|
Post by katiekaty on Dec 2, 2015 22:08:21 GMT
Do they want you to pay for the new windshield and the $162 for the wiper? I wouldn't want to pay either. That was a long time for something else to happen. Your husband was trying to be nice and help the kid out and they took advantage of it. Sorry you have to deal with this difficult customer! They want us to to pay just for the wiper transmission and the labor to install it. I said there was no way I was paying for a new w/s. How can you replace a windshield without touching the wipers? Safelite broke one of my mechanisms a year ago because "all they did as lift the blade outward a bit to get to the windshield". The blades on the car are NOT hinged like newer models. The car was a 2002. It didn't make too much to mess up the gearing and the first time I turned them on it worked Ok, but the second time it was grinding badly. I live in Houston area. It took about a month and a half for the mechanism to totally destroy itself. I went back to them and told them the wiper wasn't working right on that side and got the watch and see, we didn't do anything attitude until it was totally messed up, then they paid they replacement part and labor. Sometimes just lifting a blade outward can cause a problem. Safelite should have removed the blades before installing the windshield. Could this have happened in your case? And I will say, once Safelite realized the mistake, they were good about dealing with the issue.
I would pay in case you did cause the damage unknowingly. And also to avoid all the negativeness that comes from it-social media is really nasty and the young are masters at it. Besides whatever happened to good customer service, 90 day warranties, standing by your work and doing the right thing.
|
|
freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
|
Post by freebird on Dec 2, 2015 22:18:24 GMT
They want us to to pay just for the wiper transmission and the labor to install it. I said there was no way I was paying for a new w/s. How can you replace a windshield without touching the wipers? Safelite broke one of my mechanisms a year ago because "all they did as lift the blade outward a bit to get to the windshield". The blades on the car are NOT hinged like newer models. The car was a 2002. It didn't make too much to mess up the gearing and the first time I turned them on it worked Ok, but the second time it was grinding badly. I live in Houston area. It took about a month and a half for the mechanism to totally destroy itself. I went back to them and told them the wiper wasn't working right on that side and got the watch and see, we didn't do anything attitude until it was totally messed up, then they paid they replacement part and labor. Sometimes just lifting a blade outward can cause a problem. Safelite should have removed the blades before installing the windshield. Could this have happened in your case? And I will say, once Safelite realized the mistake, they were good about dealing with the issue.
I would pay in case you did cause the damage unknowingly. And also to avoid all the negativeness that comes from it-social media is really nasty and the youmg are masters at it. Besides whateverhappened to good customer service, 90 day warranties, standing by your work and doing the right thing.
The wipers get lifted. My husband has been doing this for 33 years now, he knows which models you don't mess with the wipers (most have to be completely removed) and this is one that you just lift them. This one has been known that it will break (he had co-workers that broke them every time) so he won't remove them and we work around them.
|
|
|
Post by mrssmith on Dec 2, 2015 22:25:05 GMT
I'm not sure if I would pay or not....but I would def. use this situation to change how you document the condition of the car wipers etc. on future customers orders. For example taking pictures of the wipers and/or having the customers sign a check sheet as to what the pre-condition of the wipers are before any work is performed. I'm sorry you guys are having to go though this, it's a bummer when others take advantage. ETA...should also have the customer sign a check list after the work is completed as well to ensure that no damage was done during the process as well. I agree. Most of the time when I have repairs done at home or on the car, I have to sign something that I inspected the work after they completed it and it was satisfactory. Do you have something similar?
|
|
freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
|
Post by freebird on Dec 2, 2015 22:29:45 GMT
I'm not sure if I would pay or not....but I would def. use this situation to change how you document the condition of the car wipers etc. on future customers orders. For example taking pictures of the wipers and/or having the customers sign a check sheet as to what the pre-condition of the wipers are before any work is performed. I'm sorry you guys are having to go though this, it's a bummer when others take advantage. ETA...should also have the customer sign a check list after the work is completed as well to ensure that no damage was done during the process as well. I agree. Most of the time when I have repairs done at home or on the car, I have to sign something that I inspected the work after they completed it and it was satisfactory. Do you have something similar? We do have something similar but probably not worded well enough. That will be changing.
|
|
MerryMom
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,536
Jul 24, 2014 19:51:57 GMT
|
Post by MerryMom on Dec 2, 2015 22:46:20 GMT
No I wouldn't pay, 1) the adult college student is the customer, not the father, and 2) you didn't break it.
|
|
|
Post by caribbeangirl on Dec 2, 2015 22:56:07 GMT
Oh hell no. I'm so sick of people trying to intimidate small business owners into giving them free stuff. It's ridiculous. A few months back a lady came into our office to have her glasses repaired. She tried to claim after that we lost her lens and demanded that we pay for a new set of lenses. The doctor I work for is new in town and was terrified of someone bad mouthing his new practice so he paid for her lenses. I was furious. This! There is no way in hell I would pay this two months after the fact. You won't get more business from them no matter what you choose to do. I also doubt that their bad mouthing you will hold much weight either. Makes you wonder how many other businesses they have done this to.
|
|
|
Post by birukitty on Dec 2, 2015 23:17:58 GMT
Because it's your small business and we have social media and the internet these days to spread "bad mouthing" a business quick as wild fire I would suck it up and pay. No it's not your fault. And you know this. But it's $162.00. Not thousands. And it's worth it not to have these people bad mouthing your business. My gut feeling is once you pay this they won't bad mouth your business. Once they are satisfied that they've gotten their way, they'll shut up and leave satisfied. Swallow your pride, you know you didn't do anything wrong, and just get it over with. It might save your business.
Debbie in MD.
|
|
PLurker
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,739
Location: Behind the Cheddar Curtain
Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
|
Post by PLurker on Dec 2, 2015 23:29:55 GMT
That just sucks. Esp coming from the dad, a third party. He doesn't know, really, what has happened and been down to his kids car. Sounds like a big ole bully. I'd be inclined to tell him to shove it, but I'm not a small business owner. akathy that made me literally laugh out loud. You seem like such a kind person, and to imagine you writing that on payment was unexpected.
|
|
|
Post by maryland on Dec 2, 2015 23:30:35 GMT
Do they want you to pay for the new windshield and the $162 for the wiper? I wouldn't want to pay either. That was a long time for something else to happen. Your husband was trying to be nice and help the kid out and they took advantage of it. Sorry you have to deal with this difficult customer! They want us to to pay just for the wiper transmission and the labor to install it. I said there was no way I was paying for a new w/s. I'm glad you aren't paying for a new windshield! I was afraid they wanted you to pay for the broken windshield too. Seems that your husband did the work very carefully and the wiper was fine when he did the work. Your husband was very nice to offer to pay half (I can't imagine others being kind enough to help pay for something they didn't even break). So unfair to your business! I don't like when people try to take advantage of the kindness of business owners. I agree with the others that said the people they would bad mouth you too might not be your customers anyways. I have acquaintances that bad mouth people and businesses often. I listen and forget it. I don't take people like that seriously to begin with, and it wouldn't stop me from doing business with those they bad mouth. I hope that makes sense!
|
|
Loydene
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,639
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Jul 8, 2014 16:31:47 GMT
|
Post by Loydene on Dec 2, 2015 23:36:08 GMT
Alternatively -- again, not legal advice (and I am way out of my field here even thinking about the UCC)... send a smller check (the original $45.00??) with a RESTRICTIVE ENDORSEMENT --I don't have good language at hand, but you can probably Google "restrictive endorsement" and find something that would work. The restriction is typed on the BACK of the check, above where the check is signed for endorsement.
|
|
|
Post by deshacrafts on Dec 2, 2015 23:40:36 GMT
2 months later, dad calls me up and chews me out on the phone. He says that the only person that's *ever* worked on the car was grandpa and that grandpa wouldn't do that, and that it was "obvious" that we broke it. They tried to fix it and broke the windshield in the process (see, told you that they weren't to be messed with) You have my complete sympathy. My DH and I own an auto repair business and we call these kind of things "since yours". You know since you fixed my brakes my fan belt has been squealing. Sigh...I wouldn't pay. You didn't touch what broke. It was obvious that someone else had worked on the car and he does not live in the area (you said he was a college student). I hate people that try to cheat small business owners who are trying really hard to just stay in business.
|
|
freebird
Drama Llama
'cause I'm free as a bird now
Posts: 6,927
Jun 25, 2014 20:06:48 GMT
|
Post by freebird on Dec 2, 2015 23:49:19 GMT
Alternatively -- again, not legal advice (and I am way out of my field here even thinking about the UCC)... send a smller check (the original $45.00??) with a RESTRICTIVE ENDORSEMENT --I don't have good language at hand, but you can probably Google "restrictive endorsement" and find something that would work. The restriction is typed on the BACK of the check, above where the check is signed for endorsement.
thank you Loydene... that's exactly what I'm thinking of doing!
|
|
~Lauren~
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,876
Jun 26, 2014 3:33:18 GMT
|
Post by ~Lauren~ on Dec 2, 2015 23:58:34 GMT
Alternatively -- again, not legal advice (and I am way out of my field here even thinking about the UCC)... send a smller check (the original $45.00??) with a RESTRICTIVE ENDORSEMENT --I don't have good language at hand, but you can probably Google "restrictive endorsement" and find something that would work. The restriction is typed on the BACK of the check, above where the check is signed for endorsement.
thank you Loydene... that's exactly what I'm thinking of doing!
From what I understand and remember about the UCC, they can just cash the check writing "under protest" and this wouldn't protect you or prevent them from suing.
|
|
|
Post by chaosisapony on Dec 3, 2015 2:36:25 GMT
Alternatively -- again, not legal advice (and I am way out of my field here even thinking about the UCC)... send a smller check (the original $45.00??) with a RESTRICTIVE ENDORSEMENT --I don't have good language at hand, but you can probably Google "restrictive endorsement" and find something that would work. The restriction is typed on the BACK of the check, above where the check is signed for endorsement.
thank you Loydene... that's exactly what I'm thinking of doing!
What does that mean and how does it help out in this situation? I've never heard of doing that and it sounds like it might be a good thing to know.
|
|
|
Post by M~ on Dec 3, 2015 2:49:51 GMT
Hmmm. Wouldn't pay.
|
|