what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

[fredcrn]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

Maybe someone can clear something up for me. Why are all these forums the same? I'm a novice at marine repair with a serious problem I need help/advice with and get 2 or 3 responses. This sorry a**ed crap about a fee over a lack of communication gets THIRTY-NINE responses.<br /><br />What the h*ll is wrong with this picture?

 

[rsfeller]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

because sometimes the ethics of the boat business is as important as acutally technical needs is my guess...

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

lmao at fred!!! sheesh<br />good point. hehehehehe <br />uh, because lots of us are novices too, and we take up all the time of the experts with BS like this??? <br /> (i'm amending again ) <br />well, just to help you feel better about this whole place Mr Fred - the topics that get answered the most are the ones people really feel inclined to answer, kinda feel they have to answer, if you know what i mean. <br />there were two times that i 'bumped' topics for help back up to the top just to try to get more replies, and they were from JB & DJohns19... and when i really needed help on a wiring question once, it fell off the list and was answered a month later on another person's topic... but keep trying, and don't forget to have snacks,refreshments & use the search function!

 

[rsfeller]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

i'm not forcing the experts to respond ethic comments...<br /><br />if it wasn't such a hot topic then why all the opinions and comments from professionals...<br /><br />i'm done.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

There's always two sides to every story. Vinny and myself make our living from working on boats and see one side and the customer sees the other. As for myself, I've been in the same building doing the same thing for the past 22 years. I've been in the boating industry for 32 years. Our work is seasonal work not because the work isn't there, its because the boat owners are not concerned about repairing their boat until the week before the family outing. Winterizing goes along with the same mentality. Most boat owners don't think about winterizing till they hear about the big freeze coming on the weather channel even tho the boat has been sitting in storage for two months. As a shop owner, I have to watch billable hours and expenses very closely because the few months that the work is there, has to take us thru the winter and still pay the bills. In an eight hour day, you hope you can bill at least six of those hours but alot of time you can't because of one thing or another. Now, who should be responsible for the extra time taken to perform a simple job like winterizing when there is no key or battery? Now I'm curious, what was the price for the marina to store the battery and charge it up in the spring? $10 maybe $20. I have no problem with customers trying to save a buck, heck I do it all the time myself when I call a plumber, but when a customer trys to cut the profit of my shop like wanting to furnishing his own parts or wanting to help, then I really don't need his business. I usually ask them, do you take your own steak when you take the wife out to eat and have the restaurant cook it. Yes and for 50 cents you could have dropped the key in the mail, but if there had been a freeze before the key made it there, who would you have held responsible? Now I have to admit that $75 was kinda steep, but they were probably trying to teach you a lesson. None of us was there to observe the conversation between the marina and yourself so none of us really know if you rubbed them the wrong way or not. But speaking for myself, I only become a butt when the customer becomes one first.

 

[P.V.]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

Shawn, we all know why you've gotten such responses. You've step'd on some toes and when we say "ouch!!!" you believe we should not feel any pain!!! I assure you, we, like ANY other white/blue collar workers in America, attempt to do a fine job in whatever occupation we have chosen. Most of us could (if we knew what line of work YOU do) find "fault" in others daily endevors(sic). We, are not perfect but most hopefully attempt to do better. <br />The "problem" you have experienced is NOT due to a "conscience" effort by the dealer to "screw" you. The reason you have gotten so many responces is we've been there and there are two sides to this story. I've heard yours and I know mine. <br />And next time I hear that "The customer is always right!!!" I'm gunna scream!! If the customer is always right then I must always be wrong???? OK, OK, we are all going to patiently wait till we hear back from you and see what the outcome of your conversation with Port Clinton was. I hope you find satisfaction.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

shawn- i agree completely with you. don't pay the $75. go to court if you have to. as a consumer, you have the right to know every charge before it comes. i am a 1st time boat owner this year as well and was ready to pay someone to winterize. until i walked into the marine shop and saw an old friend who runs the shop. he made me turn around and walk out the door, right after he explained how to do the work myself. saved me some cash. it's a shame more mechanics are not the same (like those who have criticized you thus far). a good mechanic would explain exactly what they plan to do, how much they will charge, and even recommend/advise how you can save money. good luck boating, and ingnore the negative comments above.

 

[speed29668]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

Ken,<br /><br />No one goes to a mechanic to be taught a lesson. People go to mechanics to have their boat serviced in a responsible and reasonable manner. Anyone who begins excessively charging to "teach a lesson" will wind up in court one day.

 

[rsfeller]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

good job speed! i'm wore out on this post talking to these guys...they may be sucessful but not everyone enjoys there style of business...<br /><br />and people wonder why this post get's so much attention...obviously we appricate the helpful posts the pros place here, but we've hit a sore spot with the mentality of some mechanics and the perception of their ethics...<br /><br />the bottom line i'm getting from all this information is...do it yourself if you can.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

Just read this whole thread and thought I'd add "what a load of crap".<br /><br />About all I learned is that this is not the place to ask a simple honest question. <br /><br />Good luck on the $75

 

[ebbtide176]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

well guys, i just want to apologize if my words rubbed someone the wrong way. <br />shawn, it seems that you should put the result of your contact with clinton here,if you do followup on your displeasure. seems like the service guys here wouldn't have handled it the way it turned out, and they put in their 2cents just like the consumer side did. and i guess there aren't too many support groups for hardworking businessmen who don't like being chewed on. <br />no one said poor service is right, so maybe it'll all work out for you with the issue, since $75 is a chunk of change. good luck

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

Your correct Matt, winterizing an engine is a very simple operation and anyone who can walk and chew gum at the same time can do it. Heck, even the owners manuel of each engine outlines the procedure for winterizing or storing an engine. The only reason most boat owners have a shop do the job for them is lack of time or they want someone else responsible if its not done correctly. What the owners are paying for is piece of mind. I notice that Shawn didn't post how much the charge was for the marina to store the battery. Maybe someone else needs to contact the marina and find out the whole story.

 

[dick]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

Ok I made a comment on this thread around the 8th post but I got to say something .That make a point crap is just that , What is that supposed to due help bring in new customers, last time I checked you need new customers to say in business , you see old customers die , or sell there boat or just leave after being screwed over .Someone also said they had no time to make a call, WHAT! , ring.... ring....ring... Where unable to take your call.......please leave a message.....HI,THIS IS TAKE YOUR MONEY AWAY FOR NO GOOD REASON MARINE WE NEED YOUR KEYS AND BATTERY OR WE MAY BE FORCED TO CHARGE YOU FOR THE INCONVENIENCE OF USING OUR SHOP BATTERY AND JUMPING THE IGNITION. PLEASE CALL US.Now someone will say "what if they don't have a answering machine?Well most people who leave boat ,car, toaster oven at a place to be serviced or stored leave a number to call in case of emergency.It was also said that winterizing is easy, Yes it is but some people just don't have time to due it , Hell I'm a freakin mechanic and I don't go thought the bother of changing my oil, I go to the lube man get a complementary coffee and paper, they top off the fluids if necessary let then crawl under the truck and due the dirty work.Now that's good service.Tune-up, brakes ,engine I will due, oil change after all week covered in it, no thanks.Also most service managers while getting all the prudent info like name , address ,PHONE NUMBER(incase of problem)would ask for the keys and inform the customer of all the charges , like if you don't leave your battery and/or keys we're going to stick ya.Now the weather factor, I know how busy it is back east with the snow on it's way but maybe when the mechanic talked to the service manager and found out about the key/ battery thing , the manger might have said "Gee, I had a rough night in the double-wide with the wife and I don't remember reminding the customer about our policy, since he's new lets give him a break, and not charge him and I'll remind him in the spring , since he's new and all" , that's how you get and keep customers.Then maybe Shawn feller would be praising them instead of dumping on them.

 

[ldj128]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

Shawn Feller,<br />$75.00 in not too much money for a good lesson in the boating world. I know that if we are honest enough, we have all being screwed one time, at least. Keep enjoying boating and try to learn as much as you can so You can do as much yourself as possible. In 12 years of boating I have learned to balance the enjoyment I get from my boat versus the headaches, dis-honesty, EXPENSE and the crap that sometimes goes on AND STILL LOVE BOATING. Rather than getting upset.<br />Screw me once..SHAME ON YOU!! Screw me twice.. SHAME ON ME...

 

[speed29668]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

As I've said earlier in this thread, no one pays a mechanic anything to learn a lesson, they pay to have their boat serviced reasonably. <br /><br />****- Great point. That is exactly right.

 

[fredcrn]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

Shawn...I took my boat to a marine shop for 10 years and every one of those ten years they told me to leave the keys and the batteries and why! They did NOT charge me extra for storing my batteries either. I certainly don't want to rub anyone the wrong way here, but obviously the marine mechanics here are getting somewhat defensive. I believe, that as in all walks of life, there are good shops and bad ones...with everything in between. When I started having the problem I'm faced with now with my outdrive, I called two local shops. Unfortunately for me, I'm now living 1500 miles from the mechanics who have worked on my boat the past ten years. The first one I called was unhelpful, uninformed and left me with the distinct impression they were only interested in parting me from my money. The second was 180 degrees the other way. Didn't care that I was trying to tackle this my self and offered to assist in any way possible. Now, which one do you think is going to get my business in the future? As D*ck (sorry guy, but the censors won't let me use your name here) said in his previous post...businesses depend on customers and satisfied customers come back. I said it at the beginning of the thread and I'll say it again...I'd try to reason with them, first timer and all. If they co-operate great. If not...kiss em off and take your business to someone who appreciates it.<br /><br />Sorry for the length of the post guys...got on a roll. <br /><br />Fred

 

[John Carpenter]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

As I stated in a much earlir post, $75 is excessive punishment for forgetting to leave your keys. I would say exactly that to the owner of the shop & I believe the charge would be removed or reduced. If not, take your business elsewhere. That said, what bothers me most about this thread is the attitude of some of the "customers". The mechanics or shop owners who post to this board ARE the good guys. They take their time while off work to help solve a problem for someone they will never meet, let alone make a nickel off of. I'm sure they are the same way at work. Being on good terms with several marine mechanics and having worked in one of their shops for a while, I can tell you this...the people who do what they can to make your job easier and are polite and reasonable, are the people who get taken care of.<br /><br />Winterizing work is the marine mechanic's end of the season icing on the cake. It is fast, easy and profitable...if you are in the business, you want all of it you can get. However, there is a downside...if a shop winterizes 50 boats and even one of them has a serious problem in the Spring...there goes the profit. That's why it costs what it does...the customer is buying peace of mind & the shop owner has to cover his a$$.

 

[vinney]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

AMEN CAPT. KEN. THE CUSTOMER IS NO ALWAYS RIGHT THAT STATMENT CAME FROM SOMEONE WHO DOESNT OWN A BUSINESS AND NEVER WILL. DONT TELL ME ABOUT CANCER UNLESS YOU HAVE HAD CANCER. I KEEP HEARING THE SAME THING YOU WONT HAVE CUSTOMERS WITH THAT ATTUDE. tHAT ATTUDE CAME FROM CUSTOMERS. MY BEST CUSTOMERS HAVE THERE OWN BUSINESS AND KNOW WHAT THE REAL WORLD IS ABOUT. MY SHOP WE TRY ARE BEST EVERYDAY AND PRIDE OUR SELFS ON THE KNOWLEDGE WE HAVE AS A SHOP. WE ARE GROWN MEN AND DONT NEED TO HOLD ANY ONE HANDS AND IF WE DO WE SEND THE DOWN THE ROAD. THIS PERCEPTION OF WE NEED EVERY CUSTOMER WE DONT. THERE IS A BALANCE IN EVERY THING AND IN BUSINESS THERE IS TOO. WE WANT A CUSTOMER THAT CAN AFFORD THERE BOAT AND SERVICE. NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD THERE BOAT THATS NOT MY PROBLEM. ALL THE PROBLEMS I HAVE EVER HAD IN THE BOAT BUSINESS HAVE BEEN PEOPLE WHO CANT AFFORD THERE BOATS. YOU DONT GO TO THE BEST MD IN TOWN AND SAY CAN YOU TAKE 50 BUCKS OFF MY BILL. YOU PAY THE BILL AND SAY THANK YOU. VINNEY

 

[JB]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

This thread is interesting.<br /><br />Shawn has stated his frustration and collected the views of many other boaters, dealers and wrenches.<br /><br />Unfortunately there are (were) some unnecessary uses of harsh language that don't contribute to the discussion. Some even pushes toward profanity.<br /><br />Please go back and read your post(s). Please edit any language you wouldn't use in calm, polite company. If your post is missing, please repost your comments in polite language.<br /><br />Thanks all.

 

[Beaux]

Re: what is this crap charge from my mechanic/storage...

That kind of thinking conerning customers brings across two points:<br /> 1) Vinny you are a GREAT mechanic, you must be, to be able to run your business as you please if any of what you type actually translates into reality. <br /> 2) I think some of this macho talk about treating customers is just that.. Talk. It is much easier to do when under the anonymous situation of a posting. We ALL value our customers and want their business no matter what business that happens to be.<br /><br />Lastly, I would question any businessman (M.D. or otherwise) if he gave me a bill that included things that did not make sense or raised doubts. And yes, I play by those rules in my business and subsequently CAN afford to "pay for my boats" although I expect professionalism from my shop. Its amazing that payment is the only concern you have encountered.