This is for you guys that think your helping us techs with your repair.

Vetech63 · Jul 5, 2019

I got called yesterday by a customer with a JD 450C. He said he had a water pump failure and the fan had got into the shroud and lower radiator hose. Then, which I really hate, told me his guys were taking it apart enough to see what needed to be ordered for the repair. This is what I found when I showed up...…………….

We know you want to help, and the thought is greatly appreciated.....BUT, we have our own system of doing things and for you to do this isn't part of that. You make the cost higher because.....
1. Now I have to find everything that your guys took off.
2. You didn't order near enough parts because your guys missed ALOT (rotten hoses, radiator support mounts that are missing.....etc...)
3. You didn't give me the opportunity to say " I really need to do all this myself so I can give you a proper repair and not waste time."

thepumpguysc · Jul 5, 2019

That's TOOO Funny !!!
I got an in-line pump last week or so that "the guys" rebuilt.. Holy Sh!t was it a mess..
It had been sitting unused for 3 years, so the guys decided to tackle it..
Home made gaskets of the wrong thickness.. which throws off the camshaft end play..
The segment were so far off it wouldn't shut off EVEN IF they got it to start..
There were MISSING parts in the governor.. the shut off link, to be exact..
ALL the centering pins in the housing were sheared..
Luckily the pumping plungers, delivery valves, cam shaft & bearings were in reusable condition..
OH & one of the injectors was stuck closed..
Everything that could be wrong, WAS..
I hate it when they help.!!!
When I quote a pump site unseen, I tell'm, this price is only good if U HAVENT taken it apart or worked on the pump..
Good Luck my friend & u better allow for about 300.00 for nuts, bolts & washers.. Lol

Bls repair · Jul 5, 2019

Had a boss like that ,would help by taking machine apart . Didn’t mark anything ,wire ,bolts ,parts ,hoses. Didn’t take photos and then say “what took you so long ,it didn’t take me that long to take it apart”

wornout wrench · Jul 5, 2019

Customers, Heck, I had my cross shift at one company do stuff like this to me all the time.

Got sent out one night to " just finish up" Track had split, he had it all ready to go.

Get to the machine. The machine is in one ditch, the track is in the other and the idler is sort of started into the frame.

It was a 400 MK IV kobelco with a highwalker undercarrige, the idler only went one way and he had it upside down so would not slide into place so just walked away and told the boss was just about done.

Every day when he was on shift you had one of his messes to clean up.

Bls repair · Jul 5, 2019

When “helpers” want to help I tell them “if you want to help DON’T”.

chroniekon · Jul 5, 2019

Saw a sign in a shop once years ago. I don't remember the actual hourly rate, but you get the idea. Hourly rate is X, if you watch it's 2X, if you help it's 3X

Birken Vogt · Jul 5, 2019

If you worked on it before 4x

Welder Dave · Jul 5, 2019

I'll usually take off simple stuff if I can before having a machine worked on but I'll also be the one putting it back on. Things likes belly pans or side panels that are in the way and have to come off. If I'm not sure or something has to go a certain way I'll leave it alone. I usually have enough discipline to know what I should be tackling and what I should leave to someone experienced. I pulled the engine and trans. out of my Cat following the procedure in the book but I'll let the experienced mechanics tear into the engine.

Crummy · Jul 5, 2019

I did a lot of work for an outfit like that- almost 10 years. The owner was a bazillonaire but do an internet search for "Cheap SOB" and he comes up #1. Didn't matter what it was, he'd try and shave the cost. He'd choke when I'd give him my bills (literally hand to his neck "gaack! That's OUTRAGEOUS!"). He'd have his guys "help" to "reduce my billable hours". I tried to explain [one time only, I hate repeating myself] that wasn't a good plan and did the opposite of what he intended. He wasn't having any of it because he's a millionaire and really really smart and I'm, well, not.
The more he had his guys "help" the higher my bills got.
The higher my bills got the more he'd have his guys help.
Win-Win.

BigWrench55 · Jul 5, 2019

A little off topic, but how about the customer that wants to save money and provides his own parts. Then is suprised when you tell him that he will have to pay you again to replace it if the part fails or isn't any good.

thepumpguysc · Jul 5, 2019

I'm with ya Paul..
I tellm no warranty..& mark it .. "customer supplied parts"..
Unless of course they were the same as the ones I would be putting in..
THAT doesn't happen to often in my line of work tho, but it does happen..
Once they get that kit & it has 100 tiny seals & gaskets.. its an eye opener.. Lol

funwithfuel · Jul 5, 2019

Paul Council said:
A little off topic, but how about the customer that wants to save money and provides his own parts. Then is suprised when you tell him that he will have to pay you again to replace it if the part fails or isn't any good.

I always tell folks, "look man, you wouldn't take your own hamburger meat to McDonald's and ask them to fry it up for you, why are you bringing me this stuff? I can't stand behind it. "
They usually sit there slack jawed like I shot their dog and pi$$ed on its corpse. I really dislike folks like that.

DMiller · Jul 5, 2019

Had basket cases like that show up, these people are EVERYWHERE!! Try to convince them they are doing themselves NO Favors money wise as I would have to find and fix everything they boogered up doing it wrong, Would ask for estimate flat answer a Grand sometimes 3 grand. They would step back and go "WHAT? Tried to explain a hundred times leave it alone will be cheaper than if I have to fix a dozen OTHER things that were not broke until they laid hands on it. Fell on deaf ears, got to where I would just say NO. IF they left me alone and have at it from square one would give them a list of pieces, tell them where to buy and if didn't made them Sign they understood any failure was due to THEIR parts supplier choice, a few got the point after a second or third repeat failure of junk, and NO I would not install used unless I knew was no reman or new available. I was NOT Responsible for parts failure warranty, same work same cost.

Ronsii · Jul 5, 2019

Crummy said:
I did a lot of work for an outfit like that- almost 10 years. The owner was a bazillonaire but do an internet search for "Cheap SOB" and he comes up #1. Didn't matter what it was, he'd try and shave the cost. He'd choke when I'd give him my bills (literally hand to his neck "gaack! That's OUTRAGEOUS!"). He'd have his guys "help" to "reduce my billable hours". I tried to explain [one time only, I hate repeating myself] that wasn't a good plan and did the opposite of what he intended. He wasn't having any of it because he's a millionaire and really really smart and I'm, well, not.
The more he had his guys "help" the higher my bills got.
The higher my bills got the more he'd have his guys help.
Win-Win.

Sounds like a guy I know... owns a timber company still drives one of his own log trucks and has rooms full of old junk.... 100's of cb radios.....

RZucker · Jul 5, 2019

Paul Council said:
A little off topic, but how about the customer that wants to save money and provides his own parts. Then is suprised when you tell him that he will have to pay you again to replace it if the part fails or isn't any good.

Had one of those customers, I was doing the steering clutches in their Terex 82-40 crawler. They just couldn't handle the fact that new plates were $185 apiece. So... they got together and found "good used plates" for half new cost. Some of the "good used" plates miked out worse than their worn out junk. I put it together and told them they were idiots and DO NOT EVER CALL ME AGAIN. Sure enough they called crying that it wasn't working. I cant even print what I said to them.

Vetech63 · Jul 5, 2019

I won’t warranty parts that I don’t supply. Too many people nowadays are buying cheap stuff from China or look a likes on the internet. If their part fails I charge them to fix it again with my own parts.

Vetech63 · Jul 5, 2019

Parts were ordered today and the radiator was dropped off for a recore job. I should be back on this job late next week. Hopefully it won’t rain before I get there.

ianjoub · Jul 5, 2019

funwithfuel said:
I always tell folks, "look man, you wouldn't take your own hamburger meat to McDonald's and ask them to fry it up for you, why are you bringing me this stuff? I can't stand behind it. "
They usually sit there slack jawed like I shot their dog and pi$$ed on its corpse. I really dislike folks like that.

I owned/operated an auto repair shop for 10 years. I only diagnosed and repaired cars so I could sell the parts at my price

92U 3406 · Jul 5, 2019

Everyday story of my life. I work 7 on, 7 off shift so I'm always thrown into the middle of something someone else tore to pieces.

walkerv · Jul 5, 2019

chroniekon said:
Saw a sign in a shop once years ago. I don't remember the actual hourly rate, but you get the idea. Hourly rate is X, if you watch it's 2X, if you help it's

This is for you guys that think your helping us techs with your repair.

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