Engine repair ethics question

[rangerb]

I took a 1984 4.5 hp merc to a small outboard repair shop. The engine has sit in our garage for<br />3-4 years and the lower unit oil had leaked out.<br />I told the mechanic I to put a new seal it it. He took the engine, did not take my name, number or and info on the engine. I told him that I would call him after a had a chance to look at the motor to discuss what it needed. I called at least 6 times and got no one. Finally I got his wife who told me that he was waiting on a part.<br />a couple of weeks later she called again to say that the engine was fixed and the bill was nearly $300. I am not happy because I don't think the engine is worth $300. The wife said that the lower unit was curoded and needed a part. They also replaced the impeller I would never have agreed on spending that much had I been told. I thought I made it clear to the guy that It did not want to send much money on this engine. Now the mechanic wants his money. I am mad, he is mad<br />and I am trying to deterine the right thing to do.<br />His wife called today had got huffy with me about paying the bill. I have asked where server times<br />for her husband to call me but he will not call.<br />Anyone have any thoughts or ideas on what I should do?<br />Thanks.

 

[notinbig]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

I would pick up the motor, pay with a credit card and dispute the charges with them. Or write check and cancel payment for a couple bucks. What he did(if we have the whole story, and you were clear not to fix without consent(normal)) he was unethical in his decision to fix it and should eat the cost.<br />Most shop say up front they charge to diagnosis, and then present you with an estimate for repair charges, for your approval.<br /><br />IMO, alot of "little shops" will just go ahead and fix on the assumtion you brought it in you must want it fixed. Or the cheaper than replacing theory, ASSuming you would replaceit.

 

[accord_guy]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

You were lucky to find anyone to work on it at all. If it runs good, chalk it up to experience

 

[accord_guy]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

In Indiana it's hard to find anyone to work on small outboards. I spent $300 rebuilding a 77 4.5 myself. Parts are $$$. Next time feel good about it before you drop it off. He took no info? That's a sign he does things his way and only his way. He can probably take you to small claims court and win. You'll end up paying $300 plus court costs.

 

[DJ]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

He took the engine, did not take my name, number or and info on the engine.

That would have been enough of a clue to me as to what you were going to get.<br /><br />Does it run? <br /><br />If so, go and forget it.<br /><br />Does it run right?<br /><br />If not, chalk it up to experience.

 

[agrazela]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

Shoulda got the guy to agree--preferably in writing--not to do any repairs before contacting you. Heck, in re-reading your post, you TOLD the guy to make repairs when you dropped it off.<br /><br />I think you got no case. Either pay up and enjoy, or (if the mechanic agrees) let the guy keep it.

 

[dorelse]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

Yeah, gotta have directions for those guys in writing prior to any work being performed. Pay the man, chalk it up a lesson learned.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

i dont see a problem.<br /><br />be happy he even took in your motor at all

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

If you pick up the motor,and pay with a card,or check,and then cancel payment,I think you are as wrong as he maybe (unethical too).<br /><br />Your post is a bit unclear,but I read it as you told him to put a new seal in it.Is that correct?<br />If so he may have done other required work while doing that.I don't replace a seal as, as a rule, they are all old.There are exceptions.<br /><br />The value of a 1984 4.5 is questionable,but price a new one.<br /><br />We run a work order on everything,and that limits us to a point where we have to make the phone call.He sounds smaller,so that is a problem.I know my memory slips. <br /><br />I would go in,in person,and talk with him as well as his wife.This cannot be done over the phone.<br /><br />Maybe bring these posts.<br /><br />DHP

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

ohhh I love customers that bring in a neglected lil beast and say I dont wanna spend more than ten bucks.<br /> if the put me on a limit I tell them to grab a pud and packy tha sand. <br /> I wont touch a motor with a fixed price limit. I also wont call the customer everytime I need a butt connector or an impeller. I will suggest to the customer on old tiny mites to let me check it out and see if its worth fixing. its funny but I had a guy drop off a late fifties 3.5 jomnny rude , had not run in about 5 years. I told him if he will cross my palms with 600 dollars of "start" money I would make it run. sme with old mercs. some of the switch boxes on the tiny mites are over 300 dollars. and thats sitting on the counter. my advice is to pay the man and word the repairs better. after sitting 3 years the carb is bad, the pump impeller is wasted and most likly will require a lot of tune up work to make run. however I have done just a prop seal on a 9.9. the man paid me then immediatly called back and said it would not start. I said imagine that. starting was not on the repair order.so now he was mad cause he paid yet still could not play. and check the NC laws regarding stop payments on repairs. my attorney loves them as he charges his fees seperatly in court. but as there is no signed work orders you may have an out, or ya may not.

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

Good point rodbolt.I tell them upfront $70.00 per. Usually 1-2 hours diagnos.Then we can give a serious idea as to repair costs.But we stop at that point and call them.<br /><br />Sounds like you write out the workorder also.<br /><br />DHP

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

DHP<br /> everything has a signed work order. keeps all happy with no suprises. I also dont allow customers to make diagnosis either . like you I will asses it and make an estimate, based on moderate corrosion and 10 min oxy/acetylene, and call.<br /> just went through that with a friend. he wanted a CDI for his 115 yam. I asked 3 times how he checked it. his buddy kept insisting it was a bad CDI, I sold it to him. so now he has a brand new 375 dollar CDI and a good used spare and the carbs are still bad. he is mad at me cause I wont take it back. but I told him he pays before I order it and if the box is ever opened its his, period. a good running 84 4.5 merc may be worth 300 dollars, may not be. new I am thinking they are about 800 or so. in my area they dont come apart so I never get to mess with them. but I do know the 9.8 and old 20 hp mercs with the cover nut are impossible to get the carrier out in one piece here.

 

[noelm]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

hey I used to work in a repair shop that dealt with lawn mowers annd it was very common for a customer to bring in the mower with the starter cord broken, we ALWAYS asked if the motor was going before and of course they always said yes, at that point we would get them to sign a work sheet stating that only the starter was to be repaired or we would remove the recoil starter and tell them to take the mower with them, amazing how many people picked up the starter later and took it home, only to return next day with a no start mower, my theory is they broke the starter trying to start the dead motor in the first place

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

wow<br /> same folks as here<br /> glad noelm has seen the phenomenom as well. I have had customers go so far as to say I blew the engine cause it ran when they brought it to me and just needed an adjustment.

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

Yeah I've seen it too Rodbolt with bikes. Customer trailers it in, says it's fine but needs this/that doing and could we do it.<br />We used to insist they started it in front of us to bring it up the ramp into the workshop. Amazing how many were after a free repair.

 

[Rabbitdawghunter]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

Let's face it, some people live in reality and some don't.

 

[noelm]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

hehe just thought of another good customer quote, can't be much wrong with it because it was working before it blew up, seized, stopped, or when I put it away 3 years ago, or whatever , so it must only need a tune or a plug or something!

 

[Nos4r2]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

LOL yeah, heard that before too! My usual response to that was "So you don't want me to fix it then as you're perfectly capable of doing it yourself?"

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

Actually a bill of a bit under $300 to put new seals and do the waterpump on a lower unit isn't real bad. <br /><br />Replacing the impeller IS an SOP if the lower is down for any reason.<br /><br />Pay the bill and use the motor, price out a new one sometime.<br /><br />-W

 

[S.Lee]

Re: Engine repair ethics question

I own and operate my own shop part time, I work on sleds and atv's. The things people try and pull never stops entertaining me. The absolute funniest thing I ever heard, is that with a pre-season, I throw new plugs in every sled. I use a better grade of plug. Anyway, this was just before Christmas, and I gave the guy a bit of a break on my bill. The guy complained because the plugs were too expensive (around $4). You have a $10k machine, and you are worried about $8 worth of plugs. N