Does this story sound familiar?

vintagetoppsguy · September 18, 2007 10:33PM

I was at a stop sign a couple of months ago and as I proceed to pull away, some car nails me from the other direction. The accident was not my fault, but the damage was not that bad, so I decided to pay for it out of pocket rather than getting the insurance companies involved and raising my rates. There are many autobody repair shops in my area, so I went and got a few estimates. Most of the shops quoted me around $1000.00, but I found one that would do it for $500 because he said that he was running a June special. This shop is called Pete Sanchez’s Autobody (PSA) and they are known for having the best quality work and I thought I could save some money at the same time. Pete told me that because of the June special they were very busy and turnaround time varies with demand. I could see a few other cars in the parking lot, but figured it was worth the wait to save a few bucks. I dropped my car off on the June 30th, so I got in on the last day of the special. However, Pete didn’t even write up a repair order until almost 10 days later. I knew it would be a while, so I waited patiently for several weeks. The first week of August, Pete and his crew took off for a Car Show for several days. He said that these were not considered business days and did not count towards any time guarantees. So I waited patiently for a few more weeks, but then I started seeing something that bothered me. I pass by Pete’s shop every day and I have noticed that other cars that came in after mine are being repaired before mine. What’s up with this? Shouldn’t Pete repair the cars on a first come, first served basis? I’ve tried calling Pete’s shop, but his receptionist keeps telling me that the repair order has been logged in, but they still can’t tell me when my car is going to be ready? How long should I wait?

Does this story sound familiar to you? Would you put up with this? Pete has lost me for a customer over this because of his service. As I stated above, Pete’s reputation is the best in the business so I don’t know why he is doing this. If Pete doesn’t watch out, one of his competitors will surely overtake him. Do you remember Montgomery Wards? How big were they at one time? What happened to them? What has happened to a lot of those big companies that have gone out of business? The answer is real simple – THEY FORGOT HOW TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR CUSTOMERS!

alifaxwa2 · September 18, 2007 11:06PM

BunchOBull · September 18, 2007 11:07PM

I found this entertaining. Thanks.

pandrews · September 18, 2007 11:32PM

<< <i>What’s up with this? Shouldn’t Pete repair the cars on a first come, first served basis? >>

i guess it depends on what your original agreement with Pete was..

have you used Pete's service before?

also, i'm assuming he told you that he had no guaranteed turnaround time when you left your car with him, so in that case you would really have no complaint unless you worked out an agreement with Pete to have it done by a certain time, otherwise Pete can take care of his orders in the way he thinks is best for his business..

whether his business model is good or bad, i dunno..

itzagoner · September 18, 2007 11:42PM

Pete also pays top-notch mechanics i presume....you wouldn't want some fly-by-night mechanic working on your car would you? there are other auto repair shops out there and you can take that risk, but what are the odds that your car would be worth much when and if you try to sell it and the paperwork you include bears the name "Joe's Quick Fix - In 'n' Out In A Wink!"

tombo · September 18, 2007 11:53PM

Boy that is so ironic. That same kind of scenario happens with PSA and getting graded cards back.

Did they at least give you a loaner '33 Goudey Ruth, I mean '57 Chevy to have in the meantime?

jimq112 · September 19, 2007 12:24AM

I took my car there after a wreck, seems like the car was wrecked before and when the guy fixed it he used a fender that was a little too short. Pete could tell it had been repainted. It sat there in the parking lot for 3 months then Pete said it was too short and he wouldn't fix it. Charged me anyway!

vintagetoppsguy · September 19, 2007 12:32AM

My first job (I was a junior in high school) was in 1988 working at Domino’s Pizza. I was only 16 at the time and my responsibility was to make the pizzas. I wanted to be a driver, but I was too young - I think you had to be 18. However, I remember the drivers had a policy called FIFO. It meant First In / First Out. Whenever a driver came back from a delivery, he went to the pizza rack and located the oldest order and it was his/her responsibility to deliver that order. The times were printed and the address label to make it easy. It made a lot of sense. At the time, Domino’s still had the policy that the pizza was free if it was not delivered within 30 minutes. Domino’s later got sued over that (driver ran a stop sign and killed somebody) so they dropped that policy, but have always stuck with the FIFO anyway.

My point is, comparing apples to apples - June specials to June specials - why doesn’t PSA work on that same policy? I have no problems with renewal submissions or other higher level submissions popping before mine. The customer paid for that service and deserves to get it. My problem is when other June specials pop before mine that were logged in after mine. PSA could learn something from Tom Monoghans! It worked for him!

originalisbest · September 19, 2007 12:44AM

Then again, the founder of Domino's pizza is now a confirmed nut who's founding his own town where everyone has to meet his strict moral code -

itzagoner · September 19, 2007 1:01AM

i guess the Dominos theory works if you need to receive your cards while they are still hot.....when they get cold, you will need a great PIZZA OVEN to heat them again

mtcards · September 19, 2007 2:52AM

You had better not post anything like this on "Pete's" message board.

Pete will do like he has been doing a lot lately and lock the thread if he doesnt agree with your assessment or if, in his opinion,
the topic doesnt conform to Pete's rules of the boards.

I had a similar problem many years ago and my 30 day guaranteed auto fix took 64 days from the day it was received. I emailed Pete's
customer service area as well and was told that Pete doesnt work weekends or weeks of auto shows and that their 30 day guarantee
had been revised to 45 business days.

fab4 · September 19, 2007 3:09AM

pete has a september special.

if someone said they already recieved the september special after 10 days.

nevermind

vintagetoppsguy · September 19, 2007 3:11AM

<< <i>i guess the Dominos theory works if you need to receive your cards while they are still hot.....when they get cold, you will need a great PIZZA OVEN to heat them again >>

I've been waiting so long, I forgot what I ordered on my pizza!

baseballfanatic · September 19, 2007 3:44AM

George's Emergency Mechanics would have had it done in 20 minutes, but the car would have been worth less than when you drove it in since they just shave away the problems until they get to the good stuff.

Steves Garage Company could have done the job too, but they have been pretty picky lately and the extras they knock down for would have lowered the value immensely...

mtcards · September 19, 2007 4:28AM

Paul's Repair Orpheum
Blondies Car Correction Garage

mkg809 · September 19, 2007 4:36AM

<poof>

again

scooter729 · September 19, 2007 4:38AM

Does Pete go by the nickname Dirty?

Alfonz24 · September 19, 2007 4:40AM

<< <i>I was at a stop sign a couple of months ago and as I proceed to pull away, some car nails me from the other direction. /q]

You should have looked both ways!

jrinck · September 19, 2007 5:06AM

Pete's shop is kept in business primarily because a guy named Daniel Simpson Lauren crashes his cars all the time and fills up Pete's shop, and it's the steady money from Daniel that pays all of Pete's bills, and more, so it stands to reason that Daniel would get preferential treatment at the expense of your single, solitary car.

vintagetoppsguy · September 19, 2007 5:42AM

<< <i>Pete's shop is kept in business primarily because a guy named Daniel Simpson Lauren crashes his cars all the time and fills up Pete's shop, and it's the steady money from Daniel that pays all of Pete's bills, and more, so it stands to reason that Daniel would get preferential treatment at the expense of your single, solitary car >>

.

Yeah, I know what you mean. I know that D.S.L. guy and I see that he gets special treatment. There’s also that car rental place in town that sends him a lot of work as well, 4 Seasons Cars (4SC). Those guys get preferential treatment too!

itzagoner · September 19, 2007 6:08AM

congrats to all who have posted so far....you have managed to show off a creative side and completely distract the OP from his intended purpose

kimo75 · September 19, 2007 7:09AM

PSA BLOWS

rube26105 · September 19, 2007 7:11AM

you said it brotha

chaz43 · September 19, 2007 7:11AM

creative. chaz

kimo75 · September 19, 2007 7:12AM

Sad thing is they really do not care. This will definitely be my last paid submission.

rube26105 · September 19, 2007 7:13AM

very true,theve lost a lot of biz due to chi tty mod attitudes and sucking golf balls through water hoses for the frisco games,if even halfof us woud stop ,they would be a little more accomadating with alot less attitude

EagleEyeKid · September 19, 2007 8:21AM

So what are you going to do now?
Are you going to start going over to Brad's Garage Shop,
or Steve's Garage Care?

WarHoundR69 · September 19, 2007 10:11AM

Or maybe Gary's Excellent Mechanics (GEM) service shop?
You get what you pay for - $5.00 Specials are a trade off between economy & time.

unitas · September 19, 2007 10:22AM

Entertaining and interesting thread, I guess i don't understand why they keep running specials if they just end up pissing everyone off because they can't keep up, I certainly understand the frustration but for $5 versus $13 I'll wait, or how about a $10 special in 20 days instead of 45(if your lucky).jmo

Does this story sound familiar?

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