Moral Dilemma

[AshMan]

Okay,

Bloke gets his *new* XF towed into work the other day for a roadworthy.

Has like 350,000km + on the clock.

The car failed miserably, with items like rust on the firewall, oil leaks, coolant leaks, possible blown headgasket, 3 bald tyres, unsecured drivers seat... the list just keeps going.

Firstly, the fella said he paid $500 for the car, and that he knows nothing about cars. (to prepare for the roadworthy all he did was drown the interior in deodrant...) He is very insistant on having the repairs done so we quote him an abitrary figure of $2000 to try to discourage him from bothering...

He still wants the repairs done!

Now, my opinion is that he bought the car because it had brandnew looking chrome 12 slotters and had a nice exhaust note.

The mechanic wants to take his money, yet I would prefer to convince the fellow not to bother and to spend his money on an ED/EF...

Do I just shutup and take the money or talk him out of it???

[Scott]

Black & White, take the $$. Business in business, wood ducks don't come by every day. He's been warned, what more does he need?

[AshMan]

Thats fair enough I suppose, we aren't a charity after all...

[XR8putts]

He needs to be taught a lesson, take his money.

[I6corp]

Its not up to you to discourage stupid people, lol.

You have given him all the information, and in the end its up to him.

[Kryton]

as above. if you dont know about cars....you learn.
take the money, do the work and wait for the car to come back in 6 months when its stuffed again.
do the job properly and get his trust he will always come back.

[DOC]

You need a poll to tell you if you should do the right thing by a customer ?

brilliant remind me where not to shop.

[Gilesie]

All of my repeat work came from being honest.
just because he doesnt know does not mean that he should be ripped.
(I am not suggesting that the repairs would not cost that much, just that there are cheaper alternatives)
I know that I will tell people about the bad deals that I get in exactly the same way that I tell them about the good guys.

If you deceide to take his $ just let us know your company name so we know who to avoid.

[Gilesie]

I just cast my vote and am appauled by the amount of people saying take the money.
would you have the same opinion if it was me takeing your money?
I know if it was my sons car and he told me about it I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR BLOOD.
now ask yourself the same :

[flappist]

Originally Posted by Gilesie

I just cast my vote and am appauled by the amount of people saying take the money.
would you have the same opinion if it was me takeing your money?
I know if it was my sons car and he told me about it I WOULD BE LOOKING FOR BLOOD.
now ask yourself the same :

But then like all sons, and yours is no different, he is much cleverer than his did.... I know I thought always was.
N.B. My dad actually ran a motor vehicle manufacturing company in the '60s but that didn't stop me doing stupid stuff like spending a fortune (for me) trying to make a HK holden 161 3 speed manual into a "hot street machine"

Maybe if he stuffs up with a small amount of monet and learns the hard way it is better than in 5 years wasting LOTS of money on a silly project.....

Life is just one big long lesson really......

[Gilesie]

Originally Posted by flappist

But then like all sons, and yours is no different, he is much cleverer than his did.... I know I thought always was.
N.B. My dad actually ran a motor vehicle manufacturing company in the '60s but that didn't stop me doing stupid stuff like spending a fortune (for me) trying to make a HK holden 161 3 speed manual into a "hot street machine"

Maybe if he stuffs up with a small amount of monet and learns the hard way it is better than in 5 years wasting LOTS of money on a silly project.....

Life is just one big long lesson really......

Fortuanatly my boy knows if your going to spend money on a project make sure it is a bit out of the ordinary.

[brenx]

Some people just get set on a particular car. If he wants it fixed? Fix it. Just ask if he's sure before you commence work and remember the customer is always correct ;) If he thinks it's a great car? It is.

[agony]

People should learn by their mistakes not go through live with someone holding their hand.

[flappist]

Are you guys REALLY suggesting that wasting stupidly huge amounts of money on old junk purely for emotional reasons when a newer higher performance (in all ways) vehicle is available for the same or less money is a BAD thing??

REALLY???????

All the XY GTHO owners are going to hate you...........

[protd]

i think tell him, we all had to learn someone told us what was right and wrong this guy has that right also, up to you however,

[MITCHAY]

I'd know I would have a lot more respect if someone told me it wasn't worth doing. Mechanics have told me before not to do some work and I've always gone back. It shows honesty.

When I get my next car (boost! :evil_laug) he will be doing my servicing. This guy knocked back $1000 worth of work excluding labour, because he was honest to me. Sometimes you lose money to make money.

You could screw him over for $2000, but having a client rather than a one off customer is much more valuable. A happy customer will rarely tell people how good the service was but a unhappy customer will tell everyone!

[mcflux]

EDIT: I've misread some of your initial post. The mechanic you mention at your workplace sounds like a *****.

If the customer still wants to have his XF fixed, that's his prerogative. Just make sure you're upfront and honest about all the costs involved, talk him through it, and if he still wants to go ahead with it all after everything's been spelt out to him, then who are you to say no? He's offering you good business, he'd be fully aware of what he's paying for after you've sat him down & gone through everthing...

[AUIII XR8 MAN]

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

If the customer still wants to have his XF fixed, that's his prerogative. Just make sure you're upfront and honest about all the costs involved, talk him through it, and if he still wants to go ahead with it all after everything's been spelt out to him, then who are you to say no? He's offering you good business, he'd be fully aware of what he's paying for after you've sat him down & gone through everthing...

I agree If you tell him everything he needs to know than repair the car correctly at a fair price if he still want too. Maybe try telling he could buy another XF in better condition, use that & use the other XF as spare & any bits he want of that XF could be transfer onto the better XF.

[AshMan]

I personally did everything I could to discourage the guy, but being a first year apprentice I don't exactly have much sway when it comes down to bottom lines and profit margins...

I am almost upset that the trady I work with is not doing enough to discourage the person from throwing money at it.

The mechanic even suggested for the fellow to save some money by doing some of the repairs himself, such as degrease the engine, but refuses to even get his hands dirty.


At the end of the day, I guess I just have to do what I'm told...

[mcflux]

Originally Posted by AshMan

I personally did everything I could to discourage the guy...

At the end of the day, I guess I just have to do what I'm told...

I suppose that's all you can do... Don't fret too much, you've done your bit to try & offer the XF owner honest advice.

[fiery]

Ash to be honest, as long as your mechanical repair shop has been honest with the guy and told him what it will cost etc...
Then there is no issue..

To those of you that are saying that 'tell us who you are so we can avoid you'.. be real!!!!

The guy might seriously like the car and if he does not want to listen to reason and try to save money because this is the actual car he wants.. how on earth should this be Ashman - or the other mechanics problem...

I know of people that love their car and pay out whatever money necessary to fix it just because of what it is, not what its going to cost to fix...

Ashman, you have done what is required.. it is the car owners choice at the end of the day..

I know when I bought my car and had to spend so many thousands on it a week after owning it, there was no way anyone could talk me out of it.. It was the car I wanted and it was the car I was going to have...

I am so disappointed with so many in not realising that Ashman wasn't saying about ripping someone off purposely..
He was simply asking for a bit of advice.. those of you that think he (or the business he is working for) is ripping this guy off.. couldn't you have offered some solid ground advice instead of picking...

I don't know what there is anyone could say mind you, the car owner has final say...

[AshMan]

Originally Posted by fiery

Ash to be honest, as long as your mechanical repair shop has been honest with the guy and told him what it will cost etc...
Then there is no issue..

To those of you that are saying that 'tell us who you are so we can avoid you'.. be real!!!!

The guy might seriously like the car and if he does not want to listen to reason and try to save money because this is the actual car he wants.. how on earth should this be Ashman - or the other mechanics problem...

I know of people that love their car and pay out whatever money necessary to fix it just because of what it is, not what its going to cost to fix...

Ashman, you have done what is required.. it is the car owners choice at the end of the day..

I know when I bought my car and had to spend so many thousands on it a week after owning it, there was no way anyone could talk me out of it.. It was the car I wanted and it was the car I was going to have...

I am so disappointed with so many in not realising that Ashman wasn't saying about ripping someone off purposely..
He was simply asking for a bit of advice.. those of you that think he (or the business he is working for) is ripping this guy off.. couldn't you have offered some solid ground advice instead of picking...

I don't know what there is anyone could say mind you, the car owner has final say...

Thanks fiery, I'm glad someone can appreciate that I'm trying to do the right thing but its basically out of my hands.

As we quoted the fellow $2000, that was a VERY generous estimate, as we all know parts can be harder to find and repairs can take longer than originally thought, so I guess all I can do is do a good job, use decent parts and hopefully the fella will learn a lesson in the process when the next thing goes wrong.

Cheers

[rag top]

After $2k has been spent on it, he now has a roadworthy car for $2500.
If he bought an Eb/d, he would still have to spend money on that. Also, why did he choose an XF? Maybe he likes the shape.

[MotherNatureVer2]

Originally Posted by rag top

After $2k has been spent on it, he now has a roadworthy car for $2500.
If he bought an Eb/d, he would still have to spend money on that. Also, why did he choose an XF? Maybe he likes the shape.

As I was reading this thread this EXACT thought came to mind ........

He is doing as I did .... saw a cheap car for next to nothing (knew it needed a bit of work)(not the Sprint)..... he is getting a repair shop to fix ... we did ourselves ......... we both still have a cheap roadworthy car :

No brainer in my opinion IF you guys are being honest with him you will get a repeat customer who will more than likely learn as he goes ;)

[Scott]

Originally Posted by AshMan

He is very insistant on having the repairs done.....

Speaks volumes, take his business, do a good job and charge him accordingly.

[Uni]

this guy obviously trusts you, its your duty to tell him the truth

besides which, if you pass the vehicle (which is clearly a POS) as roadworthy and he has a big off and kills or worse injures himself severely, you may be liable.


Uni/.

[Bucket]

Well...Lay it out clearly to the guy...let him know that it's a waste of money...that he would be better off with annother newer car...tell him you feel like your ripping him off..if he still wants to go ahead
you have done everything you can to persude hime and it wont work, you may as well go ahead.

[Dazza XLT]

Give him the options.
But at the end of the day... The customer is always right. If he wants it fixed, then fix it!

[Scott]

Why is it being suggested throughout this thread that the guy is being ripped off?

If $2000.00 worth of work is done then who is getting ripped?

[Gilesie]

Originally Posted by GMH8TR

Why is it being suggested throughout this thread that the guy is being ripped off?

If $2000.00 worth of work is done then who is getting ripped?

Originally Posted by Gilesie

(I am not suggesting that the repairs would not cost that much, just that there are cheaper alternatives)

The guy is being ripped if the guy doing the job is not honest with him.