Car Mechanics - Room for improvement?

FelixK

Hi there,

Just to be upfront, I'm investigating the car mechanic industry, and ways to improve it, as co-founder of a fledgling startup. I think it's an interesting industry with some upsets that keep occurring time and time again. I've put some questions below to guide the discussion - hopefully this will be interesting for everybody

Starting from the beginning:

1. When did you last decide to use (or consider using) a different mechanic? Why?

2. Where did you look to find this new mechanic? What were the deciding factors in picking this new mechanic over other ones?

3. What was the biggest problem with changing mechanic?


More questions to come after there's a few answers to these.

I'd really appreciate it if anyone can spare 20 minutes for a phone interview too. Please PM me and we can arrange a time that's good for you!

Cheers,

Felix

TrickyWicky

FelixK wrote: »

1. When did you last decide to use (or consider using) a different mechanic? Why?

2. Where did you look to find this new mechanic? What were the deciding factors in picking this new mechanic over other ones?

3. What was the biggest problem with changing mechanic?

Erm.. The obvious? Ok thats a bit unfair, let me be more precise:

1) About 3 - 4 years ago when I got screwed right over by one lying his backside off about an engine service which ended up becoming a lot of hassle and expensive.

2) Locally, word of mouth, yellow pages, online etc. Went with this one as he was cheap and also used another who was the only one prepared to deal with seized and snapped bolts. Both do a grand job but one refuses to touch my car due to the complexity of it.

3) Not much other than finding one that was honest enough to tell you if he doesn't want the job.

These really are probably fairly standard to most people. We've all had bad experiences with mechanics, we've all known mechies (sorry, fitters) who do bodge jobs and screw you over and we've all switched from one mechie to another.

Notmyrealname

FelixK wrote: »

Hi there,

Just to be upfront, I'm investigating the car mechanic industry, and ways to improve it, as co-founder of a fledgling startup.

Don't pay your mechanics peanuts and you won't get monkeys working for you.

wba31

My dad is my mechanic. He has been a mechanic for nearly 40 years so he is a natural choice. He hasnt ripped me off yet so ill stick ith him...

Tobster86

I fix my cars myself. The only time they go to a mechanic is for an MOT, tyres or tracking; and still I often end up having an argument with an unqualified spotty 17-25 year old that doesn't know what he's talking about.

It started out of necessity; as a student doing a lot of miles it was cheaper to buy tools & a Haynes manual. I now do it (A) for fun and (B) because I trust myself to do a better job than the average said spotty teenager.

So, my 50p would be not to employ spotty know-it-all boy racers who failed their GCSEs. Unfortunately it's a first port of call for said characters seeking employment; the fault of which is British society. The only good young mechanics I've known of have been foreign.

s_b

im investigating the banking industry
unfortunately i dont have enough £50 notes to get a clear picture of how banknotes work
could anyone send me a few?
please dont phone asking for them back as a 20 minute phone call will be a waste of your time

thanks
ps

More questions to come after there's a few answers to these.

I'd really appreciate it if anyone can spare 20 minutes for a prank phone interview too. Please PM me and we can arrange a time that's good for you!

Cheers,

Felix's cat

forgotmyname

Same as above but i only need a few £20 notes though. Enclose a SAE for its safe return.

Please enclose your phone number so that i can pass it onto other scammers. I make good money selling lists of gullible money savers.



May god bless you with many more wonderful offers in your email box.

Mr Mary Susan.

FelixK

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Don't pay your mechanics peanuts and you won't get monkeys working for you.

The plan is that whoever is having their car serviced or repaired pays the mechanic, not me! I'm not sure that mechanics with high rates are immune to creating extra work - they are likely to have the newest, shiniest workshop to pay for!

@ TrickyWicky - Do you mind me asking what car you have that puts mechanics off?

@ s b - While the £50 notes might be an issue, I'd be amazed if you couldn't find anyone who would spare 20 minutes for someone trying to improve the banking industry!

FelixK

forgotmyname wrote: »

May god bless you with many more wonderful offers in your email box.

I can assure you that I have no powers to automagically convert phone numbers into email addresses. :think:

Hasbeen

Tobster86 wrote: »

I fix my cars myself. The only time they go to a mechanic is for an MOT, tyres or tracking; and still I often end up having an argument with an unqualified spotty 17-25 year old that doesn't know what he's talking about.

It started out of necessity; as a student doing a lot of miles it was cheaper to buy tools & a Haynes manual. I now do it (A) for fun and (B) because I trust myself to do a better job than the average said spotty teenager.

So, my 50p would be not to employ spotty know-it-all boy racers who failed their GCSEs. Unfortunately it's a first port of call for said characters seeking employment; the fault of which is British society. The only good young mechanics I've known of have been foreign.

I also fix my cars myself at moment Honda, Toyota and Peugeot.

I am an old style Mechanical Engineer who has had his hands oily for 40 plus years, and have maintained all types of vehicles in that time. So my 50p worth is my son who passed all his exams etc but wanted to be a mechanic at 17,

He unlike some of the great benifit seekers of our times!!! gained employment at 17 "spottyfaced teenager" as some would say?

He passed with upstanding qualifications from Edinburgh Telford college and is now Car vehicle mechanic, also a LGV mechanic and LGV driver, and also Greenflag recovery/breakdown specialist.

So here he is at a "Spotty Faced" 25 yrs telling me how to service/repair modern cars! and do you know what! he knows more than me!! because cars evolve and technology is there and you will not stop it.

So yes, there are good "foreign" mechanics in their original country they have been educated and tought well, unlike in this country teachers cannot teach well because of their restrictions/left leanings/green agenda/education/government mantra etc

But do not knock the ones who strive to better themselves and get a profession so they can eventually get out of this so called Great Britain and get a new improved life elswhere

So next time you have an argument with a "spotty 17 to 25 year old" please consider the fact times have changed and he may well know what he/she is talking about!!

TrickyWicky

FelixK wrote: »

@ TrickyWicky - Do you mind me asking what car you have that puts mechanics off?

Yes I do since it will possibly link me to other forums. All I will say is that its rare and tech details are like rocking horse teeth. If I brought it in to you, I guarantee you would be like this => :eek:. I've had many mechanics turn it away and refuse to work on it and others claim they can / will and get half way through and give up. Due to that, only one mechie in town can be trusted with it (pricey too). The other cheaper bloke I spoke of is also very good at what he does but will not work on my car, only my partners but again I trust him 100% to be honest and back out of it if he can't do the job or doesn't want it.