Dilemma - to pay or not to pay?

fitznj wrote:
.....Would you go to work for 4 hours and not get paid?

Actually - YES - I used to be in the business of solving technical problems. If I could not solve the customer's problems, then I would not charge them. The customer hired me to solve a problem and I failed - it's on me.

In this case, the shop told me that by doing X, it would fix the problem, they did X and it DIDN'T fix the problem. They offered to do Y - at which point I said no and fixed the problem myself.

That is why I asked the original question;

BTW - I already paid - I was wondering what the etiquette is, so next time I know for sure.

thanks to all

Gerry

I would have them undo whatever "X" was, since it didn't solve the problem, and ask for a full refund. Or leave "X" in and request full refund also, as "X" was a faulty or wrong diagnosis.

Never reward incompetence.

Years ago, I was excavating a site to build a house in the California foothills - the terrain was rocky and volcanic base all over. The back-hoe guy (very experienced) did not want to give a bid ( and I agreed) and wanted to go by the hour ... we agreed $85 an hour.

Next day, I show up at the site and there's an eighteen year old kid running the backhoe, learning (the operators son) and really having a tough time of it ... So, I immediately called him and said, "Joe, I'm not paying $85 an hour to train your son. I hired YOUR experience, not a rookie. I generally charge a fee to train someone."

He was back out there within a half hour, and on the backhoe ... it was a tough job, and I had no use for a trainee on it. If he gives a flat bid, then fine, he can train his son, but not on my nickel.

He actually was pretty apologetic, and didn't think it through. At least I believe that, as he'd done a lot of excavating for me in the past -- but most always a bid, so I didn't care if his son helped, or even operated, as long as the job was done properly - we all have to learn sometime.

But for sure, when you pay professional rates by the hour, you should get the professional, and he should produce the result you pay for, or no check. IMHO

I would not pay. They are the professionals and they did not fix the problem. I'm an electrical contractor and if I cannot fix your problem I do not charge, period.

Since the problem was repairable the shop should have been able to do so, they didn't, why pay ?

Teebucket1313 wrote:
I have a computer repair business. Been doing this for over thirty years. I don't charge for anything I can't repair. Now if they ask me to look at it, tell them whats wrong and they want to repair it. I charge them for the time. I also let them know if it's worth repairing. I don't bill them for the time.

This is pretty standard with electric and electronic troubleshooting. As a consumer, you should adjust the expectations of the company soliciting your business.

Rewarding bad business practices is enabling said thieves to try it again and again for another success at screwing a customer out of their money for producing nothing or not solving the problem, while getting paid to do nothing of real value. Pay for problem solved, or don't pay at all.

Recently we were enroute to Idaho after a roundtrip from Los Angeles to the Grand Canyon and back home with no problems. When we hit the Baker Grade the engine would loose power as soon as the secondary's on the QJ opened. If I floored the petal the engine stalled. I have spent hundreds maybe even thousands trying to solve this problem and keep saying it is not the ignition or carb the engine is starving out. I specifically asked the last shop to check the fuel pressure after the Holley regulator. Got a call that the problem was solved and to pick up the rig. We drove 100 miles in the towed and the mechanic/manager told me it was the alternator. Test drive was fine, hooked up took off for home and got less than 10 miles and the problem returned. We were going up hill against about a 40 mph headwind. Backed off the throttle until the secondary's closed and drove home at 45 to 50 mph without a problem. I contacted a very well know speed shop in our area and the owner suggested that the problem might be the return line to the tank but as likely that the Holley regulator is the problem.

He has set me up with a gauge to test the pressure and instructions on setting the pressure. If that solves the problem or if the return line is bad, I will ask the last shop that replaced the alternator for a full refund. He did not do what I wanted and charged me $400 dollars and wanted another $200 core charge to return the alternator to me. I think he sc.... and was grasping at straws rather than fix my rig.

So in my case I asked for a test and he decided not needed and I'm going to ask for all my money back if it is the regulator. In your case the shop tried and didn't find the problem. Next time put a contingency in the estimate, "no fix, no pay".

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
Don't know about anyone else but I'm done with this subject...

Right behind you Wanderer.

jwmII wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

jwmII wrote:
How many hours has your employer paid you for that you were on the clock for but produced nothing?

Ever done piece work?

What's piece work got to do with it?????

You asked if you got paid when you were on the clock and produced nothing. With piece work you may be on the clock, but you get paid by the "piece", not by the hour. So, yeah, you could be on the clock but not get paid.

Don't know about anyone else but I'm done with this subject...

jwmII wrote:

fj12ryder wrote:

jwmII wrote:
How many hours has your employer paid you for that you were on the clock for but produced nothing?

Ever done piece work?

What's piece work got to do with it?????

Guess I got to ask. What does poor work ethics have to do with it?

fj12ryder wrote:

jwmII wrote:
How many hours has your employer paid you for that you were on the clock for but produced nothing?

Ever done piece work?

What's piece work got to do with it?????