Frank,

Obviously the lady with the radio in the rain was out of line and I am
sure there are many, many demanding, unfair and obnoxious customers in
the world, though not here on the list, of course! The question,
however, was, "If the mechanic doesn't fix the problem, or even diagnose
the problem, should the customer have to pay for time that yielded
nothing?"

Woody

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Frank Condelli
Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 7:32 AM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Moral question--no Bob-related content

In a message dated 16/01/2007 9:49:29 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:

Any  mechanics out there care to comment?

Those comments would fill the archives to overflow  just from my
experiences.
 NO comments coming from me.  I do not want  to become a novelist !

    Errr- OK, just one that stick out in my  minds.  Woman with '85
Westy
with Subaru engine wants me to fix her broken  exhaust which was hacked
together
by the original installer.  I build a new  header pipe and new muffler
supports and all is peachy.  The bill is big,  she writes a check and as
she's
pulling out of the laneway she starts  complaining her radio does not
work.  I spend
half hour in the pouring rain  at 8 pm trying to see why all the while
explaining I worked on the exhaust in  the BACK and never touched the
radio in the
FRONT.  I cannot get it back in  the shop, it's blocked with immobilized
van,
my accountant is here helping with  my income tax report, she finally
leaves
pissed about the radio, goes home and  cancels the check.  I'm left to
fight
with her for payment.  I finally  get about 3/4 of the bill paid over
the next
six months.  I could take her  to small claims court and win but that
would cost
me another year of  trouble.  I write it off to "experience" !!   You
want
more, I  have 'em !!

Cheers,

Frank  Condelli
Almonte, Ontario, Canada
'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains
(_Collection
for  sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
_Frank Condelli &  Associates_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
_Vanagon  Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007