Assistance denied when needed

**el milanes** · 15th September 2005, 09:46

I've been contacted by the manager of TSS who wanted to know exactly how it went. I explained and he said that I shouldn't have been sent off under those circumstances. But it's true that I arrived around 6pm, that means afterhours since they close at 5:30. He apologised anyway and was very helpful.
I apologised myself for not having talked to him before putting the thing on the forum.
My faith is restored and I'd be happy to return with my bike to TSS.

**skelstar** · 15th September 2005, 09:53

Thats a good result. Its one in which (hopefully) everyone wins. Good on you too for not singeling them out by name when your faith in them was in question.

**gromit** · 15th September 2005, 09:53

Great stuff. It's always good to get a positive resolution. Glad things have worked out for ya.

**MSTRS:Me** · 15th September 2005, 10:01

Originally Posted by crashe

... most of us don't bite.... only one or two do...

I resent that

**zadok** · 15th September 2005, 10:12

Welcome to K.B mate and good to hear things turned out ok.

**ManDownUnder** · 15th September 2005, 10:23

Originally Posted by crashe

... most of us don't bite.... only one or two do...

Yeah - some people SUCK...

but... that COULD be a good thing right?

**ManDownUnder** · 15th September 2005, 10:26

I think it's worth mentioning there is a list of emergency contacts here on KB for help with stuff like this...

Not sure where to find it though (DOH) - can anyone helpout?

**Pixie** · 15th September 2005, 11:28

This reminds me of a story about enthusiasm I read once.
An english Ferrari owner had engine trouble late at night while driving in northern Italy.He went to the nearest farmhouse to see if he could use the phone.The resident wasn't happy about being woken up, but once he realised it was a Ferrari,he took the motorist to his workshop,which was well equiped with machine tools, and spent several hours reproducing a workable replacement part.

It's a pity the guy in the bike shop didn't have the same attitude

PS. In southern Italy they'd kill you and steal the car.

**BNZ** · 15th September 2005, 12:23

Originally Posted by Motu

Sad isn't it? I own a workshop and do the same myself...refuse to help people over simple things,say I'm shut and close the door.

What happened to the world? Or more correctly to the wonderful country we knew? OSH,Consumer Rights,Small Claims Courts and every other sort of PC rubbish you can think off.No longer will a business put themselves out for a customer...not when there is the potential for the customer to turn around and take the business to court for something they asked the business to do in the first place.It makes me very upset to be an unhelpful sod and know they go away and tell everyone about that miserable prick down the road...not my choice,we've been backed into a corner - once again,the consumer pays.

Thats why you should all deal with Spectrum in Takapuna! These guys have helped me well after hours, even when it meant unpacking some tools etc that had all been put away for the day. Awesome team down there!

**el milanes** · 15th September 2005, 13:19

Originally Posted by Pixie

In southern Italy they'd kill you and steal the car.

So would they in many other places. Btw, I'm from Italy

And, I'd respectfully correct your signature:

Originally Posted by Pixie

Lasciate ogni speranza voi ch' entrate.

In the original it's:
Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate

**Ixion** · 15th September 2005, 13:37

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

I think it's worth mentioning there is a list of emergency contacts here on KB for help with stuff like this...

Not sure where to find it though (DOH) - can anyone helpout?

It's a sticky thread called "Members offering help" in General bike Stuff -> General Bike Ravings

here

**Motu** · 15th September 2005, 14:28

Originally Posted by BNZ

Thats why you should all deal with Spectrum in Takapuna! These guys have helped me well after hours, even when it meant unpacking some tools etc that had all been put away for the day. Awesome team down there!

I've helped people after hours too,lot's of times - one time I was helping a couple of guys outside one cold dark night,they were on their way up North and I just sorted a couple of small items for them - when they asked how much I said no worries,I'm happy to help....when I came back inside I found my till busted open and cleaned out,they were distracting me while their mate did the job - I can go on with many such tales,but don't need to.I've learnt my lesson,help is not appreciated,if they don't rip you off they moan,if they don't moan they'll stab you in the back with some Consumers Rights claim.

I've just come back from seeing my engine reconditioner...he's just come back from a court appearance - one of his customers who runs a workshop of good repute did a cambelt job on a dohc Legacy,I think it was tied up with another job they were doing.The only way to do a proper job on these is to do the works,cambelt,3 idlers,tensioner,silicon adjuster,water pump,cam and crank seals - of course that costs heaps,so the customer says the water pump had just been done,so don't replace it.Job done and out the door - 30,000km and the water pump fails,taking the cambelt and valves with it.Another garage picks up the repair and says the water pump should of been replaced when the belt was - so the owner is now sueing the first mechanic for doing what he was told,my engine guy being dragged along as he did the head repair.The first guy is told ''you should of known better'' than to not replace the pump....but if he did replace the pump against the owners wishes Consumer Rights would say he doesn't have to pay for work he didn't authorise - it's a lose lose situation for tradesmen,kinda scary wondering which job is going to come back and sting you.

**skelstar** · 15th September 2005, 14:33

Im guessing in these situations a workshop manager would require the customer to sign something that would say 'I understand that it was recomemmended that i replace blahblah but have decided to for go these replacements'...blah blah. Its a bit anal and a pity but this is indicative of the consumer society these days etc I suppose?

**Motu** · 15th September 2005, 15:02

Oh yes,done all the time - but the onus is still on the tradesman - ''he should know better'' than to do sub quality work,even if the customer signs a form saying it's ok by him.You can't opt out of your contract...but of course if we all did that we'd get no work,so we just hope customers are honest and don't go back on their word.Here's one we did yesterday....

A Series I Pajero with oil leaking from the rear diff housing - it has a big crack,about 200mm long.10 yrs ago we would just weld that up,but these days?? Oh boy,that's a hot potato,a structural suspension part,we can no longer repair these things,it has to be repaired by someone approved by LTNZ with a 4711 welding ticket.I try to source a housing from a dismantler,but none are available,the ones I can get will be $900.The customer doesn't want to pay that much money,he wants me to just weld it up.I have a yarn to my friend who is a welder on transport equipment and we decide it's not really load bearing.I explain to the customer that I really don't want to do it and what could possibly happen to me if the shit hits the fan - ''oh no,I wouldn't come back at you,I'm just happy for you repair it for me without spending too much money''.So we remove the housing and gut it,V the crack and I weld it up,then it's all put back together.It's a million to one chance of anything happening,I'm confident in my repair,after all it's what I'm trained to do,it's my job - or atleast it was until consumer Rights came along.But.....??