The first customer I've ever fired

1. He deserved to be “fired”.
2. Age has nothing to do with being an abuser.
3. The continued harassment, months later, from another number, is a sign of a personality disorder.
4. If you hear from him again, perhaps consider involving the police - maybe a restraining order? Keep the texts and phone calls to prove your case.

finally, and I have to ask this, how much better/worse do you think he would be if you let him supply his own parts?
 
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Sorry you had to deal with the guy; he sounds like a miserable cus. If anything, you treated him too good.

My brother's shop had a deal; if you didn't like the work, you pay only for parts and never do business again. No one ever took him up on it. Greg, unlike me, had no problem dealing with customers of all types.
 
Astro14 said:
1. He deserved to be “fired”.
2. Age has nothing to do with be an abuser.
3. The continued harassment, months later, from another number, is a sign of a personality disorder.
4. If you hear from him again, perhaps consider involving the police - maybe a restraining order? Keep the texts and phone calls to prove your case.

finally, and I have to ask this, how much better/worse do you think he would be if you let him supply his own parts?
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3) I agree. The amount of bitterness and anger that he exudes can't be normal
4) Perhaps I should. I normally do not delete any of my texts, especially with customers, but I'm not so sure that I kept his? I'll look and if I did I'll see if I can stash the in a folder.

Normally I don't let customers supply their own parts. I do make exceptions though and the most common reason is when they want to supply their own oil/filter - because I know how fussy folks can be with their oil/filters 😂 And he was no different - he claimed to have found an engine at one time for his truck so I was going to let him bring it in and he also brought his own oil and filter (The reason is that I don't mark engines or oil up much anyway so it wouldn't really hurt me) and that didn't seem to help my case.
 
The continued attempts at contacting you is a huge red flag. At the very least, file an informational report with the police so that a paper trail showing your concern about his negative behavior is established and quickly referenced by the police if it continues. This also serves as an initial springboard for any additional supplemental reports documenting continued harassing contacts. You can request that the police take no action at the time of the initial report other than the documentation.
 
walterjay said:
I have a mil with dementia so I have been educating myself about it. Sounds like onset dementia.
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My mom got like this guy for the last year before we knew something was really wrong. Arguing with anyone and doing the “I’ll call the cops on you” to a repair guy when it was clear the guy was just waiting for a part to arrive to fix the appliance. She could not process that, just that it was taking too long (three days) and she didn’t have a working dishwasher. Really sad, none of us kids could calm her down.

A year later she was clinically diagnosed with early onset dementia.
 
John Galt said:
My mom got like this guy for the last year before we knew something was really wrong. Arguing with anyone and doing the “I’ll call the cops on you” to a repair guy when it was clear the guy was just waiting for a part to arrive to fix the appliance. She could not process that, just that it was taking too long (three days) and she didn’t have a working dishwasher. Really sad, none of us kids could calm her down.

A year later she was clinically diagnosed with early onset dementia.
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That's really sad.

I tend to have really good rapport with my customers and have gotten many a life's stories.. And I've had some be quite candid with me. One gal came in to pick up her car and after some conversation told me that she wouldn't be driving much longer. I didn't really press her, but she told me that she had been diagnosed with dementia. I was flabbergasted! She had been active all her life and even went to school to do body work - she was a sharp minded and silly woman. Later, her husband would bring her around when paying the bills and I got to see her degrade which was incredibly saddening. One time I dropped his vehicle off to him after working on it and she was out and when I greeted her she gave me the most empty eyed, blank look and said "you know me?" Man that was difficult. I don't see either now - I heard from his family that he had some medical issues.. I still drive by his place some times and his vehicles are there, so I hope he's ok.
 
Since it was your first
Let me edumacate you
I had a life of it......
The call...you don't remember me.....
Oh yes I do, I remember everyone because my mind is like a steel trap... 😁

The people that use that line are hoping you don't remember them because they burned every bridge they have ever known...

They also aren't very smart either.
 
The_Eric said:
I've said it before in various subforums here - I am exceptionally lucky with my customers. The overwhelming and vast majority are good folks who I go out of my way to help. Then there's this frickin guy... A seventy something as far as I can tell.. about a year ago he brings me an Explorer Sport Trac that was making ugly timing chain noises... I always get to know my customers and this guy was a small engine mech and said that he built some dirt track engines, so I took my time with him, showed him what I was doing and went through my rationale. Yes, it has timing chain noises, but also a misfire. Lots of small talk and complaining about the cost of repair and how much money that he had in it already (should have seen it coming). Anyway, he says kick it out the door and he'll think on it. Eventually he authorizes me to fix the bad chain/guide/tens, but not both. So I wheel it back in and start working only to find oil in the coolant. Call him back up and he comes out to look. More talking and spitballing. Tried flushing the coolant, but the oil comes back. So he has me kick it outside again while he thinks on it. Ultimately he calls and elects to not repair and then tell me that he's only paying X amount of money. I was a bit taken aback and honestly didn't know what to say then.. So I make the bill up and charge him 1.5 hours plus some antifreeze (it was winter and cold). The bill came up to about $35 dollars more than he wanted to pay. When he showed up, he was displeased and gave all kinds of reasons and excuses and saying that he already knew it was a timing chain issue and that other shops already told him - some didn't even charge. Even after getting him to agree that the time I charged was reasonable and corresponded to what I charged, he was pissy. On the way out the door he made a back handed comment about my integrity. I had to eat the $30 odd dollars, but at least I wouldn't have to deal with it any more. Wrong. He calls up a few weeks later wanting me to replace the engine again. Told him no because of the way he acted, but he insisted saying that he liked the way I worked. Ultimately it never came to be, but he did continue to bring me his other vehicle for oil changes and usually eating up my time whining about this and that or telling me about his son who is a detective and martial artist in a town down the road. Even had the stones to short me again (very little money) I finally told him enough of that **** and to his credit, he did mail a check for a couple of dollars to make it right.

Anyway I dread dealing with the guy, so the next time he called, I told him that he needed to find another mechanic.. Well you'd have thought that I just insulted him mother and wife! He retaliated with all sorts of personal insults and mockery. I cut him off, wished him good luck and hung up. I thought ahh haa! I'm finally rid of him! Wrong. He proceeds to call me and text me harassing messages from his phone, his wife's phone and another phone... I blocked all of them without engaging in that BS. All was quiet for several months until yesterday afternoon (Sunday). I didn't hear anything but he left me a harassing text from a new number and after looking, he even tried calling me.. Like really old man??? Get a life! Another number blocked and reported as spam. He is one of many examples of why I pay no mind the "Always respect your elders" nonsense... After 13 years and MANY, MANY customers of varying backgrounds and levels of affluence, I can still honestly say that I can basically count on one hand the ones I don't want to see return and he is by far the worst customer I've ever had.
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No one deserves that. If he keeps it up, contact a lawyer about getting a cease/desist or restraining order. My clients are entities so that has not been an issue but my wife has had some crazies and has had to resort to it.
 
In the electrical trade we had all kinds of individuals and businesses agree to a quote knowing full well they didn't have the money to pay once the work was complete. Unfortunately the law doesn't allow us to take back the material once it is installed and courts were always a waste of time. I once lost $625,000 dollars when a general contractor failed to pay and closed his doors.
 
The first time someone tells you what you are worth they should get the boot.

One guy was another shop owner. Brought in an ac hose to be repaired. Told him $75 and he signed the work order.

Sends another guy to pick it up but only sends $40. Says thats all he is paying. I call my boss @ home. Boss told me to cut it up and give it back to him!

We fired a couple other customers from the the radiator shop. I have pretty much stopped moonlighting as I'm tired of dealing with idiots.
 
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I am so glad I no longer have to deal with 'customers'. Like I did as a mechanic, and later as a business owner.

This guy sounds like a true narcissist. I would keep a record of all his contacts with you. I wouldn't respond to any of them. I'd consider getting a restraining order. His son could be as unhinged as he is. But being a cop, he could make your life even more miserable. I'd consider getting some good security cameras around your business and house.

Good luck.
 
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