Jerk alert - MIDAS RT22 Bridgewater, NJ

[Bruzilla]

Always playing the devils advocate. lol.

Just reminds me of when I was doing my task analysis for Ford and would sit on the patio outside the dealership, and I would see a really nice expensive car pull up to the front of the dealership, and someone with very nice clothes, shoes, and jewelry get out, and every one of the senior sales people would make like Homer Simpson vanishing into the shrubbery. That made no sense to me. If someone who obviously has a lot of money comes into the dealership, you would think the sales people would be tripping over one another to be the first to greet them.

Then I found out my logic was failed because I didn't take into account that people like that are usually the biggest pain in the asses to deal with. They are very demanding, very cheap, and rarely appreciate anything anyone does for them. They know they are there to be catered to, and will nit pick the crap out of everything. Then after the deal they will take up even more of your time by bringing the car back over and over again for the tiniest reason, and they'll demand you take up even more of your time to handle their little problems, which is why the experienced guys want absolutely nothing to do with them.

I think it's reasonable to say that a guy who shows up at your door in a very nice classic car is going to fall into that category as well, just for different reasons. That car isn't their transportation awaiting trade in, it's their baby and it's an only child, and they aren't going to accept anything less than perfect work, which sucks if you know you have an imperfect work force backing you up. Better to cut your losses early.

 

[Moparsmitty]

Just reminds me of when I was doing my task analysis for Ford and would sit on the patio outside the dealership, and I would see a really nice expensive car pull up to the front of the dealership, and someone with very nice clothes, shoes, and jewelry get out, and every one of the senior sales people would make like Homer Simpson vanishing into the shrubbery. That made no sense to me. If someone who obviously has a lot of money comes into the dealership, you would think the sales people would be tripping over one another to be the first to greet them.

Then I found out my logic was failed because I didn't take into account that people like that are usually the biggest pain in the asses to deal with. They are very demanding, very cheap, and rarely appreciate anything anyone does for them. They know they are there to be catered to, and will nit pick the crap out of everything. Then after the deal they will take up even more of your time by bringing the car back over and over again for the tiniest reason, and they'll demand you take up even more of your time to handle their little problems, which is why the experienced guys want absolutely nothing to do with them.

I think it's reasonable to say that a guy who shows up at your door in a very nice classic car is going to fall into that category as well, just for different reasons. That car isn't their transportation awaiting trade in, it's their baby and it's an only child, and they aren't going to accept anything less than perfect work, which sucks if you know you have an imperfect work force backing you up. Better to cut your losses early.

I totally agree with everything you are saying Bruzilla. The guy that is managing the Midas certainly has the right to refuse to do this kind of work if he chooses. If I was managing the shop I might have done the same thing rather than letting my semi-trained "techs" work on somebody's classic. But the point is, that the manager didn't have to be an asshole about not wanting the work. He's just driving away business and giving his shop a bad reputation. There's a right way and a wrong way to deal with customers and this guy was just flat out wrong.

 

[HT413]

I totally agree with everything you are saying Bruzilla. The guy that is managing the Midas certainly has the right to refuse to do this kind of work if he chooses. If I was managing the shop I might have done the same thing rather than letting my semi-trained "techs" work on somebody's classic. But the point is, that the manager didn't have to be an asshole about not wanting the work. He's just driving away business and giving his shop a bad reputation. There's a right way and a wrong way to deal with customers and this guy was just flat out wrong.

Right, this is like the owner telling the guy go to f himself, his money is not good here.

 

[Bruzilla]

But the point is, that the manager didn't have to be an asshole about not wanting the work. He's just driving away business and giving his shop a bad reputation. There's a right way and a wrong way to deal with customers and this guy was just flat out wrong.

I'm guess I'm just not getting how what the guy did was being an asshole. What's the right thing to do? Spend 20 minutes asking about your car, talking about classic cars, talking about all the things you've done to your car, and then saying "sorry, but I can't help you"? Maybe it's just me but I would rather not have a shop owner waste either of our time by discussing a car he has no intention of working on. Just tell me no up front and let me go on my way.

 

[barnfind]

True, the customer is NOT always right.. However, theres a way to say, "I wont work on your car" for whatever reason, while turning the situation around. You can put a positive spin on the situation. That person you just pissed off will spread the bad vibe quickly (this thread) A good rep takes time to build, this guy pointed me in the right direction. Ill go back to get other work done... Who knows maybe he has too much work, or is looking for his business to fold, hes on the right path for that.

 

[coronet340]

Just reminds me of when I was doing my task analysis for Ford and would sit on the patio outside the dealership, and I would see a really nice expensive car pull up to the front of the dealership, and someone with very nice clothes, shoes, and jewelry get out, and every one of the senior sales people would make like Homer Simpson vanishing into the shrubbery. That made no sense to me. If someone who obviously has a lot of money comes into the dealership, you would think the sales people would be tripping over one another to be the first to greet them.

Then I found out my logic was failed because I didn't take into account that people like that are usually the biggest pain in the asses to deal with. They are very demanding, very cheap, and rarely appreciate anything anyone does for them. They know they are there to be catered to, and will nit pick the crap out of everything. Then after the deal they will take up even more of your time by bringing the car back over and over again for the tiniest reason, and they'll demand you take up even more of your time to handle their little problems, which is why the experienced guys want absolutely nothing to do with them.

I think it's reasonable to say that a guy who shows up at your door in a very nice classic car is going to fall into that category as well, just for different reasons. That car isn't their transportation awaiting trade in, it's their baby and it's an only child, and they aren't going to accept anything less than perfect work, which sucks if you know you have an imperfect work force backing you up. Better to cut your losses early.

So just judge a book by a cover? And if I ever base my actions off of a car salesman's then I have bigger problems to worry about then some rich guy being a PITA.
He was being an asshole because he didn't explain anything. No he did not need to take 20 minutes the tell HT that he he couldn't work on his sweet ride. But would it not be wise to invest 5 minutes in possible future business? Don't most business depend on repeat and word of mouth business? I doubt HT on drives only classics. He might have a 99 Corolla that needs a cat back at the house. lol

 

[69 Charger RT/SE]

Just reminds me of when I was doing my task analysis for Ford and would sit on the patio outside the dealership, and I would see a really nice expensive car pull up to the front of the dealership, and someone with very nice clothes, shoes, and jewelry get out, and every one of the senior sales people would make like Homer Simpson vanishing into the shrubbery. That made no sense to me. If someone who obviously has a lot of money comes into the dealership, you would think the sales people would be tripping over one another to be the first to greet them.

Then I found out my logic was failed because I didn't take into account that people like that are usually the biggest pain in the asses to deal with. They are very demanding, very cheap, and rarely appreciate anything anyone does for them. They know they are there to be catered to, and will nit pick the crap out of everything. Then after the deal they will take up even more of your time by bringing the car back over and over again for the tiniest reason, and they'll demand you take up even more of your time to handle their little problems, which is why the experienced guys want absolutely nothing to do with them.

I think it's reasonable to say that a guy who shows up at your door in a very nice classic car is going to fall into that category as well, just for different reasons. That car isn't their transportation awaiting trade in, it's their baby and it's an only child, and they aren't going to accept anything less than perfect work, which sucks if you know you have an imperfect work force backing you up. Better to cut your losses early.

Truth is; the "rich guy" isn't really rich. He just wants everyone to believe that he is richer and better than they are. I have met that type in my business and they almost always are a pain in the ***.

On the other hand, I know many really rich people and they are rich because they work smart and hard and they don't spend their money on building a false impression. So you wouldn't know that they have tons of money. Also, every wealthy person that I know is super nice and friendly and would give you the shirt off his back if you were truly in need. Everyone of them could buy a warehouse full of our type of collector cars for cash at any big auction house. And, yes, several of them do own at least one fairly rare classic, one guy owns 5.