Garages using forums..............

[gold rover]

Is it just me? Or do others feel that businesses being paid to do work, who come on forums like this, to ask how to do a job, are just a teeny bit out of order.
I get the bit that, for the sake of the owner, we'd rather they got the job right and using forums can get them the information they need. This way the veh owner , who is most likely paying quite handsomely(Especially abroad) for a garage to use their LR/RR 'specialist' knowledge to fix their vehicle, actually gets their vehicle fixed.
However, using the collective knowledge, of an unpaid group of some very knowledgeable , and some helpful and well meaning people on a forum and then charging someone for said knowledge, at the other end, seems a tad off to me. Especially on such a complicated beast as the L322 and her successors
Not forgetting, sometimes information given conflicts, or plain doesn't work, or can point to a fault that, after hours, days, weeks, months, turns out to be incorrect and it was something else instead. Which, when we are chasing faults in our own vehs, or friends' vehs and not charging someone for it is fine and well. However, when it is a business, who quite obviously doesn't have 'specialist knowledge but is taking someone's money for those hours, days, weeks and is using forums such as this,,then it's not right.
I understand double checking by reading up on something, or asking a quick question. However, I personally would be seriously p'd off if my local specialist turned out to be using helpful , knowledgeable , unpaid , enthusiasts to line their pockets , Especially, as they can access the information from the manufacturer by paying for it. In the same way as their customers are paying for the supposed expert, specialist knowledge of the garage.





Off to wait for incoming, wearing an old tin lid and drinking a brew.

 

[myfirstl322]

Lots of people use the same garages knowing full well they are not specialists, but trust them implicitly, maybe family connections, parents used them for years, yada yada,
but are happy that they will endeavour to find the cheapest route to fix the problem.
Often that is as you say, asking on forums to save lots of ground work.

Much better to find a good general mechanic that isn't scared of t'internet than a crap so called specialist, which you seem to have a knack for finding.



Forums are also a place for mechanics, and on the variety of forums I frequent there are a plethora of garage proprietors who give back regularly.

So I have no issue with what you have highlighted, it's hardly a revelation.

 

[tomcat59alan]

Is it just me? Or do others feel that businesses being paid to do work, who come on forums like this, to ask how to do a job, are just a teeny bit out of order.
I get the bit that, for the sake of the owner, we'd rather they got the job right and using forums can get them the information they need. This way the veh owner , who is most likely paying quite handsomely(Especially abroad) for a garage to use their LR/RR 'specialist' knowledge to fix their vehicle, actually gets their vehicle fixed.
However, using the collective knowledge, of an unpaid group of some very knowledgeable , and some helpful and well meaning people on a forum and then charging someone for said knowledge, at the other end, seems a tad off to me. Especially on such a complicated beast as the L322 and her successors
Not forgetting, sometimes information given conflicts, or plain doesn't work, or can point to a fault that, after hours, days, weeks, months, turns out to be incorrect and it was something else instead. Which, when we are chasing faults in our own vehs, or friends' vehs and not charging someone for it is fine and well. However, when it is a business, who quite obviously doesn't have 'specialist knowledge but is taking someone's money for those hours, days, weeks and is using forums such as this,,then it's not right.
I understand double checking by reading up on something, or asking a quick question. However, I personally would be seriously p'd off if my local specialist turned out to be using helpful , knowledgeable , unpaid , enthusiasts to line their pockets , Especially, as they can access the information from the manufacturer by paying for it. In the same way as their customers are paying for the supposed expert, specialist knowledge of the garage.





Off to wait for incoming, wearing an old tin lid and drinking a brew.
View attachment 149455

Who's forces were you in? My cheverons were not upside down.

 

[saxavordian]

A bleedin yank over ere by the looks

 

[gold rover]

Lots of people use the same garages knowing full well they are not specialists, but trust them implicitly, maybe family connections, parents used them for years, yada yada,
but are happy that they will endeavour to find the cheapest route to fix the problem.
Often that is as you say, asking on forums to save lots of ground work.

Much better to find a good general mechanic that isn't scared of t'internet than a crap so called specialist, which you seem to have a knack for finding.



Forums are also a place for mechanics, and on the variety of forums I frequent there are a plethora of garage proprietors who give back regularly.

So I have no issue with what you have highlighted, it's hardly a revelation.

Not sure why you think that bit relevant to anything but then you do like to stir. So before you go back on ignore, where if I'm honest I find the best place for you. I have had my L322 8yrs, in that time I did indeed for a period of around 2yrs struggle to find a knowledgeable / honest mechanic. I would say that says more about mechanics and garages, than it does about me.
However, for the last several years I have had no issues with the garage/s I use. So do try to keep up. I know its hard to do so with your constant distractions, being a Richard seems to take up so much of your time. It explains, though why you are such a collosal one.
I'm going to put you back where you belong now, but for the sake of others, do try to stay on track.

 

[saxavordian]

Actual if a mechanic is using this site for extra information thats more power to his her or gender neutral elbow. with the myriad of vehicles that can turn up at their various garages needing compootahs just fit a dicky light bulb that turns the wiper on or tickles yah bum if it a gay evoque car.

 

[Thor1950]

Actual if a mechanic is using this site for extra information thats more power to his her or gender neutral elbow. with the myriad of vehicles that can turn up at their various garages needing compootahs just fit a dicky light bulb that turns the wiper on or tickles yah bum if it a gay evoque car.

A good mechanic will use all resources available to them so they can do a good job for his customers. My mechanic didn't know how to fit a issue on my diesel ford. Between to 2 of use we found the issue and the fix just be searching the web. You tube had several clips as to how to fit the problem, those that made the you tube were full time mechanics. I was even a ford certified and should how to do the repair along with the short cut for time. the book time for ford was like 3 hrs, his short cuts time was less than a hour

 

[gold rover]

In case I wasnt clear. I'm not referring to ' a mechanic' checking out the odd thing or double checking something. I'm talking about a business, using the forum as their source from start to finish on a job.
The in depth knowledge/ information given freely on here, by certain members , to other members, is , hard won. Perhaps wrongly, I always believed it is owners and enthusiasts trying to help other owners/enthusiasts, keep their vehs on the road, whilst trying not be ripped off by garages. Not a way for businesses to avoid registering for Topix and paying any dues.
If garages/businesses ( not ' a mechanic 'double checking') are getting paid decent amounts of money to do a job, IMHO, they can pay for access to the manufacturer manuals, diagrams, bulletins, etc.
Just my opinion.

 

[Ratae]

Perhaps those businesses that give free advice to people should start to charge for it.
Ashcrofts, Turners etc etc. Me for paint & bodywork....

 

[myfirstl322]

Just to indulge you @gold rover, ( in an un-rude manner hopefully)
(And please accept my apologies for my rudeness, I must have stood too close to you, once)

Let's imagine for one moment that everybody agree's with you, what do you suggest would be the mechanism to stop such business owners from accessing the internet?

 

[myfirstl322]

What's the actual point of the ignore function?

Just for kicks I put goldie on ignore, then proceeded to log out.
Came back onto LZ but didn't log in, and yet I can still see all Goldies posts?

Is this just a "I've petulantly placed my hands over my eyes, therefore I'm invisible"?

 

[gold rover]

Perhaps those businesses that give free advice to people should start to charge for it.
Ashcrofts, Turners etc etc. Me for paint & bodywork....

As businesses you already do, even though you do give something back. It is appreciated that you give something back but, once again , it's not quite the same, is it? Businesses giving something back to the people , that they get business from , and those people knowing the businesses that give something back, so continue to use them, is a symbiotic relationship.
It is not the same as businesses, using forums to take something for nothing, giving nothing in return and to add insult to injury , then charging some poor sod for their 'expertise'.

 

[oakey]

I can see where you are coming fom GR and I agree with symbiosis is the way to go and not take and charge

 

[Wazzajnr]

There are two ways to look at this.
One is @gold rover viewpoint which if taken literally seems a bit off.
The other way to look at it is, let's suppose we have a fault that's difficult to find if said garage hasn't come across it before. You could pay them by the hour for them to search everywhere to find said problem or they could spend 10 minutes on a forum and fix the fault in less than 1 hour.
Now, I would far rather pay for 1 hour of labour than a garage that thinks they know it all and end up charging me for 10 hours.

 

[tomcat59alan]

There are two ways to look at this.
One is @gold rover viewpoint which if taken literally seems a bit off.
The other way to look at it is, let's suppose we have a fault that's difficult to find if said garage hasn't come across it before. You could pay them by the hour for them to search everywhere to find said problem or they could spend 10 minutes on a forum and fix the fault in less than 1 hour.
Now, I would far rather pay for 1 hour of labour than a garage that thinks they know it all and end up charging me for 10 hours.

As long as they only charge you for 1 hour.

 

[Wazzajnr]

As long as they only charge you for 1 hour.

Yes, quite, but that's a chance you take with any garage unless you stand looking over their shoulders.

 

[Moron]

As businesses you already do, even though you do give something back. It is appreciated that you give something back but, once again , it's not quite the same, is it? Businesses giving something back to the people , that they get business from , and those people knowing the businesses that give something back, so continue to use them, is a symbiotic relationship.
It is not the same as businesses, using forums to take something for nothing, giving nothing in return and to add insult to injury , then charging some poor sod for their 'expertise'.

Who does this ?.......I'm curious

 

[myfirstl322]

Off to wait for incoming, wearing an old tin lid and drinking special brew

 

[Grrrrrr]

Last time I went into the Land Rover parts place the kid behind the till said "I ain't being funny but that thing was built before I was born. The oldest vehicle I see in here is about 5 years old. I wouldn't know where to start on that thing." So that leaves indys but most know full well how tricky old electronics and old vehicles can be so they're wary too. I think most of us are just happy to see someone looking after the vehicle and not breaking it for parts. Doesn't really matter if it is DIY mechanic or paying a pro to have a go, as long as it is done right and helps a fellow enthusiast out.

 

[wammers]

There is a balance to be considered here. Listening to some on here your business would be in deep shit PDQ.