Work done on your car?

red_hotxr6 · 20-09-2006, 06:55 PM

I would like to know how many people here who have had work done on their car, ie headwork, camshaft fitted, gearbox repairs, radiator or any associated work, have you been asked by your mechanic to pay some or 2/3rds of the money up front before they start doing the work.?

XRchic · 20-09-2006, 07:01 PM

That sounds strange! Ive only ever had such things done by Ford under warranty or done by places doing some mods (not repairs) and I paid for them up front.

I think you will find that most dealers do not ask for money up front...

RSgerry · 20-09-2006, 10:28 PM

I have had a lot of work done to my car and never been asked for a cent up front. Some of that work has been done by guys who I have spent a lot with in the past, but not everyone. I dont like the sound of it. Go somewhere else.

ROOSTA · 20-09-2006, 10:42 PM

Depends really i often just pay some of it up front as a good gesture.. After a while they will realise you are going to do the right thing..

Chances are some one in the past has done the wrong thing by the guys you spoke too.. either he bargained them down after work was complete or didn't pay in full.. or changed mind bout wat was getting done..

Unfortunately bad experiences like this make the business examine the way it operates and certain changes made..

If their work is good and they don't seem too dodge then why not.. you are going to pay the same amount either way.. just make sure you get a receipt as proof of deposit..

Cheers,
Nik

fiery · 20-09-2006, 10:47 PM

I have never been asked to pay for anything upfront but have always asked for a rough estimate so I know what I might be up for.

I have an awesome mechanic that I take my car to when there are things needed to be done that either I can't do or a friend can't.. He is at Logan Village and he is one of the mechanics that you know you can trust 100% to not only do the work completely and correctly but without over charging you also..

If they ask for money upfront, I would walk away from them personally... Unless it was some sort of major upfront cost to them on parts or something incredible like that, then there is no reason for them to ask for money till the job is completed.

b2tf · 20-09-2006, 10:47 PM

Only time I hand over money for work done is when I receive an itemised invoice including a price breakdown.

There are probably about 3 places that I dont ask for that because I trust the people there, and they are the only places my car goes for servicing etc.

NA XR6 · 20-09-2006, 10:50 PM

Never had to pay up front mate

Dezza · 20-09-2006, 10:52 PM

I've never been asked for money up front, and I get most of the maintenance done for me. When I had the head gasket done, they even gave me a loan car!

efI_Fairmont · 20-09-2006, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by b2tf

Only time I hand over money for work done is when I receive an itemised invoice including a price breakdown.

Absolutely right, I would only pay after looking at an itemised invoice. I always get my mechanic to give me an initial quote, then contact me if that price is going to change dramatically (ie more the say $100) to let me decide to go ahead or not.

Can't see why they would ask for money up front, but maybe due to previous bad experiences they have had.

Personally, i'd go elsewhere unless you have been happy with their work and ethics in the past.

XR6TickfordBoy · 21-09-2006, 12:30 AM

Your not buying drugs or anything, they're gonna have your car as collateral. Sounds to me like they're broke and need every cent or they wont be able to do it. If that was the case they'd prob do a S**T job anyway. I wouldn't deal with any business that doesn't trust their customers, poor customer service!

70caprigt3k · 21-09-2006, 12:34 AM

I have not been asked for money upfront yet and ive had some pretty expensive jobs done.

coyote · 21-09-2006, 08:30 AM

Likewise, if the company can't afford to get the parts in (considering most would be purchased on account anyway) I would not deal with them.

red_hotxr6 · 21-09-2006, 12:34 PM

Yeah just as i thought, hubby is having some work done on his engine,they have pulled it down, told him it is going to cost $1200.00, but they want $1000.00 up front in cash.He goes to them and they say its going to need extra parts, bridges,harmonic balancer,etc when he asks how much the parts are going to cost the father and daughter team go ballistic,"you can take your f....ing car now and pay us for what we have done". I really wish i could put their buissness up so every one knows who to avoid or be careful about. I couldnt believe it, dont 99% of the people ask how much something costs.?
You guys are lucky you are down south i tell you.

Falchoon · 21-09-2006, 08:39 PM

I got some work done by Nizpro on my XR6T a few months ago and they wanted a $1000 deposit.

BPXR6T · 21-09-2006, 08:42 PM

Not personally. But a friend handed over $10,000 up front to have a tough 202 built. It didn't work out and we had to resolve the issue in a less than civilised manner.

ronwest · 21-09-2006, 08:53 PM

I don't think it's unusual for a "deposit" to be paid if parts are being ordered in prior to you leaving your car with the mechanic.

It would be most unusual if a "deposit" was to be paid once they have your car in their possession.

brenx · 21-09-2006, 08:55 PM

Depends on the job. If it's a $1000 job I see no reason for a deposit being left. I've been burnt by companies telling me blah blah will take 4 weeks cost this much, we need this much deposit. As soon as they get the deposit no works gets done and the car sits. Which is complete BS. It's their way of locking you in.

I had a quite a few thousand in parts and machining done last year on the XB. Never had to leave a deposit at all. I work this way now. If they need a deposit? They generally aren't worth using. No deposit guarantee's your cars in and out quickly.

There will be some cirumstances where a deposit will need to be left but I don't see this situation as one. I see them locking you in then hitting you up for bits you don't need. I've had a Ford dealer do that to me. Brand new head? My backside! I marked the old one ;) Still didn't get anywhere though. Just never took the car back. Oddly enough the car ceased braking down after I started servicing it myself.

hoppo366 · 21-09-2006, 09:00 PM

A mate of dad's who's a rod builder, which dad does brakes and steering machining for mods like holden stud pattern's on ford brakes and steering shafts to fit sigma steering boxes etc. My dad's mate asks to be paid up front for most of his work, but he's got a good rep and people accept that if they don't like his terms they just go somewhere else. The main idea behind this is that he's had trouble in the past of people not being able to cough up at the end of a job, so now he just works on project until the money runs out, ie if someone gives him $5000 he'll do $5000 worth of work, then stop until more money comes.

But what that guy and his daughter is doing is just not on, no way a up front payment system can work if he opperates like that and is being unreasonable and dishonest.

red_hotxr6 · 22-09-2006, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ronwest

I don't think it's unusual for a "deposit" to be paid if parts are being ordered in prior to you leaving your car with the mechanic.

It would be most unusual if a "deposit" was to be paid once they have your car in their possession.

Exactly, i agree, however they did not state at any time that they wanted money up front. Or as it turns out no credit cards no cheques. My husband was not told of this until they had pulled the car down.

Full Spectrum · 22-09-2006, 08:17 AM

I'd love to ad to this topic, But on the other hand if i mention my car i will be accused of building it up

:

red_hotxr6 · 22-09-2006, 08:23 AM

He reckons he is going to ring the ATO and get them to check on their taxes.lol

Neeek · 22-09-2006, 08:43 AM

Unless you're planning on spending over five figures and require specific parts, then IMHO asking for a deposit or part-payment in advance would have me walking away and finding someone else to undertake the work.

A labour intensive jobs, which covers most of the stuff anyone gets done to their car, costs mostly labour as we know. And you shouldn't charge for ANY of that in advance, but by all means you should be provided with a written quote.

Building up a drag engine from a DART block, I'd expect them to ask for something up front to help with their cash-flow, but virtually no other situation springs to mind.

dansedgli · 22-09-2006, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brenx

As soon as they get the deposit no works gets done and the car sits. Which is complete BS. It's their way of locking you in.

I dont like leaving deposits anymore because of this reason.

I had some work done on my EB and paid up front, the car took 3 months to get finished. Looking back, I could have probably knocked it off in 2 or 3 weekends doing it all on my own.

:

red_hotxr6 · 22-09-2006, 08:51 AM

Is there a watch dog that you can ring/write to, to ' complain" about buissness practices.?

red_hotxr6 · 22-09-2006, 09:03 AM

May be that is something we should do here on this site. Make a category with a list of tradespeople to avoid.Not too bad mouth them or put their buissness down, just list and tell your bad experience with that way these 'tradesmen" do not get the chance to ply their ' bad practices" on customers who are fore warned. Just a thought, because we could also have one where the members here could also tell of the " good " tradesmen" out there who are doing the right thing. ie, like chris wylie from on the spot paint repairs, i am about to tee up with him to get the xr6 done.