As a foreman, I get to see and fix a lot of cars. I also get to meet a lot of people. Most of them are nice people who drive good cars and pay their bills on time, but there are also some who drive shonky cars and try to avoid paying their dues. I have a few pet peeves that have built up and seem to repeat themselves a bit to frequently for my taste. Sometimes to the extent that I even think of wanting to balik kampung and chill instead.
In case you were wondering, pet peeves are annoyances that we encounter regularly and a frequent subject of complaint (by me). Here are some of mine:
Empty Petrol Tank
Switching on the ignition and finding the car running on fumes is a major peeve. Sometimes I have to let the car idle when doing repairs or troubleshooting, or taking it for a test drive. We may need the gas for cleaning parts (your parts). When dropping off your car, you should always ensure that there is enough fuel in the tank. There should be at least a quarter tank-full. We are under no obligation to fill up your car for you. And no, we don’t keep extra petrol in the shop.
Dirty Cars
From last week’s visit to McDonald’s and disposable coffee cups to tissues smeared with God-knows-what, we find a lot of trash in a car. The exterior of the car is most often the least of our worries, but when a particularly dirty car rolls up, can you imagine the state of the engine bay? A dirty engine will also make it so much harder to diagnose an oil leak, for instance. The whole engine is covered with dirty engine oil anyway. Help out your poor foreman by sending the car to an engine wash regularly. It makes the job much easier and less disgusting.
Unreasonable Expectations
Turning up just before 6pm at the end of your mechanic’s working day and asking for a major job to be completed before you go out that evening isn’t realistic. We are not an auto parts store, and the parts supplier might not have the part you need in stock at that time. Plus, we might have to diagnose the problem before we order the part. Time after time, the customer will want the job done immediately when it is just not possible. Please allow your mechanic some time to do the work correctly. We do want your car out of the shop as soon as possible to make room for other customers too (and bill you ASAP as well, of course).
Friends and Fees
There are some of us that think that because the foreman is their friend, the bill would be cheaper or even done for free. Especially when they bring their own parts to the shop. While we do make allowances for friends (jumping the queue or extra special attention), it is unreasonable to expect that the foreman will charge you less than any other shop. It is, after all, a business and he has bills to pay and family to feed. And, please pay what he asks for and don’t quibble on the amount, especially if you do consider him a friend.
Changing Foremen/Shops
The only other person who dislikes a bad mechanic besides yourself is the mechanic who has to fix the other guys’ work. Dishonest mechanics perform sloppy work, deceive and sometimes abuse their customers. This makes it harder for honest foremen. The customer will be unable to trust the next guy if they’ve had bad experiences. Most of the foremen I know use the best practices for repairing cars. But sometimes, mechanics are forced to undo a previous mechanic’s shoddy work. This means you get charged twice for one problem and it may include extra work. However, doing the job right just might gain me a loyal customer.
The Customer Diagnosis
Sometimes, the customer shows up and explains to you exactly what the problem with the car is. Sometimes, they’re right, but sometimes (well, most of the time) they’re not. It’s the mechanic’s job to diagnose the problem. Most of the time, we will listen and do whatever WE feel is correct. However, it is useful to listen to customer’s complaints and observations. But the cure may be something else entirely.
Ignoring Safety Issues
Sometimes some really beat-up cars come into the shop and it can be upsetting to see customers neglect serious safety issues. Brakes that are seriously worn out, suspension that have no damping, bald tyres and broken lights are some of the usual things we see. Lack of finances is understandable, but when neglected repairs pose a major safety hazard, sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and do it. Your life and the lives of your loved ones cost more than the parts.
Cars and trucks arrive in a variety of condition, dropped off by customers who usually want things fixed NOW no matter the circumstances. Trying to juggle tasks while trying to keep customers happy can make things a little hectic. I need a holiday. See you in Bali.