Customer wants me to fix his broken window?

L67James

L67James

New member
Joined
Jan 9, 2014
Messages
48
Reaction score
0
Hey Geeks,

So I was contracted to do a job last week, a sticker removal on an advertising van, including cut and polish and interior detail. Near the end of the detail, I wound down the window a touch (I'm sure you all know why), and when I went to wind it back up it wouldn't go past an inch or two from the top.

I promptly called the customer (who was interstate) and asked what the trick was to close the window. He told me there's nothing wrong with the window and there's no trick. I told him what was happening and let him know I would look into what the cause was.

After opening the door card, I found out that the teeth on the drive gear for the electric window had 4 or 5 that were worn down, and no longer catching. I called him back and let him know that that would need to be fixed, and while he sounded upset, that was that.

3 days later (after paying me with a check from his father when he said he'd pay cash) he texted me about how disappointed he was and that it was "disgusting that I would return the car like that" to him. I told him that I'm upset that hes disappointed, but that damage caused by wear and tear on a vehicle isn't my concern and that the damage was not caused as a direct result of my actions, therefore I', not liable. He's pretty mad.

Am I in the right here? As far as I see it, if I took my car to the mechanic and it got a flat, it wouldn't be the mechanics job to buy a new tire.

Thanks in advance,

James
 
Sounds like it's not your problem. Nothing that you did during the course of detailing the vehicle would have damaged the window mechanism as you described. This person seems to be trying to scam you.

Sent from my N9810 using AG Online
 
Certainly you're in the right. Don't sweat it. This is not uncommon.
 
it's not your fault and you're not liable. it was very courteous of you to call him and let him know when it happened. too bad it seems like he doesn't appreciate that or understand it's not your fault.

tough tits for him. he'll have to get over it.
 
Sounds like the part in question was just plain worn out. My spin would be like an old battery going dead after x amount of years.
Paying for something worn out isn't your responsibility.
 
Your fault or not it's still your reputation
It's easy for someone to just get on line and write up a a bad report on you and then you need to protect you name from there
I would check to see how much the repair was and if possible to pay for it, or at the minimum offer to pay half
 
I wouldn't let it get to you,easier said then done,there is always gonna be someone out there looking to get over on you. Judging by your reactions you seem like a stand up guy who clearly takes pride in his craft.
 
Richard Perkins said:
Your fault or not it's still your reputation
It's easy for someone to just get on line and write up a a bad report on you and then you need to protect you name from there
I would check to see how much the repair was and if possible to pay for it, or at the minimum offer to pay half
Click to expand...

If the detailer displayed gross negligence and pushed down on the open window while it was cracked to clean the edge of the glass (which inturn caused one tooth to break) then maybe, but to see that the whole mechanism was worn out and multiple teeth were in various states of disrepair, there is no reason he should have to be responsible.

But this is the reason why a detailer should not open a window to clean the edge. Its not because they are being lazy, its because the good detailer knows that a customer may pull this kind of stunt. Having worked in an independent repair shop, unless opening the window was critical for the repair, we had a policy of not opening a customers window for this very reason.

Next time, to protect yourself, have a form that you and the customer use upon vehicle arrival. Have it state that you are not responsible for the vehicle's mechanicals while in your possession. Also inspect the vehicle when it arrives and have the customer actuate the windows to ensure that they all indeed work. If they refuse to do so, you refuse to roll them down for complete cleaning.
 
You shouldn't have broken his window.



















Just kidding, but keep in mind, now he can easily go online and write a bad review which you don't want. What is the cost of the gear? Is it something you could change easily? If it is something that is low cost, just take care of it. It turns a situation that can only be bad into a potentially positive one.
 
Thanks for all the replies guys!

You're all thinking along the same terms as me, it wasn't a part of the detailing process or negligence on my behalf that caused the problem, therefore I'm not liable.

As some of you said, I feel it is my duty to uphold my reputation. I've told the guy I will talk to him in person on Wednesday, and I'm going to first offer a discount rate on his Hummer that he DID want done. If that doesn't work, I'll offer $50 to the repair, in a show of good faith and to let him know I value my reputation as an honest and reliable detailer.

Hopefully once he calms down he will see it from my point of view. I can understand why he's upset, yet I don't see how I should be the one who bares the brunt of the repair.

Thanks AG fam!
 
Don't pay a penny for it. It is not your fault mechanical damage was found during your unrelated process. That's like finding a nail in a clients tire and them asking you to replace the tire because you cleaned and dressed it. Let him be mad and move on.

I've had clients get upset because they were paying for an AIO and a two foot long key scratch wasn't removed in the process. Told them to have the door repainted and there was nothing I could do. They were still mad. Move on and go to the next one. You can never make people with that mindset completely happy.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using AG Online
 
smokinfastlegend said:
But this is the reason why a detailer should not open a window to clean the edge. Its not because they are being lazy, its because the good detailer knows that a customer may pull this kind of stunt. Having worked in an independent repair shop, unless opening the window was critical for the repair, we had a policy of not opening a customers window for this very reason.

Next time, to protect yourself, have a form that you and the customer use upon vehicle arrival. Have it state that you are not responsible for the vehicle's mechanicals while in your possession. Also inspect the vehicle when it arrives and have the customer actuate the windows to ensure that they all indeed work. If they refuse to do so, you refuse to roll them down for complete cleaning.
Click to expand...

I usually do follow this protocol. Things like that I usually avoid just in case. In this one instance however the customer stated he wanted it "like no one had ever driven it", so I decided to roll it down. Alas, it didn't turn out well!

Worst feeling when you're trying to do something good for someone and it turns south!
 
I would nicely tell him to stick it. Not your fault, we have people all the time try to blame us for anything that goes wrong on their property from us going in to get there trash. I would rather lose the business then let them get away with it because you will lose them anyways or they will pull the same BS again and again.

Reminds me of this scene.
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wpFrdevEhs]Tommy Boy Car door scene - YouTube[/video]
 
I would not touch another car of his at any price. Someone like him who has no ability to think from another perspective is not the kind of person you want to do business with. He has already been talking to people and the damage is already done but I don't think this is going to hurt you too bad. It would be different if it was something people would think was you fault. He may even have known about it and trying to stick you with it anyways. You could send him to a reputable glass shop and have them explain it was not caused by you but in my experience there are some people you cant help and he sound like one of them.
 
This is why PRE-INSPECTION is an absolutely HUGE part of our job. I always am trying to urge this to others and everyone around me in our industry, if you dont inspect first hand with the customer there, then it is your fault. Not saying you did this at all, but what i am saying is that you did not know about it and it happened while you were moving the window, then in their eyes it becomes "your fault." thats just the way these type of people see things.
i have dealt with this time and time again :/ there isnt an easy way around it thats why when i speak to potentials i tell them i need to pre-inspect the vehicle before i start, then if they try to rush off once you have made contact you should be suspicious. i always ask "is anything broken, damaged, anything i need to worry about or be careful around?" I will then go around the entire vehicle, make a checklist it helps, just playing with things and doing a really good inspection of every piece you will be interacting with while inspecting what you will be detailing. you dont know these people from adam or eve, and unless you trust them immediately or they were referred by someone you know very well, i watch them like a hawk and try to learn as much as possible with the time i have around them!
Happy detailing and hopefully this will provide some good insight!
 
That stinks. I probably wouldn't have opened the door card for fear of breaking a clip, losing a screw, etc... just called him and said what happened.

Why don't you offer to fix his window regulator or pay for his next tank of gas (in the Hummer) - but you'll do whichever costs less. Maybe that'll put it in perspective for him ;-)

(just kidding, of course)
 
L67James said:
I usually do follow this protocol. Things like that I usually avoid just in case. In this one instance however the customer stated he wanted it "like no one had ever driven it", so I decided to roll it down. Alas, it didn't turn out well!

Worst feeling when you're trying to do something good for someone and it turns south!
Click to expand...
I know I wouldn't even have offered to pay in the first place...But:
If you decide to go ahead and pay (one way or another) for a "gear-repair"...Expect to pay for a new window glass.

At least that's what it will take to have this component of the vehicle look "like no one had ever driven it".

Wanna bet he'll accuse you, and hold you responsible for the glass getting "all scratched-up" during any repair...by you or anyone else?!?!

Then it'll be the window seal(s). Then a screwed-up door card. Then a ding on the door during the repairs. Etc., etc., etc.!!!


Bob
 
I've decided in my head to be assertive but understandable, try and get him to see from my point of view etc.

But as people have said he sounds like the kind of guy who will never be happy unless you give him a new car, so I might steer clear of a discounted rate for another vehicle...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top