Why people don't keep older equipment running

[buck12]

Now you've hit on a subject that is a tender spot for me. This is not JD related, but is related to Dealerships.

The first thing you have to remember is that the people working at most dealerships are not mechanics but instead are technicians. Mechanics repair things, technicians replace things. One of the other posters on here made that clear in his post about a repair shop.

It think that the people who work at car dealerships a just inexperienced and get low pay on account of that. I have a 1997 Camaro Z28 that the last time I took it into the Chev dealer was because I could smell strong gas fumes from the fuel tank area.

They checked it out and said that the vent tube was broken or missing. So they were going to just put a new vent tube in and be done. Well the next day I got a call from the dealer saying that while attempting to replace the tube the "technician" broke the line from the fuel pump. So now a $300 job suddenly turned in to a $1,200 job.

After several e-mail conversations with the service manager, I was informed that the car is too old and they do not want to work on it any more. So much for Chev service.

Not saying you are wrong but I always thought of a mechanic as a parts replacer and a technician as someone who can diagnose a problem.

 

[ruffdog]

Not saying you are wrong but I always thought of a mechanic as a parts replacer and a technician as someone who can diagnose a problem.

A different title doesn't make the mechanic any better. Either they are good or not.

 

[buck12]

A different title doesn't make the mechanic any better. Either they are good or not.

Agreed. The person who can diagnose and repair is rare most fields.

 

[fried1765]

I do like fixing stuff because it is a challenge and I'm cheap.

I absolutely agree with you, but I am definitely getting so old that fixing stuff is becoming more challenging, and less appealing.

 

[ovrszd]

My eldest Son is an auto mechanic. One man shop. He's the Service Writer, Technician, Parts guy, Mechanic, Billing Clerk, Bill Collector.

He loves old iron. Until someone brings it in with a "small" problem. It's rarely a "small" problem. With old iron it turns into a "large" problem. Fortunately for him he personally knows his customers 99% of the time. He knows which ones can handle the truth and which ones can't. He's a good Service Writer and works out the bugs before the auto pulls in the shop.

If Richard001 thought fixing his fuel smell problem was a "small" problem he would have fixed it himself. When he took it to the shop he knew it was going to involve touching a LOT of fittings that hadn't moved since 1997. He didn't want to mess with it.

The shop now knows the auto and customer. They don't want to mess with it either.

Yesterday I watched my Son talk to a customer about a problem in their vehicle. They were wanting him to "take a look at it". He politely visited with them for about ten minutes discussing what the problem "might" or "could" be. Then he suggested a shop 15 miles away saying they were better equipped to deal with the issue. The customer left disappointed but not mad. After they left my Son said "that was going to be a sh*t show and cost more than the owner would want to pay. Then 30 minutes arguing over the bill would ensue. Then my Son would eat half the bill just to get it over with. Sometimes better to simply say the auto is too old and he don't want to work on it anymore.

 

[ruffdog]

My eldest Son is an auto mechanic. One man shop. He's the Service Writer, Technician, Parts guy, Mechanic, Billing Clerk, Bill Collector.

He loves old iron. Until someone brings it in with a "small" problem. It's rarely a "small" problem. With old iron it turns into a "large" problem. Fortunately for him he personally knows his customers 99% of the time. He knows which ones can handle the truth and which ones can't. He's a good Service Writer and works out the bugs before the auto pulls in the shop.

If Richard001 thought fixing his fuel smell problem was a "small" problem he would have fixed it himself. When he took it to the shop he knew it was going to involve touching a LOT of fittings that hadn't moved since 1997. He didn't want to mess with it.

The shop now knows the auto and customer. They don't want to mess with it either.

Yesterday I watched my Son talk to a customer about a problem in their vehicle. They were wanting him to "take a look at it". He politely visited with them for about ten minutes discussing what the problem "might" or "could" be. Then he suggested a shop 15 miles away saying they were better equipped to deal with the issue. The customer left disappointed but not mad. After they left my Son said "that was going to be a sh*t show and cost more than the owner would want to pay. Then 30 minutes arguing over the bill would ensue. Then my Son would eat half the bill just to get it over with. Sometimes better to simply say the auto is too old and he don't want to work on it anymore.

Yep, I've been there, done that before. You have to be on your toes when you write the RO and accept the job.

 

[pmsmechanic]

A different title doesn't make the mechanic any better. Either they are good or not.

I've seen self taught mechanics with no papers have a better idea of what's going on than a papered mechanic.

 

[fried1765]

My eldest Son is an auto mechanic. One man shop. He's the Service Writer, Technician, Parts guy, Mechanic, Billing Clerk, Bill Collector.

He loves old iron. Until someone brings it in with a "small" problem. It's rarely a "small" problem. With old iron it turns into a "large" problem. Fortunately for him he personally knows his customers 99% of the time. He knows which ones can handle the truth and which ones can't. He's a good Service Writer and works out the bugs before the auto pulls in the shop.

If Richard001 thought fixing his fuel smell problem was a "small" problem he would have fixed it himself. When he took it to the shop he knew it was going to involve touching a LOT of fittings that hadn't moved since 1997. He didn't want to mess with it.

The shop now knows the auto and customer. They don't want to mess with it either.

Yesterday I watched my Son talk to a customer about a problem in their vehicle. They were wanting him to "take a look at it". He politely visited with them for about ten minutes discussing what the problem "might" or "could" be. Then he suggested a shop 15 miles away saying they were better equipped to deal with the issue. The customer left disappointed but not mad. After they left my Son said "that was going to be a sh*t show and cost more than the owner would want to pay. Then 30 minutes arguing over the bill would ensue. Then my Son would eat half the bill just to get it over with. Sometimes better to simply say the auto is too old and he don't want to work on it anymore.

I use two different private repair shops.
One is in New England, and one is in Florida.
I have several vehicles that I drive somewhat regularly.
One is 23 years old (Suburban), another 33 years old (Jeep).
Neither private mechanic has EVER suggested that I should have repairs done elsewhere!

 

[dnw64]

Not saying you are wrong but I always thought of a mechanic as a parts replacer and a technician as someone who can diagnose a problem.

I would say it slightly different, and a different order.

A technician can diagnose the problem. Once determined, the mechanic can figure out the best way to correct it. It may be some grinding, welding, re-threading, who knows? Worst case scenario you replace it.

 

[om21braz]

My eldest Son is an auto mechanic. One man shop. He's the Service Writer, Technician, Parts guy, Mechanic, Billing Clerk, Bill Collector.

He loves old iron. Until someone brings it in with a "small" problem. It's rarely a "small" problem. With old iron it turns into a "large" problem. Fortunately for him he personally knows his customers 99% of the time. He knows which ones can handle the truth and which ones can't. He's a good Service Writer and works out the bugs before the auto pulls in the shop.

If Richard001 thought fixing his fuel smell problem was a "small" problem he would have fixed it himself. When he took it to the shop he knew it was going to involve touching a LOT of fittings that hadn't moved since 1997. He didn't want to mess with it.

The shop now knows the auto and customer. They don't want to mess with it either.

Yesterday I watched my Son talk to a customer about a problem in their vehicle. They were wanting him to "take a look at it". He politely visited with them for about ten minutes discussing what the problem "might" or "could" be. Then he suggested a shop 15 miles away saying they were better equipped to deal with the issue. The customer left disappointed but not mad. After they left my Son said "that was going to be a sh*t show and cost more than the owner would want to pay. Then 30 minutes arguing over the bill would ensue. Then my Son would eat half the bill just to get it over with. Sometimes better to simply say the auto is too old and he don't want to work on it anymore.

Sounds like a fellow I know. You don't take your vehicle over there to get it worked on - you first go visit to see if he will work on it. For those he won't work on, he typically tosses the "visitor" the car ad section of the newspaper.