shop spectators

[tpolley]

i work at a auto care center on weekends. i do tires and oil changes. they have a big window between the lube/tire bays and the customer waiting area. it really bugs me when customers stand at the window and watch me work. does anyone else deal with this? how do you work around it?? some times they go so far as to stand at the garage door to watch, which really bugs me.

 

[krusty the clown]

it's something you have to get used too........i usually don't mind a guy watching since i have nothing to hide, BUT i have refused to work on some vehicles if the customer is an ***.......

i had one boss tell a guy "best you go home, he ain't gonna work on it anymore if you don't"

 

[daveblank]

Does all them people looking in the windows make you feel like a fish in a fishbowl?

 

[T56 Impala]

I am one of those people! I will watch ANYONE working on my cars like a Hawk! Sorry it bugs you, but poor workmanship bugs me more. In some cases, it can be deadly! I could go on but lets just say I'm lucky to still have my mother around after a BAD brake job.

 

[X1 Mike]

Try working at a really large Harley dealer right in front of the window, I'm in quite a few peoples home videos and pictures.

 

[posaune]

I am one of those people! I will watch ANYONE working on my cars like a Hawk! Sorry it bugs you, but poor workmanship bugs me more. In some cases, it can be deadly! I could go on but lets just say I'm lucky to still have my mother around after a BAD brake job.

I agree. I've had a car damaged too many times by someone at a dealer. The response is usually "I didn't do it." I'd rather prevent them from putting a part/tool/tester on my roof than complain about it afterwards and then have to take out the scratches/dents.

Fortunately I've been doing my own stuff for nearly ten years- it is too much stress to take the cars somewhere else!

 

[uhcrandy]

I understand that the mechanic would like to be left alone. We all feel that way with our work. I am a amature mechanic. I work on all my own stuff. I will not do tranmissions. Sometimes I will have shops I know do work I would rather just pay to have done. If you dont want me to watch, There are other shops. On the other hand, I understand that its not my place to tell you how to do a job,...Or teach Me. I respect a good craftsman, no matter what they do for a living. I admire Krusty for no working on an asses car...

Randy

 

[nissan_crawler]

I agree. I've had a car damaged too many times by someone at a dealer. The response is usually "I didn't do it." I'd rather prevent them from putting a part/tool/tester on my roof than complain about it afterwards and then have to take out the scratches/dents.

Fortunately I've been doing my own stuff for nearly ten years- it is too much stress to take the cars somewhere else!

Easy solution there, take thorough pictures of your vehicle, with the newspaper for that day before you take it in. I don't get the paper, but every time it goes to the dealer, I go buy one and take pictures inside and out.

It's got me a new glovebox, door panel, and steering wheel trim pieces.

"My mechanic says he didn't do it, and I believe him." "Oh really Sherlock? Care to explain how this picture with today's newspaper clearly shows there is NOT a scratch in it?" "Uhhhhh...duhhhhh...er...ummm...well..." "Uh-huh, you'll be ordering the parts today and showing me proof of the order."

As for the window thing, I got used to it. Customers used to stare all the time when I did tires/oil. Whatever, didn't bug me. Customers come out to their planes all the time to watch. If they stay out of my damn way, I don't care.

 

[Diesel-Mech]

I don't have a issue with being watched through the windows and some times if I found the guy tolerable I would even leave the bay door open to chat or answer questions. It was the guys that thought they were going to follow me around the bay, or crawl up in the cab with me while I was working, or that thought they could stay in the sleeper while I was working that I had issues with and I politely kicked many of them out of the shop and not so politely had the foreman do it a few times.

 

[Mike83]

I spent two years as a construction engineer/inspector on a bridge job. It was my job to watch over people's shoulders as they worked! It was weird at times - I often wanted to lend a hand and sometimes did - but the guys there knew it was my job to watch them. And after all, the longevity and safety of the bridge is at stake. Even if a carpenter or laborer made an innocent mistake or common shortcut, it could affect the final product and I called them on it. In the same sense, I think customers should have the right to watch their vehicle be serviced by someone they are paying good money.

 

[jsaw]

Only time it bothers me is if I'm doing something I have never done berore, or if I'm having trouble with something.
A lot of times people dont trust anyone to work on their car, & with some of the stuff that goes on today, I dont blame them.
Most of the time people are just curious about their car & what is going on with it.
I explain what I am doing & answer questions that they have. by showing them that you have nothing to hide from them you gain their trust. I've had quite a few customers over the years that only want me to work on their vehicles.

 

[Kevin54]

Some don't trust someone working on their car, some wonders how much longer it is going to take, and some are just plain curious as to how it is getting fixed. Best thing to do is put the other people out of your mind. Don't feel as if they are watching because of trust, just look at it as you are the expert and they are just curious because they couldn't do it. I can have someone standing right over my shoulder and ask questions and it doesn't bother me. But if they start to act smart and try to tell me how to do the work, then it is a completely different ballgame there.
But then on the other hand, I had to take my Blazer into a Lube joint to get my oil changed until I am healed enough to do it myself. So I kept a close eye on them all and was standing up against the dividing railing. Everyone has been at one, one time or another. They check lights, air filter, differential, etc. So when I pay my bill the guy has all of this checked off as complete. It wasn't. The guy in the pit never checked the differential, the guy on top never checked the air filter or the windshield washer. Then it wasn't vacuumed as it should have been. After a little argument with the bossman, and I told him I had been standing there checking everything, they went and did it. I don't go to them if don't need to, but my wife insist on taking her Toyota there. I always make sure a dollar is laying somewhere in site to see if it comes up missing. It has happened once.

 

[WSMC633]

Good Topic. As a few on here know, I own a high Performance Motorcycle shop. We built a large door to keep customers out of the shop area. Though, most of the time it is open and people are more than welcome to come back, hang out, watch, chat or whatever. We do really good work and we have nothing to hide. However, there are some customer, that as much as I appreciate their business, I don't appreciate them all that much so the locking door comes in handy. Some jobs I also really want to concentrate on and it's difficult for me to do so if someone is talking to me. So, closing people out of the shop area helps a lot. I've also found that my productivity drops if customers are chatting with me.

i will admit though, that anytime I take my truck or cars in for some type of service I try to keep an eye on the tech. Mostly because I understand that most jobs are flat rated and they're rushing to get on to the next job. It's easy to overlook something when your rushing.

 

[garfunkle24]

The mainline ag dealership I worked at used to let customers (ie farmers) freely enter the shop, hang out and watch mechanics work on their stuff (which bugs the **** out of me). If the owner wanted to talk or watch me I would COMPLETELY stop, put my tools down and engage him fully until he left. They got the hint pretty quick when they realised yiou were still punched in on their work order, shooting the breeze...

As someone else said, it's even more annoying when you're doing something you haven't done before or aren't a 100% sure of.

 

[Chris Adams]

I never minded, I would talk with the customers, be friendly. Made them ask for me when they came back, which is always a plus.

I also never minded explaining what I was doing, which seemed to help.
I've had total jerks who would glare at you the whole time, but I just figured it went with the territory.

Now I watch if I have to have something done, but I am always friendly, smiling.

I've been invited out on the floor lots of times, by mechanics that don't even know me, even ended up handing guys tools after we get to know each other.

I approach it as a professional would, understanding the guy is working, doing a job as fast as he can, and I don't slow them down or interrupt with questions. Helps that I know what they are doing, of course.

When having some recall work done I printed out a sheet of what needed to be done from the TSB then left it on the seat, since I could not watch the job at that dealership.

When I picked up the vehicle the mechanic had used my notes, marked each thing off and added a couple little notes back to me.
You better believe I gave him a nice feedback when the dealership called me.

 

[walrus]

I work on gas pumps, everyone and his brother watches me. I could care less. What does bug me, if there are 4 pumps in a location, 3 are working fine, without question the one I'm working on is the one people pull up to, cones, signs, nothing stops them.

 

[garfunkle24]

I think part of my problem is that my customers are all farmers. No offense intended to farmers as I'm a 5th generation farmer myself. Any fellow ag techs would probably agree with the following generalisations:

1. Farmers are cheap/tight/frugal
2. Farmers fancy themselves as mechanics
3. Farmers hate to admit they don't know how to fix it themselves
4. 60 year old farmers don't like 20 year olds working on their stuff

As I said, these are generalisations. However (aimed at Mr. Farmer), if you think I need your advice on how to do the job better/faster/cheaper, why am I doing it?

 

[krusty the clown]

living in rural missouri i understand completely.............

 

[goodfellow]

Most mechanics don't mind it when I show up (even the tire store jockeys). I stay out of their way, shoot the breeze on some interesting topics, they point out potential problems that may come down the pike; then before leaving I always leave them a good tip for allowing me to look over their shoulder.

Seems to work!!

 

[Skyline]

There is a very nice classic car repair shop in my town, specializing in brit cars, that has a long T shaped shop. The base of the T is 2 wide X 3 or 4 bays in a line, and one wall is glass floor to ceiling. The other side of the glass is the customer waiting room and the owner's office. I guess the employees get used to being observed, but it is certainly one of the coolest looking shops I have ever seen. The sense of order in the work area is quite good and adds to the effect. Usually some cool old cars in various state of restoration as well.

 

[voidifused]

I wish i had a window.. Until i strike up a flame people are like shadows! its getting better now that heath and safety is cracking down, i wish for a day were i can work in my dark damp corner in peace

 

[nissan_crawler]

If the owner wanted to talk or watch me I would COMPLETELY stop, put my tools down and engage him fully until he left. They got the hint pretty quick when they realised yiou were still punched in on their work order, shooting the breeze...

That's always been one of my sticking points. Watching is ok if you stay out of the way, but once they start playing 21 questions, I immediately stop working and politely tell them that "I can either work on your airplane, or answer any questions you have, but I won't do both at the same time for the safety of me working, and you flying. I have no problems at all talking with you and answering questions if that's what you want, I just won't do both."

Some say ok and shut up, some are willing to pay shop rate for me to explain things. It doesn't matter to me either way, I'm still getting paid.

 

[orangeastre]

I am a mobile electronics installer and for me there is nothing more frustrating than a customer standing over me while I am laying on my back underneath the dashboard.I can appreciate people wanting to see what is going on and whatnot but I have seen some costly boo-boo's over the years caused by customer's in the install bay.

On the other side of the coin though I have had some service work done at a local Toyota dealership and really wish I could have been present to watch the catastrophe unfolding.

I think nissan_crawler and garfunkle nailed it with putting the tools down and starting to chat,I will have to try that.

 

[ephotrod]

I am on the other side of this all. I am the one usually watching but i do it from the bay door outside no matter weather conditions. I keep my mouth shut except when i see something blatantly wrong. (which has happened only once) At the end of it all i usually offer to buy the guy a soda and or say thank you for the service.
In doing this the oil jockey has come to know me and doesn't mind at all and invites me in, but i tend to just stay outside. (he does expect the soda now Sunkist)
I feel like many others have stated if you stay out of the way with your mouth shut there should be no problem watching.
Josh

 

[Lookin4'67Galaxieconv]

Most of the time people are just curious about their car & what is going on with it.
I explain what I am doing & answer questions that they have. by showing them that you have nothing to hide from them you gain their trust. I've had quite a few customers over the years that only want me to work on their vehicles.

That's me...if it's allowed, I like to stand off to the side and just watch what they're doing. I keep my mouth shut most of the time, unless they're doing something I don't really understand...then when there's a good opportunity, I'll ask them about it.

If I'm waiting in the lobby while the car is in the service area, I try to get a seat where I can keep an eye on it. Once they told me my truck was ready to go, but I didn't remember seeing them rotate the tires like they were supposed to. Sure enough, when I questioned the guy behind the counter, he called out there and they hadn't done it.

Trust but verify!

 

[nissan_crawler]

I am on the other side of this all. I am the one usually watching but i do it from the bay door outside no matter weather conditions. I keep my mouth shut except when i see something blatantly wrong. (which has happened only once) At the end of it all i usually offer to buy the guy a soda and or say thank you for the service.
In doing this the oil jockey has come to know me and doesn't mind at all and invites me in, but i tend to just stay outside. (he does expect the soda now Sunkist)
I feel like many others have stated if you stay out of the way with your mouth shut there should be no problem watching.
Josh

You wouldn't bug me at all doing that. Hell, I do that when I take my vehicle for service.

 

[caper]

With me I suppose it depends on the customer,some are ok some annoy the hell out of me.Depends on my mood(I can be a cranky pr*ck).I worked at 1 dealership where they used to let customers in the bays,used to drive me nuts,everytime you turned around you'd bang into one.Told the service manager he was going to have to keep them out of my way.He didn't think much of it until he saw a customer with a shirt full of grease.He kept getting in my way while doing a break job so I turned around quick after packing a bearing and "bumped" into his nice clean white shirt.They kinda kept them away after that.

 

[Leonard 95]

Yea, I can't stand when people try to come in the shop and watch. I don't mind if they want to see or view the part I am replacing, but after that gtfo. I don't want to show all my trade secrets.

 

[shovel]

Hold on a minute fellas, I am that guy! Yeah, I like to watch and learn. If the car or truck is on a lift or if the wheels are off, I'm inspecting rotors, brake pads, and looking for leaks. If I see anything odd, I ask questions. I usually tell the guys what & why I'm snooping, and then get the heck out of their way. If they are nice or helpful, I leave them a box of pies. (My son distributes fried pies so I have them at my disposal) If they have an attitude or try to BS me, I take my business elsewhere. Now that I think about it, the only place that I had any problems or friction was Walmart oil changes. Haven't done that in many moons though!

I work at a chemical plant as a process operator. When making my rounds, I'll stop and watch the construction or maintenance crews, sometimes giving them a hand. Other times they all stop what they are doing and stare at me until I move along. I know that I don't like clowns standing around watching me work, but then again if I'm paying for it, then I feel like I have that right.

I guess the key here is to stay out of the mechanics way. If I feel like I'm making somebody uncomfortable, I'll back off. Interesting thread. Y'all are making me rethink my actions.

shovel

 

[Paladin]

It's always the guy that thinks he's a gunsmith that drives me nuts. At least with a car, the owner can stand back and watch. Try working on a pistol. The owner standing right over your shoulder so he can see what's going on. I guess much like a car, there is a lot of "mystery" for the guy whose never seen it done. In my shop, we only work on guns behind closed doors. Too much distraction and a spring is in your eye, or even worse, something gets reassembled incorrectly. I also will answer questions, but not while I'm working.

 

[bushhawg73]

I believe that the reason we do not want people looking over our shoulder while we work is that they may not understand the method we use to get the job done. The onlooker may not understand a mechanic knocking out ball joints with a 3LB sledge even though that is how it is done on some models.

I work in law enforcement, crime scene to be specific. In some cases I will tolerate onlookers but there are cases that the area gets cleared while I work. My agency responds to all deaths. There is a method that I have to work the scene. The body is just another fixture, like a table. Cruel, cold and without feeling is how some would view my attitude. I can not fix that or even begin to explain to a greiving spouse why I did somthing at a suicide scene. They would not understand. I know working a death is different that changing oil but there is a process that we all take to do our job. We all have a mindset or gameplan and when that is interupted somthing may get missed. In both cases that could cause someone to get hurt. My hats off to all who work in an enviroment where that are under the microscope. I believe that you are better for it even though it is a PITA sometimes.

 

[jay50]

I have a rule of thumb for onlookers while I'm wrenching; the price of the repair goes up as long as you keep distracting me.

.....they haven't figured out my rule in most cases....LOL

 

[krusty the clown]

labor rates at my shop are
$40 an hour
$50 if you watch
$60 if you help
$70 if you worked on it first

 

[orangeastre]

A sign I saw on a service station wall years ago read,
$40.00 per hour.
$65.00 per hour if you watch.
$100.00 per hour if you help.
$150.00 per hour if you have started the job and buggered it up.
$200.00 per hour if your "buddy" said this is how it should be done.

and no we don't loan tools.


EDIT:krusty had the same thought and got it typed out faster

 

[JeepsAreBuilt]

$60 if you help

thats not a bad deal !

 

[Fedwrench]

I know a car is usually a person's second largest purchase next to their home. I also know that due to bad press, a few dishonest techs, and fear of the unknown, people don't trust mechanics. I think it's one thing to have a window into a shop but, when people start tapping on the window or cause the mechanic to spend valuable flat rate time answering questions, then the window might not be such a good idea for the shop's and tech's bottom lines.

 

[garfunkle24]

My favorite is when they tie up your time with endless questions etc and then ***** about the labour bill afterwards...

 

[Stuey]

Nissan, thanks for the newspaper photo tip!

I've got to admit, I'm that guy as well. Why? Taking the car in for service bores the hell out of me! I don't bug the guy(s) working on my car, and if I have a question, I ask the guy at the desk.

If something I wasn't aware of needs fixing, I politely ask to see the part(s) in question, if possible. Most times, I'm escorted into the shop and given a better picture about what the mechanic's talking about. Usually nobody minds, and not only do I learn something, but it cuts through the boredom.

 

[Joe B.]

I don't want to start an argument here but I have been burned by too many mechanics and dealers not to monitor them closely. I don't know how much of this is incompetence and how much is dishonesty but I know both are involved. I'm sure everyone on here that is a pro does a great job and takes pride in their work but they can't be representative of the industry as a whole. This is the main reason I taught myself to fix my own cars. On the rare occasion that I take a car in for someone else to work on, I do everything I can to monitor the quality of work.

The thing that makes me the maddest is thinking back to the number of times that I was taken advantage of when I was young, poor and could not do the work myself. If some dealer charged $200 for work they did not even do at this stage of my life I could write a check and hardly notice the impact at the end of the month. When I was younger I had trouble paying rent because of this dishonesty.

I know some here may not like it but at least some nosy customers were created by the history of poor service.

 

[Danglerb]

Windows and lack of them are what convinced me to work on my own cars.