Attn to Dave Kelsen-->Best response I've seen on a newsgroup in a long time
I agree 100% with your views.
I still remember the time a long time ago a "DRL" (Daytime Running Light)
error message appeared on the dash of my wife's Nissan Sentra. This was
when they were first being introduced to the regular market. I (falsely)
assumed it was an electrical problem and brought it to the Nissan dealer.
15 minutes later I was given a bill of around $40. ($15 light bulb, $20
labour + taxes). Yep. They actually charged me $20 for changing a light
bulb. I know I should have checked the damn bulb first and it was stupid of
me, but I wasn't thinking. Anyways, I paid the bill, but NEVER returned to
the dealership for service again. My next car was a Honda because I was so
upset over the bill despite the fact I was pleased overall with that little
Sentra. It's that type of gouging that turns people off. EVERY single
mechanic my father ever dealt with would have replaced the bulb, laughed
at/teased him for missing the obvious and ONLY charged for the part.
I know businesses don't make money by doing everything for free. But
common sense would/should let a service manager know when to let the little
things slide for nothing. But then again, common sense would/should have
told me to check the damn bulb in the first place:-)


http://personal.nbnet.nb.ca/desjar







"Dave Kelsen" <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote in message
news:wCBTc.34465$wM.11543@twister.tampabay.rr.com. ..
> On 8/14/2004 8:01 PM Chip Stein spake these words of knowledge:
>
>
> >> > Yes, I know, it was stupid to take it to the dealer and I have
> >> > learned my lesson, but it still stings pretty bad. I am a huge Honda
> >> > fan, but this has soured me a little.... funny thing is that we were
> >> > going in to look at Odysseys at that dealership this weekend, not
> >> > now.
> >> >
> >> > brian drake
> >> > charlotte, nc
> >>
> >> --
> >
> > so what you are saying is that the tech's time and the dealerships
> > time is worth nothing. the fact that you left your gas cap loose is
> > not their problem, it's yours! and it should cost you. that piece of
> > equipment they read your codes with is called the HDS and costs them
> > about 6000.00. it has to get paid for. what line of work are you in
> > by the way????
> > Chip
>
>
> No, Chip; that's not how it works. Nor is that how it *used* to work.
> Here's how it *did* used to work. When you had a problem, you took it
> to someone you trusted to be competent, and trusted not to **** you too
> hard on the cost. If they couldn't diagnose the problem, they didn't
> charge you. If they did diagnose the problem, they told you what it
> was. If you couldn't get it fixed right then, you didn't; you would
> usually pay some sort of fee for the diagnosis at this time, or you left
> with the understanding that when you did get it fixed, you would do it
> at that shop. They trusted you to be fair and honest with them.
>
> If you did get it fixed right then, you did it there; you trusted them
> to be fair and honest with you.
>
> If there wasn't any actual problem, say something like the problem
> outlined by the originating poster of a loose gascap, they told you, you
> said thanks, and went home. When you had a problem in the future, you
> remembered how you were treated and took it back to the same shop.
>
> No one's time or labor is thought to be worthless; you have working
> people who trust the shop to be competent, fair and honest, and you have
> repair shop personnel who trust that their customers will recognize
> value received and become satisfied, repeat customers.
>
> In contrast, I was charged $279 not long ago for an oil change, tire
> rotation, and a list of 'inspections' which took roughly six minutes to
> perform on my Odyssey, by the Honda shop. Unfortunately, there is only
> one in my area, and no one else I trust to do these inspections.
>
> It's free enterprise, of course; I don't have to take my Honda there for
> service. But it isn't right, not by a long shot.
>
> I know you asked Brian this question, but I'm going to answer; I have a
> company that services computers, and does networking and other
> computer-related work (www.wetumpkatechnology.com). Not long ago, I was
> called to a law office to diagnose a computer problem. Although I spent
> two hours, I was unable to determine the cause of the problem. My
> hourly rate is $90, but in this case I chose not to charge even the $35
> rate I charge just to show up. I told them that I didn't find, much
> less fix, the problem. I told them (well, wrote down for them) what to
> say to the manufacturer to take the next step in resolving it.
>
> That law firm has become one of my best customers; I have worked on
> their systems, and worked on the home PCs of some of the employees as
well.
>
> Because they trust me not to **** 'em over on the price, and not to
> bullshit with them. Because I took a chance and didn't charge them when
> I couldn't help them.
>
> This economic model works; older people will tell you that that's how it
> used to work all the time. It still does - or can.
>
>
> RFT!!!
> Dave Kelsen
> --
> "The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your
> problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the
> ecology or the president. You realize that you control your own
> destiny." -- Albert Ellis