You want me to tie up all my employees on one person?

@Carolyn63 (1403)
United States
October 9, 2008 10:47am CST
Okay, a gentleman just came into the shop. He says I have already given him an estimate on the repairs needed for his car. Since I don't recognize him, most likely it was over the phone. His question is, how may mechanics do we have. We have 2, one being my husband. He explains that his wife is 90 years old and he doesn't like to leave her for long. Okay, I can understand that. However, he wants me to promise I can have both mechanics working on his car when he brings it in. Now, this is a problem. First of all, if there is more than one customer, the guys work individually. Now, if by chance there is only one customer, they can both concentrate on the one vehicle. Secondly, the help has health issues and I don't know from one day to the next if he is going to be here. Lately he has only been working 4 days a week out of 5. Thirdly, I can't put all the other customers on hold to suit one. In other words, I can't promise that. I can't turn down business in this economy. Things have actually been busy this week, thankfully. I have bills to pay, bellies to feed. How can someone expect me to compensate them and tell everyone, well too bad? Am I wrong?
1 response
zhuuraan
@zhuuraan (961)
• United States
22 Oct 08
No, you are not wrong. I don't care the situation. If I were your customer and I knew you had 2 mechanics and only one other customer, and you turned me down for that, I'd be very pissed off. I'd talk to a manager, if there was one, and I would review your shop in every possible place that I could. You are right not to make such a promise as in addition to it not being good to your customers, you already said that the second guy isn't always around. So, to make such a promise would be bad for that guy too. It is selfish and idiotic of that guy to ask for such preferential treatment.
Carolyn63
@Carolyn63 (1403)
• United States
30 Oct 08
Thank you. Actually, there is only one mechanic at this point. We had to let Todd go. We actually needed to let him go over a year ago. Long story. My husband and I own the place. It will increase his work load, but it will decrease our money going out. That will be a blessing since Todd was bad to sit around and do puzzles rather than help clean up when things were slow. I actually can do some of the work, well, I used to. I can't do a whole lot anymore with my eye still goofy from the bells palsy and I've hyperextended the muscles in my right arm. I get to do all the fun stuff, the paper work and dealing with the customers, lol. My husband prefers the mechanic end. Thanks again. Carolyn
zhuuraan
@zhuuraan (961)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Well, I haven't been on myLot much lately, but I just came on and saw the BR. Thanks for that. It's greatly appreciated. Lol I was entirely honest too, lol. Kinda sucks that that guy had to go, but you gotta do what you gotta do for your business. If you're going to pay him, the least he could do is work for his keep.