27-05-2003 19:39									#31
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

When your tranny starts to go, you're screwed.
Might as well give in and get a rebuilt installed.

	27-05-2003 19:42									#32
	Support Apolyton

How do you prevent yourself from not getting screwed over by these car guys? Most of them are of course good and honest, but there are those rotten apples everywhere, so what can you do in the US?

You get a written deal, can you take the car to another place for second opinion or what? Or do you have to threaten them with horrible violence if you find out they worked you?

	27-05-2003 19:44									#33
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

quote: Originally posted by Azazel Plato: Figures. But the price changes a lot whether it's manual or automatic, right?

Yep. It shouldn't though...nothing very complicated about eithier one.

	27-05-2003 19:46									#34
	Full PM-box? Change here!

When I was contracting I occasionally did a job below my estimated price, just to watch people freak out.

One guy I charged double. He had come up from California to put in a carrot juice place. Screwed alot of contractors out of their final payment. So, when he called me to redo his flat roof, I figured the bid, then doubled it. He paid for the whole roof job on the first payment, totally unaware. Then I found that one of the contractors had removed the nails holding the big new skylights...no doubt as thanks for getting ripped off. I lifted a skylight off and called down to the startled customer. I told him I'd nail down the skylights for free once he gave me the final payment. He did, so I did. Took about a half hour.

The biter bit, and no I don't feel guilty.

	27-05-2003 19:49									#35
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

If Just a Leak - $325...not so bad...
If New Transmission - $1,750...ouchies...

	27-05-2003 19:49									#36
	Avatar Enlargement: We've got the solution

quote: Originally posted by Pekka How do you prevent yourself from not getting screwed over by these car guys? Most of them are of course good and honest, but there are those rotten apples everywhere, so what can you do in the US? You get a written deal, can you take the car to another place for second opinion or what? Or do you have to threaten them with horrible violence if you find out they worked you?

Pekka, sadly I have found that very very few of these guys are good and honest. You would not believe the number of times I have sat around with them and heard them laugh at how they gouged a customer.

Some good points to follow are:

1.) ALWAYS ask for a written estimate of ALL charges.
2.) Ask what the shops hourly rate for work is and then ask what the manufacturers standard time is for the work being quoted.
3.) Ask for a detailed parts list. Ask if any of the componets can be reused (many times most of them can be).
4.) Ask for a written warranty.
5.) Contact your local Better Business Bureau BEFORE any work is done. They will have a list of any complaints about this particular shop AND weather or not they have been resolved.

	27-05-2003 19:50									#37
	Support Apolyton buy from Amazon

A good mechanics is able to explain any amounts he intends to bill. Depending of your psychology, he will either underline this exceptionnal type of brake down, even unique, if necessary, or the totally natural, obvious nature of the problem. And, as you came to him, asking for his expertise, you can hardly desagree; if you do he will certainly make a light comment about the security of your passengers ...

Do not expect settling the case below 950 US$.

	27-05-2003 19:53									#38
	Support Apolyton, pre-order Civilization IV

PLATO, sounds like a good list of things to do. However sounds like lots of work too.. but if problem is bigger, it should be worth it. Thanks for the information.

	27-05-2003 19:54									#39
	Full PM-box? Change here!

PLATO1003... excellent advice.

My solution was to find somebody I can trust and give him ALL my business. It helps if he is an old buddy

	27-05-2003 19:59									#40
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by Ming My solution was to find somebody I can trust and give him ALL my business. It helps if he is an old buddy

No doubt! Lucky You!

	27-05-2003 20:02									#41
	Got spare money?

I'm also lucky enough to have few buddies who knows all about cars, so they give me advices and I really can trust them. I haven't ever had to take my car to be repaired luckily, but my baby has had few problems in the past and my buddies have been skilled enough to help me out. Naturally I have paid them, but it still a lot cheaper and I can trust them in this particular matter.

	27-05-2003 20:03									#42
	Support Apolyton, buy Alpha Centauri

$145.00

	27-05-2003 20:06									#43
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

JohnT: I just realized that you are in Knoxville. I can help...PM me and I will give you a name and phone number for a guy I trust.

	27-05-2003 20:07									#44
	Support Apolyton, buy GURPS/ Alpha Centauri

Good thing about having good reputation is that customers recommend you..

	27-05-2003 20:10									#45
	Help yourself to an AD-FREE life

quote: Originally posted by Ming PLATO1003... excellent advice. My solution was to find somebody I can trust and give him ALL my business. It helps if he is an old buddy

Yeah, the guy we use went to school with us.
The first time I used him, I brought my car in and asked him to replace all the shocks. When I went to pick it up, he said he only replaced the back ones. The front ones were fine but one of the mounts was busted. He just drilled a new mounting hole and replaced the old ones.
CUSTOMER FOR LIFE>

Once I blew a head gasket and brought it in to him. After taking the engine apart, he called me, said he thought he could scam the dealer to fix it under warrenty. He put all of the engine parts in a box and arranged a tow to the dealer. AND convinced them it was legit warrenty work. No charge from the dealer, and he only charged me a 100 for labor.
CUSTOMER FOR LIFE>

Once I thought my muffler was starting to rust so I took it in to have him replace it before it blew. He just laughed and said he wouldn't do it. (since it was a stainless steel muffler)
CUSTOMER FOR LIFE>



RAH

	27-05-2003 20:13									#46
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

I went to him to have MANY dents removed from the side of my car (my wifes car was parked next to it in the garage and the kids would slam the back door into my car all the time)

He said I could pay big bucks to have the dents removed, and the panel repainted, or I could have a rubber strip installed that would cover 99% of the dents, and protect the car in the future... Total cost...
$10

CUSTOMER FOR LIFE>

	27-05-2003 20:34									#47
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

say... how much does it cost to ship a car to the Chicago area from Israel?

	27-05-2003 20:43									#48
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

Which brand/model/year is your car?

	27-05-2003 20:55									#49
	Full PM-box? Change here!

Azazel, I'll drive it for you for little pay .

	27-05-2003 20:57									#50
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization 2

Looks like the twins are channelling...

Plato: Check your PM's!

	27-05-2003 20:57									#51
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization III: Complete

the sea ice might present somewhat of a problem over bearing straight.

	27-05-2003 21:00									#52
	Tired of ads?

Mind over matter Azazel.. mind over matter.

	27-05-2003 21:01									#53
	Support Apolyton, buy Galactic Civilizations: Deluxe Edition

quote: Originally posted by Azazel say... how much does it cost to ship a car to the Chicago area from Israel?

A trustworthy mechanic is worth ANY PRICE.

My favorite was when my wife got into an accident (not her fault... really) and I took her car to this guy for major repairs. He not only fixed all the stuff the insurance company approved, he fixed a bunch of other stuff that we knew the car needed... and only charged us the amount approved by the insurance company minus the deductable... so we didn't have to pay a dime out of our own pockets...

CUSTOMER FOR LIFE>

	27-05-2003 21:03									#54
	Support Apolyton, buy Call to Power 2

I just spent $1,000 on my truck; busted radiator, battery leak ate through some stuff (?), and a tensioner was lose so I had them replace it. One of my friends who is getting his automotive technician certification and is a long time car enthusiast (has rebuilt cars all his life, a total of about 7 cars to date) told me I got ripped. I think it would be a good idea to have personal consultants to help ppl not get ripped off by car repairs ppl.

	27-05-2003 21:05									#55
	Got spare money?

But if you had a personal consultant, he'd have to be qualified to do the work. And if he can do that, I'd want him to do the work.

	27-05-2003 21:07									#56
	Support Apolyton or Terrorists Win

quote: Originally posted by JohnT Looks like the twins are channelling...

Nahhhh... (at least I don't think so )

I just think it's the comfort level of knowing somebody you can trust to fix your car. It sucks to be ripped off, and I guess rah and I are just thrilled that we know that it isn't going to happen to us

	27-05-2003 21:08									#57
	Support Apolyton, buy Civilization: The Boardgame

$2299.99.

What are we guessing about again?

	27-05-2003 21:08									#58
	Increase the size of your Attachments

Ming, he sounds like a great guy. I wish I had friends like this.

	27-05-2003 21:10									#59
	Increase the size of your Attachments

I have a friend that will diagnose, estimate the repair cost and refer me to the right mechanic.
But if your transmission is going i'd say parts would be 1700, labor 600.

	27-05-2003 21:11									#60
	Lose 30 kilos (of popups)

And what's even better, is his buddy/partner, played on our softball team. He does all the body work. So we get reliable mechanical and body work.