MGB: If you have work done : GET IT...in writing! A Word to the wise...

Yo guys,

I haven't had work done on my car recently, regarding my suspension...but have had conversations with shops - that if you can believe this...don't put anything down on paper, regarding their work and backing up their workmanship?! McFly????

Whatever you do - don't get the work done - without a written acknowledgement of how the work will be covered, if issues arise due to poor workmanship, forgotten parts, loose parts, faulty parts, wrong parts, etc.

Emotionally - these cars are a blast - so though - is it tough to discern whether or not one should 'go-ahead' with work one wants or needs to be done, by a shop.

Thank you! Dan

Been hangin' with attorneys lately, Dan?

;)

Find a shop with a good reputation and that you can trust. You shouldn't need paper.

mowog1 Wrote:

Quote: "
Been hangin' with attorneys lately, Dan?
Find a shop with a good reputation and that you can trust. You shouldn't need paper.
"

Shouldn't isn't always unfortunately now-a-days. A lot of shops will guarantee their work only as far as you can prove it's their fault. I've been lucky and the ones I've dealt with will fix anything that goes wrong that even resembles what they worked on.

mowog1 Wrote:

Quote: "
Been hangin' with attorneys lately, Dan?
Find a shop with a good reputation and that you can trust. You shouldn't need paper.
"

A good rep. is your best protection--but then again, if they back up their work, why would they be afraid to put that in writing? Still, I guess that's the attorney in me :)

Dan, it has been my experience that when one is of good heart and mind and consorts with those of good heart and mind that things tend to work out very, very well for EVERYONE.

When one hangs with good honest people, good honest dealings abound!

KARMA buddy! KAAAAAAAAAAARMA!

everyone!!! Lets say it all together now.

One can tell a lot about oneself by the people he surrounds himself with!

Oh, one more olde cliche! You get what you pay for!

Find someone that is trustworthy, doesn't fill you full of Bullsh-t! and has good honest, referrals to provide.

Otherwise, walk the other way.

Suspension? You can do that YOURSELF! Why would you take that to someone?

A few bolts and nuts and everything comes apart! YOU CAN DO IT!

B

A good honest shop will take care of you no matter what. Here is an account of something that happend to car I worked on while it was still in the shop.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

I once tuned up a Chrylser and had the wierdest thing happen. Now all this car got was a tune-up, nothing else. I reached in the window, started the engine, the steering wheel turned slowly to the to the right, and when it got to full lock right, POW!! The cast iron steering sector box split wide open down the top and blew fluid all over hell and half the shop.

We just got another sector from a salvage yard, installed it, cleaned up the car, and never said a word about it to the owner about it.

i have a bit of attorney in me as well...though i try to limit it to 9 to 5...and you wouldn't BELIEVE how many people deal regularly with expensive and emotional things without it being in writing. most of the time it doesn't matter that its in writing, but it just takes that one time...i'd think about getting it written down even if just for no other reason than making sure that you are "on the same page" about what is to be done.

Did I tell you about the $2000 brake job I paid for? If it's good weather friday I'll drop by the DQ and bend your ear. If you want we can learn how on my yellow MGB front suspension project.

DW

jrhickmn Wrote:

Quote: "
i have a bit of attorney in me as well...though i try to limit it to 9 to 5...and you wouldn't BELIEVE how many people deal regularly with expensive and emotional things without it being in writing. most of the time it doesn't matter that its in writing, but it just takes that one time...i'd think about getting it written down even if just for no other reason than making sure that you are "on the same page" about what is to be done.
"

I concur with James here. Yes Rick, I coach a ton of attorneys, since the 80's and have had a many conversations with them regarding [covering thine ass]. Sure Brian, you're right in principle. And I infact have had cars worked on after the warranty was through - on my ex's Camry - had a complete engine replaced for free - due to smoke out the tailpipe at the big dealership in Beaverton. They are good people there. Though - they've got something to fall back on. I've taken many items back to a store that I've purchased only to get an exchange or return the item; from computers to oranges. But I always keep my receipts and have a previous working relationship with that business. It just isn't good business to not supply the customer with a written receipt of work done and how coverage will occur if workmanship problems arise. A small shop usually doesn't. I trust people first - but when there's money involved, I follow what my parents taught me - and simple business sense. Take out the daze-factor of being all warm and fuzzy about how the shop guy talked the talk, but when the emotions settle the day after you leave - and you come to your senses the truth rings true. Thomas said it well...

A good rep. is your best protection--but then again, if they back up their work, why would they be afraid to put that in writing? Still, I guess that's the attorney in me!

Yeah, why wouldn't they want to put their money where their mouth is so to speak? I have all my clients sign disclosures of the risks of fitness and am insured for 3 Million bucks in the event a client gets injuried and comes after me because they....can. Yo. I've never had a claim, but if I ever do - I don't want to pay and then have the courts find out that I was not responsible in the event things go south. Same applies to most reputable car shops.

No one even mentioned this was a whole bunch of OT goin' down. I think I'll sue.

David Walsh Wrote:

Quote: "
Did I tell you about the $2000 brake job I paid for?...
"

Must have been an economy car. One of the shops I worked for billed a customer twenty thousand dollars for a brake job in the mid '80s. It wasn't a mistake, that is what the job cost.

My mechanic, body man and painter are all a-holes. They won't put anything in writing, take three times too long to finish the jobs, and they do shoddy work. My attorney says I'm screwed. Of course, all four of them are sleeping with my wife.

And your attorney is billing you for the time with your wife! :)

I think it boils down to one thing: Arrogance. If someone touts they've been 'at-it' for 20, 30, 40 years whether it be mechanics or fitness - put your money where your reputation is and put it in writing!

That's all fine and well, but unfortunately a crook is just as willing to put something in writing as an honest person. When they've got your money, and you've got a piece of paper, good luck. You can get a judgment, good luck collecting. Getting it in writing is good advice; the best advice is not paying all up front. Progress gets rewarded with payment.

very true Ryan--lots of folks have judgments that are suitable for framing or wrapping fish--still, you won't get that far, if it's entirely oral.

Ryan Reis Wrote:

Quote: "
My mechanic, body man and painter are all a-holes. They won't put anything in writing, take three times too long to finish the jobs, and they do shoddy work. My attorney says I'm screwed. Of course, all four of them are sleeping with my wife.
"

Gee Ryan, your guys sound exactly like mine, except mine leave empty beer bottles all over the garage, and I've never even SEEN the paint guy! :)

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