you get what you pay for
Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 20:08
ThreadID:
6870
Views:
1644
Replies:
11
FollowUps:
24
This Thread has been Archived
diamond (bendigo)
i quoted a customer a couple of weeks ago for a full set of leafs and shockers for a hilux over the phone.never heard back from him untill today.
hello i spoke to you a couple of weeks ago about getting new suspention on my hilux. just wonderijng if i can bring it in for a wheel alignment.i got the work done down in
melbourne they were $200 cheaper.ok we could do that now if you like.
put car up on hoist and as usual have a sticky at the work they done.
well well what do we have here.
(1)every single nut(no bull....)every single nut on u bolts loose.
(2)no spring washers to be seen on any
(3)one nut on rear u bolt cross threaded.
(4)shocks were made in mexico(im not telling you the name)lol we call them roadworthy shocks the type you fit when your selling your car.i quoted him on pedders.
(5)shocks wernt even the right ones there was a 5mm gap between the bush mounting and the bushs.
(6)didnt end up doing wheel alignment Lh tie rod end about to fall of.
so i was $200 dearer trip to melb$50 petrol .me to replace 1 u bolt and fit spring washes $60 another trip to
melbourne to get shocks looked at another$50 20 min argument with guy on mobile that would have to be $10 so a total saving over my price of $30. and probly have to replace shockers in 6months again.
SO REMEMBER YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR.
cheers
—~‘¬‘¥•s’B
Reply By: Member - Eric- Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 20:16
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 20:16
Diamond , you just took me back 6 years when I had my last workshop . Chin up mate , they only get worse lol
AnswerID:
29359
Reply By: Member - Wherethehellawi - Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 20:26
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 20:26
Diamond...I hate people using me as an after sales service outlet for work carried out elsewhere. I hope you charged him for tightening nuts or if not able asking the traffic authority to defect car ...that'll teach him a lesson?Wow! am I cute
If yer ain't fishing, Yer ain't livin
Richard
AnswerID:
29362
Follow Up By: diamond (bendigo) - Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 20:34
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 20:34
its not the customers fault geez wasnt he going of on the phone to the suspention place .
but i charged him $60 had to replace 1 ubolt and fit spring washers.—~‘¬‘¥•s’B
FollowupID:
20468
Follow Up By: Member - Wherethehellawi - Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 21:35
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 21:35
just as long as you made profit all is ok then. That is what I was hoping you achieved.Wow! am I cute
If yer ain't fishing, Yer ain't livin
Richard
FollowupID:
20477
Reply By: Outnabout David (SA) - Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 21:17
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 21:17
diamond,
Happens all the time. The best bet is to hopefully just turn it around to your advantage. That guy will tell all his mates how he got ripped off and hopefully also tell how you looked after him. If he doesn't then he will probably get ripped off again and he will deserve it. Fools and their money hey! Either way you feel good in the knowledge that your price was fair and reasonable and you can tell that story to the next bloke who wants a
suspension price. Should have taken photo's to show people what you get or should that be what you don't get.
DavidWe have so little time to enjoy our land
AnswerID:
29368
Reply By: Martyn (WA) - Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 21:57
Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 at 21:57
Diamond,
It's the age old thing, as you say, "you get what you pay for". the problem in a lot of cases is that if the machine is involved in a wreck the evidence that poor workmanship may have contributed to the event could
well be lost or not identifiable. One good thing you can sleep easy at night, that has got to be worth squillions to yourself and your family. Keep the standards where they belong it pays off in the end.
Another saying " People may doubt what you say, but they will belive what you do". Keep the shiny side up
AnswerID:
29375
Reply By: Member - Andrew(WA) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 00:02
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 00:02
diamond
Was he a
young bloke???
It takes a few years experience to figure it out and usually a few mistakes before we start to learn about "getting what you pay for"
You can't blame a bloke for trying to get the best price but then we learn the best price isn't always the best job.
If your a good tradesman/mechanic whatever, word of mouth will get more and more business everytime. The guys who stuffed up the other job for a few $ less probably did you a favour in the long run.
I will save money and pay more as long as I know I'm getting a good job and will be looked after if something goes wrong.
I recently had a heap of stuff installed by ARB. It cost me a bit more but who cares. It was installed
well, and on time.
Happy customer = happy days.
Sounds like your the type of bloke to visit as
well. Keep it up mate.
AnswerID:
29389
Follow Up By: diamond (bendigo) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:17
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:17
yeh he was a
young bloke about 50.
im getting there (im 35) so im real
young.—~‘¬‘¥•s’B
FollowupID:
20532
Reply By: Member - Toonfish - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 00:16
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 00:16
I know a girl we called her spanner (hmmmm) she would often do it for nothing just by walking past us in high school??????? (tongue in cheek)
i might have her number for that guy diamond shhhh dont tell the boss!!1999 NISSAN NAVARA DUALCAB
DIESEL 3.2 & SPRINGY CARLTON TOY
AnswerID:
29392
Follow Up By: Member - Wombat (Vic) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:11
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:11
Why was she called Spanner?"Live today as if there may be no tomorrow"
Wombat
FollowupID:
20531
Follow Up By: diamond (bendigo) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:18
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:18
i think i might know her lol—~‘¬‘¥•s’B
FollowupID:
20533
Follow Up By: Member - Bonz (Vic) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 22:28
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 22:28
she tightened their nuts WombatSo many
places to go!
So much work to do :0(
FollowupID:
20611
Follow Up By: Member - Wombat (Vic) - Friday, Aug 29, 2003 at 10:54
Friday, Aug 29, 2003 at 10:54
Yeah, but was she an open ender or ring spanner. Maybe she was adjustable."Live today as if there may be no tomorrow"
Wombat
FollowupID:
20649
Reply By: Fred - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 08:05
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 08:05
Diamond as a consumer I have to query what you say to some extent. Two of my experiences - 2 dealers for the same handbook service quoted nearly $200 difference. Same saddlebags from 2 Honda dealers $690 and $820 respectively. In each case the product/service was identical. Your higher price was no guarantee of better work. You should have specified what you were offering so that he could have made an informed decision not just a price based decision.
AnswerID:
29403
Follow Up By: Kev - (Cairns,QLD) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 09:44
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 09:44
It can only be the customers fault, if he had done his homework and checked/looked at what was on offer he can then make his own informed Decision.
If he is stupid enough to buy a low quality no name brand of
suspension without knowing it thats his fault.
Saying that you can't always ensure you will get quality service at an unknown workshop.
It can be a steep learning curve !
FollowupID:
20502
Follow Up By: diamond (bendigo) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:20
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:20
gday fred.
when i quoted over the phone i did tell him i was using pedders shocks.—~‘¬‘¥•s’B
FollowupID:
20534
Reply By: Steve from Drive Systems Victoria - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 09:42
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 09:42
Don't be too hard on the guy, Diamond, he was only voting with his hip pocket, a lesson that we have all gone through, otherwise you would not have made the point. Put yourself in his shoes and consider yourself in the market for something that you do not entirely understand, say for example, buying a new hot water service for your
home. What do you do? You get on the phone and ring around for the best price. You try to find out if the brand is any good, some say yes, some say no. In the end, you make a choice on the money in your pocket most times. It happens to us all, and just because the bloke got taken for a ride is not really his fault this time. He may even have realised he was ripped, and decided that what you said was correct all along. So he fronts back to you to try to salvage some of the bleep , that another dealer has dropped him in. Do the right thing and make the car safe, point out the short-comings, charge him a fair price and you will have another loyal customer. Call him ableepand lose him, then perhaps you should consider why you are in the game in the first place??We are all learning new things every day, aren't we ?
AnswerID:
29411
Follow Up By: Kev - (Cairns,QLD) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 09:54
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 09:54
The difference with a hot water system is you may need it straight away as the kids & missus is unhappy with no hot water and you are rushed into the decision.
Your
suspension on the other hand can wait untill you have spent the time window shopping (internet even) and are quite conferdent you know exactly what you want & at what price.
He is lucky someone was interested enough to check the dodgy
suspension for him !
FollowupID:
20508
Follow Up By: Steve from Drive Systems Victoria - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 10:51
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 10:51
For Kev in
Cairns...eh???????????????????? Who said the hot water system was an emergency?? In any case that is not the point. When I pressed the submit button here, it must have changed from Mexican to whatever lingo you speak up there.?? The guy got ripped off by some scumbag retailer who was only interested in the colour of his cash. And unless you are a mechanic or engineer of some sort, you are not going to know what you got until you get another appraisal. Are you? You're correct in stating that he was fortunate enough to have the bodgey job retified by a reputable retailer, but had he not been told by Diamond of the short comings of the crappy
suspension work, chance are he would be still driving about in happy ignorance. Have you never been taken for a ride?
FollowupID:
20513
Follow Up By: Kev - (Cairns,QLD) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 12:11
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 12:11
From where i come from most blokes know there vehicals inside out and soon realise when someone is trying to pull the wool over ther eyes and don't buy something worth a couple of grand without knowing exactly what there in for. And if they do then they have no one to blame but themselves.
"you are not going to know what you got untill you get another appraisal"
This is called doing your homework & you don't need to be a machanic to do this.
I once saw on this site a thread about a guy (from south) asking how to change the oil in his 4wd, i nearly fell of my
seat.
This made me think that not every one grew up the same way we did and im still not sure what he did when he was
young ???
Maybe some need to learn the hard way.
BTW- No i don't think iv been take on a ride like that, if i have it doesn't come to mind.
FollowupID:
20521
Follow Up By: diamond (bendigo) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:28
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 13:28
gday steve.
im not having a go at the customer at all.
the thread was more to point out that cheaper isnt always better.
your example of hot water heater is a perfect.
if i need one i ring every seller in bendigo for a price ask about waranty on the unit and 100 other question then buy the one thats the best value formoney with everything taken into account
cheers.—~‘¬‘¥•s’B
FollowupID:
20536
Follow Up By: Steve from Drive Systems Victoria - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 15:06
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 15:06
Like I said, Kev, you've missed the point altogether.
The point about the bloke not knowing how to change his oil is another example, is it not? If you've never been dudded, then you must be the paragon of all consumers!
FollowupID:
20549
Follow Up By: Martyn (WA) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 22:25
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 22:25
Steve,
My 2 cents worth, I don't believe there is any excuse for poor workmanship, if I went to a cheaper retailer I would expect a lesser product, somethng else instead of Pedders for example, because that's the way it is but I wouldn't expect spring washers to be left off and nuts cross threaded, in the analogy, that's like accepting the water heater quality for what it is and I'll live with the leaky pipe connections and maybe a leaky gas union. I'm sorry but I don't accept a cheap price for accepting poor and in some case dangerous workmanship, this is only my opinion this is how I see it.Keep the shiny side up
FollowupID:
20609
Reply By: Willie - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 10:25
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 10:25
I got ripped off the same way by a Pedders franchise and ended up having to re-do all the work myself including having to buy a new set of front springs. So it is not just the Mexicans.......................:-)
Willie
Never a dull moment
AnswerID:
29419
Follow Up By: Kev - (Cairns,QLD) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 12:23
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 12:23
What happened to Williwag ?
I once went to Pedders for a $20
suspension roadworthy inspection and was quoted $1,400 to have it up to scratch, when i queried them about it they did the old "your playing with geomotry" line.
I went home and replaced all shocks for OME nitrochargers and replaced my bent steering arm and tie rod ends.
It cost about 1/2 of what they quoted, you won't see me there again !
FollowupID:
20522
Follow Up By: koh - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 12:44
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 12:44
Kev ? happy with you OME nitrochargers ?????
cheers
koh
FollowupID:
20526
Follow Up By: Kev - (Cairns,QLD) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 12:51
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 12:51
Yeah, no complaints.
I sold the Hilux to my brother not long after and he reports all ok.
The ride was a bit rough as i remember (compared to my coil 80 series) but that would be the leaf
suspension,
I just wish they where adjustable like the Ranchos.
FollowupID:
20528
Follow Up By: Willie - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 18:09
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 18:09
Hi Kev,
The wags got wagged too much and fell off:-))))))
Willie
Never a dull moment
FollowupID:
20573
Follow Up By: Member - Bonz (Vic) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 22:32
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 22:32
Long as ya Willie doesnt fall offSo many
places to go!
So much work to do :0(
FollowupID:
20612
Follow Up By: Willie - Friday, Aug 29, 2003 at 06:52
Friday, Aug 29, 2003 at 06:52
Keep it nice, Bonz........
Never a dull moment
FollowupID:
20629
Follow Up By: Member - Bonz (Vic) - Friday, Aug 29, 2003 at 16:51
Friday, Aug 29, 2003 at 16:51
Couldnt agree more Willie, mine's staying put!So many
places to go!
So much work to do :0(
FollowupID:
20684
Reply By: johnsy - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 18:35
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 18:35
Dont be to hard on the
young fellas a hell of a lot of them grow up without fathers or fathers that have very limited mech knowledge.How many of them can go down and see a real mech at work as against a spare parts changer/computer reader because at most
places you not even allowed in the workshop.
AnswerID:
29480
Follow Up By: diamond (bendigo) - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 18:46
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 18:46
im not saying anything wrong about the
young guy(50)my point is more about cheaper not being the best.this company should be shot for what they did poor guy just couldnt believe that someone could do such a crappy job looks like the work was done by some kid on his first day of work experience with out supervision.—~‘¬‘¥•s’B
FollowupID:
20581
Follow Up By: johnsy - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 20:56
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 20:56
Diamond I take your point about cheaper not being better but some of these poor buggers these days couldnt get themselves out of trouble in the NRMA carpark with a mobile phone and a paid up
membership!
FollowupID:
20594
Reply By: Pauly - Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 19:43
Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 at 19:43
Cheaper not being the best, i thought the latest 4wd monthly proved that wrong
e.g with the snatch straps compario
AnswerID:
29490