Being dragged to court... Here we go again.

[Auto Doc's]

I remember when pet rocks were a strange fad that people actually made money from selling them, especially at the local flea markets.

Cabbage patch and garbage pail kids and Tickle Me Elmo were all the rage not that long ago. People have some weird ideas of what they like to claim is "collectable".

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Its take all kinds.

I make it known that I am not a dealer or warranty center if shown up with something under warranty they are to carry it back to the dealer. So far I had one item here that should had been warranty. Matter of fact Kohler told to take the bad ignition coils to a local dealer to made up. But nothing of local dealer would even honor the warranty. I informed the customer had to two options.

1. Carry the ZTR back to the dealer he got it from which was out in Texas for repairs. Customer lives in Alabama.
2. Pay me to repair it at the cost of the two ignition coils.

He took option #2 and been a customer ever since.

Now I did get sued myself last year over an ATV repair. It had took 4 months to get the transaxle parts. Meanwhile it lost the ignition system somehow. The customer came right after I found out when I went to test the rebuilt transaxle. He sued right away claiming of all things the decals faded. The judge took his side to a point but at I got paid for the $1500 in parts used.

I currently have complaint at the local county sheriff's office on one lawyer that he got his ATV back that die because he didn't turn on the fuel valve.and complain that I used aftermarket part to replace NLA part so he would have brakes. He committed a class 4 felony by stopping payment of the check. But I figure the law enforcement will protect their own. He not getting his skid loader back.

I quit doing ATV because of these two jerks.

Honestly it is looking like I am going to close my business because of the dictator in Washington. I lost over half of my normal business because of him.

BTW I hate liars and crooks.

2025 was my biggest, busiest year ever. Take care of your customers, and your customers will take care of you.
There is no warranty or guarantee on any work that I perform, expressed or implied. That said, I take care of the small rare problems that arise.
When a customer does not fit into the way I do business, I put them on my “no more help” list. They don’t come back anyway, so the problem usually takes care of itself. They can find another shop (if possible) that will put up with the problem customer.
There is TOO MUCH GOOD BUSINESS out there to try to cater to problem customers. Concentrate on the 95% plus customers that pay, are reasonable, and appreciate your work.
Merry Christmas

 

[StarTech]

Sorry but anyone not willing to warranty their workmanship is not a person that don't trust their abilities to excellent work. Even my distributor stands by their sales. Its not oh well we sold you a bad part and we will just sale you another part instead of making good on a promise. Personally I will not deal with anyone that don't warranty their workmanship. Maybe that why the DIYers are so cheap as they are unwilling to back up their workmanship.

Sorry if this offends anybody but this is my opinion and I will always stand by my workmanship. Anybody that don't isn't running a honest shop.

 

[Ozcub]

Well Tiger Small Engine , you have to provide a warranty in Australia or you will not have a business
We have 2 types one is the usual supplied by the manufacturer/dealer/repairer and the second is A mandated Statutory warranty that says an item has an expected life of x number of years and if it fails outside of the manufacturers warranty you are still able to get it repaired
Works well
I had an LG led TV that in the book it said that if sold in Russia it must last at least 7 years it is still going now at 13 years , those sort of statements should be on pretty much everything , it forces the manufacturer to make quality products , not planned obsolescence

 

[Tiger Small Engine]

Well Tiger Small Engine , you have to provide a warranty in Australia or you will not have a business
We have 2 types one is the usual supplied by the manufacturer/dealer/repairer and the second is A mandated Statutory warranty that says an item has an expected life of x number of years and if it fails outside of the manufacturers warranty you are still able to get it repaired
Works well
I had an LG led TV that in the book it said that if sold in Russia it must last at least 7 years it is still going now at 13 years , those sort of statements should be on pretty much everything , it forces the manufacturer to make quality products , not planned obsolescence

I have never even had a customer ask about a warranty on service or repair work I perform. If parts are used in the repair, then they have whatever manufacturers warranty there is for each part. I stand behind my work and take care of my customers, period. If I make a mistake and it is a comeback, then I make it right. Not sure how else I can explain it.
Edit: I looked up used car repair warranty online. It said, “shops usually warranty their labor if it fails.” So that is what I was saying before about making it right. So when phrased like that, yes I warranty my work. It also says the time frame is 90 days to one year normally. 90 days seems reasonable versus a year. Again, I have never had a customer ask about a “warranty” or a time frame.

 

[Peva]

Honestly it is looking like I am going to close my business because of the dictator in Washington. I lost over half of my normal business because of him

"...Honestly it is looking like I am going to close my business because of the dictator in Washington. I lost over half of my normal business because of him..."

Sorry to hear you might have to close. Lost half your normal business? What in particular caused that?

 

[StarTech]

Well let's see a lot was lost due customers pulling back because of the tariffs, their budgets became tighter, then the darn government shutdown hit me during the peak Fall season. People switching to battery powered equipment didn't help either. Hoping things will come in the Spring.

And with their budgets tightening it is like last time a lot of them are doing repairs under the table. Last time I was in the scrape metal business, things got to a point where they coming to blows over a piece of metal, I quit that line of work as thieves got involve causing laws to be passed restricting could be process without major licenses. I got at three DIYers right close to me that now that I got to fix their screw ups. It bad enough that four brick and shops local have closed their doors in local towns.

Small businesses like mine are really hurting to the current market turn down around here. In a way it is shame that the mom and pop businesses are closing down. A lot good talent going down the tubes.

 

[StarTech]

Well Tiger Small Engine , you have to provide a warranty in Australia or you will not have a business
We have 2 types one is the usual supplied by the manufacturer/dealer/repairer and the second is A mandated Statutory warranty that says an item has an expected life of x number of years and if it fails outside of the manufacturers warranty you are still able to get it repaired
Works well
I had an LG led TV that in the book it said that if sold in Russia it must last at least 7 years it is still going now at 13 years , those sort of statements should be on pretty much everything , it forces the manufacturer to make quality products , not planned obsolescence

One problem here in the US there is a lot of DIYers that work under the table for cash. Otherwords no licenses and pay no taxes. What they don't realize this is hurting them in the longer run as their SS payments are basic on their income that is reported. Also not paying taxes just make it harder on those that do. Not collecting sales taxes and paying them is crime, not paying business income taxes is another one. Beside our taxes could be reduced if only everyone paid their fair share. Not like the millionaires and billionaires. The one currently in the White House paid only $700 on over a million income through so called tax write-offs of his the last time he was in office.

BTW in my area if you are running a shop and tax people find out you are not paying they will sooner or later depending who you piss off they will come after you. I have been check twice in the last 10 years because I insisted on customers paying their bills.

 

[Honest Abe]

Well let's see a lot was lost due customers pulling back because of the tariffs, their budgets became tighter, then the darn government shutdown hit me during the peak Fall season. People switching to battery powered equipment didn't help either. Hoping things will come in the Spring.

And with their budgets tightening it is like last time a lot of them are doing repairs under the table. Last time I was in the scrape metal business, things got to a point where they coming to blows over a piece of metal, I quit that line of work as thieves got involve causing laws to be passed restricting could be process without major licenses. I got at three DIYers right close to me that now that I got to fix their screw ups. It bad enough that four brick and shops local have closed their doors in local towns.

Small businesses like mine are really hurting to the current market turn down around here. In a way it is shame that the mom and pop businesses are closing down. A lot good talent going down the tubes.

still whining "because of the dictator in Washington"; hmmm, last I heard that person is voted into their position by We the People, i.e. customers..... maybe you should put up a sign stating you only service the equipment of democrats. Try that and get back to us!

 

[mgmine]

I am not familiar with how the warranty works. With a car, the dealer is reimbursed for any warranty work. The work can be done at any dealership. If that's the case with the lawnmower, why didn't you do it?