Got home at the weekend after being away to find a puddle of yellowish water in the passenger footwell of my aging Leon, which as I recalled from previous experience is something heater related. My brother in law (a mechanic Darn Sarf) confirmed the same, did that nasty sucking teeth thing and said "about 200 quid mate"
A friend of my wifes recommended a local garage so I dropped it off this morning - a run down looking one man band and a mate on a run down industrial estate in run down Ilkeston - you get the picture.
Anyway, picked the car up tonight - all sorted - just a pipe had come loose so they fixed it, topped up the fluids, ran the car for a while to check for no leaks, and put the heater on full belt while they did so to help dry out the carpet.
"What do I owe you?" I asked.
"Nah, don't worry about it. Have you got one of our keyrings with our number on in case you need us again?"
I am still in a mild state of shock tbh.....
Although I am not a mechanic I would do the same if I hadn't actually done much work.
I find it difficult charging a customer for 5 minutes work unless I have traveled a bit to get there!
And the cynic in me knows that it "cost" him 15 minutes maybe to get a very happy new customer who will tell his mates and generate a few more customers.
Fair play to him - obviously more clued up than he looked.
Result! There are some decent people left in business, after all. I hope you will use them in the future, they deserve it.
I've had my last 3 MOT's for a 6 year old car from the same place & never needed anything extra doing. I'm now paranoid that having now gained my trust they're really going to rip me off next time.
I think I'm involved in a "long con" like off The Real Hustle or something.
Time to switch garage.
Yay for small business people who look after their customers.
Well thats a nice story.
It's always nice to hear wee stories like that.
Certain LBS's take note??!!
awesome!
My fav car mechanic is just like this - honest hard-working Paul at Audivolks in Keynsham. Here's to you!
name and fame. I live just up the road and I'm sure our old toyota will give us trouble one day!
he found a hundred quid in the glove compartment? 😉
"puddle of yellowish water in the passenger footwell"
I thought maybe someone had been trying to wee in your boot and missed...
I was lucky enough to find a similar independant place in Sheffield. Have been going there for 6 or 7 years now and every time I have any work done I will ring my bro, who is a mechanic, and run the cost past him - without fail he'll tell me "yeah, that's a good price." so I'm happy.
He also has all the Honda kit now so we can have all the stuff that needs their computers sorted there now too.
TN - where's that? Always got my ear out for good un's in Sheff
South Yorkshire Auto Diagnostics, behind the Swann Morton (main) building in Hillsborough. Borough Road, I think it is.
He's always busy but does a good job and gets jobs done when he says he will.
Anyone in the St. Helens area, I can strongly recommend Cross Lane Motors in Earlestown. Graham's been in the business a long time and knows his stuff. He is also honest as the day is long.
Presumably you bunged them £20 or so anyway.
😉
Onzadog - Alan Kent, off Belfield Street, close to Tesco
Allthepies - I made sure beer could be consumed.
take him in a few tinnies , to say cheers, next time he may rember you.
My local garage (been going for years) has done this in the past. I always give the mechanic something - nothing is ever "free" in business and a £20 or something is always appreciated.
>Allthepies - I made sure beer could be consumed.
A fiver! Tightwad 😆