[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?

Thu Sep 20 14:20:17 MDT 2018

Check with your homeowners insurance agent.  Often times the personal
liability on your homeowners policy will cover this as long as you are not
doing it commercially.  IANAL but I was told that if I don't make enough to
qualify for business deductions on my taxes, they can't consider my
activities commercial in nature.  Either way talk to your insurance agent.
If necessary add an umbrella liability policy.  They are not that expensive
and add a lot of coverage.

On Thu, Sep 20, 2018 at 12:40 PM, John T. Blair <jblair1948 at cox.net> wrote:

> 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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