Found it On The Internet ---- Information sources, can they all be trusted

Gonzo have you ever had people come in an tell you what they think is wrong with their car because they read it on the internet. When it is all said and done you find out that the problem was nothing closed to what they were talking about. Those are some of the worst customers of all.

All the time ... all the time... An even better situation is the customer who buys a car over the internet because it's such a great deal. Then when they get my estimate their friendly little story about such a good deal becomes, "You've got to be kidding me! I think you're just trying to rip me off!" Just like the guy in this story, good things don't come cheap, and the internet doesn't guarantee you'll get what ya paid for. LOL

Gonzo have you ever had people come in an tell you what they think is wrong with their car because they read it on the internet. When it is all said and done you find out that the problem was nothing closed to what they were talking about. Those are some of the worst customers of all.

Gonzo, you can bet your paycheck that he got someone to solder that wire. Trust me, he did.

I guess what disturbs me the most is his lack of respect for what we do. Who do these people think we are: A group of dummies that could not make it any other profession and had to settle for the simple life in Car Repair???

Let’s turn this around a bit with this scenario:

I hurt my shoulder playing racquet ball. I go on the internet and research my injury and pain. I determine that I have a torn rotator cuff. I do more online research and find a relatively new procedure for repairing the tear in my shoulder. I download the paper work, bring it my doctor and say, “Here it is Doc, I did all the research, here’s my problem and here’s the solution. So Doc, let’s schedule that surgery based on these procedure.” Does this ever happen? I hope not!

We see this too every day, and I am like you Gonzo; I’m the Car Doctor, I do the diagnosis, I recommend the repair. YOU the customer can say YES or NO. The End!

(Boy Gonzo, you got my blood pressure up….Again)

Gonzo, you can bet your paycheck that he got someone to solder that wire. Trust me, he did.

 

I guess what disturbs me the most is his lack of respect for what we do. Who do these people think we are: A group of dummies that could not make it any other profession and had to settle for the simple life in Car Repair???

 

Let’s turn this around a bit with this scenario:

 

I hurt my shoulder playing racquet ball. I go on the internet and research my injury and pain. I determine that I have a torn rotator cuff. I do more online research and find a relatively new procedure for repairing the tear in my shoulder. I download the paper work, bring it my doctor and say, “Here it is Doc, I did all the research, here’s my problem and here’s the solution. So Doc, let’s schedule that surgery based on these procedure.” Does this ever happen? I hope not!

 

We see this too every day, and I am like you Gonzo; I’m the Car Doctor, I do the diagnosis, I recommend the repair. YOU the customer can say YES or NO. The End!

 

(Boy Gonzo, you got my blood pressure up….Again)

It is not only from the internet but we get it all the time from so and so told me. 90% of the people calling to our shop for a price on a thermostat to fix an overheating problem do not have a thermostat problem. Some will listen to us when we talk to them but some are convinced that all we are trying to do is sell them repairs they don't have to have. The truth is we are wanting to help them fix the problem and if we replace the thermostat first they may not have enough money left to do the needed repair.

It often goes like this, my brother-in-law who works at Toyota told me. Then you find out that the brother-in-law does cleanup and detailing or he is a salesman.

You guys know exactly what I was getting at with this story. I'll have to admit, the direction I took with this guy did not end up with a paycheck, however, I didn't need to worry about a repair that I was not comfortable with. These so called experts and internet wanna-be's really get my blood to boil too Joe. I think the research and information on the net is super.... IF.... taken in the right context.

We all want to make sure we are not getting screwed over, but for heavens sake.... verify your information.

I'm a car doctor, sure, but I'm not the "All-Mighty-Know-Everything-About-Cars" guy. I make mistakes too. The problem I see is that I know I'm capable of mistakes, I know I can get something diagnosed wrong.... AND... when someone comes in and tells me that their thermostat is going to fix their problem... the mistake has already been made for me. Now...I'm just a stupid idiot that couldn't get a job doing something else ... or as they may think... THAT'S why I WILL NOT DO these type of jobs.

Don't make me look stupid... I'm perfectly capable of doing that myself.

It is not only from the internet but we get it all the time from so and so told me. 90% of the people calling to our shop for a price on a thermostat to fix an overheating problem do not have a thermostat problem. Some will listen to us when we talk to them but some are convinced that all we are trying to do is sell them repairs they don't have to have. The truth is we are wanting to help them fix the problem and if we replace the thermostat first they may not have enough money left to do the needed repair.

 

It often goes like this, my brother-in-law who works at Toyota told me. Then you find out that the brother-in-law does cleanup and detailing or he is a salesman.

Thats part of the reason why I feel we need some sort of regulation were we have to be licesened or certified or at least insured. That way the shade tree or crap shops will get fined or punished for doing the crappy work i see and refuse to fix.

Nice thought Brian, probably will never happen. As long as there is a place to buy parts and a place to buy tools... people will be "shade-treeing" their cars.

Imagine it this way... hundreds of years from now. A guy is standing in front of an Autozone, with a lazer wrench installing a phase shifter, while using the on-board GPS to locate the nearest solar flare to generate the sub-partical fusion reactor. All this to avoid dealing with the dealership or independent repair shop. Because he is either trying to save a buck, or wants to do the repairs himself. So it really doesn't matter if it's a phase shifter,a starter, or some obscure dash problem on a Lexus. People will try to fix it themselves. Always have, always will.

LOL... as long as there are people and personal transportation.... somebody out there will think they can do it smarter and better than you or me... It's just a part of the business.

Thats part of the reason why I feel we need some sort of regulation were we have to be licesened or certified or at least insured. That way the shade tree or crap shops will get fined or punished for doing the crappy work i see and refuse to fix.

Someone told me in canada u have to be licensed and insured or its against the law. That would be nice if enforced.

Yes, I believe that's the law, also, in Florida they are trying to pass a state law making in "unlawful" to repair cars in front of your house or in the driveway. All work must be done inside a home garage or at a approved facility (such as a regulated repair shop/ garage) The garage has to meet certian criteria to qualify or they are subject to fines until such time as they bring up their standards. These standards also apply to your home garage not just professional garages. Things like safety equipment, proper waste disposal, etc...

I'm watching the Florida law closely and see if it passes, or gets cut up into something else. Gonz

Someone told me in canada u have to be licensed and insured or its against the law. That would be nice if enforced.

Im all for it as long as its enforced and does not just raise our costs while leaving the "bottomfeeder" garages alone.