Mechanic refusing to use my parts (Sydney, NSW)

[phatngo]

Hi there. A mechanic that has been referred to me told me today that due to strict insurance issues, they were unwilling to fit parts not supplied by themselves, in case of faults, as they can't guarantee the quality of them. I'm in Sydney. Is this something you've come across, or is it just a mechanic trying to get you to buy their marked up, cheaper quality parts?

Cheers

[marcusk]

Time to find a new mechanic.  Or better still spend the $$ on tools and a workshop manual and do it yourself.  These are simple machines and easy to work on.  The only thing I have paid for is having fork seals fitted $50 and having wheel bearings pressed in. $20

[fetor56]

D.I.Y...free labor and u know it's done properly.

[Joolstacho]

ABSOLUTELY FIND A NEW MECHANIC!

[Joolstacho]

ABSOLUTELY FIND A NEW MECHANIC!
Apologies for shouting, but don't let this con-artist tosser get away with it. He just wants the generous margin on all the overpriced parts he would supply.
("Strict Insurance issues", my arse!!!! - no such thing, it's illegal).
The industry is full of this unethical crap nowadays... don't let them exploit you.
I'd be very happy if you would show this to him, and if he's willing to put his money where his mouth is, we'll have his balls in court.
There ARE decent ethical mechanics out there. Yes, you might need to search to find yours, but once you find him you're 'home free'.
(Or better still, learn to do it yourself, it really isn't that hard).
And who referred you to this 'so-called' mechanic? - Maybe put them way down the bottom of your Xmas card list!

[phatngo]

haha cheers guys. I thought so, but great to get some reassurance from some wiser motorbike heads. It's actually 'just' to change the chain and sprockets on my 2007 GS500. I've been getting this weird scraping chain sound 70% of the time when I pull away in first. It only lasts about a second then it seems to grab. A few mates told me to check the slack on the chain and it seems there's quite a bit of variance in a slack spot and tight spot, about 2.0 cm difference. Decided the best thing to do to eliminate the chain and sprockets as a cause is to change them. They haven't been changed for 20K apparently (the guy I bought it from), and they look a little worn, but not disastrous.

Sooo I've ordered myself:

- chain breaker tool
- RK 520XMO 120 link chain
- 16/39 sprockets

does that sound about right? From the tips/vids it looks like I'll need to reduce the chain to 110 links, so wish me luck! Any advice most welcome 

[Kijona]

Don't need the chain breaker...just use an angle grinder.

Use a clip-style master link. For the GS, these are more than acceptable. I've never had a problem with a clip-style master link out of the countless bikes I've owned.

[twocool]

I'm going to side with the mechanic here.  He needs to make a fair living...His business is offering parts and service....He's entitled to make a mark-up on parts...he probably buys wholesale and should sell at retail...

He also has to stand behind his work...If a customer provides "inferior" parts, and the job goes south, the mechanic is left holding the bag...he has to do the labor over again for free...

This is actually the sign of a VERY good mechanic, and a good businessman....

If the mechanic goes out of business it does nobody any good...

OTOH...if you want to save money...go buy your own parts...you can find deals on the internet etc...and do the labor yourself, (free)...learn some new stuff and have fun....

Cookie

Hi there. A mechanic that has been referred to me told me today that due to strict insurance issues, they were unwilling to fit parts not supplied by themselves, in case of faults, as they can't guarantee the quality of them. I'm in Sydney. Is this something you've come across, or is it just a mechanic trying to get you to buy their marked up, cheaper quality parts?

Cheers

[sledge]

Of course there are liability issues attached.  If your man is deemed competent and for profit fits parts that he knows to be substandard, or inferior or not suitable that go on to cause loss he has been negligible.

Imagine instead of it being a bike its an aircraft, he fits some dodgy part that fails causes it to crash and that crash kills 20 people and causes $20m of damage........... do you really think he could just walk away without facing legal action? Different scale but same thing.

I suspect there may well be some truth in it. If he has in the past had claims made against him that his insurance company have had to defend or pay out on they are quite within their rights to insist on him only using genuine parts that are traceable or from a known source in an attempt to prevent a reoccurrence. Its not what its says on the box that matters its where the box came from and being able to prove it that matters, the world is full of fake and counterfeits and that includes bike parts.

Here is an example....... http://www.ukantipiracy.co.uk/motorcycles/ngkmotorcycleplugs.html

TBH and in fairness how he chooses to run his business is entirely up to him and no one is forcing you to use him. If you don't like the way he operates find someone else. He seems to be in a position to be able to turn work away so is unlikely to care if you do

Certainly in my part of the world you will be hard pressed to find anyone who operates any differently, the good guys round here have excellent reputations and they wont compromise them by fitting and using cheap shaZam! parts or branded parts from dubious sources. I think they should be applauded for this......... NOT criticised.

[ShowBizWolf]

I've enjoyed reading through this thread and there certainly are some great points that were brought up!

The last time my fork seals were replaced, I bought the oil and seals myself, intending to tackle the project at some point... but then work and life gets in the way, also having a project car and being a homeowner... etc it got to the point where it was time to get my bike inspected and I was like yanno I just want this done and I'll have my bike mechanic do it at the same time. I met him back when I first started riding and I would stop in his shop from time to time, asking him questions and whatnot and he was always really helpful and nice... he's got a great rep around my small town so that's why I went there. 

ANYWAYS... he did the job and all was well but he did explain to me that the seals I bought were not his preference... said they were pretty cheap quality and he wouldn't have personally bought them for my bike but he put them on for me, knowing it had been forever since I actually purchased them and I told him I just wanted the darn things changed already LOL !

I also noticed that he's got a sign up in his office area saying he charges extra if you bring him tires you bought online or elsewhere and want him to put them on.

At first I was like hmm... my dad's owned his own (car) garage for over 40 years and he's always swapping tires for people or installing parts for customers that they brought with them and he doesn't care where the customer got them. I always guessed he looked at it as, "I want the customer to save money and be happy... and if they picked out a part they want and I know it will work and be safe then I will install it. If it is a part that won't work or I don't feel comfortable with, I will tell them and not take the job for safety reasons."

Never really bothered him. But then my bike mechanic explained to me (and I'll never forget this) he said, "To me, when people bring their own parts to me to install, it's like bringing your own groceries/food to a restaurant and asking the chef or cook to make it for you and have it served to you."

I can totally see both sides of this...! I guess it just boils down to personal preferences of the mechanic and the customer.

[The Buddha]

Liability issue is bogus - mostly.
You show up with brake pads you made @ home - you're a moron ... but he cant be liable for those shattering when you hit the brakes, but you could with your receipt try to sue him.
However that liability should be a moot issue if you show up with a set of galfer or other branded parts like what he sells.

Second - the mark up on parts - only applicable if they don't charge a straight hourly rate.
If its hourly, they are simply paid to fit these things on. 1 for 1, no mark up bogus applicable there.
You cant however do what I do all the time with those hourly people, cos your bike cant sit in his shop keeping him from making a living,
But I do this with one of my car mech's - I have my mechanic take it out, and show me. Then I go buy the best/cheapest/craziest/super duper as applicable parts of that genre. Then he fits em on. But my mechanic isn't a parts seller, he has to walk down to autozone anyway, but I don't get it in under a week, he'll hit me for $20, cos usually we cart it to the back of the shop where it keeps company with the 300 others he's got. So I am fine, I get better parts or save more $$$ and he gets paid for time and for storage.

I dunno, I see both sides, however I am more inclined to know why etc etc  and then decide.

Cool.
Buddha.

[sledge]

Liability issue is bogus.
Buddha.

http://garagewire.co.uk/news/risk-factor-do-you-fit-customer-supplied-parts/

Bogus?.....oh ok 

[lucas]

We can't read the mechanic's mind here, any guess at his intentions are almost certainly wrong.  If you don't like the way he serves his customers you shouldn't exercise your mind over it just move on and find someone who fits your better.

[marcusk]

The mechanic certainly has a choice to not use customer supplied parts but for me hiding behind liability as an excuse to coerce a customer into buying parts through him is a bit weak.  If it's a dealer mechanic they will probably have a policy to only used OEM parts.  That's fine as long as they just say " sorry its policy that we use oem because we are a dealer service center .

If you showed up with the lowest quality parts on earth it would be fair for the mechenic to show a little concern with your choice and refuse to do the job.  In that case I would call that using your professional judgment and trying to be a decent human and protecting a customer from making a mistake. Saying that you won't fit parts unless you supply them is a con.  As long as the invoice stated that it was labour only the mechs liability would be limited anyway.  From my understanding when it comes to parts and equipment in Australia that the liability will sit with the maufactuer / importer  ( that could be you if you buy of eBay from an O/S seller.)

I have 2 mechanics my dealer service center that looks after my car that's under new car warranty they will only use OEM parts.  And the local guy that looks after my 4x4 when I need work done that needs a hoist. I always supply parts and he doesn't mind one bit.  I pay him for labour only. 

M

[The Buddha]

Liability issue is bogus.
Buddha.

http://garagewire.co.uk/news/risk-factor-do-you-fit-customer-supplied-parts/

Bogus?.....oh ok 

I'm not strictly talking legally there.
Cool.
Buddha.

[prmas]

As the owner of a workshop let me state three things:

Firstly, if a mechanic/workshop fitted poor quality parts supplied by the customer and a part failed they could be sued for professional misconduct. It will be argued in court that they should have refused to use parts that they knew or should have known would not live up to reasonable expactation.

Secondly, if a part supplied by a customer failed or did not fix a particular problem you can then get into a real bun fight over who is responsible. Was it the part's fault, the customer's fault for supplying a faulty part or the wrong part or the fitter's fault. If the part is supplied by the installer it is HIS problem to sort it out with the trade supplier, not the customer's responsibility. No question.

Finally, to run a workshop and survive in a competitive industry you have to operate on a "profit per hour" basis to pay wages, insurance, running costs such as rent, electricity and consumables. Any accountant will tell you that the "profit per hour" is a calculation of labour charge and an average mark-up on supplied parts/goods to give you a "gross profit per hour". If a customer supplies their own parts they are taking away part of the equation. Therefore the workshop would have to charge a higher labour rate to maintain their "GPPH" as the running cost remains the same regardless. Why would they effectively work for a lower rate per hour which does not cover costs? Would you?

When you go to a restaurant, do you take your own ingredients and ask them to cook it for you? No, THEIR profit is calculated the same way including a known mark-up on the ingredients. Do you go to an artist with paint and canvas and say "paint me a picture"? No. Do you contract a builder to build you a house using your supplied materials. No. If you buy tyres on the internet and take them to your local bike shop do you expect them to fit them for the same price as the ones they would have sold you. No. All the same situation as per comment three (Finally). 

This is how business STAYS in business. It is all calculated carefully to provide enough profit to be worthwile and successful but to be low enough to compete with peers. 
If you want to supply and fit your own parts and avoid the costs of running a business, that is fine. It it stuffs up, sue yourself!
I urge you to shop around for the best price you can get for the same job and ask as many questions as possible. An honest operator will be happy to answer them for you. If he does not...... move on. A business/workshop with a good reputation is worth paying a little more for to ensure that it will be done right.

Macka

[sledge]

Bloody well said, I applaud you Sir 

[lucas]

I agree.  It is easier for a mechanic to say something about liability then to try to explain to someone the decisions they made about trading labor rates for parts markups.  If it were me I wouldn't feel obligated to bare the truth about my operating procedures and I also wouldn't want to give lessons in the true costs of business ownership to people who are browsing my shop

[bmf]

As a snarky side comment, I know that Australia is rather a police state where you can be fined for mowing your lawn on the wrong day;-). I imagine mechanics get strung up as crocodile bait if they were to not follow the many and varied laws to the letter. Baker's dozen indeed.
Bmf

[marcusk]

I pay my mechenic $80 an hour cash and I fit in around him he is worth it because he charges his hourly and is transparent and doesn't think it's appropriate to treat his customers like they are stupid and remove their choice of parts and supplier and then lie to them about why he is dong it. 

Charge a fair hourly rate if you are a good mechenic you will turn work away even if that rate is high. my guy charges a fair hourly but I would pay more because of his no BS way he operates and he always dose a good job and is honest with me.   

If I got an invoice from a mechenic with a low labour rate and parts that are expensive I would not go back because it looks like I am getting shafted on parts prices. 

Treat your customers like people not idiots. be transparent with your pricing and not act like a con man shifting margin from one service to another to "appear cheaper" that's how you get repeat business and loyalty.

next you will be telling me that it's only fair I chip in for indicator fluid disposal costs.

M