<VV> Restoration - DIY is $atisfying <-- one for Guinness !!!!!

[Charles Lee]

You should record that anomaly for Guinness (no, not the beer, but maybe 
that too) !

I recently got estimates for a head gasket (non-Corvair) from $800 to $1500

The guy who wanted $1500 said he'd rather charge too much than nickel and
dime me later.

I asked him if he would charge less if it took less time, and he looked at
me like I was nuts, which of course I'd have to be to expect him to lower
the price after I agreed to his "logic" ?!?!?!?

He actually thought that logic would work ?  Does it ?  Maybe I'm in the
wrong business, since Barnum seems to have nailed it !

To paraphrase Barnum "It's bad business to allow fools to keep their money"
or more succinctly, "Fools are fair game" and Darwin was right !  (OK, that
was Spencer but that's another story)

Charlie


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "J R Read_HML" <hmlinc at sbcglobal.net>
To: "Charles Lee" <Chaz at ProperProper.com>; <virtualvairs at corvair.org>; "Tony
Underwood" <tony.underwood at cox.net>
Sent: Sunday, August 08, 2010 1:18 PM
Subject: Re: <VV> Restoration - DIY is $atisfying


> That one is sort of funny to me.
>
> I once took a Vair for 4 wheel alignment to Firestone.  Had made sure
> everything turned as it should before hand.  They agreed to do the work,
> but not at the flat rate, they would charge for the time required instead.
> I had all the specs with me and "oversaw" the work.  I ended up paying
> (don't recall for certain $10 - maybe $15) LESS than their standard "book"
> rate. Grinned all the way home.
>
> So, while I did not personally align the car, I came away from the
> experience with a satisfaction similar to DIY.
>
> Later, JR
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Charles Lee" <Chaz at ProperProper.com>
>
>> 1a) the Flat Rate Manual - in my experience - tells me (a) the minimum I
>> will be charged, because they will not charge less (especially if you've
>> already agreed to pay more)
>>
>>
>> So, DIY is so much more satisfying on $o-o-o-o many levels !
>>
>> Charlie
>>
>
>