Another negative to counter diagnosis is the tech goes and puts a scan tool on it and runs the diagnostic tests and it turns out the counter guy guessed correctly. Then you have the customer saying “why did you charge me to diagnose it when you already knew what was wrong with it.” Lol
No, this does not me angry at all. I do all my own repairs, have not been to a mech in 30 years. However, each and every day I have customers call me wanting me to quote over the phone for their job. And then when they actually come in, never and I mean NEVER is what they said over the phone actually what they want. But they still expect me to keep to the quote anyway even though the job is vastly different.
An instructor at the GM training center told us a story when he was a tech. Old lady complained of a front end noise. He found the front wheel bearings about to fall out. $900 later, the car is safe and quiet. She comes back complaining that it wasn't fixed. After driving with the customer, steve found out it was the radio that was "causing" the front end noise. Not exactly what your video was about, but I figured i bring it up.
Funny you put this up. We have several new trucks and the speedo went for a shit and we have absolutely nothing to troubleshoot stuff like this. So the driver what are we going to do. I said don't worry I'm going to put my hand on the dog on the hood (It's a Mack) So ya I put my hand on the dog put my head down closed my eyes and said don't worry it's going to come to me. Same thing as a crystal ball sort of thing 😂👍🇨🇦🔧
I hate service advisors that give customers high expectations with cheap repair that will fix the problem and turn around pointing the finger at you when shit goes sideways.
My 87 year old father began to argue with me recently about his car needing a new alternator because a tow truck driver said so. Dad doesn’t drive his car much at all and probably shouldn’t. I told him to sell it years ago as owning it is too costly for his benefit of having it. He probably drives it under 200 miles a year. His battery has been replaced multiple times and he believes it must be something else wrong. I told him that tow truck drivers don’t have experience or equipment onboard to make such a statement and that he should listen to me, his son who spent his whole career as a Certified Master Automotive Technician. The situation pissed me off because he is most likely to believe a complete stranger than his own blood. I reminded him that I told him long ago he needs a battery maintainer installed on his car and to keep it plugged in. But nooooo! He can’t do that because he can’t physically move easily. 🤷♂️ People will listen to anybody who gives them an opinion whether they are qualified or not. It’s their own choice. Bitchin is their best and only option. 🤯
My old heavy truck leasing company has a service writer who thinks every engine light is just clear the codes, and every job is just 30 minutes Eaton 10 speed won't go into 4th gear? Oh we'll have that transmission out and back in in 30 minutes Bro it takes 10 minutes to get set up for the job 😂 Fucking 800 pound tranny takes 45 minutes to get lined up right because you didn't know the stupid tranny jack doesn't roll over a grain of sand on the floor
Has this happened to you?
When the customer is told the evap code is "probably"" just a fuel cap. Well when its not it can get real expensive.
That's a classic one. :)
Another negative to counter diagnosis is the tech goes and puts a scan tool on it and runs the diagnostic tests and it turns out the counter guy guessed correctly. Then you have the customer saying “why did you charge me to diagnose it when you already knew what was wrong with it.” Lol
@tomfinch8056 ouuuuu that's a good one.
No, this does not me angry at all. I do all my own repairs, have not been to a mech in 30 years.
However, each and every day I have customers call me wanting me to quote over the phone for their job. And then when they actually come in, never and I mean NEVER is what they said over the phone actually what they want. But they still expect me to keep to the quote anyway even though the job is vastly different.
The good Ole phone qoute!
@@Lancemechanics lesson #2. Never talk prices over the phone unless it’s something like an oil change
An instructor at the GM training center told us a story when he was a tech. Old lady complained of a front end noise. He found the front wheel bearings about to fall out. $900 later, the car is safe and quiet. She comes back complaining that it wasn't fixed. After driving with the customer, steve found out it was the radio that was "causing" the front end noise. Not exactly what your video was about, but I figured i bring it up.
Front counter diagnostics. Usually ends with the tech losing ;)
Funny you put this up. We have several new trucks and the speedo went for a shit and we have absolutely nothing to troubleshoot stuff like this. So the driver what are we going to do. I said don't worry I'm going to put my hand on the dog on the hood (It's a Mack) So ya I put my hand on the dog put my head down closed my eyes and said don't worry it's going to come to me. Same thing as a crystal ball sort of thing 😂👍🇨🇦🔧
Love it! :)
We used to call that X-ray diagnostics. Had a service writer that would tell me" oh, my crystal ball must have a crack in it " 😆😆
I hate service advisors that give customers high expectations with cheap repair that will fix the problem and turn around pointing the finger at you when shit goes sideways.
mechanic usually gets the shitty end of the stick in these situations :(
My 87 year old father began to argue with me recently about his car needing a new alternator because a tow truck driver said so. Dad doesn’t drive his car much at all and probably shouldn’t. I told him to sell it years ago as owning it is too costly for his benefit of having it. He probably drives it under 200 miles a year. His battery has been replaced multiple times and he believes it must be something else wrong. I told him that tow truck drivers don’t have experience or equipment onboard to make such a statement and that he should listen to me, his son who spent his whole career as a Certified Master Automotive Technician. The situation pissed me off because he is most likely to believe a complete stranger than his own blood. I reminded him that I told him long ago he needs a battery maintainer installed on his car and to keep it plugged in. But nooooo! He can’t do that because he can’t physically move easily. 🤷♂️ People will listen to anybody who gives them an opinion whether they are qualified or not. It’s their own choice. Bitchin is their best and only option. 🤯
I have family like that too. I deeply understand this frustration
Thanks Lance !
My pleasure!
You have a better chance diagnosing at the counter then over the phone! Those are the ones I hate.
Oh I miss those phone calls haha
My old heavy truck leasing company has a service writer who thinks every engine light is just clear the codes, and every job is just 30 minutes
Eaton 10 speed won't go into 4th gear? Oh we'll have that transmission out and back in in 30 minutes
Bro it takes 10 minutes to get set up for the job 😂
Fucking 800 pound tranny takes 45 minutes to get lined up right because you didn't know the stupid tranny jack doesn't roll over a grain of sand on the floor