some people

Icuby · May 8, 2012

A fella brought me a tractor first part of March to do some engine work to,he didnt want to spend much money,I did it his way,started it and rear main seal leaked,he says to split it and fix,found clutch in need of work,called him-he didnt have time to think about it,13 days later he says fix it,called him 10 days ago and told him it was done,said that he would be to get it that afternoon,havent seen him yet so it sits in my shop. No payment yet,tractor isnt worth what I have in it. I will remember this till the end of time.

NCWayne · May 8, 2012

Been there, done that many times. What's even worse are the ones that need their equipment back the next day for an important job, and beg me to get them going so they can pick it up the next morning. Then the next morning comes and goes, and two weeks later they finally decide that they have the time to come get it.

Too, there are the ones that call and say they are going to drop something off and ask me if I'm going to be home. Usually, unless I have some emergency, I will tweek my schedule so I can be at the shop for them, and then just do my running, etc later. I can't count the number of times that someone has shown up at 5 after calling at 8 saying they'd be here in an hour, or something to that effect, causing me to basically find things to do and all but waste all day waiting on them. In the end though it's all just part of the business...........

JDseller · May 8, 2012

I quit dealing with guys that don't want to fix the stuff correctly. I got caught too many times by just doing what they guy wanted to pay for then when it failed they would bad mouth me all over the place for not doing good repairs.

So now it is fixed right or not at all. Payment is made before the equipment leaves. I am not their bank/credit card. I loose some business because of this but most of those customers you don't want any way.

bobs old iron · May 8, 2012

guess it doesn't matter what type of business it is, they are about the same,,couple of years ago, i did lawn mowers for a friend at his gas station, every one needed asap, grass is getting tall, never seen 1/4 of the owners come back, a week later, found out they went and bought new mowers,,,i guess you need to get a deposit up front so they will came back or loose money and unit..

Anonymous-0 · May 9, 2012

Been there as well. Once worked on a 4020 the guy cried he HAD to have to feed cows. Worked till after midnight on it. Of course at his farm. And it was -25 below wind blowing and in a snow bank. Snowed the next day. Drove by 3 weeks later never moved. Found out later he has a skid steer in a small shed. What he usually used. Cause it broke down later and he tried the same thing. And now I've got some folks I rebuilt there tractor for last fall having minor problems. (gas line plugged and fuel pump went out). And as normal all my fault. Was called out earlier in the winter too cause it wouldn't start. Just flooded and battery wore down. Never ends, just gotta luv it

Bryan inIowa · May 9, 2012

I hear you there. All small engine repair in my shop gets 1/2 hr charge paid up front . Eliminates becoming a drop off for junk. All major car or truck repair gets 50% deposit paid before work starts .

Ron in NS · May 9, 2012

It may be he's waiting for the money to come in, maybe he's even more broke than most. Give him 30 days, and send him a registered letter. After that, register a mechanic's lien, and sell at your legal leisure. However it is supposed to be done in your state.

WJD · May 9, 2012

I'm looking at a Deere 2040 that is in a similar situation. A landscaper had id, his staff must have been really hard on equipment. The engine had to be rebuilt including a new crankshaft. While test driving it the dealer noticed niose in the diff. It also had to be completely rebuilt. I don't know the details but the dealer ended up with the tractor.

I also know a guy who owns a machine shop, He did a bunch of work on an odd Ford engine and the owner never did come and pick it up. As far as I know he still has not been able to sell it and it has been over a year.

The bottom line is you are not the only one in this situation. These one reason labor rates are so high.

Chris Jones · May 9, 2012

A lawn equipment shop here I found out will not put more in labor into a piece of equipment than they can sell it for unless it's paid for before hand.

some people

Icuby

Member

NCWayne

Well-known Member

JDseller

Well-known Member

bobs old iron

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Bryan inIowa

Member

Ron in NS

Well-known Member

WJD

Member

Chris Jones

Member

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