Assistance denied when needed

[Ixion]

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.....??

I'm glad I can do my own welding. But what would be the position on a WOF if someone else, in the future, notices the welded up housing ? for the customer (no WOF for you ?) and you (Who did this ?)

[el milanes]

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.

Your stories are quite scary! have you had good customers anytimes?

[Motu]

I'm glad I can do my own welding. But what would be the position on a WOF if someone else, in the future, notices the welded up housing ? for the customer (no WOF for you ?) and you (Who did this ?)

Well,for a start my welding looks better than the factory job,I think that's why they crack.But yes,that's how it happens - follow the trail passing the buck until you find someone to take the whole blame,that's how these new systems work.

[Ixion]

Well,for a start my welding looks better than the factory job,I think that's why they crack.But yes,that's how it happens - follow the trail passing the buck until you find someone to take the whole blame,that's how these new systems work.

Oh, so it was the original welding had cracked around the weld line ? Not a crack from dropping onto Big BadAss Rock somewhere ? I guess a rewelded weld is less likely to attract attention.

[Motu]

have you had good customers anytimes?

Heaps!! That's what I love about my job,when someone appreciates what I do for them.It's a pity that some people,from all walks of life,see only negatives.''Hey,you fixed my flat tyre yesterday,now it's gone flat again,it was on the motorway and now the tyre is destroyed! You have to put a new tyre on because it's your fault!''

Yeah,but I fixed the left front,that's the left rear....

What I'm getting at is this is the sort of attitude out there these days,and I see it everyday on this forum - someone is to blame,it's someones fault,someones responsability....everyone is on the defensive,and that puts everyone else on the defensive.OK,you see it as normal,but for those of us from an older generation it undercuts the basic values we came into this world around,it's almost an ailien world out there.

[el milanes]

I suppose for cars there's a lot more competition, here in Lower Hutt I can't count the service stations.
I've changed a few, not because I haven't been serviced well, but of course because you always try to get the best value out of your money.
With motorbikes it's different, there's just a little competion, but everything is much more expensive, so you expect a good service. Also you get to know people you deal with better because there are less of us around. I think that's a good thing.
And finally we all learn. We start with small, cheap, old motorbikes. But one day maybe we'll be able to afford a Ducati. So there's a potential for each customer, even the one with the crappy japanese bike.
But hey, when I had it serviced the first time I had to give them $600 !! so, who says that little bikes have little running costs!?

[madboy]

It's good to hear that TSS came to the party. It was a surprise for me to hear this story to begin with. I guess everyone has an off day. Always been top blokes for me to deal with, even before I started parting with serious money. What I particularly like is that they understand me... they know that I've got no desire to part with any cash I don't have to, and they know I'm more than willing to ignore even the best of advice when it doesn't suit my own selfish interests. And yet they still talk to me

I guess this thread really proves the theory - one dissatisfied customer tells XX people, who tell XXXX people etc etc... A message that most shop owners, Stew in particular, will be well aware of.

[skelstar]

I like that they show me how to do rudimentary maintenance when im a complete noob. Ta guys!