O/T: SHOP OWNERS & SHOP LEECHES

Just sending out a feeler to fellow shop owners who have dealt with this type of situation. I have this real "GOOD FRIEND" who always knows when and where to come for a favor or a freebie.He has no qualms about grabbing a qt. of oil,brake fluid,bug juice,wheel cleaner off the shelf.This "FRIEND" loves to sit here and guzzle an 18 pak(mine)ask to borrow tools etc. The other week he wrecks his 2000 P/U and when i find out about it the next night and tell him to bring it by for an estimate,he says:Oh,don't worry about it,so & so is fixing it.My insurance company told me to take it there(that's an illegal practice here).When the truck is finished,this "ASSHOLE FRIEND" actually had the balls to stop in my shop and ask me to inspect the repairs.I told him if he were worried about the quality of repairs,he would have brought it here in the first place and not let his insurance company "direct" him on where to take it.Furthermore,he was told not to ask for or expect any more favors or freebies in the future.$40.00 an hour or don't waste my fucking time !!!Any similar stories out there??? And if so,how did you deal with it ?

 

That aint no friend in my neck of the woods. Your better off throwing him out of your life!

 

i own an auto glass shop.. and have had (freinds) that went to diff glass shops coz the ins co told them too..(steering ) (collusion).. i dont do mobile hack work you have to bring you car to me, so some ppl i know are just to lazy so they have some flunky come slam a windshield in in there driveway and hope i dont notice...you should punch that leaching cocksucker in the throte... i feel ya pain man!

 

A HAMBer at one time had his T Bird in my shop for months on the payment plan because he was a poor starving kid. He paid as we went and finally we had to take the T to my house and store it for a month because he had no more money...We never charged any storage and made a list of what was left when he finally picked it up...the next week his daily driver broke down and he took it to Pep Boys bacause Mommy said he needed to take his car to a "real" repair shop if she was gonna pay!!!
lets just say he heard more then a ear full and has ALWAYS brought his cars HERE know matter what Mommy says

 

There are always those people who think you owe them youre lives cause they are such "good" customers.

I run the local service station in this small town, and Ive pissed off a few of my "good" customers this last year.

These are the people who come in for gas once a month or even less, and when they do come in, they get like $10 worth of gas, they always expect me to drop what Im doing to go pump it for them.

Then they call me at a quarter to six wanting me to fix a tire or do an oil change, and they get pissed when I say know and they try and tell me that I have to cause they're the best customer I got.

Then there are the people who take their vehicles to the quick stop oil change places, then they bring it to me and I gotta fix that mess. The filters are either too tight or not tight enough and leaking oil, and the drain plug is usually rounded off cause the kids working at the quick stop places dont have a concept of standard and metric.

 

hahhaahahha Ive got these guys who try and get past me to my POP because he's a push over on prices and cant say NO!!
They tell me Ive been coming to see your dad for 20 years...I tell them Weve only been open 7yrs and Ive know for 32 years and he still dosnt put me first

 

dont ya love the customer that always lets you know that they are giving you the work..and mention it about 10 times.i always say hey ya made your point..enough already or my prices are goin up

 

I've got the exact opposite problem. I have a friend that I have known for over 40 years that has a salvage yard. I get stuff from him and he doesn't want my money. Typical conversation "how much I owe ya?" reply "nothing" then I'm gonna unload it" "Ok how about $5" no thats not enough, how about $300?" " No, you don't realize how little money I got in this stuff" " Yeah but you are running a business here". Eventually he will take enough money to where I don't feel guilty. Problem is all I have to give him is my friendship. Finally, a few months ago, found out he needed a carb for an old forklift, I had one, gave it to him, made me feel better. If he let me pay regular price, would buy more stuff from him.

 

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I've got the exact opposite problem.......

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............I have a buddy that is the same way. He works full time at CarMax and does repair work at home. He constantly has people banging on the door or calling late at night wanting him to fix their cars for "CHEAP." He does! Whenever I get him to do something, I always slide him a little extra and he chases me out the door trying to give it back and telling me that I gave him too much. I tell him that if he charged a little more, he'd have less "friends," make just as much money and wouldn't have to work as much.
Guess there's good people and there's worthless fucks in the world.........

 

If he see's the light he will be by with a case of suds and buy a for real oil change or tire rotation. If it doesn't get through he will be out scouting for someone else with heat and beer. Either way you win.
My uncle down in Conewango Valley had a garage and one customer always brought his own parts, oil, tires. But I suppose that is another whole can of worms.

 

As Eric Cartman would "Kick em in the nuts" (my kid said to tell you that, love that boy)
Post all of your bills on the wall. Heading "This shop is not free"
List out monthly Water, sewer, electric, insurance, mortgage/rent, gas, maintenance, etc below (round numbers OK). But let everyone know what it costs you to stay open. Then list out all of your charges. Stick to them and keep people the hell out of the work area. Chain it or door it off. It is not a social club or if it is on certain occasions then let it be known exactly when and for how long. If they don't like it tough hop. Be a prick if you have to.

As far as the other problem those people are called friends. Good ones. People who turn favors for each other. Keep them close and take care of them. I just lost one of those guys last month. He would drop by with all kinds of stuff for me. "Hey I saw this and thought you could use it" Was getting old and was giving me his old tools over time cause "I haven't used this in 20 years you should have it, my kid won't use it" Never took a dime. I used to piss him off by getting a side of beef or hog, groceries delivered to his front door. Took him forever to figure out who was doing it. I will always think of him whenever I open my machinist box that he gave me, the small block in the corner, wrenches, trinkets, laughs and freindship. Those people can never be replaced. Ever.

 

Well, how do you 'rod shop' owners feel about people bringing in basic repair stuff? I know money is money, but if you're a specialty shop, does it take away from your rod work?

 

We too have the same problem. they want everything for free or xtra cheap. They don't understand you are self employed with a family and pay your house bills, your shop bills, the property insurances, the property taxes, HEALTH insurance. and everytime they come and want you to help them out that's $40.00 /hr. taken away!!! We also have the customers that we don't hear from in months when payment is expected, yet they ? why the job isn't done yet? As far as doing other work. If the shop is slow and there are nonpaying customers (who we try to get the car out or tell them they will be charged for storage, usually works) If some one needs welding or an oilchange or detailing for example and they are willing to pay the shop rate, Bring them on!!!