[Shop-talk] Question to ponder- When someone brings their vehicle to your garage, do you do the work or do you let them do it?

[John T. Blair]

At 10:38 AM 9/20/2018, eric at megageek.com wrote:

 >I just wanted to start a little conversation about a question that 
bothers me (albeit very little.)
 >When someone brings their vehicle to your garage, do you do the 
work or do you let them do
 >it?

Eric,

Apparently Canada isn't as sue happy as the US.  I have always helped people
work on their cars.  But about 15 yrs ago, I did some work on the carb. on a
neighbors car.  When I was finished, I told her what I'd done, and 
that the work was to the fuel system.  I also (I guess I made a 
mistake) told her that if she smells gas not to keep driving the car, 
and call me or have the car towed to as shop.

This lady bearly knew where the key went, and I know she didn't have 
any idea she was  sitting on a bomb.  I guess she's never watch any 
action shows on TV or
the movies.

That got me to thinking.  If I work on someone's car for free or they give me
some money, and then something happens to the car, what's going to happen?
For example, I work in the brakes, and the engine catches fire,  I 
change the right
front tire for them, and the left rear wheel falls off while they are 
driving.  You hear
this kind of thing all the time at the shops.

Well I don't have insurance to cover me as a mechanic.  So if they sue me, I
loose everything I have.  That doesn't seem like a good return on my 
efforts which I gave for free, or they gave me a few dollars for.

So now, I will only HELP people work on their cars.  I will supply 
the knowledge, education and tools.  But they are going to turn the 
wrenches.  If there's a
problem I'll step in to help.  But now if they changed the air filter 
and the rear
wheel falls off, they can't sue me.  Well they can, but they are 
equally or more
culpable then me.

As to knowing what tools will be needed and where they are, I handle 
that.  I'll give
the a task to start working on, then I'll get the tools they'll need 
next.  I'm free to
walk around and get the tools for them.  Don't have to have 
everything laid out
like a surgeon.

Now when they're done, if they give me a couple of bucks, I look at 
it as it was for
the class not the work!

John




>Here is the context, due to my garage, everyone I offer to help 
>brings their vehicles to me to fix.  Once there, I do the work for 
>the most part.  I enjoy doing it, so it's no big deal.
>
>But a few people commented that they expected to do most if not all 
>the work once there.
>
>I understand that they may enjoy working on the cars as well, but 
>here is my thought about it...
>
>One, since it's my garage, I know where every tools, part, etc is 
>located.  I know what I have and don't have.  When doing the work, I 
>know what equipment I have will work the best for the situation.
>Also, I also know where to put everything back when I'm done.
>
>This is the fastest and most effective way to do the work in my opinion.
>
>I realize that this takes away their ability to learn through first 
>hand experience, but I do include them in the work when possible.
>
>So, what is the proper way to handle this?  Is it a "home rule" 
>thing, or a should I step aside and let them do all the work?
>
>One more thing, if they are doing the work and break something on 
>their car that requires a trip to the auto parts store, I now have 
>to drive them there (this I don't like.)  At least if I break it, I 
>don't mind the trip as much.
>
>What's your take?
>
>
>Sent from my Commodore 64 on a 2400 Baud Modem.
>Tech Viper
>"Be as beneficent as the sun or the sea, but if your rights as a 
>rational being are trenched on, die on the first inch of your 
>territory." Ralph Waldo Emerson
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John T. Blair  WA4OHZ     email:  jblair1948 at cox.net
Va. Beach, Va                  Phone:  (757) 495-8229

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