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

[88spl]

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

After reading all this I feel I must respond 2.<br />Why don't they just post a sign in the shop to "Please leave Batts and Keys in Boat befor winterizing, or a 75.00 charge will be added".<br />I am not a machanic, but I would have to agree with shawn feller about questioning the charge, even after they saw and menitioned to him of a charge for leaving batts. Shawn would you please take care of this, and reply as to what happened, so we can move on

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

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

Hi ShawnFeller,<br /><br />Seen on the news where Port Clinton got hit hard with the Storms this past Sunday. Have you checked to see if everthing is okay with your boat? The storm did a little bit of damage here, but not like the other places in Ohio/Tenn. A limb fell on my 20' and busted out the center windshield. At least it is a flat 2x2 piece of glass that can be easily replaced. Hope everthing is fine with yours. SS

 

[geriksen]

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

Bow o' boy, I tell you what.......<br />this is excatly what us in the repair business go through over and over again. Do you eat it or lose the customer. Personally I would lose this customer. I have learned trying to make guys like this happy only get you into another problem the next time around. It is too bad but it semms the traditional models of customer service just do not apply in the marine service world. Personally I have a theory about this. I think that most customers approach a shop with the expectation that they are about to get screwed. As soon as they get the bill they start looking for where they got taken. You can take any repair bill and find something in it that doesn't sound or look right. <br />I think that most repair shops are honest and do their best to make the customer happy. After a few years of having customers acusing you of screwing them even after you have gone above and beyond for them you get to the point where you charge $75.00 because they didn't leave they keys and there is no battery. This is an expensive business to be in.The seasonal nature of it just makes it worse. I have customers that could call me at home in the middle of the night and I would rush to their aid. I have others whose boats I would not touch for any amount of money in the world. There are some crooks out there but most shops are just rying to fix your boat, how about giving them a break instead of just looking for a new reason to *****.

 

[Beaux]

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

GOOD LORD geriksen-<br />From the looks of your customers boat choices, I doubt you ever face anyone who bothers with a mere $75.00. Nice website and beatiful boats....(I love those big sea rays)<br />I bet you cater to your customers though... <br /> from your website, your dealership appears to pride itself on being top-notch and the kind of place that the mechanics wipe their feet off before stepping into the boats much less remember to get the keys and customers phone numbers at work and home.

 

[geriksen]

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

Thanks

 

[Beaux]

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

I notice on your website that your work order link has info on it that includes asking for home/work and even cell #'s....... see, dont get into feeling you have to defend other dealers/shops when they are not living up to your standards.... Trust me , not all shops are that detail oriented or thorough. This is not meant to be a shop bashing, I feel sure most guys (vinny for example) are running fantastic shops and are good people or why would they spend their time answering some of our dumb questions for free(often repetively to different posters b/c noone wants to spend the time to search the site). The vast majority are obviously generous/friendly/patient and above all else TOLERANT of the customer... I find myself doing the same when lay people bash other professionals in my field.......anyway- I would love to hear how this situation resolved itself

 

[495v]

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

Had to put my 2 cents in.......I agree with Shawn. I have established a very good relationship with my mechanic over the years. He has always been fair and has never reemed me even when given the chance. When my boat is dropped off, the first thing they say is"park it over there and leave the keys in it." I understand it is easy to hotwire a boat, but I would be salty if someone did it without my permission. Now, on the other hand, it is a leason learned; "you just realized that you found a sh*tbag outfit and it's time to find a new one." Just think of it this way; if they reemed you for $75 for something as stupid as that, what will your bill look like when you need some real work done! It took me a couple of tries before I found a good honest mechanic. I even went to one last summer,because my usual was so backed up, to see about getting a kill switched replaced, the mechanic tells me, 1) you don't know for sure it's the kill switch(which I did because I bypassed it). 2) he told me "we specialize in outboards so I'm going to have to read up on your Mercruiser and charge you for the time it takes to learn about your system. Can you believe these guy's!

 

[geriksen]

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

Now that is crazy. You never charge the customer for your education. I also have to admit that $75.00 was a bit much for hot wiring a boat and substituting a battery. We would have charged less if anything. You would be amazed at how many people do not leave keys with their boat. We hotwire 75% of the boats we work on. (at no charge) It is easier than trying to get the keys. Just look at all the trouble this caused for this Glastron owner and the shop as well. It is not worth the trouble. Once you have the boat in the shop just jump it and get to work. It takes about three minutes to hotwire a boat. We gave up on the key thing. Technically I have to say that the shop made an error in judgment and they lost a customer. Was part of this the customer's fault? yes. Could this have been resolved with a simple phone call to the marina, yes. Still could I bet. I don't think they are crooks, they just screwed up on this one.

 

[ODDD1]

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

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT<br /><br />A wonderful business philosophy..in a perfect world...a goal we should try to acheive, ALL of us, customers and techs alike. unfortunately,<br /> I go to work in the real world everyday, and Lord knows, aint none of us are perfect...<br /><br /> The problem I see is no one is 'allowed' to say no anymore...accept the customers preconceived ideas about what will happen with his boat in your shop, certainly do not try to change his mind about what you can and cannot do...keeping that customer [and his money] in your business is of PARAMOUNT importance to shop management...many times at the expense of REAL customer service...in case anybody forgot what that is, the goal here is keeping your butt in your boat with a smile on your face...any less and customers dont spend $$$ on their boats...<br /> The job of the service writer[in a large shop] or the owner/tech on initial customer contact should be on the terms of a freindly 'negotiation'...a polite discussion of the services requested, needed, offered and the costs involved, ASSUMING [its a big one] the boat is operational unless otherwise discussed....<br /> During this discussion, as a tech my job is to do my best to enilghten this customer of my ability to suit his needs...if something shows up in conversation that I cannot/am unwilling to do, NOW IS THE TIME TO SAY SO!<br /> Unfortunately, when these skills are needed most, they are in the shortest supply...during the crush of fall maintenance/winterizing, face time with the customer means less time wrenching......<br /> 495v's example fits.....Iwould bet the guy wanted in the worst way to say no....but if it got back to his employer, where would he be?

 

[kenimpzoom]

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

Ya know, mechanics with attitudes really **** me off. I dare them to try to make a living in any other field. They know they have ya by the ying yang, so they take advantage.<br /><br />What a horrible "annoyance" that the mechanic had to do his job. If he didnt want to put up with searching for keys and lugging around battery, he should have asked for the items before letting the customer leave. Maybe they "forgot", knowing they would make an easy 75 bucks for a total of 5 minutes work.<br /><br />HOWEVER, Shawn you went to the lowest priced place on the lake. Therefore DONT expect professionalism and DO expect any charges they can pull out of you. Same like you dont expect customer service from Walmart like you get at Saks Fifth Avenue.<br /><br />Ken

 

[P.V.]

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

Guys, guys, guys....... We all have been taken for a ride. One that goes up and down, around and around! Shawn has/had a problem. Rather than address it with the owner, service manager or whom-ever at the marina. He vents his "problem" with us!!! Of course we all jump onto one side of the band-wagon or the other. He jumped to conclusions way too early AND drag'd us into it!!And we've jump'd to the same conclusions also!! Still, to this moment, we still don't know what transpired when he called the people (or if he had the gumpsion to talk to them personally). Was their response civil?? Did they tell him to take a flying leap??? Did they adjust the bill?? Wipe it out??? Perhaps it was a mistake? Those things HAVE been known to happen???? To continue to debate this is silly!! I know what i'd do in this situation if I were the marina (assumming what we've been told BY Shawn is accurate). I'd apoligise and wipe out the $75. charge. Restart from scratch and get over it!!! I will tell you all this, in the 25 years of being IN this bussiness, I've eaten many a Humble Pie, and I probably ain't done yet. I've eaten it when there was no-way in H%LL I should have done so, but what are ya gunna do??? Kick 'em out the door?? <br />So, we've been scam'd by Shawn!! His silence is deafening!!!!!

 

[magster65]

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

YO! Relax! If you're not happy with the service, go somewhere else next time. I personally think if the mechanic watched you pull your batteries out, the charge is a rip off.

 

[Boatsrule]

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

I would bet Shawn won't post because of the crap many on this board gave him. I have to side with him it was a rip off.<br /> Who knows what hell he may get if he replys. Think about it! I think I would be a little gun shy to reply.

 

[Capt Ken]

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

I think when it came time for Shawn to put up or shut up, he dissappeared. Noticed I asked a long time ago to post the amount the marina was going to charge to store his batteries. I was curious just how cheap he was. Nothing was posted. There is always two sides to a story and Shawn probably streched his side a bit and painted his self in a corner. This subject needs to die because everyone knows what is right and what is wrong. Beating this dead horse is getting just making it stink more.

 

[magster65]

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

You guys are right, after I replied, I wished I hadn't bothered.

 

[SCO]

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

To Geriksen<br />I don't agree with your point that charging for study time is catagorically bogus. For a mechanic to go outside his business for you could require more time, and it would be fair to negotiate that deal up front. I agree with you that something stinks in 495V's case. Does it require study to order and install a kill switch?

 

[495v]

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

Yeah, this mechanic guy tells me that he doesn't work on Mercruiser's and would have to read up on it and charge me for his time. I tell him it's just the kill switch. His reply is "you don't know for sure." I preceed to tell him that I bypassed the kill switch and all worked fine. He still disagree's and claims he has to read and learn and charge. I told him what he needs to do is go fly a kite because he aint gettin' my money.

 

[geriksen]

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

495, yes, I can't believe he said that to you. Incredibly dumb. From time to time we get people who ask us to work on things outside of what we normally do. (we don't do Jet Skis of Outboards) What I tell them is-<br /> "I appreciate you bringing us business, but that is not something that we are equipped or trained to do. I can refer you to someone who does do that. Here is their phone number ###-####"<br />That keeps us out of a lot of trouble and we remain on good terms with the customer. <br />Shops are often reluctant to rely on the customer's diagnosis because sometimes it is incorrect. The shop replaces parts based on what the customer says , it doesn't fix the problem and the customer still blames the shop for it not working. You may be totally correct about the kill switch but what happens if they put one in and it doesn't fix the problem? Are you still going to pay them for putting it in when the boat still doesn't work? It gets kind of sticky at that point. He has no choice but to re-diagnose the problem to cover his butt. However, if he has to read a book to do that, you need to take your boat somehwere else anyway.