Oh the other hand, I had to buy a piece of carpet recently.  Small piece, a
remnant from the perspective of the store.  It cost $35, and for that amount
they didn't want a credit card.  I didn't have enough cash, nor did I have a
check on me.  The guy said "that's okay, take the carpet, you come back with
the money another day."

I was so amazed that I went straight to the bank and got it and went back
and paid him!  And I'm sure I'd go back there, too.

Not that he would have done that for a large sum, I'm sure!

And Frank's radio lady was clearly totally wrong.

Joy

:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
:::Of Benny boy
:::Sent: Wednesday, January 17, 2007 12:22 PM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Re: Moral question--no Bob-related content
:::
:::First, Frank, NEVER take check! overall, somes customers... still owe
:::me...
:::over 2500$, when i started i didn't have a "credit card machine".
:::"I'll comme back next week Ben, hve no worry"
:::Pffffffffffff..... (and we are not talking about customers who kept tools
:::forgotten in their van!)
:::
:::Customers are as bad as mechanic, period. So, everyone is bad! it's a sad
:::world :-)
:::
:::As for the question, simple, for me, i work on 1 vehicle, easy, i find
:::every
:::single problem, period. This is the difference between a "General"
:::mechanic
:::who works on every kind of car. Now, of course there is some more
:::dificult
:::problem, being in general electronic/FI/electic problem. Now, that said,
:::i
:::still didn't answer your question... it is is call "communication" bro!
:::
:::If i see a strange problem, lets say for the sake of the discussion that
:::i'm
:::not sure to fix it, i will SPEAK, yes, SPEAK with the customer and tell
:::him
:::that first, it could take many hours and i may NOT find the problem...
:::so,
:::are you still willing to PAY every single hour that i will spend on your
:::van
:::trying to fix it? DO YOU AGREE TO THAT SIR!!!!
:::IF NOT, i will work on SOMETHING else, to make money so i can PAY the
:::bill!!!!!!
:::
:::Another story (men, it'soooo cold in the shop that i cannot work, even
:::typing is dificult - -26C outside), the guy come in the shop, he as 2
:::electrical problems, strange one, i'm busy, but he on it's way east and
:::as 2
:::young children, i make room in the shop, he goes away, he comme back a
:::few
:::hours later, the dash is all appart, i still didn't find the first
:::problem,
:::he is impatient, it's 7pm, i'm hungry but keep on working, i tell him to
:::go
:::away again and call me later... at 10pm, i have fix and found the "Short"
:::that cause the 2 problem, of course it was not a "Stock wiring" problem
:::but
:::something that was done by a PO.... but i have to put everything back
:::togeher, it's now 11pm, i'm done, he come  back and tell me it took too
:::many hours.... can i arrange something... lower the # of hours a bit...
:::
:::My answer was simple, if you don't pay me i will burn your van you stupid
:::imbecile! i have spent all night working, i moved other people for you, i
:::didn't eat, i'm tired...
:::
:::I have learn something, i'm very helpfull and nice with.... nice and
:::understanding folks... the rest, well, they will pay big money! learn to
:::behave in life.
:::
:::AND DON'T TELL ME that some of you would never do so... you are also
:::customers, nd when it's time to pay you are transforming into somekind of
:::monster. I understand that there is "crooked" mechanic... there is also
:::dedicated and honest one... Me, a have lost TOO many hours working for
:::almost nothing, i was sometime afraid to tell the customer the true hours
:::it
:::took me to fix and find problemes tinking it took me too long from lack
:::of
:::experience... but i was wrong, today, it take me about the same ammount
:::of
:::hours for the same problem... AND I DON'T charge more hours than the real
:::#.
:::
:::So that said, communication is the conclusion, and / or if you really
:::think
:::you canot fix the problem, be humble and don't do it... else i WANNA be
:::paid
:::for the time i work on your van.... i a'm tired of customers putting
:::slowly
:::20$ after 20$ on the desk after a job and they look into my eyes like
:::they
:::think i will say stop, it's enough... don't give me the total... keep
:::some
:::for you...
:::
:::A mechanic point of view
:::Ben
:::
:::
:::--------------------------------------------------------------
:::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