dodgy mechanics

[Hunter]

A problem these days is that a lot of people don't consider being a mechanic to be a respectable job and thus will try to find money elsewhere (like becoming a builder). That then leads to the industry getting desperate and morons who would normally not be a mechanic are now mechanics, and we're finding a lot more deadshits working in the auto industry. This means lot less honest, respectable, passionate blokes doing a damn good job and taking pride in their work.

I've worked in the automotive industry and I've seen the kinds of losers who take up work within the industry - either because they're too dumb or too lazy to do anything else. Not saying everyone in the auto industry is like that, just that there are a great number of them these days than there were previously.

[GXL078]

Originally Posted by INDEEP

Quoted $2500-3000 for "Mates Rates" work (Mates Rates; so never got a written quote), with a follow on of "Whatever it turns out being in retail, I'll half it for you... $9000 later I have a car which has paint peeling off the engine bay, the bootlid, and off one rear wheel arch... And it wasn't even a bare-metal job...

ALWAYS get things in writing... I never bothered with legal action, couldn't really justify the extra expense if I didn't gain compensation for the ripping I've received.
I figure me telling my story (as embarrassing for me as it is), will screw them over more than anything else is the long run...

Oh, and if anybodies wondering where I got this sensational job done:

It was LENLOCK BODY REFINISHERS in Young NSW.

I DO NOT RECOMMEND ANYBODY IN MY AREA TAKE ANYTHING THERE TO BE REPAIRED, NOT EVEN FOR INSURANCE WORK

I did get it in writing, then he made up an extra "contract" of his own and put my signature at the bottom of it for an extra $1500 and filed a statement of liquidated claim In Downing cetre local court saying that I owed him an extra $1500. Funniest coincedence was when I went to discuss the situation with a chamber magistrate the one I spoke to had done up an XC and was very unhappy with the engine he got from Ford Muscle Parts so he was very understanding.

Next he sent someone to my house and scratched and dented nearly every panel on the car with a big screwdriver and the cops didnt want to know because I couldnt prove it was his doing. His name is Roger Whalebone of Botany Auto Panel Beating. He has the biggest house in , Pagewood and always has **** cars for sale outside that he has scammed off customers, no boubt. He has also bee on Paul Clitheroe's Money program on channel 9 saying what a good businessman he is but when you see him in Botany he just looks like a homeless derro riding his old pushbike to the shops. I was told to be careful because he has a gun. He is the reason I have had a private number since I moved out of home.

[ReVd_uP]

Originally Posted by Hunter

A problem these days is that a lot of people don't consider being a mechanic to be a respectable job and thus will try to find money elsewhere (like becoming a builder). That then leads to the industry getting desperate and morons who would normally not be a mechanic are now mechanics, and we're finding a lot more deadshits working in the auto industry. This means lot less honest, respectable, passionate blokes doing a damn good job and taking pride in their work.

I've worked in the automotive industry and I've seen the kinds of losers who take up work within the industry - either because they're too dumb or too lazy to do anything else. Not saying everyone in the auto industry is like that, just that there are a great number of them these days than there were previously.

Spot on!! Im a mechanic, my work is always fixing other w/shops butchery, including cars that have come from other ford dealers (i also work in a ford dealer).... a fair few drop kicks have worked at my work in the past, even got a few there now.....

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by xcgxl

I had a similar problem with a wheel alignment at K Mart auto. Took it back to them. Reply was "oh, your car is lowered, you need to go to a specialist wheel aligner, like Heasmens at Tempe". Took the car to Heasmans AFTER I replaced the tyres. Another $250 odd later for new ball joints and I need a new SUMP because they drop the sump onto their JACK and smash it in. They initially deny it but after a bit of preasuring they replace the sump. It shits me that these guys have a megalopolis of a workshop now, my dad used to go there in the 60s when Mr Heasmen still ran the place, now some chockos have bought the name.

Sheesh you come out with some dribble,your better off with pedders,they deserve you,Heasmans is the best place for suspension work I know of bar none.

I will add the worst I ever seen was a cleveland put together by a well known LS1 tuner in sydney,the rods were all on the wrong pins,and pistons on the wrong rods,seems they just picked them up out of a bucket and whichever came out went on that pin,be it rod or piston,needless to say the engine didnt make it across town to the owners house from the workshop,when he called them from the side of the road all Sam said is "yeah and".

[Ridin-High]

Here is one of my Storys.

For the smaller jobs my dad usually does the work for me and shows me abit how to do it (oil changes, brakes etc) Needed to change the Auto transmission fluid on a late model toyota camry and got quoted $90 from a auto trans shop in the local area, got the car back didn't notice a problem until i put the car into reverse (suprizingly i didn't reverse until i was leaving work the next day) it just reved and didn't move so i was like ok WTF, so i just let it roll back... when i took it back to the trans place i fired up so hard and demanded to watch them fix it and he goes so how are you gonna pay for that, i said "It didn't have the problem before i took it here, i ain't paying ****" took my car and left.... all future small jobs will be done by myself or my dad.

Their is one good shop tho around here (western sydney) CP auto's @ mt druitt, i had my powersteering rack replaced and was very happy drives vbetter then b4

[GXL078]

Originally Posted by nugget378

Sheesh you come out with some dribble,your better off with pedders,they deserve you,Heasmans is the best place for suspension work I know of bar none.

Not dribble its true. Incompetent grease monkey there (HEASMANS) stuffed my sump. Workshop manager was very condescending and arrogant in dealing with it as well. TRIED TO LIE THEIR WAY OUT OF IT. Is that the first rule of business, deny, deny deny? Print this post out and take it to them see if they remember me.

Yes, I am definately better off with Pedders. Never had a problem with them and I deal with Nick and the staff at the Blacktown store.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by INDEEP

And if you think mechanics are bad, don't EVER get a car resprayed....

I never had any trouble when I had my other car resprayed Blueprint.

But then the painter was my son and he knew if he stuffed up he died!

[jPod]

Just to list a REALLY GOOD mechanic - Neville Bedford on Railway Rd. Blackburn VIC is an excellent mechanic. He is always helpful, patient and for those of us worried about how our mothers - wives - sisters etc... get treated by mechanics - this guy has been nothing but nice, paitient with my mum (who knows nothing about cars). He explains problems clearly and I took the car to him after my clutch was rooted by Mick (he was extreemly helpful when I had no money, no car, uni exams, work and everything going on). He even gets us parts for small jobs that I do myself cheaper as he gets a tradie discount - and is very happy to take cash. If you need a good mechanic, and are in melbourne, check him out. I even heard him once saying "Have you got the part for that thing... peice of crap Holden?" So he obviously has taste... :

Jp

[nugget378]

Originally Posted by xcgxl

Not dribble its true. Incompetent grease monkey there (HEASMANS) stuffed my sump. Workshop manager was very condescending and arrogant in dealing with it as well. TRIED TO LIE THEIR WAY OUT OF IT. Is that the first rule of business, deny, deny deny? Print this post out and take it to them see if they remember me.

Yes, I am definately better off with Pedders. Never had a problem with them and I deal with Nick and the staff at the Blacktown store.

You have no credibility after comments like this...
And its not the only one,one day the wrong person will take exception and youll wake up to a world of trouble..

Originally Posted by xcgxl

my dad used to go there in the 60s when Mr Heasmen still ran the place, now some chockos have bought the name.

You dont have a clue do you

[BIGDOG]

Well said Hunter "ditto"

[GXL078]

Good on you BIGDOG and HUNTER, what a team!

[yift]

Originally Posted by uranium_death

That's Powerful Stuff!

We've had our alignments and tyres done at our local KMart Tyre and Auto thingy. They did a good job. Car handled and gripped better, braking was far better and the ride was just orgasmically better.

So there are some ok people out there.

thanks for the plug mate, i manage one of their stores and reading the dodgy behaviour going on with our competitors makes me want to be more honest with my customers.

[mcflux]

I had the opposite happen today, a mechanic I went to told me my car was dodgy :P