So pissed off right now! Todays businesses.

Something it took me a while to learn during my Ferrari ownership...nothing happens "on time". It's also hard to get a return phone call or email. I'm lucky I guess, because I live 10 minutes from my favorite garage - so I just drop in un-announced and they almost always drop everything to attend to me. Ya just have to get used it or buy another exotic to drive while one is in the shop! It's unlikely these artisans will ever conform to our A-type personalities' desires.

What I've found is that people (the good ones) who work on these cars do take their time to get things perfect. Also, as we all know, parts and supplies are almost always a challenge.

Not trying to make excuses for them - just observations.

I wish dropping off the F-car could be more like dropping off a Lexus for service...but then again, good things come to those who wait!

 

Dayumm....

That is all....

Mike

 

A sad but typical statement about today's work ethic. Lesson number one, always tread lightly while someone has possession of your expensive stuff. Lesson number two, be careful about complaining in restaurants when you have not yet received your entire meal. Good luck, I feel your pain. My solution is grin and bear it and don't use the vendor again.

 

Patients is a virtue. I have found in the past when im in a hurry and keep a look out that things go slow and unusual stuff happens. When I forget about it and go about doing my everyday things, everything falls into place. Like the saying goes, "a watched pot never seems to boil".

 

IF IF IF the guy is really that good and you want your parts there done correctly, go back and explain that your impatience is not a sign of his poor business or communication skills, but all about your excitement and passion for your car and you really want the best guy to do the work. It may be worth a little hat in hand than to start over with your second choice. Ive learned over other cars that it never works the way you want, but it always works out. Take your time, let him do it within a reasonable amount of time, who knows, airing this out may open his eyes to the fact that he may need to just communicate a little, and yours to a new friend and a great guy to call when you need that special project done like its his own car.

On the other hand, if this is a guy that doesnt care at all about communicating with customers, doesnt care about your parts or project, follow your gut and go find someone else.

Paul

 

We deal with this situation every single day. Painters and powder coaters are brutal to deal with (must be from sniffing paint fumes all day). The worst is when you are given false promises and pass them along to your customer. You end up looking bad over someone else.

Nothing ever gets done on time but riding people does not help either. You want them to take there time and do it right.

 

Mike, hang in there, I think these two posts are the best advice

 

Umm... this is on EVERY forum.

Because there are more Corvettes out there this type of issue comes up more often on the related chat rooms.

I just put my Zo6 up for sale in the various spots, glad to know I'll be taken care of in the Ferrari circles. :-/

 

I've done metal polishing (some mine, some outsourced) and chroming for forum members in the past as part of my hobby.

Metal polishers (and worse) chromers take easily 5-6+ weeks when they collect the cash saying 3-4.

I've lost money out of principle due to the delay just to make fellow forum members happy.
I trust ZERO when it comes to that type of work.

*edit* -and powdercoaters are no better although they have less labor time to hide behind.

*double edit* - What recession? You can't get people to do the work you PAID them to do!

 

I thank God every day for businesses like that. My competitors are notorious for overpromising and it keeps me supplied with customers that appreciate someone that tells the truth.

Powder coating is a commodity now and there is no shortage of people in that business. Pick another or do it yourself (not terribly difficult).

 

Also, Businesses don't have an idea of customer service. Your paying them so they must be needed. I run into it all the time when buying supplies for my side business. there is nothing a little guy can do about it, unless you got big friends

I had one provider that promised me some steel laser cut parts in 4-6 weeks. Paid the deposit and ordered the remaining parts to invoice and deliver on the same time table so Im not eating it on interest. everything came on time EXCEPT the key steel parts. 8 weeks no dice. 10 weeks I just ate a month of payments on something that was sold. on week 11 I called up and they gave me some crap about how they were just about ready for paint and that it would be another week. I was pissed because it really hurt my pocket book, and over drinks with a buddy of mine who works as a parts buyer for a certain green tractor company felt my pain, and then recognized the name of the supplier. less then a week later I had my parts, a discount and a very big appology.

Later I found out that he was doing ALOT of work with said tractor company and was starting to run close to a deadline. my buddy asked for a tour to see the progress. he asked about my little order of unpainted parts and said something to the effect that hes good friends with me and that 100 different company bid on his parts every quarter and he will take it into consideration.

I hate bad business people. I hate business owners that feel entitled. If something will take 10 weeks, then say it but don't lie then screw them later. Or when they are getting impatient act like they are doing you a favor.

 

Wow. Crazy but typical. Whenever I have a transaction like this I look the guy straight in the face for an extra second longer than one usually would while asking about final cost and delivery date. Then I do it once more before before leaving.

Sorry for your bad day, the real drag about happenings such as this is they taint your whole outlook for a few days...

 

3 weeks normal lead time for powder coating? He must be SUPER busy----Still no excuse to send an email like that to a customer. I think some business owners forget the power of the internet and bad reputation can really hurt.....

 

Sounds like a bit of a dickhead to me!

 

Hahaha, pap cuts right to the chase...

 

i wouldn't have emailed him.

he probably was trying to get the powder.

mixed emotions come out email further then on the phone. i bet if he called you back because of no email you would have not the same emotion you have now.

**** happens...remember you went to him because of the recommendations which means hes probably pretty good.

 

Wow sorry to hear Mike...I'm not about to get involved, but he is a one man show and does great work. When I had dropped parts of I wasn't in a rush and just said take your time and do them right. There's always a good size back log when I had been there...but yeah from the sounds of it, time to pick up the parts and go elsewhere.

 

Pick up your parts and give the business to someone who wants it. There are no shortage of places doing powdercoating. Get them done, they will look amazing -(I had mine done too), put them on, and forget about it.

 

Plainville huh? I have had run in's with a shop before, I wonder if it is the same one.

 

Screw that!!! Would you want to give a guy like that your money? Hell no.
And yeah... He was behind because he was running around trying to get the powder; what a joke.... And those that say you were riding him. Please.... F that.

 

Guys hate to tell you this but there are very few Folks out there that do a "good job" there are a ton of folks that chatty chat on the phone and talk enough to make a dog foam at the mouth.

You need to decide if you want someone "good" or someone that spends the whole day on the phone and responding to emails.


I'll tell you something else. I remember a time not to long ago when we had no email no cell phones. You left a "message" and someone would call you back on "their" time. NOW everyone leaves messages saying "I've tried to get a hold of you" implying you should shut down a machine to chit chat.

I have no secretary whatsoever. Learned a long time ago it was a complete waste of cash because people want to speak to me..........I have all the work I can handle I screen all my calls, if the customer is higher maintenance than return I move on. Sorry guys this is the reality of today's economy. Time is worth a fortune. Service industry folks fight the time clock. It's NOT the same as selling widgets......

I am 110 percent sure enginefxr, helms, bradan and rifledriver know what I am saying.


Now, the way this guy treated the customer is WAY out of line. I would have never sent the email and I would have called back... I would have completed the job as promised, your word is your bond outside of unforeseen events.....

That is how a business earns a good reputation.