As far as the shop I work for it goes like this.

Work on your own car off the clock and you get parts at cost, don't charge yourself labor. Work on your own car on the clock and you lose your job. Work on another employee's car doing minor shit (tire repair, oil change, tire balance, etc...) and give them parts at cost and charge some labor. Work on another employee's car doing bigger shit and parts are 10% above cost and labor is $42/hr instead of the regular $65.

for the OP - my shop's policy is ask the boss, get permission, let them know at the very least, and THEN do whatever it is, on your own time. Same with my parents' business - ask first, then do (and don't overdo). Sucks you got fired, but it sounds like you were asking for it.. good luck finding another job, and maybe this time it'll be for a company whose policies aren't as shitty.

Clearly, in the cv boot case, i took it to a shop because i didn't want to mess with it, (i'd done boot replacements and joint rebuilds before, and they're messy and ended up failing later on [i re-used worn parts to get the car on the road]) so i didn't stick around and annoy the guy. There's no value i can add in that process.

I have 2 safety inspections done on my race car every year and that is a modified vehicle and the tech ends up having a fair number of questions. And to be honest, most guys around here just aren't familiar with German cars. Telling a guy how to open the hood means I'm sticking around to head off other problems before they get worse. I don't fault these guys for not being familiar with my weird cars, nor do I act disrespectful or "hover" or anything. I stay off to the side unless they call me over to ask a question, but invariably we end up chatting and it seems to go well.

I've had 2 different cars aligned here at 2 different places. Part of this was me learning what shops not to bother with... a guy couldn't figure out how to align my stock Audi. The other case the shop was great and the guy was BSing with me the whole time as I explained my aftermarket toe/camber adjusters and other mods i had made to the car.

The point is -- If I'm going to PAY to have work done on the car, it's going to be with someone I have a previous relationship with and trust, or I'm going to be watching them like a hawk. Experience has taught me better than to just assume folks know what they're doing. The shop labor rate is entirely too high for me to not be completely satisfied with the experience.

I dropped off my new Audi at Valley for the "free 5k mile service" and was completely unimpressed. I asked the service writer to have the tech show me where the oil filter / access cover was while it was up on the lift and easy for everyone to see (these cars have a shit ton of plastic under them these days, and the fasteners and mounting points tend to be fragile) and while he agreed to do it, they "forgot" about it or whatever.

Yeah, I could jack the car up myself and find it myself, or, the guy could spend an extra 60 seconds and let me walk under the car while it's on the lift. They didn't, and to top it off they spilled oil on the valve cover (which has caused a burning-oil odor ever since) and the wash/dry kid ran drying towels over spots that hadn't been washed (if you're going to do a complimentary wash, don't do it wrong).

The quality of service was not worth what I "paid" for it and I said as much during the follow-up phone call i got.

I understand where you're coming from in terms of know-it-all customers, etc. I'm looking for a different level of service on the occasions that I pay for service, and shops that assume I don't want to be involved with the maintenance of my vehicle need not apply. I'm not the right customer for every shop, and conversely, every shop won't be able to earn my business. That's all.

XJHEAD;200862 wrote:
Fine, I'll just drop it off next time

lol !!!

dynotune;200839 wrote:
Because 9 times out of ten you really don't know what's going on, and you are an insurance liability, a pain to the tech, and you are costing them more money by "helping" because the tech is losing efficiency. MOST of the time, the guy working on your car knows WAAAAAAY more about it than you do, whether they lead you to believe that or not. Work gets done faster and less likely to screw up because some know-it-all keeps jabbering away, causing distractions.

Fine, I'll just drop it off next time

I have been in the situation where I know more then the tech. But it was a situation that was understandable. I had my 240 in there and they had no clue how to adjust the aftermarket suspension so figured better safe then sorry after they royal screwed it up once.

I can't beleive shops that don't let customers into the shop are still around. I mean many shops have a sign saying "no" but I end up under the car with the mechanic anyway

If the shop doesn't let me down in the bay, I just don't go there. I usually have a good reason to be involved. I know my vehicles forwards and backwards and if I'm at a shop it's usually for something I can't do at home (wheel balancing, alignment) or something I want done before I'll have time to do it right (CV boot replacement).

Because 9 times out of ten you really don't know what's going on, and you are an insurance liability, a pain to the tech, and you are costing them more money by "helping" because the tech is losing efficiency. I own a shop, have worked at dealerships, and have worked at independents. MOST of the time, the guy working on your car knows WAAAAAAY more about it than you do, whether they lead you to believe that or not. Whenever I have my truck serviced on the road, I leave the guy alone. Work gets done faster and less likely to screw up because some know-it-all keeps jabbering away, causing distractions. I work on cars in front of hundreds of people at a time, and I am used to it now, but when I was at the dealership, I was not trained in customer service- but trained to repair vehicles (and that's what I was paid to do)

If the shop doesn't let me down in the bay, I just don't go there. I usually have a good reason to be involved. I know my vehicles forwards and backwards and if I'm at a shop it's usually for something I can't do at home (wheel balancing, alignment) or something I want done before I'll have time to do it right (CV boot replacement).

If someone called me and I knew who it was (future employer) I would tell them that either they are good or a worthless piece of shit.

ps. I probally wouldn't even hire myself

XJHEAD;200801 wrote:
The easiest question to ask, and answer
"Would you hire them again"

Even that one is tough. The best thing someone can do to protect themselves when giving references is to simply verify dates of employment.

tjamz;200795 wrote:
Not necessarily, they really can not say much bad about you....

Yeah they can. They can say whatever they want, but if it's something bad you can sue them for slander, even if it's true. That's why places generally don't say anything bad aside from "no" when asked if they would hire you again.

tjamz;200795 wrote:
Not necessarily, they really can not say much bad about you....

The easiest question to ask, and answer
"Would you hire them again"

BTW I think we are hiring

bubba;200756 wrote:
and when another shop calls them for a reference they'll tell the new shop that and you're gonna have a hard time finding someone to hire you. `

Not necessarily, they really can not say much bad about you....

CRX_Civic;200746 wrote:
i want to know what your shops rules are on that type of stuff

I have done quite a few things on company time;
R&R'd the engine twice
swapped turbo's a couple times
changed the cam out once
rebuilt the whole rear-end
Swapped tires numerous times
Re-plumbed fuel system X2
Whole bunch of other stuff cannot really remember though.

Do not know what the shop policy was/is, never asked.

DelSlow;200750 wrote:
Why does it always have to be a shop? or only car related? Ever thought about a job that actually pays well?

Spelling/Grammar isn't up to par with for a job that pays well perhaps?

CRX_Civic;200746 wrote:
As of last week i no longer work at fleet farm tire center.....because <u>i</u> rotated and balanced my tires for free, had a tire repair done for free, and mounted some tires for free....all over the past year, I think its <u>Stupid</u> that they wont let you work on you own vehicles <u>occasinally</u>? <u>**am **</u>i right? <u>i</u> want to know what your shops rules are on that type of stuff and if anyone else agrees that it is a dumb policy. <u>i </u>could <u> mabey</u> see if it was busy and <u>**i **</u>was taking away from other <u>buisness</u> but it <u>wasnt</u>. **<u>along </u>**with me 3 other guys got fired to <u>form </u>the same BS so if <u>anyonw</u> wants a SHITTY job <u>im</u> sure fleet farm is hiring<u>?</u>! Thnx

CRX_Civic;200746 wrote:
As of last week i no longer work at fleet farm tire center.....because i rotated and balanced my tires for free,

On company time? If so, w/o permission, I'd fire ya too.

had a tire repair done for free, and mounted some tires for free....all over the past year, I think its Stupid that they wont let you work on you own vehicles occasinally? am i right?

Did they warn you about the other times as well? Is it against company policy? If so, you deserved to be fired.

i want to know what your shops rules are on that type of stuff and if anyone else agrees that it is a dumb policy.

What my shops policies are is irrelevant, you were employed by Fleet Farm, not me.

i could mabey see if it was busy and i was taking away from other buisness but it wasnt. along with me 3 other guys got fired to form the same BS so if anyonw wants a SHITTY job im sure fleet farm is hiring?! Thnx

Not to be a dick, but it sounds like you are whining about being caught doing something that is against company policy.

CRX_Civic;200747 wrote:
Oh and im looking for a job now so if anyone knows of a shop thats hiring, yea.

Why does it always have to be a shop? or only car related? Ever thought about a job that actually pays well?

Were you on the clock when you were doing this?

It does sound dumb, but policies are set in place for a reason...