Had a customer yesterday that made me question everything about flat rate

Guy rolls in with a 2015 F150 saying the AC is weak, I quote him 3 hours diag and he starts lecturing me about how his nephew can do it in 45 minutes. Why do people think they know our job better than we do when they've never touched a wrench?

2 comments

2 Comments

julia_hayes21h ago

His nephew can do it in 45 minutes" - oh man, I felt that one in my soul! I once had a customer tell me their teenager could replace a transmission in a weekend because they watched a YouTube video. I was like, "Cool, then tell your nephew to bring his own tools and have at it." People really think turning a wrench is like assembling Ikea furniture, but it's not - half the time you're fighting rusted bolts that haven't moved since the car was built. Honestly at this point I just smile and say "that's great, you should definitely have him do it!" and let them figure it out the hard way.

adams.troy16h ago

@julia_hayes ain't that the truth... nothing beats a busted knuckle and a stuck bolt to humble a YouTube mechanic.