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Right To Repair - A Hot Issue

576 messages,  Last post on Feb 04, 2013 at 8:06 PM

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What is this discussion about? Electrical

Messages Page 54 of 59

#522 of 576 Re: Someone who understands the details [steve_] by thecardoc3

May 20, 2012 (7:36 am)

Replying to: steve_ (May 11, 2012 7:16 pm)
OK, I read through it again. While some of the comments were made to be in defense of technicians, (thank-you shift-right), the thought process started as I interpreted it. Trying to defend against the comments is like trying to address a comment like "Do you still beat your wife?"
 
The simple facts are there are any number of people who have had careers that make them believe they are prepared to comment on what it's like being a technician, and what it costs today to try and run a viable business but they don't actually have the first hand experience of doing so.
 
For every success we have, it only takes one person to try and tear the whole operation down. I don't know if I ever told you about the guy with the windstar turn signal problem who's bill was $170 to repair. Which by the way was a charge for half of the time that was actually invested, and easily could have been mis-diagnosed and cost him well over $700 for a GEM module replacement that he didn't need. We got it right, did the repair right, cut our own throats to make the price right, and to him and everyone he has ever talked to we are crooks. If I could have seen that coming, I would have handed him a twenty told him sorry about his luck and sent him down the road without fixing his car and been better off.
 
I could talk about the guy back when I was a dealership technician. I got called to the service desk, and as soon as I got there the business owner jumped all over me for smoking in that customers car and burning a hole in the carpet. There is no doubt in my mind I was about to lose my job when the service manager spoke up about one little detail that car owner didn't account for with his lie. I don't smoke, never have, and can't stand to be near someone that does smoke. heck even getting into some people's cars where they smoke makes me ill.
 
I had to cut Friday short, and struggled through yesterday after having a reaction to the odor from the mothballs one lady has inside her car. She was here because I can handle the keyless security system on her Lincoln. I lost a day's productivity (and my lunch) for fixing it for her.

#523 of 576 Re: Someone who understands the details [thecardoc3] by steve_ HOST

May 20, 2012 (8:40 am)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (May 20, 2012 7:36 am)
Well, it could be worse.
 
You could be a car salesman.

#524 of 576 Re: Someone who understands the details [thecardoc3] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 20, 2012 (9:12 am)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (May 20, 2012 7:36 am)
You could name any profession and point to similar public perceptions. Doctors? Lawyers? Postal employees?
 
I mean, really, what job title is universally loved and admired? Very few indeed.
 
RE: Dealing with customers: -- If you work on cars, you're gonna have good days, and you're gonna have very bad days.
 
My Dad was a field technician for Packard--he used to say "The automobile business eats people".
 
When Packard folded, he left the biz and worked for the Better Business Bureau----having a clear understanding of how difficult it was to fix cars, he had a very high success rate of resolving complaints from car owners, and was also not hesitant to tell a consumer that their claim had no basis.
 
Keep in mind that the BBB is funded solely by business--it was created to weed out the bad apples and protect the good ones.

#525 of 576 Enjoy this article by someone who wants to help the consumers by thecardoc3

May 23, 2012 (11:43 am)

http://www.ehow.com/info_8165935_tips-pass-california-smog-test.html
 
Click on the e-how authors link and you'll find that he wrote a book about auto repair scams and shams in 1990. What's really sad is much of the information in the ehow article couldn't be more incorrect.
 
Its troublesome to see him featured as an "expert" when his words prove that he isn't qualified to hold a position as a technician.

#526 of 576 Re: Enjoy this article by someone who wants to help the consumers [thecardoc3] by steve_ HOST

May 23, 2012 (12:02 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (May 23, 2012 11:43 am)
That's what happens when an ad site pays for content just to generate hits. Not all eHow.com content is low quality but a lot sure is. I don't know about other search engines, but "Google is paying attention to complaints about “content farms and sites that consist primarily of spammy or low-quality content” clogging its search results."
 
You could write a blurb about how to select a good mechanic. Maybe they'll pay you $29.

#527 of 576 Re: Enjoy this article by someone who wants to help the consumers [thecardoc3] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

May 23, 2012 (3:33 pm)

Replying to: thecardoc3 (May 23, 2012 11:43 am)
That's really wrong info! However, I have learned long ago to never consult eHow for anything.
 
Of course, consider what you pay for eHow advice
 
I get $750 a day in court to be an expert on car values.

#528 of 576 not as easy as a simple bumper sticker slogan by steve_ HOST

May 27, 2012 (6:22 am)

"Should the question go to the ballot, Bradley predicted that supporters of improving access to repair information for independent auto body shops would have an easier time framing their argument for voters.
  
“The only holdout right now is General Motors so we’re hopeful there will be an agreement reached to bring to the House. This is a very complicated and difficult issue to bring to the ballot, but from our side it’s easy to frame if it goes to the ballot. Are you going to vote for the guy on the corner who fixes your car or the manufacturers in Detroit who needed a bailout. It will be a no-brainer for voters, so I can see how it’s going to play,” Bradley said.
 
Attention, and lobbying, shifts to House on auto repair issue (bostonherald.com)

#529 of 576 level the playing field? by steve_ HOST

Jul 11, 2012 (4:19 pm)

“You bought the car; you ought to be able to get access to information to fix it,” said Art Kinsman, spokesman for the coalition, which predicts that success would lead to ballot measures in other states, where right-to-repair legislation has stalled.
 
Car makers say they plan a robust fight. “Massachusetts is really the battleground right now,” said Dan Gage, spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.
 
Dealerships also oppose the ballot measure, fearing that auto makers that find the requirements too onerous might not sell cars in the state. The dealers also are looking to protect their own repair businesses, which have become “vital” revenue generators, said John Giamalvo, an analyst with Edmunds.com."
 
Massachusetts Is ‘Right to Repair’ Battleground (Wall St. Journal)

#530 of 576 Re: level the playing field? [steve_] by hpmctorque

Jul 12, 2012 (5:24 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jul 11, 2012 4:19 pm)
I believe that the consumers' choices should prevail. Not the manufacturer, not the dealer, but the consumer should be the first priority. Since greater competition benefits the consumer, independent garages should have ready access to repair equipment, tools and manuals, at competitive prices.

#531 of 576 Re: level the playing field? [hpmctorque] by thecardoc3

Jul 21, 2012 (12:37 pm)

Replying to: hpmctorque (Jul 12, 2012 5:24 pm)
OK, the log-in thing is finally fixed!.
 
The consumers are of course very important but how does R2R address their needs? In fact if we are to believe everything that has been written some want to try and suggest that all some shops need is "the tool" and "the software" and they will be 100% ready to serve the customer at the cheapest price possible. The reality is, the tools and software are already available but in some cases cost prohibitive. Let's envision that they can make the tools cheaper overnight, what about the training and product knowledge that is required to have the technicians be proficient in it's use? Is someone legislating that will also be available, and that the techs would even attend it if it was?
 
Top shops who have been looking out for the consumer have been investing all along in every aspect of this. (tools, training, software) No we can't work on all makes and models any more and legislation can't fix that. As a consumer you have to recognize you have every right to own a Merceds, or BMW if you can afford to. Affording to in many cases likely means you'll need to adress certain vehicle needs at the dealership. If you really don't like that then you need to buy a vehicle that your local shop can justify supporting. You see? You do have a choice here.
 
BTW did you recheck the article Steve linked? That sure fell apart fast when some knowlegable people chimed in.

Messages Page 54 of 59

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