You just can't please some people

[OR VietVet]

So, after I got my tool assortment back together, I got to thinking that besides doing work on my vehicle and my girlfriend's vehicle, I could make some side money as well. I am tired of being retired.

Anyway, I at first put an ad on CL but my girlfriend was not happy about that because she did not want strangers over here casing the place and my tools collection. I thought about that and agreed with her. Then I decided to just advertise at the American Legion post bulletin board. I stated that my labor rate will be $50 an hour for regular customers and $40 an hour for post members. I immediately got some work but also decided that I needed some more diagnostic equipment and after about two weeks, this afternoon, I upped the labor rate by $10 on each option. You would have thought that I shot them in the heart. I told them I will not do heavy work here like engine and transmission swaps and would be right up front with what I will or will not do and also will not be mobile. I also said I would get them parts at my cost to save them money. I make no $ on parts. I also tell them what parts manufacturer I will not install. I don't hide any of that info. I tell them right from the beginning. Shops in the area charge a minimum of at least $120 and I am an ASE certified tech. You just can't make some people happy. So far I have done the post lawn tractor maintenance of belts and new blades and fuel filter and oil change and air filter that would have cost them over $350 labor alone. I did it for the old labor rate for $160 labor and they supplied the parts. I also did some motorcycle work as well. Plus, the documented here 89 K2500 cooling system work and also some lights on a Ranger and will be doing an oil change on the Ranger and pull codes and fix that on the Ranger. I do most oil changes for the post members for $20-$25 labor.

 

[drakon543]

i used to do side work myself until people kept started neglecting thier vehicles because my rate for brakes was cheaper than just having pads changed at a normal shop. every time it was pads and rotors and i would get the "it just started making that noise". other various repairs with the same nonsense. also the people would come for repairs knowing i would generally be willing to do something to keep them going that a normal shop wouldn't. became obvious pretty quickly they weren't interested in making thier vehicle safe just keeping it going.

 

[91RS]

All you have to do is look around here to see the comments some people make about fixing things (meaning how they refuse to fix things properly and just use sheet metal screws, tape, and glue making it worse), taking care of their vehicles, and their opinions of shops/dealerships. Most of the time, the people who know the least act like they know the most. I don't do side work at all because I cannot stand people's attitudes. You bend over backwards to help them out and they STILL ***** and complain. They can't walk into Wal-Mart , the doctor, or a CPA's office and act like this but somehow when it comes to cars people are just rude know-it-alls and EVERYTHING costs too much.

 

[tom3]

And then there's the old "you musta did something" routine. Put in a set of spark plugs and the next week the transmission goes out. You musta did something to cause that. And on it goes.

 

[OR VietVet]

All these reasons are why I choose the part that gets installed, I choose how the work is done-no band aids and I tell them they can watch me when I do the work and there is no parts warranty and I list what I ran in to doing the work I am hired to do. People that saw the recent work on the 89 K2500 know that I warned that more cooling system problems WILL come up because of the rust in the system and that during the work on the cooling system, there was a problem with the starter that came up and I found a leaking fan clutch. I am not gonna get trapped in the scenarios that you guys laid out. They can fix it my way or take the highway.

LOL, It's good to be the King!

 

[YukonGTmaster]

I only work on Family and Friends vehicles. For heavy maintenance, I will not work for anything less than a case of beer, and bucket of chicken.

 

[OR VietVet]

Fine example of what I was saying, I did the work on the post riding lawnmower, I had estimated 5 total hours at $40 an hour, it took me 4 hours and I dropped the price to $160. During the work we tried to start a couple times to move it and the key turn would just click and click and had to jump the battery and then did charge it up. I finished all work. We drove on to the trailer and off the trailer at the post. I was asked for a detailed invoice and supplied that along with notes of needing a battery and maybe cables and would need to test starter and that a mulching plate was mounted to a cracked spot on the deck and needed welded and reattached but I had shimmed it to get by for now. I was told thank you.

Today the commander of the post texted me that the lawnmower would not run. I had done plugs, fuel filter and air filter and oil change. I asked if it had a problem cranking over, thinking of the battery I had warned them about. He said yes, no crank and when I reminded him of the note about the battery and possible cables/starter he said I should have fixed that too when I had it. i reminded him I had no approval for that and noted the problem when I invoiced the post thru him. He said he didn't care and I should have fixed it. I told him to kiss my hairy pimply ass. Told him I will not work on the mowers any more and they can go pay $100 an hour at the place they used before. Cold day in hell before I will ever do anything for that post again while he is commander. By the way, when me and my friend that was with me, found out about the no crank problem, we did try to call the commander and there was no answer and we left message, By time I was done, no call from him. Never did hear from him till next day when he wanted invoice and he didn't say anything about the battery after the message I left him the day before or when he read the invoice in front of me. He is a smoking turd pile.

 

[BG1988]

All you have to do is look around here to see the comments some people make about fixing things (meaning how they refuse to fix things properly and just use sheet metal screws, tape, and glue making it worse), taking care of their vehicles, and their opinions of shops/dealerships. Most of the time, the people who know the least act like they know the most. I don't do side work at all because I cannot stand people's attitudes. You bend over backwards to help them out and they STILL ***** and complain. They can't walk into Wal-Mart , the doctor, or a CPA's office and act like this but somehow when it comes to cars people are just rude know-it-alls and EVERYTHING costs too much.

Cars are made of metal screws, tape and glue... many cars are actually glued together... the glue will end up failing off . see GM's recall on it's adhesive failure...

2009-12-18
Recall no.
09V491000

GM also has bumpers on it's silverado pickups GMT800 series that have the structural integrity of a wet paper plate

the ford pickup roofs also have the structural integrity of a wet paper plate..

 

[91RS]

That's NOT what I'm talking about, and you know it.

 

[BG1988]

That's NOT what I'm talking about, and you know it.

So if I used GM adhsive that would be ok

 

[91RS]

Do you just need to get your post count up for some reason? GM doesn't use adhesive to fix BROKEN parts. Adhering leather to a door panel is not the same as using popsicle sticks and super glue to "fix" a cracked dash or using L brackets and sheet metal screws to "fix" the cracked door handle. Yeah, GM sucks and those parts should be made well enough not to break but that doesn't change anything about what I said. You would NOT buy a brand new car with duct tape holding the dash together. Like I said, you KNOW exactly what I meant and so does everyone else so I will not be clarifying further.

 

[OR VietVet]

So, I blazed thru the American Legion members in quick order, 3 oil changes, air bag light at dash repair, rear struts on the hatch of a Ranger pickup truck, rf turn signal light assembly for that Ranger and right rear taillight assembly for the same Ranger truck after straightening some of the sheet metal, then plugs and wires and fuel filter for the Ranger and still a miss and found a crack at the coil pack and replaced and fixed misfire, radiator and water pump and thermostat for the 89 K2500 pickup, the lawn mower work for the American Legion post, aftermarket tie down brackets and highway floorboards on a members new Goldwing and then a new larger windshield for the same Goldwing, fuel pump replacement for a Ford Escape and a Charge Air Cooler on a member's F350 diesel.

Fixed oil leak on oil drain plug for F150 across street neighbor and oil change and third brake light replacement and reseal for his bed cover.

Changed oil on fiance's 90 K2500 and did a complete inspection of steering and suspension and diagnosed the leaking valve seals on engine. Gonna be doing the valve stem seals soon.

Now I am dead in the water with no work. I have had a flier up at the VFW and did help a member lady there with bad info from her shop she usually uses. They had told her that the auto temp control would not blow heat unless she charged the a/c system that they both knew had a leak. I told her no, that was incorrect. She has heat, no problem and is gonna have me fix her a/c come spring and will do an oil change with me soon but no other member's have contacted about work. Turns out my flier is in a poor location. The bar manager made copies of the flier and starting tomorrow will be putting those copies out at the bar and at the tables and is displaying the flier at the VFW post facebook account. That should change the car count a bit. Plus I visited the neighbors on our street and made them aware.

I was going to take a 2 day a week job with the local AutoZone as a hub driver where I deliver parts from warehouse to several stores but when I heard that they wanted me to sweep warehouse floors when not driving, I passed. Still in the market for a part time service writer position but that is gonna be tuff to find. The work at home is fine for now.

 

[03X2]

So, after I got my tool assortment back together, I got to thinking that besides doing work on my vehicle and my girlfriend's vehicle, I could make some side money as well. I am tired of being retired.

Anyway, I at first put an ad on CL but my girlfriend was not happy about that because she did not want strangers over here casing the place and my tools collection. I thought about that and agreed with her. Then I decided to just advertise at the American Legion post bulletin board. I stated that my labor rate will be $50 an hour for regular customers and $40 an hour for post members. I immediately got some work but also decided that I needed some more diagnostic equipment and after about two weeks, this afternoon, I upped the labor rate by $10 on each option. You would have thought that I shot them in the heart. I told them I will not do heavy work here like engine and transmission swaps and would be right up front with what I will or will not do and also will not be mobile. I also said I would get them parts at my cost to save them money. I make no $ on parts. I also tell them what parts manufacturer I will not install. I don't hide any of that info. I tell them right from the beginning. Shops in the area charge a minimum of at least $120 and I am an ASE certified tech. You just can't make some people happy. So far I have done the post lawn tractor maintenance of belts and new blades and fuel filter and oil change and air filter that would have cost them over $350 labor alone. I did it for the old labor rate for $160 labor and they supplied the parts. I also did some motorcycle work as well. Plus, the documented here 89 K2500 cooling system work and also some lights on a Ranger and will be doing an oil change on the Ranger and pull codes and fix that on the Ranger. I do most oil changes for the post members for $20-$25 labor.

If ever you want to move to a warmer climate anywhere in a 2hr drive of the 30265 zip……

 

[OR VietVet]

If ever you want to move to a warmer climate anywhere in a 2hr drive of the 30265 zip……

Sorry, doesn't get that cold here in Eugene, Oregon but does ran a lot this time of year. I almost moved to Warrensburg, Mo. recently but the weather here suits me.

 

[OR VietVet]

I was actually at the VFW yesterday and a member came in with a CEL on dash and I am supposed to pull code(s) today at 1 pm and the bartender husband's F150 4x4 has clutch and brake problems he wants me to look at. When it rains it pours.

 

[gooffeyguy]

Some vets spend a lot of time at VFW halls, the beer must be good there, lol

 

[OR VietVet]

Some vets spend a lot of time at VFW halls, the beer must be good there, lol

They have a few taps and lots of bottles of spirits but I no longer drink. Been about 3 months now, if I have my time frame right.

The VFW and American Legion halls are where us vets can talk amongst ourselves about crap from years ago and we understand each other. Not good to keep it bottled up. They also can drink and know that they will be watched over by other vets and the bartenders. No one ever drives home that should not. Lots of good eats at a great price since we are not a retail bar. We don't get different colored hair styles with man buns and slutty dress at these places. We are not all conservatives or liberals but don't need a safe room either.

 

[gooffeyguy]

Oh I know what VFW and Legion halls are. I come from a large military family. My dad was career, 28 years (E9 Army). His brother retired E9 Marines. Two siblings are vets (E6 and E7 Army), their spouses are Army vets, their kids are Air Force vets (one just re-upped into the reserves)

Seems that some vets spend a lot of time at the VFW, while some hardly ever, or never, go. Like you said, some enjoy, or need, to talk about their experiences with others that understand them, while some don't ever want to talk about them.

I was just joshing you about spend a lot of time at the VFW hall, lol

 

[OR VietVet]

No problem. At both posts, I noticed that some members just pay the dues and hardly ever go to post because they want to contribute to the post. Others, like myself, like to socialize where I don't have to deal with the crap that happens at the retail bars and we are safe at our posts with each other. Good drinks, good food and good conversations. I tend to get involved as I am thinking about running for an officer position at the VFW. I also genuinely want to help with their vehicles where I can. I have my limitations and let them all know that up front but my info up front helps them make decisions.

 

[NoReverseYukon]

Our VFW closed and was razed back in 2016.

But we do still have an American Legion.

Unfortunately, neither got/get much patronage.