Maintenance and the general public....
Discussion
Was in a fast fit type place earlier having my suspension/wheel bearings checked over and there was a customer having a punctured tyre replaced on a Freelander 4. Fairly bread and butter stuff.
Overheard the fitter telling him that the other tyre on the same axle was 1.6mm at the most and was below that in places, prompting replacement both because it's a ball hair from illegal and because a radical difference in tread depth on the same axle can cause issues with 4WD systems. The front tyres were 1.6-2mm too.
His response? "Oh no it's fine, it can wait"!
WTF? Who are these people buying expensive cars and completely ignoring required maintenance?
Before anyone says it, they aren't the fitters you can't get better than and aren't known for drumming up unnecessary work in my experience, especially the branch in question.
Overheard the fitter telling him that the other tyre on the same axle was 1.6mm at the most and was below that in places, prompting replacement both because it's a ball hair from illegal and because a radical difference in tread depth on the same axle can cause issues with 4WD systems. The front tyres were 1.6-2mm too.
His response? "Oh no it's fine, it can wait"!
WTF? Who are these people buying expensive cars and completely ignoring required maintenance?
Before anyone says it, they aren't the fitters you can't get better than and aren't known for drumming up unnecessary work in my experience, especially the branch in question.
People who live hand to mouth spending everything they earn on monthly fees for car lease, mortgage, etc. On stuff they think looks flash but can't comfortably afford.
People who assume everyone is out to rip them off and that when the guy advises the replacement of two tyres they're being clever in turning him down because he's only saying that to get more money out of them.
People who are utterly feckless about basic maintenance and drive around with half their lights not working and no oil in the engine.
People who assume everyone is out to rip them off and that when the guy advises the replacement of two tyres they're being clever in turning him down because he's only saying that to get more money out of them.
People who are utterly feckless about basic maintenance and drive around with half their lights not working and no oil in the engine.
StottyZr said:
Are you sure the tire was as low as the fitter was saying?
I've been told similar things in the past and said "no its fine it can wait" instead of confronting the mechanic when he tells me things need changing that I know don't.
In my experience with the garage in question they've always been very open and honest, even in one case telling me what to do to fix a problem myself rather than charging me for it (albeit I've only taken my old snotters to them)I've been told similar things in the past and said "no its fine it can wait" instead of confronting the mechanic when he tells me things need changing that I know don't.
Blakewater said:
People who live hand to mouth spending everything they earn on monthly fees for car lease, mortgage, etc. On stuff they think looks flash but can't comfortably afford.
This. I'm in a ten year old beemer. Cash purchase. Really good friend and colleage on the same paypoint/salary is in a Porsche Cayenne turbo. Hocked to the eyeballs and back, and thats not supposition, he is honest about it.Good luck to him, but that lifestyle isnt for me. If my washing machine dies tonight, I'm not looking at having to use a credit card to buy a new one.
Zoobeef said:
Or, rather than being ripped off and having a ditchfinder fitted.
He went home and went on camskill/my tyres did his research and ordered a full set of premiums at a lower price.
Looked to me to be running on a full size spare - why bother going at all if that was his plan?He went home and went on camskill/my tyres did his research and ordered a full set of premiums at a lower price.
Had a puncture on the motorway the other day.
Checked the price of the new tyre locally and they wanted around £130, same tyre on line was £80.
Hence I didn't bother with the local fast fit place. They didn't have it in stock anyway, it had to come from Germany which coincidentally is where the one I ordered is coming from too.
Checked the price of the new tyre locally and they wanted around £130, same tyre on line was £80.
Hence I didn't bother with the local fast fit place. They didn't have it in stock anyway, it had to come from Germany which coincidentally is where the one I ordered is coming from too.
Chainguy said:
This. I'm in a ten year old beemer. Cash purchase. Really good friend and colleage on the same paypoint/salary is in a Porsche Cayenne turbo. Hocked to the eyeballs and back, and thats not supposition, he is honest about it.
Good luck to him, but that lifestyle isnt for me. If my washing machine dies tonight, I'm not looking at having to use a credit card to buy a new one.
Wtf?!Good luck to him, but that lifestyle isnt for me. If my washing machine dies tonight, I'm not looking at having to use a credit card to buy a new one.
If my washing machine dies?!
Good luck feeling good about that when your on your deathbed looking back
These fast fit places. Now where do I start. Couple of years back ,I took lots of fleet vans into one place for tyres etc. So I got a decent deal on an oil change. They ordered the filter, but missed out-on the other seals. It took them an hour or two to realise that they needed extra seals. Fast forward to last year- my rear shoes needed changing. I took car to a fast fit place. When it came out, the driver commented on my suspension struts- something the MOT man hadn't got any concerns with .BUT what the MOT man had concerns with was the air in the braking system .
Or more to the point its Christmas, and he'll probably wait until sometime in January to spend a few hundred more quid. It's probably the most expensive time of the year, and I'm sure if I was in his position I'd most likely drive home and use the car a bit less until I had a bit more money again.
If my washing machine dies?!
Good luck feeling good about that when your on your deathbed looking backIt's a fair point isn't it? Having enough money to one side so you can cover genuine emergencies.
akadk said:
Chainguy said:
This. I'm in a ten year old beemer. Cash purchase. Really good friend and colleage on the same paypoint/salary is in a Porsche Cayenne turbo. Hocked to the eyeballs and back, and thats not supposition, he is honest about it.
Good luck to him, but that lifestyle isnt for me. If my washing machine dies tonight, I'm not looking at having to use a credit card to buy a new one.
Wtf?!Good luck to him, but that lifestyle isnt for me. If my washing machine dies tonight, I'm not looking at having to use a credit card to buy a new one.
If my washing machine dies?!
Good luck feeling good about that when your on your deathbed looking back
Edited by matthias73 on Tuesday 24th December 23:56
akadk said:
Chainguy said:
This. I'm in a ten year old beemer. Cash purchase. Really good friend and colleage on the same paypoint/salary is in a Porsche Cayenne turbo. Hocked to the eyeballs and back, and thats not supposition, he is honest about it.
Good luck to him, but that lifestyle isnt for me. If my washing machine dies tonight, I'm not looking at having to use a credit card to buy a new one.
Wtf?!Good luck to him, but that lifestyle isnt for me. If my washing machine dies tonight, I'm not looking at having to use a credit card to buy a new one.
If my washing machine dies?!
Good luck feeling good about that when your on your deathbed looking back
matthias73 said:
akadk said:
Chainguy said:
This. I'm in a ten year old beemer. Cash purchase. Really good friend and colleage on the same paypoint/salary is in a Porsche Cayenne turbo. Hocked to the eyeballs and back, and thats not supposition, he is honest about it.
Good luck to him, but that lifestyle isnt for me. If my washing machine dies tonight, I'm not looking at having to use a credit card to buy a new one.
Wtf?!Good luck to him, but that lifestyle isnt for me. If my washing machine dies tonight, I'm not looking at having to use a credit card to buy a new one.
If my washing machine dies?!
Good luck feeling good about that when your on your deathbed looking back
I can also sleep at night!
Blakewater said:
People who assume everyone is out to rip them off and that when the guy advises the replacement of two tyres they're being clever in turning him down because he's only saying that to get more money out of them.
Was told my brake disks needed changing three years ago. They are still fine with lots of life in them. Likewise a shock absorber that needed changing five years ago it still fine and working perfectly. However when I was told my rear tyres were getting low I checked and changed them because they were low.
I was waiting for an MOT a few years and the well dressed lady next to me had brought her mpv thing in for its first (4 years old?).
So recent expensive car. I counted two kiddie seats in the back.
It failed on all four tyres being down to the wire. As I left I overhead a discussion that suggested it had never been in for a service either...
So recent expensive car. I counted two kiddie seats in the back.
It failed on all four tyres being down to the wire. As I left I overhead a discussion that suggested it had never been in for a service either...
Toltec said:
If you think he is bad; my washing machine is 22 years old, I have fixed it three times because the parts were so cheap that it would just be a waste of money to buy a new one.
When the OH replaced her washing machine 4 years ago because her 10 year old one was making some really loud noises I took it home for my house and replaced the bearings myself. Did the same 2 years later when they went again. Costs pennies.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff