felixthecat1 Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 The other day on the way home from the office I heard a loud knocking sound coming from under the car. Bugger I thought life's been too quiet for too long with this car sounds like it's my turn for a large bill. Anyway I pulled over and had a quick look around. Last thing I checked was the zorst, gave it a little tug and yes it was moving around all over the place, not dangerous but I obviously lost a bracket somewhere. So next morning I headed to a local garage chain near me and asked them to stick it on the ramp and have a look. Oh yes said the manager, you've lost a bracket here, it's rusted right through. Well I said can you not weld a bracket on? No, no, no, the back box is blowing and it's too dangerous to weld a piece on to a zorst. Crap I thought and left. Now trust me if my zorst was blowing I'd be the first to know. So I asked for a quote, just to show willing and went. When he called through with a £400.00 fitted price I nearly died. I asked him if he was sure there was nothing that could be doe to save an otherwise perfect zorst and was told blankly no. Right then, so it's friday and I think, I'll wait and take it over to a mate that has a bodyshop, perhaps he can have a look. To cut an already long story short, he points me over to his brother who has a garage in Harrow and he charges me £25.00 to fabricate and weld a new bracket in place. Takes about ten minutes and job done. My point is, why don't people ever want to fix these days? We instantly replace. We never mend, fix or repair. There was nothing wrong with my exhaust that couldn't be fixed easily and safely. I hate that we've lost the art of repairing and that people don't have the imagination to look past the bolt on or plug in solution. Rant over. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durrsaku Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 It wasn't kwik fit was it. They always play that drama thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 You could always take it back tomorrow and ask the guy to have another look and see if it still needs a new exhaust. Tell him you took it to one of their competitors and they did something for £25 and you want to know if it's safe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shark_90 Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 I took my car in to Kwik $hit yesterday as I needed some brake pads, and looking at this weeks calendar I wouldn't have any other time to get them done. £205 later, I have new discs AND pads. Humph. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 5,4,3,2 Welding an exhaust is a skill (of sorts) if 10 technicians welded the same exhaust brackets all the welds would be different so how can you guarantee that sort of workmanship. What if local garage had welded the exhaust but messed it up and cut a hole in your exhaust? You would make them pay for a new wouldn’t you! Not everything in black and white makes sense until you think about it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 True, but for £25 versus £400 I'd be keen for them to try!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 Plus for a main steam garage to repair a exhaust they would need a MIG welder (most exhausts), TIG welder (Stainless steel) and the labour cost for removing and refitting the exhaust and then a hour to repair the exhaust = large bill But when my own exhaust hanger snapped on my ST24 I took it to my mates body shop welded it back on with a MIG welder i can see what people are getting at but AT THE END OF THE DAY IT GETS DARK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossie604 Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 Our garage wouldnt have repaired it either. For one, there's bugger all profit in it when compared to us charging for a supply and fit, for two when said repair job fails and then they come back complaining..its then gonna cost us more time/money doing another repair, and for three, we are not insured for welding repairs as welding is the biggest course of workshop fires so we have no welding equipment either. And that applies to alot of large garages! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mulkbear Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ari Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Our garage wouldnt have repaired it either. For one, there's bugger all profit in it when compared to us charging for a supply and fit, for two when said repair job fails and then they come back complaining..its then gonna cost us more time/money doing another repair, and for three, we are not insured for welding repairs as welding is the biggest course of workshop fires so we have no welding equipment either. And that applies to alot of large garages! [/ QUOTE ] So basically it's better for you to charge the customer £400. Nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossie604 Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 lol thats the way of the big garages nowadays...money. Dont take it out on me tho chap....im the employee not the employer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossie604 Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 Besides you didnt take in the reason of why we CANT do a repair....not insured for welding equipment....not worth the aggro if it goes wrong with the amount of money in a modern workshop!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Besides you didnt take in the reason of why we CANT do a repair....not insured for welding equipment.... [/ QUOTE ] Which is why Tian took it to a bodyshop where the guy in question has the necessary insurance, equipment, and skill to weld the exhaust. Just 'cos you can't do it doesn't mean no-one can. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossie604 Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 wtf??!!! He never came to us in the first place!!! Just explaining that if it was us in the same situation!!! I know that other places can do bodge repairs...i aint f**king thick!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted October 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 [ QUOTE ] 5,4,3,2 Welding an exhaust is a skill (of sorts) if 10 technicians welded the same exhaust brackets all the welds would be different so how can you guarantee that sort of workmanship. What if local garage had welded the exhaust but messed it up and cut a hole in your exhaust? You would make them pay for a new wouldn’t you! Not everything in black and white makes sense until you think about it! [/ QUOTE ] I understand what you're saying and I did take it to a guy who knows what he's doing. He's a car nut and has put a 7 litre lump in his Range Rover. Trust me he knew what he was doing. One point you have missed though is the crud about the blown back box. So not true. Of course they want to make a profit but sometimes customer service can count for a lot too. How many people do you think I'll m that garage to? Not many, bang goes lots of profit then. This is my point, people are short sighted, not just garages, everyone in any kind of service industry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaunty Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 [ QUOTE ] wtf??!!! He never came to us in the first place!!! Just explaining that if it was us in the same situation!!! I know that other places can do bodge repairs...i aint f**king thick!!!!! [/ QUOTE ] Wow, chill out dude, with a temper like that I pitty your customers when they ask stoopid questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 [ QUOTE ] wtf??!!! He never came to us in the first place!!! Just explaining that if it was us in the same situation!!! I know that other places can do bodge repairs...i aint f**king thick!!!!! [/ QUOTE ] Steady on mate. You wrote: - [ QUOTE ] Besides you didnt take in the reason of why we CANT do a repair....not insured for welding equipment.... [/ QUOTE ] I just explained that a body shop managed to gather together all the necessary requirements to repair his exhaust which you had already stated you couldn't do. No need for all that foul mouthed stuff, eh? Edit: And I never said, implied or thought you were fecking thick. I know you drive a mint Cossie and that means you have some good standards in my book, so easy up, eh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
felixthecat1 Posted October 30, 2005 Author Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 [ QUOTE ] I know you drive a mint Cossie and that means you have some good standards in my book [/ QUOTE ] It is nice isn't it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossie604 Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 lol sorry peeps...getting stresses over here and im taking it out on you guys SORRY Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustynuts Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 No worries, t'internet's an impersonal place to chat, and things can get taken out of context. No offence implied or meant to anyone here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cossie604 Posted October 30, 2005 Report Share Posted October 30, 2005 [ QUOTE ] Wow, chill out dude, with a temper like that I pitty your customers when they ask stoopid questions. [/ QUOTE ] lol im hidden out back away from view of the general public...my doctor said it would be best this way jk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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