Wasting the time of an Indy

[mannikon]

So we love our cars and appreciate good independent Merc specialists, Indies.

I won't say who, don't want to embarrass anyone, but I'm shocked to learn how Indies suffer from "customers" who book time and parts and then just don't show up. Hurts the Indy and hurts regular customers. Just putting this out here to hopefully reach out to remind people to not do this. Main dealers can probably afford it but Indies cannot. Support your Indies, don't let them down

 

[neilrr]

You don't want them back anyway.

**** it, I'd name 'em.

 

[jaymanek]

I have a full room full of unused non returnable parts.. I put them on Ebay when I get time but most are such obscure specific parts they might as well go in the bin

 

[BlackC55]

A long standing issue. I have the same Jay.

I have some ABC pipe work for a CL600. I'm never going to sell it. It cost me £500.

I take deposits whenever I can now to combat this.

 

[BlackC55]

Time keeping is another. You wouldn't be late for the doctors.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

I have a full room full of unused non returnable parts.. I put them on Ebay when I get time but most are such obscure specific parts they might as well go in the bin

If you have 5 mins, put them all on a table, take a photo of them, post it on here - im sure some of them might be needed by us lot/will buy them off you?

 

[jaymanek]

Yes we also take deposits, it's awkward when they are friends or previous customers but we simply cannot afford the loss.. Must be thousands sitting there...

 

[BlackC55]

I've got an air mass meter for a 129 SL600. An EZL pack for a S420 140. That's £1500.

 

[gIzzE]

I have a clothes shop and we have started taking deposits on stuff we order people.

There is a reason we don't have it in stock, such as most blokes don't want a super skinny Barbour wax jacket in bright pick in a 52" chest!!!
So when I call you and say its in and you reply "Oh I've changed my mind, but you'll have no problem selling it."

Oh yeah, I often get obese ***** who want to dress like a dildos coming in, I'll have no problem shifting it......Sir.

 

[gazz]

A long standing issue. I have the same Jay.

I have some ABC pipe work for a CL600. I'm never going to sell it. It cost me £500.

I take deposits whenever I can now to combat this.

You're not alone. I have a complete sunroof assembly for a 164 ML, an inlet manifold for a Toyota Corolla and an office full of smaller parts.

If I hear "oh, I px'ed it as they offered me a really good deal" again I'll strangle someone!

Once a year I have a really big eBay clear out. Last time I sent a 163 steering column to Malta!

Deposits are one thing, but you really need to cover the whole cost...

 

[c63chris]

Thats really poor to hear this. you guys should name and shame if its someone off the forum.

 

[John]

I would name and shame too.

I recommended someone to my inde - even phoned the inde up when my colleague said he was ready to go to get an issue sorted out.

I was horrified to learn the next day he didn't show up and didn't phone them to tell them either.

F**king tw*t.

That's the last time I do that - really annoys me that some people just couldn't give a sh*t.

I remember when someone came on a forum once and stating how much money they lost through diagnosing issues and owners going elsewhere to get it fixed.

I suggested they charge for diagnostics and then offset this cost against the final bill if they got it repaired there - which he said they were going to start doing.

Any decent individual would not have a problem with this.

I would do the same on parts - make people pay half or all the cost up front...

 

[BlackC55]

Quite a few people don't expect to pay for diagnostics.

"Oh there is a charge for that"?

Or another classic is when the customer asks us to check a load of items and then moan that we have charged labour for checking it. Garages charge by the hour do what do they expect? I explain most of time now an estimate of expected time and cost for what they need diagnosing.

 

[BlackC55]

It is very unusual for a forum member to do any if this though. 99.9% it's hassle free!

 

[gazz]

Could it be useful to have a database of surplus stock viewable by forum members? Might help to shift some of it...?

 

[gazz]

Quite a few people don't expect to pay for diagnostics.

"Oh there is a charge for that"?

Or another classic is when the customer asks us to check a load of items and then moan that we have charged labour for checking it. Garages charge by the hour do what do they expect? I explain most of time now an estimate of expected time and cost for what they need diagnosing.

I also enjoy people who ring with a huge shopping-list of stuff they want quoting for, who are obviously ringing round multiple places. Especially when they ring back to haggle it down because xyz will do it for less...

Sorry, I've had a bad day!

 

[Spinal]

Problem with naming and shaming is, that as a business, you fall foul of the data protection act…

The law protects the tossers as well as the customers alike.

 

[gazz]

Problem with naming and shaming is, that as a business, you fall foul of the data protection act…

The law protects the tossers as well as the customers alike.

It's also something you just don't do as a business owner.

 

[c63chris]

Problem with naming and shaming is, that as a business, you fall foul of the data protection act…

The law protects the tossers as well as the customers alike.

This is often quoted but I dont believe is legally true. If someone books an appointment and doesnt show then that is fact and it is not illegal to report facts. worst case you would go to court and if you have the evidence then it would be found in your favour.

 

[jamesfuller]

A guy I know had reserved a fair amount of rolling road time, the customer didn't show. A facebook search soon found he had gone for a day trip to Belgium instead!