Father Stack
RMS Regular
This thread about the R32 timing chain, and a recent experience I had got me thinking about this - are people finding mechanics are generally less willing to take on work these days because it's a 'big job', and knocking back customers with ridiculously high prices and long wait times?
I was over in England a couple of weeks ago, a wheel bearing went on the Skoda on my way over. I found a mechanic in a wee town where I was staying, rang them on the Monday morning and explained the situation. They took the car that afternoon, ordered the parts, wrong ones were delivered, right ones got, fitted, and I was away again the Tuesday afternoon. It also cost me about 1/2 of what I was expecting. It got me thinking about the last few times I've needed a mechanic:
1.) Starter motor needed replaced on the M3 - few places I rang couldn't look at it for around 4/5/6 weeks. One place took it, rang me 2 days later saying "we can't fix this, you never told us it was a V8" and wouldn't give it back to me until I paid £80 for the transporter. Thankfully a forum member @Johnny_E, put me in touch with a friend of his who did some work out of his garage at home who did it for me within a week, was very grateful!
2.) Skoda needed coilovers fitted - 2 or 3 mechanics did the same (nah, it'll be months before I can get round to that) before @Tufty spotted my post on the forum and his brother very kindly offered to do it.
3.) Girlfriends Suzuki Liana needed some work done, soonest any mechanic locally could look at it was 3 weeks. Booked it in, said it would be done the following day, they ended up having the car on her for 5 days, with zero communication to her (she had to ring at the end of every day to see if the car was ready yet)
4.) AMG Cars to service the Cayman - I rang for a service and the soonest date was 5 weeks away (to be clear I'd no issue with this as it wasn't an urgent problem and Alan did a fantastic job!)
I don't remember mechanics ever being this hard to get a hold of years ago - and just my recent experience in England was complete chalk and cheese from what you'd get here. And for stuff I've needed here, if not for this forum I'd have been snookered.
Want to make it clear this is absolutely not a dig to mechanics, I understand that the current climate is not easy for anyone and it's difficult! It's just more a discussion to see if others are experiencing the same, and if it's a new thing or not.
I was over in England a couple of weeks ago, a wheel bearing went on the Skoda on my way over. I found a mechanic in a wee town where I was staying, rang them on the Monday morning and explained the situation. They took the car that afternoon, ordered the parts, wrong ones were delivered, right ones got, fitted, and I was away again the Tuesday afternoon. It also cost me about 1/2 of what I was expecting. It got me thinking about the last few times I've needed a mechanic:
1.) Starter motor needed replaced on the M3 - few places I rang couldn't look at it for around 4/5/6 weeks. One place took it, rang me 2 days later saying "we can't fix this, you never told us it was a V8" and wouldn't give it back to me until I paid £80 for the transporter. Thankfully a forum member @Johnny_E, put me in touch with a friend of his who did some work out of his garage at home who did it for me within a week, was very grateful!
2.) Skoda needed coilovers fitted - 2 or 3 mechanics did the same (nah, it'll be months before I can get round to that) before @Tufty spotted my post on the forum and his brother very kindly offered to do it.
3.) Girlfriends Suzuki Liana needed some work done, soonest any mechanic locally could look at it was 3 weeks. Booked it in, said it would be done the following day, they ended up having the car on her for 5 days, with zero communication to her (she had to ring at the end of every day to see if the car was ready yet)
4.) AMG Cars to service the Cayman - I rang for a service and the soonest date was 5 weeks away (to be clear I'd no issue with this as it wasn't an urgent problem and Alan did a fantastic job!)
I don't remember mechanics ever being this hard to get a hold of years ago - and just my recent experience in England was complete chalk and cheese from what you'd get here. And for stuff I've needed here, if not for this forum I'd have been snookered.
Want to make it clear this is absolutely not a dig to mechanics, I understand that the current climate is not easy for anyone and it's difficult! It's just more a discussion to see if others are experiencing the same, and if it's a new thing or not.
