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Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #

Posted by Mike Fleet on December 3, 2010, 8:42 pm

Year of Manufacture *: v- 99

hi chaps,what are your views on the following. Travelled out to this job today in snow etc etc. Customer wanted glow plugs changing started job price quoted, 2 of plugs solid in cylinder head although only changed 12 months by customers own fitter (not working due to weather)i advised customer of danger of breakage only to be told his usual garage never had a problem. At this point after explaining cost of broken glow plugs in head things get heated customer not paying for half a job. What are the legal position if i break plugs.

mike fleet HOMETUNE MOTORING SERVICES

Re: vauxhall movano diesel

Posted by Pete Mutlow User icon on December 3, 2010, 8:59 pm, in reply to "vauxhall movano diesel"
Peter Mutlow

Evening Mike,

I am not a legal expert but I always explain to a customer of risks involved before tackling a job such as this. I would give them a price and the risks involved which could impact on the price before going out to the job. The problem you appear to have is that you agreed a set price for the job before explaining the risks and extra costs that could be involved. I figure that the only thing you can do now is get the customers permission to undertake the remainder of the job but if a breakage occurs then it is down to him. If he does not agree, then back off gracefully with a lesson learnt.

Regards

Pete M

Re: vauxhall movano diesel

Posted by mike fleet User icon on December 3, 2010, 9:16 pm, in reply to "Re: vauxhall movano diesel"
Mike Fleet

hi pete, customer was told on phone about breakages,the impression i got was my ability of removing plugs customer "saying my garage never had a problem"etc etc is just me or do i get all the problem customers who dont want to pay.

Re: vauxhall movano diesel

Posted by Pete Mutlow User icon on December 3, 2010, 11:09 pm, in reply to "Re: vauxhall movano diesel"
Peter Mutlow

Evening Mike,

No..I think we all get them. I suspect that like me you are mobile and it is worse for us because we have to travel to the job. Remember once many moons ago a fella asked me to look at his Escort which was stalling. Gave him a price and made the appointment. Pitched up and started connecting leads from my Crypton machine to do a full tune and he suddenly said that the problem was with his carb and just wanted the jets cleared for which he would pay me a fiver...told him to b....r off. More time and money wasted.

Back to your problem. You have already told him the score, do not under-take any extra work without being paid. If he does not like it then thats his look out...

Keep Warm

Pete M

Re: vauxhall movano diesel

Posted by Tom Williams User icon on December 4, 2010, 11:23 am, in reply to "Re: vauxhall movano diesel"

The attitude of the customer in this case would tell me to cut my losses and politely advise him to wait until his preferred mechanic is able to do it.
Despite taking a lot of care, I've had enough grief with corroded and seized parts to last several lifetimes.
To have some idiot telling me the guy down the road could have done it without breakage would strain my patience.

Re: vauxhall movano diesel

Posted by Lee Mackintosh User icon on December 4, 2010, 3:27 pm, in reply to "Re: vauxhall movano diesel"
Lee Mackintosh

Break them on purpose and then leave it to his better mechanic to finish off.

I've been in this situation with spark plugs on the ohv fords, in fact we've got a KA in now which has a misfire on cylinder 2 but the plugs are so rusty we tried to explain to customer but with them being Chinese its almost impossible.

If it was me i'd either remove the glow plugs you've fitted and not charge him for your time/effort you've put in or just walk away and take a loss because i think its a job the customer (from how you've described it) isn't going to pay proper money for anyway.

I wonder how much money over a year us mechanics mobile or workshop based lose.

Re: vauxhall movano diesel

Posted by Andy Evans User icon on December 4, 2010, 3:59 pm, in reply to "Re: vauxhall movano diesel"

"Break them on purpose and then leave it to his better mechanic to finish off"

is it any wonder the motor trade has such a bad reputation when you read comments like that?

Andy Evans

Re: vauxhall movano diesel

Posted by Lee Mackintosh User icon on December 4, 2010, 4:31 pm, in reply to "Re: vauxhall movano diesel"

I wasn't actually being serious but some customer's do make you feel like that.

Also i thought this was a trade only Forum with an annual subscription so i doubt the general public would read it.

As i realise this wasn't acceptable i wont do it again.

thanks
lee

Re: vauxhall movano diesel

Posted by Ian Nicholas on December 4, 2010, 8:56 pm, in reply to "Re: vauxhall movano diesel"
Message modified by board administrator December 7, 2010, 3:26 pm

depending on your pre- job scenario, grab a parachute & 'bail out'...
just my opinion, customer sounds a bit 'minty'
hehehhe
ian(n)

Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #

Posted by Richard Endean User icon on December 5, 2010, 6:35 pm, in reply to "Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #"
Richard Endean

You didn't mention if the seized plugs are working or not. If they're not then advise him to make a warranty claim against his previous garage.

Then walk away.

As others have said, this attitude excludes him from the real customer category.

Dick

Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #

Posted by Gwyn Williams User icon on December 6, 2010, 12:23 am, in reply to "Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #"
Gwyn Williams

RUN, don't waste any more time or money on him, you are only there because his guy couldn't get to him. No matter how good a job you do, he won't call you again. Cut your losses and go to work on things you will be properly paid for, Regards, Gwyn

Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #

Posted by Roger Hallett User icon on December 7, 2010, 2:28 pm, in reply to "Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #"
Roger Hallet

Hi Mike you have another option put the ball in his court, set everything up for removal, then ask the customer if he would like to remove them telling him to do exactly as you would stating that if the plugs break you are not responsible if he refuses pick up your tackle and **** off.
Kind rewards Roger.

Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #

Posted by Gwyn Williams User icon on December 8, 2010, 9:03 pm, in reply to "Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #"
Gwyn Williams

Hi Mike, any news? Would like to know what you decided and what the end result was, Best Regards, Gwyn

Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #

Posted by mike fleet User icon on December 9, 2010, 3:43 pm, in reply to "Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #"
Mike Fleet

hi fellas, in the end i charged him 30.00 for call out and to fit the 2 plugs that i could get out the van started and run he wasnt happy saying he would have to pay again for someone else to complete job,and change the other 2 plugs.i walked away from job although i did get the 30.00 pounds,i cant understand customers any more i think i need to go to college and study for a degree in pycology or something.i think i need to register as charity.

Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #

Posted by Pete Mutlow User icon on December 9, 2010, 5:27 pm, in reply to "Re: Vauxhall Movano Diesel 1999 - Advice required, unable to remove 2 glow plugs #"
Peter Mutlow

Evening Mike,

No you don't. You meet these cretins in all walks of life and there is no way you know what type of customer you are going to be dealing with. You did the right thing. Spot on. Now do what I do, put his details in a "little black book" so a few years down the line if he contacts you again, you can give him the appropriate response. Very satisfying...

Regards

Pete M

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