I've held off my comments until some other folks replied so I could
weight their views and found I couldn't hold off any
longer...
Mike...I do not know you or Jim, but it seems that sometimes we may
come off in the wrong way even though we don't mean to... If you
don't believe me visit New england sometime and try to get a
conversation going with any native new englander ( Now I know I'm
going to get a lot of hate mail for saying that but the fact remains
We New Englanders are not always the friendliest of people) Maybe it
was the time of day or that things just were not going right with Jim
at the time. But before we say more did you tell him that the reason
you bought the tool was for him to use as you stated? And did
you tell him that the valve stem height is critical and the reason
why...on the particular heads you were bringing him? Not knowing the
situation or the tone of voice makes deciding who is right and who is
wrong a difficult decision.
The reason I'm interjecting here is that I had trouble with a
particular job that was done at my favorite Repair Shop and when I
questioned the owner I was made to feel like the deficiency in
workmanship was my fault... I left the place dejected and mad
and thinking that I would not be back. However I soon needed some
other specialized work done that they had done to my and others
satisfaction and do every day and are the only ones in the
area that I trust to do this work, so I scheduled them to do
it...They not only did a nice job but they gave me a discount.. I
found out later that they were not mad at me but at the mechanic whom
they had hired recently... apparently he did not have the
qualifications stated in the references he brought with him and after
continually making excuses for him my repair was the last
straw...Needless to say they now have a qualified experienced
mechanic or at least when I bring my car there the owner personally
does the repair. We now get along very well and they appreciate my
business.
Nuff said! maybe not...
Mike, maybe you could try it again but explain where you're coming
from first It would be a shame to let a good machine shop get away
because of one minor misunderstanding... Also remember that a
properly trained machinist might take offense with someone telling
him how to do his job, as would anyone .
Sorry this was so long just thought I'd make a point...I hope
everything works out OK.
Rogerg
51-3100-AD Stocker
> From: Andy Laurie <andylvp@stratos.net>
> Being a small business owner myself, I live by one golden rule. Be
>honest with your customers. If you perceive a customer being a
>problem try to lay the ground rules out ahead of time. It used to be
>that the customer was always right. I have turned down
> business but always in a way so as not to be disrespectful to the would be
>customer.
> Doubling a quote so as not to do business is not something I would do. Just
>be honest
> and get everything in writing. You can't please everyone all of the time, but
>honesty
> always seems to smooth thinks over in the long run.
> Andy
>
> SHAWN & JO wrote:
> > To: Grant Galbraith <trks@javanet.com>
> > Subject: Re: [oletrucks] Machine Shop Frustration
> >
> > I don't want to sound like I'm on Jim's side, but owning a business
> > myself, when I get those trouble signals that are the same as bad
> > experiences from before, I usually double my estimate to price myself
> > out of the job.
> > I'm NOT saying that Mike is one of those people, just that Jim may have
> > had a very negative experience in a similar situation and even though it
> > had nothing to do with Mike, He just REALLY doesn't want to even chance
> > putting himself back into frying pan again. He was probably the one
> > seeing red that time.
> > Sorry about the trouble Mike, just blow it off and move on. Thats
>what
> > I try to do in my business when someone is crawling around on their
> > hands and knees with a magnifying glass trying to see if there is any
> > imperfections in the glaze of the tile I just spent all day installing.
> > It happens... and you try your utmost to avoid those people. Even if
> > they turnout not to be "those" people, you just can't take a chance...
> > Shawn Arthur - Arthur's Custom Tile, Marble, and Slate
> >
> > \Grant Galbraith wrote:
> > >
> > > Sounds to me like Jim did you a favor to send you away before you spent
>any
> > > money. Far worse to discover his arrogance $300 later trying to resolve a
> > > dispute. He sounds like many these days with more customers than they can
>handle.
> > >
> > > Grant 50 3100
> > >
> > > TORODRVR@aol.com wrote:
> > >
> > > > I'm rebuilding an Olds 403 for installation in an oletruck, and
>something
> > > > happened yesterday that has me seeing RED!
> > > > I took the heads to Jim's Machine Shop in Greeley CO for reconditioning.
> > > > Since valve stem height is critical on Olds engines, and I paid $50 for
>a
> > > > Mondello gauge to measure same, I took it along for Jimmy to use. He
>stated
> > > > that "when a customer buys a tool and brings it in, it means he's going
>to be
> > > > too nit-picky" and he flatly refused to do the job! Not wanting to burn
>any
> > > > bridges, I withheld my evaluation of his personality and left the shop.
>That
> > > > was extremely difficult for me to do, but somehow I managed, and
>telling my
> > > > wife about it helped me to control my anger.
> > > > If anybody knows of a good machine shop in my area, please forward their
> > > > telephone number to me. At present I am waiting for my community
>college to
> > > > return for the fall quarter, so I can rebuild the heads in class. I
>expect to
> > > > still need a machine shop to install hardened exhaust valve seats and at
> > > > least one valve guide. The good news is, I'll save one large amount of
>money
> > > > that would have gone to Jimmy. Not only did he miss out on an estimated
>$275
> > > > for the heads, but I was planning to have him bore a block for another
> > > > project. That would have been around $200.
> > > > Thanks for "listening".
> > > >
> > > > Mike Jensen
> > > > Greeley CO
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