How do I Get Crankshaft Nut off Kubota?

[orezok]

In CA it is illegal to charge for shop supplies.

The “used” shop supplies must be shown on the original estimate. This pretty much means shop supplies will be included unnoted in the original estimate.

 

[rScotty]

A quote that isn't reliable isn't a quote. Unless all the potential charges are mentioned up front, it's fraudulent, regardless of whether people are used to it.

I don't buy the suggestion that it depends on where you are. The vast majority of tradesmen I've used where I live right now have given me real quotes and lived up to them, but three shops in the same area jacked up their compensation without warning.

"I don't buy the suggestion that it depends on where you are."

That wasn't a suggestion. It's just the way the world works.
It's nice that you found an area that works for you.

rScotty

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

If it depended on where you live, things would be consistent where I am. It depends on the integrity of the business you're dealing with.

I hate to see myself agreeing with the government of California.

 

[rScotty]

If it depended on where you live, things would be consistent where I am. It depends on the integrity of the business you're dealing with.

I hate to see myself agreeing with the government of California.

No, it's just that we are talking about two different things. I thought we were talking about the entire US, not just a local area of one state. If you don't think that business practices are regarded differently in the rural areas of the of the Western States than they are in on the East Coast, you may be in for a surprise when you travel.

It isn't a matter of integrity - as I said, both areas have business people who consider that they are acting with integrity. And they are - within their own definitions.

rScotty

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

No, it's just that we are talking about two different things. I thought I made it clear that I was talking about the entire US, not just a local area of one state. If you don't think that business practices are regarded differently in the rural areas of the of the Western States than they are in on the East Coast, you may be in for a surprise when you travel.

It isn't a matter of integrity - as I said, both areas have business people who consider that they are acting with integrity. And they are - within their own definitions.

rScotty

We're talking about exactly the same thing. If all that mattered was location, the situation here wouldn't be hit and miss. Customers would be getting sandbagged all over the region. Maybe there are entire states where nobody understands what "quote" means, but California and I get it. A quote is a firm price provided in advance.

A contract requires a mutual understanding of each party's promises. Making a promise, or giving the appearance of making a promise, and then changing the terms after the work is done, violates the contract. The only way to avoid this problem and deal honestly is to inform the customer, in advance, that additional charges may be added even if no more work is done.

There is no integrity in jacking up a fixed quote. The entire purpose of a quote is to allow a customer to decide whether he wants to pay what the job will cost. When you lowball in order to get a job and then pile on fees for things that were not mentioned in advance, you're deceiving your customer. Then the customer has a choice: pay the ransom, abandon his property, or go to court. That's not right. I should have been informed up front.

Legally, I didn't owe these people one extra cent. I only paid in order to avoid more problems.

Where I live, there is no commonly accepted practice of lowballing and sandbagging. Most businesses do the right thing, so people who add fees without prior notice don't have the excuse of adhering to local practice.

 

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In CA it is illegal to charge for shop supplies.

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The “used” shop supplies must be shown on the original estimate. This pretty much means shop supplies will be included unnoted in the original estimate.

What I've experienced here in the east is you can be charged for "shop supplies". What goads me is that they can use just a little bit of what comes out of a tube or spray can but charge you for the entire tube or can that they can reuse 12 other times.
I once had a slow leak fixed where I purchased a set tires from a relatively new tire store that had been in business for about a month. I also purchased a "tire guarantee" that stated could get flats fixed for free. So I bring the vehicle over 3 yrs later and thinking I was leaving with "no charge". Nope...they charged me $10.50 for "shop material fee." $25 to dismount and remount the tire and an additional $20 to re-balance the tire.
The tire warrantee cost me an additional $125. There I was having to pay about an additional $55 for the "fix flats free guarantee".
When I questioned the bill I asked "what is the shop fee for" and they told me they had to use PB Blaster on the lug nuts. Upon which I stated "so a 900 ft lb impact couldn't do that? And they said "yes but we sprayed the lugs to get them on more smoothly and we used tire lube to get the tire back on the rim"
Then I said, "what happened to the "free tire fix"? They said "the tire fix was free" "We didn't charge you for the patch or the plug or the labor to apply those items".

So in my typical fashion I don't argue with stuff like this. I simply give choices. The choice I gave them was to either rescind every single charge on the bill or I'd take all of my tire business elsewhere seeing I'd already paid them for the tire flat fix guarantee. They stated they would accommodate me.
They then reduced the bill to $10.50 for "shop fees". When they presented me with the new "bill" I said "so this is what you really want?"
They said they "have to charge shop fees" no matter what as per management edict.. So I paid them the $10.50 and as I left I said "this is the last time I darken your door."
They just stood there and I never received an after call from "management".

So they have been doing business like this for the last 3 yrs and I can only assume they have treated every flat fix customer this same way since. The place is always "mobbed" with customers so I guess others have just "shrugged" and paid whatever they wanted.
They must be doing something right but I'll never know because I'll never experience this company again.