Honest mechanic?

Can anyone recommend an honest mechanic who does what needs to be done and
does it correctly.

North Miami Beach, FL

Thanks

JHI wrote:

>Can anyone recommend an honest mechanic who does what needs to be done and
>does it correctly.
>
>North Miami Beach, FL

Only if you're prepared to travel.

--
John H

I'd be happy to find a few honest customers.....


Someone who will admit that he tried - and failed miserably - to fix the
problem himself, only making it worse.....

Someone who really DID have another estimate which was much lower than
mine......

Someone who really DID have the work he's trying to have warranteed done by
my shop.....

Someone who really DID only hear the grinding brakes for the first time
"...this morning"......

Someone who will not try to blame the need for a wheel alignment on me
fixing the transmission.....

Someone who's willing to pay me a reasonable fee for the investment I have
made in the tools, equipment, and education needed to fix their particular
car....not expect me to work for $12-an-hour because they consider that to
be a good hourly salary.....

Someone who doesn't confuse the terms "honest" with "cheap"....hoping to
find a competent technician who moonlights for $10-an-hour.......

Someone who doesn't automatically pigeonhole EVERY automotive technician as
being incompetent and dishonest......

Yes, there are some scumbags in this industry - as there are in ANY
industry.......but there are also a fair share of dishonest customers who
make it hard for the honest ones.......

The blowhards who profess to be automotive "experts" - yet have never
earned a single hour's pay working on cars - are the worst......

.......and there are a large number of them on this particular board.

> Yes, there are some scumbags in this industry - as there are in ANY
> industry.......but there are also a fair share of dishonest customers who
> make it hard for the honest ones.......

Let's face it, there are more scumbags in the auto repair industry than
in most other areas of customer service because most people don't know
jack **** about cars.

In article <01c5719b$96b5e5e0$1da5c3d8@race>,
"*" > wrote:

> I'd be happy to find a few honest customers.....
>
>
> Someone who will admit that he tried - and failed miserably - to fix the
> problem himself, only making it worse.....
>
> Someone who really DID have another estimate which was much lower than
> mine......
>
> Someone who really DID have the work he's trying to have warranteed done by
> my shop.....
>
> Someone who really DID only hear the grinding brakes for the first time
> "...this morning"......
>
> Someone who will not try to blame the need for a wheel alignment on me
> fixing the transmission.....
>
> Someone who's willing to pay me a reasonable fee for the investment I have
> made in the tools, equipment, and education needed to fix their particular
> car....not expect me to work for $12-an-hour because they consider that to
> be a good hourly salary.....
>
> Someone who doesn't confuse the terms "honest" with "cheap"....hoping to
> find a competent technician who moonlights for $10-an-hour.......
>
> Someone who doesn't automatically pigeonhole EVERY automotive technician as
> being incompetent and dishonest......
>
> Yes, there are some scumbags in this industry - as there are in ANY
> industry.......but there are also a fair share of dishonest customers who
> make it hard for the honest ones.......
>
> The blowhards who profess to be automotive "experts" - yet have never
> earned a single hour's pay working on cars - are the worst......
>
> ......and there are a large number of them on this particular board.

Bravo!

In article <01c5719b$96b5e5e0$1da5c3d8@race>,
"*" > wrote:

> I'd be happy to find a few honest customers.....

<snip>

> The blowhards who profess to be automotive "experts" - yet have never
> earned a single hour's pay working on cars - are the worst......

Hmmm... Haven't been paid to work on cars, but if I do say so myself, I
seem to do pretty good keeping mine on the road in good running
(Although perhaps not particularly "cosmetically pleasing") shape. It
sees a garage/mechanic only for alignment and smog work - Basically,
stuff that's outside my equipment capabilities to dial in precisely. I
know it inside and out, and inside out, and what knowledge about it is
needed that isn't already stored in my head is available from the
factory manual that's carried tucked into the pouch on the back of the
passenger seat.

So although I'm honest (I *KNOW* what needs to go on - why would I want
to try to bull**** the guy I'm asking to take care of it for me???) it's
unlikely you'll see me in your shop unless I happen to stumble across
you while looking for an alignment or smog check.

Some of us DO have a clue, guy.

And as far as your rates... $20-30 an hour, MAYBE. 60, 70, 80+ an hour?
Get a grip on reality, chum. Maybe to a brain surgeon. Not to a car
mechanic. Particularly when I'm perfectly capable of knocking out the
job myself.

Dunno why, but the line "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the
kitchen" comes to mind...

--
Don Bruder - - New Email policy in effect as of Feb. 21, 2004.
Short form: I'm trashing EVERY E-mail that doesn't contain a password in the
subject unless it comes from a "whitelisted" (pre-approved by me) address.
See <http://www.sonic.net/~dakidd/main/contact.html> for full details.

"aarcuda69062" > wrote in message
...
> In article <01c5719b$96b5e5e0$1da5c3d8@race>,
> "*" > wrote:
>
>> I'd be happy to find a few honest customers.....
>>
>>
>> Someone who will admit that he tried - and failed miserably - to fix the
>> problem himself, only making it worse.....
>>
>> Someone who really DID have another estimate which was much lower than
>> mine......
>>
>> Someone who really DID have the work he's trying to have warranteed done
>> by
>> my shop.....
>>
>> Someone who really DID only hear the grinding brakes for the first time
>> "...this morning"......
>>
>> Someone who will not try to blame the need for a wheel alignment on me
>> fixing the transmission.....
>>
>> Someone who's willing to pay me a reasonable fee for the investment I
>> have
>> made in the tools, equipment, and education needed to fix their
>> particular
>> car....not expect me to work for $12-an-hour because they consider that
>> to
>> be a good hourly salary.....
>>
>> Someone who doesn't confuse the terms "honest" with "cheap"....hoping to
>> find a competent technician who moonlights for $10-an-hour.......
>>
>> Someone who doesn't automatically pigeonhole EVERY automotive technician
>> as
>> being incompetent and dishonest......
>>
>> Yes, there are some scumbags in this industry - as there are in ANY
>> industry.......but there are also a fair share of dishonest customers who
>> make it hard for the honest ones.......
>>
>> The blowhards who profess to be automotive "experts" - yet have never
>> earned a single hour's pay working on cars - are the worst......
>>
>> ......and there are a large number of them on this particular board.
>
> Bravo!

Yes indeed!

"Don Bruder" > wrote in message
...
> In article <01c5719b$96b5e5e0$1da5c3d8@race>,
> "*" > wrote:
>
>> I'd be happy to find a few honest customers.....
>
> <snip>
>
>> The blowhards who profess to be automotive "experts" - yet have never
>> earned a single hour's pay working on cars - are the worst......
>
> Hmmm... Haven't been paid to work on cars, but if I do say so myself, I
> seem to do pretty good keeping mine on the road in good running
> (Although perhaps not particularly "cosmetically pleasing") shape. It
> sees a garage/mechanic only for alignment and smog work - Basically,
> stuff that's outside my equipment capabilities to dial in precisely. I
> know it inside and out, and inside out, and what knowledge about it is
> needed that isn't already stored in my head is available from the
> factory manual that's carried tucked into the pouch on the back of the
> passenger seat.
>
> So although I'm honest (I *KNOW* what needs to go on - why would I want
> to try to bull**** the guy I'm asking to take care of it for me???) it's
> unlikely you'll see me in your shop unless I happen to stumble across
> you while looking for an alignment or smog check.
>
> Some of us DO have a clue, guy.
>
> And as far as your rates... $20-30 an hour, MAYBE. 60, 70, 80+ an hour?
> Get a grip on reality, chum. Maybe to a brain surgeon. Not to a car
> mechanic. Particularly when I'm perfectly capable of knocking out the
> job myself.

Sounds like you need to open a shop and set the shop rate at about $25/hour.
See how long it takes before you're bankrupt.

I work on race cars professionally - but as a hobby business. I can totally
agree with these comments, and have a few of my own below...


"Bob" > wrote in message ...
>
> "aarcuda69062" > wrote in message
> ...
>> In article <01c5719b$96b5e5e0$1da5c3d8@race>,
>> "*" > wrote:
>>
>>> I'd be happy to find a few honest customers.....
I'm very selective about who I work for - benefit of doing this as a
hobby...

>>>
>>>
>>> Someone who will admit that he tried - and failed miserably - to fix the
>>> problem himself, only making it worse.....

fixing their mistakes is time on the books - and I don't do flat rate. How
long it takes me to fix it is how long the bill is for.

>>>
>>> Someone who really DID have another estimate which was much lower than
>>> mine......

Good - go get them to do the work. I don't want to work on your rat bag
race car anyway...

>>>
>>> Someone who really DID have the work he's trying to have warranteed done
>>> by
>>> my shop.....

I don't warranty my work - the engine is off warranty when it fires,
basically...race car stuff just breaks and there is nothing you can do about
it. That a fact of 100hp per liter life...
>>> Someone who's willing to pay me a reasonable fee for the investment I
>>> have
>>> made in the tools, equipment, and education needed to fix their
>>> particular
>>> car....not expect me to work for $12-an-hour because they consider that
>>> to
>>> be a good hourly salary.....

I once figured out what my actual loaded cost was, and I was working at a
loss - that's when I reminded myself that I had all that stuff before I
started working on other peoples cars, and that this was a hobby after
all...Lot's of people would consider me a backyard mechanic moonlighting,
and that fair because that pretty much what I am. But I supply an honest
service to people who want to race for a hobby. I do things they can't do
and that other shops don't want to do, so I charge them a fair price for the
privilige.

Brian

On Wed, 15 Jun 2005, Don Bruder wrote:

> And as far as your rates... $20-30 an hour, MAYBE. 60, 70, 80+ an hour?
> Get a grip on reality, chum. Maybe to a brain surgeon. Not to a car
> mechanic.

Uh...you're joking, right? Prevailing shop rates for real mechanics at
independent shops (not Taco Bell reject parts changers and quickie oil
change parlor apes) average between $60 and $90/hr, US. Go to a dealer
and you'll pay about 30% more than that.

> Particularly when I'm perfectly capable of knocking out the job myself.

Well, then...do so!