I'm reluctantly going to mostly give up on my backyard mechanic because he really can't keep up with the new stuff. He would call up the shop owned by his old apprentice to ask about things or would send me there if it was something he couldn't handle, which was great. But somewhere along the line some of the major service items were missed and I spent a long time with a car complaining when going uphill at highway speed until the shop let me know that the plugs had probably never been changed. He had also not been keeping the maintenance stamped in the service book, which is a big deal here. That was really my fault because I had been getting a cash discount and didn't realise.
In any case he's still recovering from having a car roll over his leg and I think is mostly going to pack it in.
Kind of odd that he'd miss the plugs, but that's too bad anyway. I think a lot of mechanics are packing up.
I'm reluctantly going to mostly give up on my backyard mechanic because he really can't keep up with the new stuff. He would call up the shop owned by his old apprentice to ask about things or would send me there if it was something he couldn't handle, which was great. But somewhere along the line some of the major service items were missed and I spent a long time with a car complaining when going uphill at highway speed until the shop let me know that the plugs had probably never been changed. He had also not been keeping the maintenance stamped in the service book, which is a big deal here. That was really my fault because I had been getting a cash discount and didn't realise.
In any case he's still recovering from having a car roll over his leg and I think is mostly going to pack it in.
Can relate. Over the years, I've done some electrical / electronic repair in my vehicles, as needed, from bad dash switches, to an ECM, to an instrument cluster replacement. Though for actual wrenching, I left it to the pros with the proper tools. I used one shop for 20+ years - totally trusted them with whatever they recommended. Then the two partners retired and sold it to a mechanic. I never had an opportunity to try the services of new guy - and it was closed in less than 2yrs. Complete lack of marketing is certainly one reason. After that, it was a struggle to find a shop I trusted. Ran into one owner who told a great story, good sales skills, not a mechanic. Turns out he was shady AF. In hindsight, you could see it from his aggressive tone in responding to any criticism in his Goog reviews.
I really had to grow up to deal with that situation, though a part of me wanted to go to the mattresses! lol
It's pretty weird. I did most of my own wrenching forever but as I got older I found what I thought was a pretty good garage. I thought. I had a clue with the high turnover of techs, but stuck with him until Covid put him out of business. Out of some weird fellow grease monkey loyalty, I followed him to his home garage business out in the country for a pretty major repair and from that point, complete with a harsh falling out and gross expenditure, I figured everything out.
Can relate. Over the years, I've done some electrical / electronic repair in my vehicles, as needed, from bad dash switches, to an ECM, to an instrument cluster replacement. Though for actual wrenching, I left it to the pros with the proper tools. I used one shop for 20+ years - totally trusted them with whatever they recommended. Then the two partners retired and sold it to a mechanic. I never had an opportunity to try the services of new guy - and it was closed in less than 2yrs. Complete lack of marketing is certainly one reason. After that, it was a struggle to find a shop I trusted. Ran into one owner who told a great story, good sales skills, not a mechanic. Turns out he was shady AF. In hindsight, you could see it from his aggressive tone in responding to any criticism in his Goog reviews.
Sad to hear. Getting to be a common story as those of us who hang on to our older vehicles become the minority showing up at the repair shops.
Even some dealerships aren't investing in properly trained techs to fix the complicated tech-driven new cars. I watch a few car repair channels - and this guy in State College, PA pretty much focuses on the hard to diagnose stuff that people and dealers bring him - even from hundreds of miles away. He's good at it, and for those so inclined, in watching his vids, you get a pretty good idea of what skills are required in today's auto technician. Pine Hollow Automotive Diagnostics
It took a long time to find a trustworthy and competent mechanic, even here in my metro. Not looking forward to testing them when the next new vehicle purchased goes out of warranty.
It's pretty weird. I did most of my own wrenching forever but as I got older I found what I thought was a pretty good garage. I thought.
I had a clue with the high turnover of techs, but stuck with him until Covid put him out of business. Out of some weird fellow grease monkey loyalty, I followed him to his home garage business out in the country for a pretty major repair and from that point, complete with a harsh falling out and gross expenditure, I figured everything out.
He did, and last summer I went to a local place that my neighbo/friend Jon recommended. I have options but Iâve depended on Mike so much, and with another year at least with these old wheels Iâm going to miss his counsel.
That's a good quality car you have and you have had some solid work performed on it. Hopefully it will see you through with no issues. And, to Jon and fam,
My guy said he’d hoped to last three more years, but he’s turning away about 20 people a week that he can’t do the work for. I’m devastated.
Will he recommend anyone for you? These shops know each other and the dependable from the questionable.
He did, and last summer I went to a local place that my neighbo/friend Jon recommended. I have options but I’ve depended on Mike so much, and with another year at least with these old wheels I’m going to miss his counsel.
My guy said heâd hoped to last three more years, but heâs turning away about 20 people a week that he canât do the work for. Iâm devastated.
Sad to hear. Getting to be a common story as those of us who hang on to our older vehicles become the minority showing up at the repair shops.
Even some dealerships aren't investing in properly trained techs to fix the complicated tech-driven new cars. I watch a few car repair channels - and this guy in State College, PA pretty much focuses on the hard to diagnose stuff that people and dealers bring him - even from hundreds of miles away. He's good at it, and for those so inclined, in watching his vids, you get a pretty good idea of what skills are required in today's auto technician. Pine Hollow Automotive Diagnostics
It took a long time to find a trustworthy and competent mechanic, even here in my metro. Not looking forward to testing them when the next new vehicle purchased goes out of warranty.
Finding out today that my much trusted (for over 25 years) mechanic’s is selling his biz. He says he can’t work on the newer cars. Then he thanked ME for being such a loyal customer all these years.And he said he turned down an offer from someone who wanted him to give up his customer list. It’s not going to be a shop anymore; it’s going to be a towing service. Guess it's for the best that I'm going to be getting a new car sometime in the next year or so. I'm bummed. He's been so good to me for such a long time.
Same with me too. The shop I work with said when his father retires in 7 years he’s going to shut the shop down as well. The son worked for me when I was at Sears Automotive then went to work for his dad when Sears screwed up their business model. Well I got my 7 year warning.
My guy said he’d hoped to last three more years, but he’s turning away about 20 people a week that he can’t do the work for. I’m devastated.
Same with me too. The shop I work with said when his father retires in 7 years heâs going to shut the shop down as well. The son worked for me when I was at Sears Automotive then went to work for his dad when Sears screwed up their business model.
Well I got my 7 year warning.
Uh oh. Another Sears refugee. What a disaster they were to work for. I share your disgust, G.
Location: On the edge of tomorrow looking back at Gender:
Posted:
Feb 28, 2024 - 8:26am
Antigone wrote:
Finding out today that my much trusted (for over 25 years) mechanicâs is selling his biz. He says he canât work on the newer cars. Then he thanked ME for being such a loyal customer all these years.And he said he turned down an offer from someone who wanted him to give up his customer list. Itâs not going to be a shop anymore; itâs going to be a towing service. Guess it's for the best that I'm going to be getting a new car sometime in the next year or so. I'm bummed. He's been so good to me for such a long time.
Same with me too. The shop I work with said when his father retires in 7 years heâs going to shut the shop down as well. The son worked for me when I was at Sears Automotive then went to work for his dad when Sears screwed up their business model.
Well I got my 7 year warning.
Finding out today that my much trusted (for over 25 years) mechanic is selling his biz. He says he canât work on the newer cars. Then he thanked ME for being such a loyal customer all these years.And he said he turned down an offer from someone who wanted him to give up his customer list. Itâs not going to be a shop anymore; itâs going to be a towing service. Guess it's for the best that I'm going to be getting a new car sometime in the next year or so. I'm bummed. He's been so good to me for such a long time.
Finding out today that my much trusted (for over 25 years) mechanic is selling his biz. He says he canât work on the newer cars. Then he thanked ME for being such a loyal customer all these years.And he said he turned down an offer from someone who wanted him to give up his customer list. Itâs not going to be a shop anymore; itâs going to be a towing service. Guess it's for the best that I'm going to be getting a new car sometime in the next year or so. I'm bummed. He's been so good to me for such a long time.
Bummer. Are there any other activities that could be held with a limited amount of snow on the ground? Hiking, bird watching, fat-tire biking ?
I think there will be a crew up there so the lodge may be open as a warming hut, but nah. 3 miles further up the road is the (closed for the season to auto traffic) entrance to Yellowstone, so anyone who wants to do those things will go there. Plus there's a bar/restaurant/gas station.
Last I heard, the USFS hadn't approved any bicycle activities up there. That's of course assuming those would happen in summer, and it's bear country, and they don't want that PR ;-)
And they've scrubbed the season. Half the crew had already found other jobs, so even if they got 3 feet tomorrow, they'd be short staffed.
Our patrol just graduated the largest group of new patrollers in over a decade, too. Sucks so much to be them right now. It costs a bit of money to get all the gear and registrations and books etc.
Bummer. Are there any other activities that could be held with a limited amount of snow on the ground? Hiking, bird watching, fat-tire biking ?
