes.
The rationale is simple. If you can afford to buy the more expensive model, you can afford to pay more for your parts.