Alignment Offshore Eng Mounts
08-14-2011 | 03:18 PM
#32
Charter Member #232
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 18,417
Likes: 6
From: Carlisle, MA USA
These situations always suck for both the dealer and the client. I own an AV company and every once in a while you get into one of these types of jobs that just kill you. I just finished up one. I thought I could have the sytem up and running by Jan. 30th. I JUST finished it about 2 weeks ago. There were many more issues then I thought. We got the job done and the customer is happy but I lost my shirt.
What is most important I think is that in the end all the waiting is worth it and the job is well done. Of course we all wish things worked out perfectly but that just is not the case. If I looked into my bilge and had the satisfaction that it was perfect then I would be happy even if I had missed a few days of vacation for it.
What is most important I think is that in the end all the waiting is worth it and the job is well done. Of course we all wish things worked out perfectly but that just is not the case. If I looked into my bilge and had the satisfaction that it was perfect then I would be happy even if I had missed a few days of vacation for it.
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08-15-2011 | 09:52 AM
#33
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 487
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From: Toronto, ON
There's always two sides to every story, the truth is perenially in the middle. I have no doubt the customer was unreasonable (who HASN'T had a woman scream at them?) lol. And having said that, who hasn't got a runaround from a shop at some point, regardless of how good they are?
But were I the owner, I simply would have set up a contingency plan in case the schedule shifted (rent, borrow another boat, etc.). And leave the guys to their work.... You have to be realistic on a job like this that there can be delays...
But were I the owner, I simply would have set up a contingency plan in case the schedule shifted (rent, borrow another boat, etc.). And leave the guys to their work.... You have to be realistic on a job like this that there can be delays...
08-15-2011 | 11:25 AM
#34
Banned
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,844
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From: Bradenton Florida
When it was all said and done I made about 20% of my shop rate for the hours I put in it. Because of all the gloom they were giving me I just wanted it done and gone and did it for less than the original estimate because the thousand upon thousands of dollars they lost in trips they planned during the time I had the boat.[/QUOTE]
So u made right and the boat is 100% done ??? NICE, good move !!!!!!
08-15-2011 | 07:48 PM
#35
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 9
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From: Owosso, MI
Robert,
We never use 5200 for mounting large items on the transom. We use 4200 removable in those areas and told you that at the time it was going to be a problem. On the Monday after you dropped the off we did have the boat completely strip of its engines and all hardware except the K-Planes and that is when all the delays started. By the time the tools arrived to remove them the early spring rains had stop and our boating season was upon us.By then I had 17 boats sitting in my yard for work that were 1 and 2 day jobs that had to be done if I wanted any future business. I am sorry but those other boats were more important at the time than 1 huge project that should have been addressed during the off season. Had we been able to remove the tabs during the first 3 weeks this would have turned out much differently and been way ahead of schedule but it did not. You continued to make plans with the boat every week without it being done, that is not my fault but you kept blaming me while we WERE working on your boat every chance we could which most weeks over 80 man hours and some over 120.
Your wife had a nasty tone as soon as I picked up the phone and became VERY demanding. I tried to reason with her and she started to scream,.Thats when I hung the phone up and had enough ended my quest to get your boat done by the 4th.You were another issue with you downer attitude every time you came to the shop which considering our distance was way to much for my taste.When you would arrive I would just go about my work knowing your stay was only to bring gloom upon us and eventually you would go home.
I feel as most here would agree including all the customers that were after my time while I was doing your project that I did everything I could to get your boat done in a timely manor. Lets not forget that I finished it before anybody else you called would even consider taking it on.In your defense you did take it to the other shop in the fall but that has no bearing on the fact that I did not get it until 2 days before May. Poor planning on your part should not make me the bad guy and I feel your post yesterday was just an attempt to do that. I have been on this site for many years and your opening line of many members asking about your project by sending you PM's I feel was just a fabrication because I had already posted in the reply before your post that I had indeed taken on the project.
I am glad for you that you are boating and feel I am the main reason that you even made it in the water this year. Its just a shame that it was with bad feelings on your part and I had to go through all the hardship put on by you and your wife during the project that continues here still today.
By the way Rob please tell the members here how the project turned out quality wise. I would have made a complete pictorial of it on my site but I quit taking pictures after the project/customer became unbearable.
We never use 5200 for mounting large items on the transom. We use 4200 removable in those areas and told you that at the time it was going to be a problem. On the Monday after you dropped the off we did have the boat completely strip of its engines and all hardware except the K-Planes and that is when all the delays started. By the time the tools arrived to remove them the early spring rains had stop and our boating season was upon us.By then I had 17 boats sitting in my yard for work that were 1 and 2 day jobs that had to be done if I wanted any future business. I am sorry but those other boats were more important at the time than 1 huge project that should have been addressed during the off season. Had we been able to remove the tabs during the first 3 weeks this would have turned out much differently and been way ahead of schedule but it did not. You continued to make plans with the boat every week without it being done, that is not my fault but you kept blaming me while we WERE working on your boat every chance we could which most weeks over 80 man hours and some over 120.
Your wife had a nasty tone as soon as I picked up the phone and became VERY demanding. I tried to reason with her and she started to scream,.Thats when I hung the phone up and had enough ended my quest to get your boat done by the 4th.You were another issue with you downer attitude every time you came to the shop which considering our distance was way to much for my taste.When you would arrive I would just go about my work knowing your stay was only to bring gloom upon us and eventually you would go home.
I feel as most here would agree including all the customers that were after my time while I was doing your project that I did everything I could to get your boat done in a timely manor. Lets not forget that I finished it before anybody else you called would even consider taking it on.In your defense you did take it to the other shop in the fall but that has no bearing on the fact that I did not get it until 2 days before May. Poor planning on your part should not make me the bad guy and I feel your post yesterday was just an attempt to do that. I have been on this site for many years and your opening line of many members asking about your project by sending you PM's I feel was just a fabrication because I had already posted in the reply before your post that I had indeed taken on the project.
I am glad for you that you are boating and feel I am the main reason that you even made it in the water this year. Its just a shame that it was with bad feelings on your part and I had to go through all the hardship put on by you and your wife during the project that continues here still today.
By the way Rob please tell the members here how the project turned out quality wise. I would have made a complete pictorial of it on my site but I quit taking pictures after the project/customer became unbearable.
As I stated in my previous post my “plans” were provided to you upfront and I had asked you to advise me multiple times if I need to changes these.
Not sure what you thought my attitude should have been when I came to your shop? Not sure how that has any meaning to the project? In most cases, it seemed as you thought I should not have any opinion and just left my boat there for you complete sometime in 2011..?
Yes, you did take the boat in three wks earlier than any other shop but, it also sat there for at least this long I am not sure how anyone could say what another shop might or might not have gotten done in the same time frame. Seems irrelevant to me.
Yes, I do have many bad feelings as I feel the project was not handled very well and my expectations were not even considered. I agree it was a big project and additional repairs were identified but, did not seem to be a concern to you at the final outcome. Yes, I indicated that I was not concerned about other customer’s boats in your shop because, this had no relation to my situation. It is your shop to manage and none of this is a concern to me. I am sure any other customer would say the same as they have no idea what your commitment is to them or any other repair at your shop. One could only expect that there would be multiple jobs going at a time and being managed to meet completion dates
You indicated in a later post that you only made 20% of your shop rate yet I still paid the original estimate with not having motors, gimbals, drives, and gel work completed. Yes, there was additional stringer work that absorbed some of the cost but I do not see were you gave me any consideration for my losses nor did you ever mention this when I picked up the boat and paid you. You might have lost some margin overall but, I feel much of this had to do with the fact that you had to do the work instead of your shop work force finishing the job.
In regards to posting anything about to the quality of the work I will not. I have not commented on any of the work in any posting and will not. Working with you was not worth the cost and that is what is made this a dissatisfying experience. I feel there was sufficient time for the job (12wks) and multiple opportunities for you to indicate different if needed.
08-15-2011 | 09:44 PM
#36
RIPSTA Racing Team
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 1
From: Philadelphia, PA
I'm assuming that the work done by Brian was satisfactory or i am SURE we would have heard otherwise. Obviously his engines went back in without incident or we SURELY would have heard about it. i never have my wife call anyone regarding car or boat repairs, had Gach's not gotten involved it seems like the job just might have been finish in the nick of time. Would he rather the job got rushed so that 1 day into the vacation it had to be cut short due to some sort of failure? it was up to gach to determine wether or not he felt he needed to cancel his plans or not if it was that close to the deadline he had set. I call BS on him getting any PM's from members here, where there any other posts before this thread started? I'd still like to know who owned the boat while it became rotted to this point and if it was Gach, doesn't he think he should assume some of the heat for letting his boat deteriorate to the point of needing so much repair?
Bottom line is, we have all had to cancel our plans either before or during what we wanted to be such a fun time due to breakdowns of one type or another, we suck it up and move on. I'm sure we have all paid a bill for repairs that we might have thought was more than it should be and it WILL happen again. Suck it up and move on. Be happy for the times that things go well and the fun you have on the good days. If you can't? Then you need to find another hobby or passtime because your not meant for powerboats. And at all costs, keep your wife or GF away from the shop guys. Need to know basis only.
Bottom line is, we have all had to cancel our plans either before or during what we wanted to be such a fun time due to breakdowns of one type or another, we suck it up and move on. I'm sure we have all paid a bill for repairs that we might have thought was more than it should be and it WILL happen again. Suck it up and move on. Be happy for the times that things go well and the fun you have on the good days. If you can't? Then you need to find another hobby or passtime because your not meant for powerboats. And at all costs, keep your wife or GF away from the shop guys. Need to know basis only.
08-20-2011 | 10:31 AM
#37
Banned
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 3
From: michigan
What does a unsatisfiable customer that tries to discredit someones hard work make good reading for you???
I forgot to mention that not all the time that Robert was at my shop was bad. On 2 of his visits he came in very nice while he was looking for information to file a lawsuit against the first shop. After he got what he was looking for then the gloom continued almost instantly.Remember that 2 days before taking the boat we had shook hands on completing the job by the following wednesday.If I did not finish it by then I would be out $$$$$. I got a call from him the next day telling me that he had gone to his lawyer and had to give him money so now HE could no longer afford to finish the boat. I told him that I would stick with the original estimate for the repair and not charge him for all the additional work in exchange for him finishing the rigging. He agreed and payed me.I was not happy about it I but was not going to do it for free as he proposed.
I forgot to mention that not all the time that Robert was at my shop was bad. On 2 of his visits he came in very nice while he was looking for information to file a lawsuit against the first shop. After he got what he was looking for then the gloom continued almost instantly.Remember that 2 days before taking the boat we had shook hands on completing the job by the following wednesday.If I did not finish it by then I would be out $$$$$. I got a call from him the next day telling me that he had gone to his lawyer and had to give him money so now HE could no longer afford to finish the boat. I told him that I would stick with the original estimate for the repair and not charge him for all the additional work in exchange for him finishing the rigging. He agreed and payed me.I was not happy about it I but was not going to do it for free as he proposed.
08-30-2011 | 02:26 PM
#38
Thread Starter
Registered
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: Owosso, MI
What does a unsatisfiable customer that tries to discredit someones hard work make good reading for you???
I forgot to mention that not all the time that Robert was at my shop was bad. On 2 of his visits he came in very nice while he was looking for information to file a lawsuit against the first shop. After he got what he was looking for then the gloom continued almost instantly.Remember that 2 days before taking the boat we had shook hands on completing the job by the following wednesday.If I did not finish it by then I would be out $$$$$. I got a call from him the next day telling me that he had gone to his lawyer and had to give him money so now HE could no longer afford to finish the boat. I told him that I would stick with the original estimate for the repair and not charge him for all the additional work in exchange for him finishing the rigging. He agreed and payed me.I was not happy about it I but was not going to do it for free as he proposed.
I forgot to mention that not all the time that Robert was at my shop was bad. On 2 of his visits he came in very nice while he was looking for information to file a lawsuit against the first shop. After he got what he was looking for then the gloom continued almost instantly.Remember that 2 days before taking the boat we had shook hands on completing the job by the following wednesday.If I did not finish it by then I would be out $$$$$. I got a call from him the next day telling me that he had gone to his lawyer and had to give him money so now HE could no longer afford to finish the boat. I told him that I would stick with the original estimate for the repair and not charge him for all the additional work in exchange for him finishing the rigging. He agreed and payed me.I was not happy about it I but was not going to do it for free as he proposed.
At this point summer is already half over.
I never indicated to you where I was going to take the boat next to have it completed. As I had stated in several post before the issue was dealing with you and your excuses. As I mentioned I picked the boat up because, I now had other projects going on and did not have time to continue to work with you and decided to look for another solution to getting the boat complete. Also, I was not confident the boat would be done on the following Wednesday just like several other deadline dates where discussed in the past and did not get meet but, there was nothing I could do about those either.
Yes you did agree that you might be out some $$$$ if the boat was not complete by the folllowing wednesday (7/20) however, as I indicated I was not confident this deadline would be meet and I did not have any re-course if it was not. Therfore, I picked the boat up and moved it as I should have long before then.
08-30-2011 | 05:07 PM
#39
Banned
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 3
From: michigan
Robert you are out right lying. Our conversation the following morning was exactly as I stated.You wanted me to finish the boat and give you all the extra work for free because you told me you could not afford the lawsuit and the additional repairs already done to your boat. I said no way and we agreed that I would finish up the glass work and you would finish the rigging.I even accepted less money than the bill but marked it paid in full just to get you on your way.You received all your parts boxed in good order and we even loaded everything for you. I also spent time with you showing you the proper way to line the engine and mounts so you would not have any problems with the install.It is clear you are an unsatisfiable customer that nobody wants to deal with and I feel sorry for any shop you go to in the future. Not 1 person has come on this thread and agreed with you about the time frame that this project took being out of hand. In fact most thought you getting your boat back this year was a blessing but still you complain. This entire thread after the fact was just an attempt to discredit me but I am done with you and hope I do not have the misfortune of have another customer like you again.
