What part of "We close @5" don't people undestand?

[S2500Dog]

The lady was definitely on something she thinks that anyone can get their AC in one hour or less. When I have some major work to do on my car, I just drive it in and leave it there with my uncle at his shop. If he and his homeboy need several hours or several days to any maintenance or repairs, I'll let him keep the car there and have him and his homeboy take their time to finish the job right. I don't worry about getting into problems with him because my father is a close cousin of him and Im his closest nephew and number one customer. He always looking out for me and my family when our vehicles breaks down.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Come on, what do you expect from a female driver ? They have no idea how long it will take to repair air conditioning or anything else, to most of them it only takes 10-15 minutes to fix anything on the car, because auto mechanics has magic touch.

 

[crinkles]

I get clients like these asking for work due tomorrow when they already have crews on site waiting for a response. Unfortunately these things take weeks, days and months, it's the nature of the beast. I try help them out as much I can, but if they have an attitude I slot them last on my list of things to do and clients to serve.

 

[javacontour]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
She's like many. They have limited life experience that's too far outside of their existence bubble. She can't be too worldly in the ways things work.

..but counsel the boss to add, "if you can get here within" to his phone message. What he said and what she heard were two different things.


Bingo, whomever answered the phone has to say, "get here by 12:00 noon and we MIGHT be able to get it in, but NO PROMISES..."

Get it in soon is so vague that someone could drive a truck through that loophole.

 

[kb01]

The woman sounds pretty awful.

This is a major reason why I try to keep good relationships with with contractors -- electricians, mechanics, HVAC, plumbers, etc. When something is a non-emergency, I pretty much always say: "can you fit me in sometime in the next couple of weeks...?". I don't nickel and dime them, always offer a beverage to people working on my house, and always thank people for doing a good job. When I find someone good, I throw a lot of work their way and give lots of referrals.

Because when an emergency crops up, I don't want to be an a-hole who is freaking out about something outside of my control -- I am beyond appreciative of my mechanic. Last summer, the morning before a 10 hour drive to Florida, I took a rock through the AC condenser on my car while driving to the store. My mechanic was swamped but told me to bring the car in anyways. He had it fixed and the car ready to go that morning.

 

[jcwit]

It all depends on what ones idea of soon is. Boss should have been specific and not used generalities.

 

[CivicFan]

When I worked at a small business, we would stay open as late as necessary to fix any issues a customer might bring. Our closing time was 5 pm but I have stayed late till 11pm working on issues.

I was a salaried employee and I did not bi!ch and complain about working late or anything. That was our philosophy and we maintained a competitive edge with it.

In my current job I put 10-12 hours a day sometimes but you don't see me complaining. If there is work to be done, you get it done.

The issue with OP I see is that they need an A/C at work. Working at 100 degree environment is not good business.

 

[eljefino]

Your boss should start a side rental car business. Don't fight the arrogance, profit from it.

 

[jcwit]

I understand it in a repair business, especially when the problem existed for monthe and now customer want to go on a trip and wants it fixed NOW, but at her convience. Na, don't work that way.

However, years ago at my first job which started at 13 clerking in the local hardware store, no customer was turned away even after closing time. If someone called after hours and needed something, you better get down there and unlock and give them the service. Might be important to their farming operation. I remember one time I got a call very late in the evening to get a well point and well pipe as the farmers well for his chicken house had problems. Ended up helping him pull the well and put in new well and by 5:00 AM we had water for the chicken house again. Farmer gave me $100 tip which back in the '50's was big money for a 14-15 year kid. Owner of the store paid me overtime as well. Pluss I worked a full day that day also.

Man have times changed, and not necessary for the better.

 

[bigmike]

She's special.

And she's going to be the first one screaming about how you don't provide good customer service.

 

[L_Sludger]

Originally Posted By: StevieC
I would have said that you would look at it and ask her to pop the hood. Then disconnect the wire to her coil pack when she wasn't looking. Then ask her to come and show you what it's doing and have her start the car. Then when it doesn't start tell her that she will have to come back tomorrow because you don't have time to troubleshoot this new problem and make her take a cab/bus home...

Oh that would be wrong now wouldn't it?

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
When I worked at a small business, we would stay open as late as necessary to fix any issues a customer might bring. Our closing time was 5 pm but I have stayed late till 11pm working on issues.

I was a salaried employee and I did not bi!ch and complain about working late or anything. That was our philosophy and we maintained a competitive edge with it.

In my current job I put 10-12 hours a day sometimes but you don't see me complaining. If there is work to be done, you get it done.

The issue with OP I see is that they need an A/C at work. Working at 100 degree environment is not good business.


Are you serious?

 

[CivicFan]

Serious about what:

- 100 degree work environment not being a good business practice;
- getting the job done;
- not complaining about my job.

???

 

[Steve S]

We need to order parts?

 

[bigmike]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan
Serious about what:

- 100 degree work environment not being a good business practice;
- getting the job done;
- not complaining about my job.

???


I think it's the part about not getting paid for the hours you're working. That is not the path to financial success.

 

[tom slick]

Civicfan has got the answers:
Stop working when it gets close to 100* (we all know 100+* is a rarity in Apple Valley)
or
Demand that your boss to air condition the shop
but
You should have worked overtime and made your boss angry
or
Worked for free
and
You should be on salary so you can work 60+ hours per week on customer's cars who can't follow simple instructions/rules in non-emergency situations.

That all sounds fair and is industry practice....right?

 

[mechtech2]

If the boss told her to "Come in whenever and we would fix it then", she has a valid point.
For others like her, they want their car fixed ASAP. Go to the store, get food right away. Go to a video store or machine, and get DVDs right away.
The average person would not give Stephen Hawking a run for the money, thinking -wise!

 

[Chris142]

Originally Posted By: CivicFan


The issue with OP I see is that they need an A/C at work. Working at 100 degree environment is not good business.
unfortunatly we are just a 2 person shop.Adding AC and paying the monthly electric bill is not in our imediate future at this point in time. Due to the economy we didn't even pay rent over the winter because we had no business. Now that summer is here were catching up on things.

We do have heaters for when it's cold but since they cost $600 a month to run we don't use those either.

 

[Gary Allan]

Sounds like a semi-partnership. He's probably carrying the capital outlay in equipment and whatnot ..but otherwise...

Vote for a good water cooler...mega floor fan ..and cross ventilation for the shop.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: mechtech2

The average person would not give Stephen Hawking a run for the money, thinking -wise!



A little off topic maybe, but at present I don't think there's anyone on the planet that can give Stephen Hawking a run for the money, thinking wise.