I once saw a sign (it's been many years ago now) in a shop on this
subject.  The sign showed a customer burdened with the makings of meal,
some of which had flies buzzing around, standing at the counter of a
diner.  The caption read something like, "You don't ask a restaurant to
cook your breakfast from stuff you bring in.  Don't ask us to install
parts you bring in."

On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 10:31 AM , Jake de Villiers wrote:

> That's just perfect Mark!   =)
>
> On Thu, Sep 17, 2009 at 5:41 AM, Mark Dearing  wrote:
>
>> In a message dated 9/16/2009 11:20:55 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,
>> thargrav@HIWAAY.NET writes:
>>
>> I have a  very different opinion.
>>
>> A friend who is dead now, used to work on all  my stuff I could not
>> get to,
>> would not let customers bring in their own  parts. He stated more
>> than once
>> that he was tired of customers bringing in  used stuff that often was
>> not
>> in
>> any better shape than what he pulled off  and he was tired of
>> customers
>> bringing in incorrect parts.
>>
>> He would  let customers pick up & pay for parts with their own money
>> provided
>> he  ordered what was needed.
>>
>> As far as cost is concerned? Shops do get a  discount, but they
>> should, and
>> they should make a profit on the parts they  buy to install on your
>> Vanagon.
>> It's just a part of business, like gasoline  at a gas station or milk
>> from
>> WallyWorld.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Tom  Hargrave
>> 256-656-1924
>>
>> Our Web  Sites:
>> www.kegkits.com
>> www.stir-plate.com
>> www.andyshotsauce.com
>>
>>
>> -----Original  Message-----
>> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]  On
>> Behalf
>> Of
>> B
>> Feddish
>> Sent: Wednesday, September 16, 2009 7:25  PM
>> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>> Subject: Mechanics using customer  supplied parts.. Was bars leaks
>>
>>>> If you have a mechanic that  refuses to warranty parts not
>>>> purchased
>> through him, I can fully understand  his postion, however to refuse
>> to
>> install anything that he didn't sell you  is an indicator that you
>> need to
>> consider a new wrench.  As times get  tighter and the willing
>> spenders
>> become
>> fewer in number some attitudes  along these lines will change.
>>
>> My Vanagon Shop will install whatever  proper part you bring, but
>> only
>> warranty the labor and installation, not  the part.  So if it falls
>> off,
>> he'll fix it, if it breaks you pay to  fix it.  Pretty fair I'd say.
>>  (Kudos
>> to StephansAutohaus,  Sacramento, an oasis of service and
>> professionalism
>> in
>> a desert of  mediocrity)  >
>> Good topic.  I've always had mechanics that  would put in parts that
>> I knew
>> were considerably cheaper than what they  could get. My current
>> mechanic
>> had
>> no problem with it and would even stop  work to call me to say I need
>> "x"
>> part and if I could get it cheaper at say  BD or somewhere else.  I
>> never
>> abused this by showing up with spark  plugs and distributer caps but
>> a $99
>> BD
>> muffler beats $300 from the dealer,  no matter if he added a "secret
>> markup".
>> Unfortunatly my mechanic had a  fallout with his partner and closed
>> shop
>> and
>> now he works for a shop nearby  as regular mechanic and the owner
>> HATES
>> that
>> I bring parts. He gave my wife  the nastiest look when she was
>> dragging my
>> BD
>> EV muffler into the shop last  week. I even gave them the chance to
>> find a
>> non-dealer muffler for the EV  and they cound not.  If they ever tell
>> me to
>> stop bringing my own  stuff I'll find another mechanic.
>>
>> Bryan
>>
>>
>>
>> hey guys  what I do is tell the customer this,  first no  quarantee
>> of any
>> kind, second if it is the wrong part and I have to reinstall  your
>> old part
>> till the correct part comes in I have to charge you for the job  and
>> then
>> again when I do it again, third if it is the wrong part and the
>> vehicle  is
>> stuck on my lift then it is $50/hour when it is sitting there waiting
>> on
>> you
>> to get me the correct part.  last my labor rate for your parts just
>> went
>> up.  This is when they normally tell me to get the correct  parts
>> later
>> mark  dearing
>>
>
>
>
> --
> Jake
>
> 1984 Vanagon GL
> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>
> Crescent Beach, BC
>
> www.thebassspa.com
> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
> http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27