Can someone make a website to get mechanics quotes?

CharlieZeroOne

mechanics. they've ripped me off several times. I personally think they are predators.

Anyway.

The website, anyvan, that is a killer website. http://www.anyvan.ie/

I would love to see a website like that for mechanics, where they bid for your business.
somebody please make one!

colm_mcm

I wouldn't assume that the lowest bidder would be as thorough as everyone else.

Parcel delivery is fairly black and white. They either deliver it intact and on time or they don't.

Servicing/repair is a bit more complex as the extent/cost of work/parts/time required can't really be assessed by Joe Soap punter.

Perfect for a job like replacing a headlight, but pointless for anything else IMO

DoctorEdgeWild

Tarring an entire profession as predators seems a bit over the top OP.

Mechanical faults can be too complicated to quote for with basic information provided by a non mechanic.

Example: Someone decides their car is overheating and puts up a job for a radiator replacement. Mechanic quotes and is accepted. In comes the car and it has a dozen problems all linked to the overheating. Does he then get bad feedback because the customer diagnosed the problem incorrectly?

If you're having problems with nechanics, ask for a recommendation on here. A good mechanic is a fantastic thing!

Kenny Logins

There was one, mycarservice.ie, where you could enter the work required and compare prices.

Gone now though, too many variables perhaps?

ianobrien

OP, do you want parts fitted or a mechanic? If its just parts fitted that you specify it might work. For a mechanic to quote for a service forget it.

Take a typical service. If you just want oil, filters etc changed that is not a service. However a service also involves checking brakes, suspension, rubber gaiters etc to check if they will need replacing before the next service. If they need to be changed, they need to be changed. How then can they be changed if the parts fitter only quoted for oil and filter?

There are two or three mechanics that I know that won't quote for work. I have dropped off cars to them to get a couple of jobs done and I know that they will go through the car and report/fix any other problems they find. Then again, I know they take pride in their work and never inflate prices

cletus

ianobrien wrote: »

OP, do you want parts fitted or a mechanic? If its just parts fitted that you specify it might work. For a mechanic to quote for a service forget it.

Take a typical service. If you just want oil, filters etc changed that is not a service. However a service also involves checking brakes, suspension, rubber gaiters etc to check if they will need replacing before the next service. If they need to be changed, they need to be changed. How then can they be changed if the parts fitter only quoted for oil and filter?

There are two or three mechanics that I know that won't quote for work. I have dropped off cars to them to get a couple of jobs done and I know that they will go through the car and report/fix any other problems they find. Then again, I know they take pride in their work and never inflate prices

I'd still expect an initial quote for the work expected to be done, if for no other reason than budgeting for the job, anything extra could obviously be discussed subsequently

ianobrien

cletus wrote: »

I'd still expect an initial quote for the work expected to be done, if for no other reason than budgeting for the job, anything extra could obviously be discussed subsequently

They won't quote as people can come back and say "you quoted" if they find something else wrong. They probably would give rough ball park if you ask but I never do. I trust them to fix it and have always being surprised at how low the final bill was.

Titzon Toast

ianobrien wrote: »

They won't quote as people can come back and say "you quoted" if they find something else wrong. They probably would give rough ball park if you ask but I never do. I trust them to fix it and have always being surprised at how low the final bill was.

Can I have his number please?!

bazz26

This is a bit like doctors setting up a website quoting prices based on what a patient describes they have via a web form. It's fine if you just have a headache but what happens if that headache is the result of something more serious which the doctor has to properly diagnose? Do you still expect to only pay for the original quote of a headache? It just doesn't work in reality.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

My missus has terrible headaches which always start when I get into the bed. Do you think it could be more than just a headache?

Kenny Logins

bazz26 wrote: »

This is a bit like doctors setting up a website quoting prices based on what a patient describes they have via a web form. It's fine if you just have a headache but what happens if that headache is the result of something more serious which the doctor has to properly diagnose? Do you still expect to only pay for the original quote of a headache? It just doesn't work in reality.

..what if mechanics/garages charged €60 for a consultation, just to tell you what's wrong and what you need to do to fix it? :pac:

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

^^^ They do. A diagnostic isn't free.

LordNorbury

Mechanics simply can't win these days.

If a mechanic is doing his job right and using (1) the proper OE quality parts and (2) is properly catching and identifying defects when servicing a vehicle, these two factors will obviously increase the cost of the parts and labour bill.

People need to stop believing in "fixed price servicing", it is simply not possible to fix the price of servicing any vehicle, it has never been possible and never will be possible, because you simply cannot tell what problems may exist within a vehicle until you start servicing it. Anyone who is offering to service a car for 89 Euro or whatever and hand the car back every time without identifying defects, should simply not be let near a car, which brings me onto my next point.

The whole motor industry in this country is completely unregulated. You have an industry that is led by a bunch of hungry bufoons in the SIMI which is nothing other than main dealer led. These people know about absolutely nothing other than new car sales.

Just look at the taxi industry as a case in hand. For a taxi driver to be legally able to stop his/her car at the side of the road and let you into their car and drive you one mile down the road, let's quickly look at the different legal & statutory requirements he/she has to meet:

(1) Be registered with the taxi regulator and carry a PSV license.

(2) Be registered with the Garda Carriage Office.

(3) Be registered with Revenue.

(4) Driver must be able to provide a yearly tax clearance certificate from Revenue before they can renew their taxi license with the taxi regulator.

(5) Driver must maintain an annual taxi license from the regulator.

(6) Driver must be Garda vetted.

(7) Drivers vehicle must undergo 2 yearly NCT tests (the standard NCT test and the taxi suitability test).

The point I'm making is that just off the top of my head, to be able to carry out what is essentially a non skilled type job as a taxi driver, which lets face it, does not require any real skill, you have to stay compliant under at least 7 different statutory/legal headings above and there may be one or two more that I can't think of right now.

However if you wish to remove the drivetrain, transmission, braking system, subframe, engine, steering systems of this taxi drivers vehicle, all of which are safety critical and require a high degree of skill to remove and replace in a competent manner, how many different statutory/legal headings do you need to be compliant under?!?!?

The answer is as scary as it is simple: NONE!!! All you need is one arm and a toolbox. This is why the motor industry in this country is in the state that it is in. This is why you have a huge black market element to the industry and why you have such low standards and such widespread distrust of mechanics. This is what an industry that has been led to date by a shower of vested interest cowboys, has delivered for Irish motorists.

George Dalton

LordNorbury wrote: »

Mechanics simply can't win these days.

If a mechanic is doing his job right and using (1) the proper OE quality parts and (2) is properly catching and identifying defects when servicing a vehicle, these two factors will obviously increase the cost of the parts and labour bill.

Good post. I'll add a third point to the above though because it's also very relevant.

3. If the guy is running a legitimate business and meeting his obligations with revenue then he is obviously going to be more expensive than a fella down the road doing the same work but running a black market "cash only" operation.