After taking my car to be dyno tuned I decided to also get my supercharger installed also.While waiting for shop to complete tuning ,and flywheel install I was contacted by the owner this week requesting that I pay something on the bill, althought of the work has not been completed I agreed to pay $5-600 on the bill today being in good spirit I payed $900 instead,after accepting my money shop owner stated that he thought I was going to pay the entire bill which was never the agreement,neither was the partial payment.I was also told my car would be worke in-on as they had time, in other words if my car or me are not a priority.I've already began the process to far to stop,perhaps I'am wrong in my thought process ,but it seems as thouht the rules arebe made up as we go along at my expense, is this normal speed shop behavior ? Is this whats to be expected ?? :confused:

 

Sadly...it is normal speed shop behavior...but it is not normal for a GOOD speed shop to behave this way.

Sounds like they are trying to take you for a ride. Maybe you should take your car for a test ride and just not go back.

 

QUOTE
is this normal speed shop behavior ? Is this whats to be expected ??


don't know all the partiulars of your job.......or your shop......

at my shop the rule is first in first out enless we run into a part problem....
sometime we ask for a parts deposit out front if the work involves special order expensive and out of the ordinary parts. the customer gets a written estimate......he doesn't pay for the work until it's finished.....he doesn't get his car until he pays .......he gets a guarantee on the work......most of the other shops around here are about the same.....kinda standard proceedure

but like i said i wasn't there when you checked your car into the shop

doc

 

That sounds about right. The majority of speed shops I have seen are downright seedy. Thats why a good reputable shop is always wildly expensive, but worth it. In NJ where I am there are several that practice just as you described. Sadly it seem this is rule rather than the exception. For now try to be as diplomatic as you can as you press them to finish the job. Dont let them forget about you!!!

 

This a reputable shop I thought, if that was the orginal terms I'am okay with it ,but to out of the blue sky call me ,and start tell me in so many words you exspecting a partial payment, thats whats bothering me. I'am waiting him to finish not him waiting for me. This modding bussiness is really starting to leave a bad taste in my mouth. Jeezs I rather pay more than usal if a shop has good customer service.

 

The only time I ask for cash up front if the part we get are special order and not a stocked item. Normally we give a written estimate, if I see its going to exceed the estimate the customer is called, a note is written in the customer repair order for the time that we called and the outcome of that call. Any warranty issues and disclaimers are discussed before the job. As we all know with high performance work, a shop really can't warranty much with the exception of assuring his customer that the work performed will be done correctly.

For instance today I just completed fixing a botched blower job that was installed in a 78 Chevy 2WD Blazer. The blower and manifold was thrown in, intake gasket was wasted, it was leaking oil and coolant. The blower to manifold gasket was gone so there was a massive vacuum leak there. The MSD BTM unit wasn't installed correctly and the carburetor was not the correct size or type for the application.

Upon discussion with the customer we told him that we would install the correct boost referenced Holley carb that was recommended for that small Holley Blower, I would rewire and fix the MSD BTM to work correctly, replace the intake and blower gaskets. I also discussed the fact that this blower was installed on a ZZ4 crate motor with 10:1 compression ratio and that supercharging it wasn't the smartest thing to do. But if he really wanted to make it run as good as possible then I had to fix the above problems. I also told him that if he busted pistons in the engine after we installed and corrected what we found that we could not be reponsible for that. The customer agreed, I fixed everything and tuned it. Before the engine would rattle (detonate) easily at part throttle, after recurving the distributor and making sure that the MSD BTM was working I got no noticable detonation.

The customer was happy, paid the bill, signed the release and boiled the tires for us in front of the shop and drove off in the sunset. :) Oh to answer your question, not I don't think its really ethical to ask for money in advance like your shop did.

 

My guess would be the shop's cash flow problem surfaced and since your car is sitting there, problem solved.

If it's not too late to back out, pull the ejection handle.

dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3 speed shocks

 

Aside from everything else, there is a lack of trust there, and you never leave your car in the hands of someone you don't trust.

Now, you have to be nice to this jerk, or maybe he will screw-up something just for spite.

A mechanics ethical reputation means as much as his mechanical ability!!


:mad


[Modified by Wayne88, 11:21 AM 1/31/2004]

 

Im am amazed that people can build a business based on this type of business practice,but I dont know what took place between the two parties.One things for sure,I dont think he will be seeing any repeat business.Next time im working on my car,bitchin and moanin about what ever,Ishould be greatful I have the knowledge to fix it my self.

 

:iagree:

 

One of the best mechanics I know sucked a money managment-- if this is any consolation.

It sounds like supercharger purchase/installation request was after the car was already in for the dyno tune. Depending on how buzy the shop is and their scheduling the SC install might not have allowed them the luxury to stay on your car until finished. Asking for money up front for a large purchase item doesn't seem unreasonable. I have seen shops special order parts then be stuck with the parts or charged a restocking fee when the owner changed his mind.

 

greenreaper - I'm also located in the dallas area. do you mind me asking what shop you took the car too?

 

If I where you I would ask for all my money back and get my car out of thier shop. I can tell you that when a shop says they are going to "work your car in when they can" they are not going to be working on your car any time soon. Also no reputable shop would be asking for money up front other then mabey some small deposits and for special parts. I have a feeling you are going to be throwing good money after bad if you give them any more $$$$$$. If nothing else let him know that he either works on you car now or you want a full refund.

 

I took my Procharger kit to him he did'nt have to order it,my own gauges, my own inline aereomotive fuel pump.He order new injectors ,and the gauge pod.The rest I took to him. Red 95 vette the shop believe or not is a forum sponsor. :rolleyes:

 

Good speed shop protocol:
1. Agree on work to be done
2. Pay for parts up front
3. Check in on car regularly
4. Pay labor as you go as long as when you check on the car it has been worked on.
5. When it's done settle up. If it sits too long (two or three visits) - pull it.

This way everyone SHOULD be happy - the shop is never really out anything and you don't pay for work that's never done. You have to remember that speed shops get a lot of come-backs, so their schedules have to be flexible and so should yours. BUT, don't let them take you. It's a risky venture for both sides even if both sides have good intentions.

Just my $.02 :seeya

 

I've had no problem giving money to a reputable shop up front on parts and labor... .SGC, He needed 2k out of x amount to get started to cover his outlay on getting certain things done.

A regular mom and pop, screw that. Make sure your CC has a good history of siding with the consumer.

 

You know speed shops are really no different than general contractors. They start a job once you have given a down payment, as the work progresses you pay slightly more till the job is complete. you still have held back 10-155 depending on whether everything works and is inspected and passes code. then and only then do you pay the last payment. I don't see working on a costly project on your engine. :nono:

 

Red95vette you have im.

 

I have made this comment to people like yourself probably 10x.

Buy a shop manual and learn how to do the work yourself. IF you dont have a garage, buy a house with one. You also need another car as a daily driver for when you get 'stuck' or hung up on something.

Speed shops always do these kinds of things. Only ones like LPE, and a few local ones, do work right. Again they are outrageously $$$$.

You will be amazed at the type of money you will have freed up for more parts once you learn to do the work yourself. ]

No one cares more about your car than yourself.

 

First I would have been open to paying something up front if terms had been as such intially ,but not out of the blue sky 3 weeks down the road.The bill consist of paying for the install ,its the charger is'nt on the car , were talking about paying up front for something that has'nt been done.Jeez.How is it costly when 90% of whats needed has already been supplied by me? :confused: