Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Originally Posted By: eljefino
The problem with the customer/ repair shop interaction is the customer has zero budget for repairs, and would stare at you with a deer in the headlights look if asked what they plan to set aside each month to budget for repair.
There is probably a bunch of cognitive dissonance going on, after buying something that was supposed to be superior in every way, then having to face fixing it, unlike their ipad/fridge/lawnmower/shoes.
The same goes for home ownership, and the contractor relationships are just as horrid, by reputation.
Pretty much. There is another sector where people do not want to spend any money, and then complain like a demon when the person who would do the job for the least amount of money and cheapest materials did a bad job.
When I was younger, I briefly worked as a contractor's assistant, and we would get called to re-do the most atrocious repairs. Conversation went like this every time:
"So who did this work?"
"Oh it was this guy/small contractor/etc."
"Why did you choose them, over a business with a reputation/references/etc?"
"Oh, those guys wanted TOO MUCH MONEY!"
I actually understand the scare tactics as well. Here is a list of problems I showed to customers, in action, that they refused to have repaired:
*Water pump with bearing so bad that only half of the serpentine belt would ride on the water pump pulley. Car was throwing belts. Customer opted to replace only the belt. Ended up stranded on the side of the road, blaming me, of course. ("I've been driving it that way for weeks. Why would it fail now?")
*Radiator with leak that had coolant running over the entire length of the top of the radiator core, and falling to the ground on both sides.
*Fuel filter leaking sizzling fuel onto the engine. (Noticed 2 child seats in the truck, increased my recommendation of preventing an engine fire, and still refused to repair)
*Leaking brake caliper evacuating brake fluid from the system. (Children's toys, diapers, empty baby bottles in rear of vehicle)
*Tie rod with obliterated ball cup, 7/8" of measured play.
*Serpentine belt so badly destroyed by leaking power steering fluid, it looked like the surface of asphalt. (Customer blamed me for erratic voltage. Showing him that voltage dropped to 6.5 volts when steering wheel hit either opposite lock did nothing to change his opinion that the belt was not the problem.)
*Stripped brake caliper bolt, sticking 1.5 inches out of its thread, removable by fingers. (2nd grade school books, Monster High toys in rear of vehicle).
I'm starting to wonder if I shouldn't be calling the police in some of these cases.
I agree with you. Having friends that owns the shop, do the work, and also some that is so cheap that fit some of your description... i see both sides
, hopefully these owners in your examples were not fixing the car because they will take it to junkyard or trade it... and sometimes a sad truth that automobile is a necessity of the life, and yet many actually can not afford to operate safely. many cars on the road in Ontario are being operated without insurance...
as for calling police, I think I heard some news in the past that a shop can refuse to release the car if the shop believe it pose a risk to the safety to the public. maybe this is some law that only in Ontario Canada.