Same old fiddle and guitar...

-

j par

Well-hung Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2014
Messages
33,156
Reaction score
20,806
Location
Portland Oregon
Potential customer calls with mid-60s Chevy that he wants help getting started.
Question number one, when was the last time it was running? About one or two years ago. I said one? Or two years? He said I got it about two years ago or so. so you got it two years ago and drove it to where it is now running fine and shut it off? So it was an old man who passed family member told me it was running fine.... So you I've never heard this car run and not only that you have no idea when the last time it ran or in what condition it did run? (The only possible answer) yes.
it's like the same old fiddle and guitar I have to go through when I talk to people. I have to go on this fact-finding Mission or get there and find all the stuff out after it's running and knocking and smoking like an old Pig....
How about the truth?
A couple years ago I stumbled upon this estate sale where this old cat had passed and I got a car for a song and threw it in a friend's Barn a couple years ago and now I want to get it started so I can flip it and make some money....
 
Potential customer calls with mid-60s Chevy that he wants help getting started.
Question number one, when was the last time it was running? About one or two years ago. I said one? Or two years? He said I got it about two years ago or so. so you got it two years ago and drove it to where it is now running fine and shut it off? So it was an old man who passed family member told me it was running fine.... So you I've never heard this car run and not only that you have no idea when the last time it ran or in what condition it did run? (The only possible answer) yes.
it's like the same old fiddle and guitar I have to go through when I talk to people. I have to go on this fact-finding Mission or get there and find all the stuff out after it's running and knocking and smoking like an old Pig....
How about the truth?
A couple years ago I stumbled upon this estate sale where this old cat had passed and I got a car for a song and threw it in a friend's Barn a couple years ago and now I want to get it started so I can flip it and make some money....
But don't spend any money!
 
Potential customer calls with mid-60s Chevy that he wants help getting started.
Question number one, when was the last time it was running? About one or two years ago. I said one? Or two years? He said I got it about two years ago or so. so you got it two years ago and drove it to where it is now running fine and shut it off? So it was an old man who passed family member told me it was running fine.... So you I've never heard this car run and not only that you have no idea when the last time it ran or in what condition it did run? (The only possible answer) yes.
it's like the same old fiddle and guitar I have to go through when I talk to people. I have to go on this fact-finding Mission or get there and find all the stuff out after it's running and knocking and smoking like an old Pig....
How about the truth?
A couple years ago I stumbled upon this estate sale where this old cat had passed and I got a car for a song and threw it in a friend's Barn a couple years ago and now I want to get it started so I can flip it and make some money....
what they often really want is to pick your brain so they can run off and try your suggestions without actually hiring you or spending any money
 
what they often really want is to pick your brain so they can run off and try your suggestions without actually hiring you or spending any money
That's why I go to a friend who is a mechanic, I can pick his brain and try it myself, and he doesn't need to work on my crap. He's an old Mopar guy with a '71 GTX 440+6/4speed car. Works nice for me, and he gets to take my money if it's beyond my abilities. Mostly use him for the newer vehicles.

But people need to be more accurate with their description of what's wrong. Here in small town America, they usually get it right.
 
That's why I go to a friend who is a mechanic, I can pick his brain and try it myself, and he doesn't need to work on my crap. He's an old Mopar guy with a '71 GTX 440+6/4speed car. Works nice for me, and he gets to take my money if it's beyond my abilities. Mostly use him for the newer vehicles.

But people need to be more accurate with their description of what's wrong. Here in small town America, they usually get it right.
OP has Potential customer where you are talking friend, there in lies the difference..... it's nice to have friends :thumbsup:
 
OP has Potential customer where you are talking friend, there in lies the difference..... it's nice to have friends :thumbsup:
True, but I've worked at plenty of shops where the customer doesn't know it tell the truth. I go to a friend because he knows what he is doing. It's all business, I get no breaks whatsoever (hoped I'd get a labor discount, real time vs book time, but nope) and I'm treated like anyone else. And I get to wait like anyone else. Drop the car off, shoot the ****, and head home and wait for the vehicle to be done. Having credit with him doesn't hurt either, currently paying down my rebuild of the suspension and steering I did this spring. But I hate owing money, so it will be paid off quickly.
 
information to a friend is free but pull the car in and take up a bay and my time, I got to charge you because like you said, it's business. I do give my friends the "family discount".
 
I do give my friends the "family discount".
10% over book time? :lol:

I like the hourly rate sign that if you help, it's $200 an hour.

Might have to buy this one for the garage!

il_570xN.1750190305_7brh.jpg
 
-
Back
Top