Guess you'd better slow that Mustang down
Nov. 29th, 2005 05:08 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cyranoYesterday I took my baby into the shop. I was worried because she had started making squeaky noises since that lackwit in the white van sideswiped her, and on her last tank of gas she was getting 5mpg less than usual. I got up early, for me, and had her in a little after nine. The guy at Kevin's said he'd give me a call back early that afternoon.
At about six, I called him.
He said that the trailing arm bushing on the right side was cracked and needed replacing. As they usually are at Kevin's, he was pretty good at giving me a basic idea of what the part was and what was going on. I was a little uncertain, and mentioned that I'd been hit on the left side and that was where I'd heard squeaking. He said okay, tomorrow he and the other mechanic would take it out and listen to it again. I said I was hoping to use it to go to work at about one-thirty, and he said then we'll bump it up to the front of the line--we should be able to get the bushing and the tune up done by then.
Bad: I had to call him. And it took him all day to get to it.
Good: He didn't try to tell me that I was stupid and listened to me when I said I had concerns and about my timing issues.
This morning at nine (as he had said he would) he called and said 'We took her out for a ride. You're right, that other bushing needs to be replaced too.' And I said holy crap, okay don't do the tune up because I can't afford it. Am I still going to be able to go to work? He said I'm going to try my best. I'll call around lunchtime.
At about one-fifteen I called him.
He said it'd be about half an hour. Okay, that's not terrible. I called work and said I might be a little late. Walked down (It was a nice walk, light rain, and only two blocks.) and took out my notes for the projects I'm supposed to have done in three weeks and a new CD that a friend sent me--Slovene rapper named Plan B. At about one-fifty, the other mechanic comes in and says hey, we ran into a little complication--it'll be another half hour. Getting annoyed at this point, I figured I would better spend the time at home. So at two-fifteen I'm back, and Kevin says "I have your paperwork done up." Good. "Part of what took so long was that (other mechanic guy) already did a tune up this morning." I probably visibly blanched and prepared to protest, or to try and manage some sort of time-release payment system, but before I could collect my thoughts properly, he said "So it looks like we gave you a free tune up. I'm gonna charge for the parts, but I'm taking off the labor." That was better. While I was fishing out my credit card, I saw the sign about smog checks and I said oh hell I have to get that done before I can give the DMV any money. Kevin looked up and said so when do you have to be at work tomorrow? Same time? Just bring it by around noon--we'll get you in and out.
Bad: Late for work. I still had to call the second time.
Good: He didn't try to stick me with the tune up.
And then I tried to pay with my credit card that I'd just transferred $300 to so I could pay this particular bill. Which of course got declined. Because, as I discovered when I called BofA, and I shit you not, although the website said the payment would credit today, it would not credit until eleven fifty-nine PM today. WTF? WTFF? So. I smoothed that out, and hopped into the car and popped the new CD in, and it makes these dreadful distorted noises, louder than the music. Augh.
It's a good thing that Monday was nice and hanging out with the housemate and burning CDs and stuff because the days on either side of it were not particularly fun aside from a lovely visit from Miss Friday before work on Sunday. I have very mixed feelings about Kevin's. I've had good service in general, and I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off. They're just around the corner from the apartment, so I don't need to get a ride back, which is nice. But this was not a good experience. I have the feeling if I have another, similar adventure, I may be looking for another mechanic.
So. Getting stuff done, maybe even quickly enough. And today they announced that for $150 I can go to the ButcherCon writer's weekend, which I'm going to have to investigate further. But that may be more than I can budget, with the car and the necklace and Christmas and travelling planned for Jan/Feb. We'll see.
At about six, I called him.
He said that the trailing arm bushing on the right side was cracked and needed replacing. As they usually are at Kevin's, he was pretty good at giving me a basic idea of what the part was and what was going on. I was a little uncertain, and mentioned that I'd been hit on the left side and that was where I'd heard squeaking. He said okay, tomorrow he and the other mechanic would take it out and listen to it again. I said I was hoping to use it to go to work at about one-thirty, and he said then we'll bump it up to the front of the line--we should be able to get the bushing and the tune up done by then.
Bad: I had to call him. And it took him all day to get to it.
Good: He didn't try to tell me that I was stupid and listened to me when I said I had concerns and about my timing issues.
This morning at nine (as he had said he would) he called and said 'We took her out for a ride. You're right, that other bushing needs to be replaced too.' And I said holy crap, okay don't do the tune up because I can't afford it. Am I still going to be able to go to work? He said I'm going to try my best. I'll call around lunchtime.
At about one-fifteen I called him.
He said it'd be about half an hour. Okay, that's not terrible. I called work and said I might be a little late. Walked down (It was a nice walk, light rain, and only two blocks.) and took out my notes for the projects I'm supposed to have done in three weeks and a new CD that a friend sent me--Slovene rapper named Plan B. At about one-fifty, the other mechanic comes in and says hey, we ran into a little complication--it'll be another half hour. Getting annoyed at this point, I figured I would better spend the time at home. So at two-fifteen I'm back, and Kevin says "I have your paperwork done up." Good. "Part of what took so long was that (other mechanic guy) already did a tune up this morning." I probably visibly blanched and prepared to protest, or to try and manage some sort of time-release payment system, but before I could collect my thoughts properly, he said "So it looks like we gave you a free tune up. I'm gonna charge for the parts, but I'm taking off the labor." That was better. While I was fishing out my credit card, I saw the sign about smog checks and I said oh hell I have to get that done before I can give the DMV any money. Kevin looked up and said so when do you have to be at work tomorrow? Same time? Just bring it by around noon--we'll get you in and out.
Bad: Late for work. I still had to call the second time.
Good: He didn't try to stick me with the tune up.
And then I tried to pay with my credit card that I'd just transferred $300 to so I could pay this particular bill. Which of course got declined. Because, as I discovered when I called BofA, and I shit you not, although the website said the payment would credit today, it would not credit until eleven fifty-nine PM today. WTF? WTFF? So. I smoothed that out, and hopped into the car and popped the new CD in, and it makes these dreadful distorted noises, louder than the music. Augh.
It's a good thing that Monday was nice and hanging out with the housemate and burning CDs and stuff because the days on either side of it were not particularly fun aside from a lovely visit from Miss Friday before work on Sunday. I have very mixed feelings about Kevin's. I've had good service in general, and I don't feel like I'm getting ripped off. They're just around the corner from the apartment, so I don't need to get a ride back, which is nice. But this was not a good experience. I have the feeling if I have another, similar adventure, I may be looking for another mechanic.
So. Getting stuff done, maybe even quickly enough. And today they announced that for $150 I can go to the ButcherCon writer's weekend, which I'm going to have to investigate further. But that may be more than I can budget, with the car and the necklace and Christmas and travelling planned for Jan/Feb. We'll see.
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no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 04:44 pm (UTC)I *am* still looking for a Christmas present for you...so, hey. Talk to me before you leap into this. :)
I thought the mechanic's called you on Monday, though? I remember your phone ringing before they talked to you.
no subject
Date: 2005-11-30 08:03 pm (UTC)Might could be they called me. Which would be a point in their favor, although I still consider 6pm to not be early afternoon. Again, in their defense, they had to order the parts from elsewhere so even if they had called me at one, they still couldn't have started work until the next morning.
mechanics
Date: 2005-12-01 02:59 am (UTC)Did you initially mention you were hit on the left? If so, I would be very concerned that they did not catch the left side bushing.
I would try and stick with the guy if possible. An unethical mechanic would have stuck you with the labor and the tune up.
Re: mechanics
Date: 2005-12-01 03:51 am (UTC)I thank you very kindly for your words of advice, and shall take them to heart.