The TPU UK Clubhouse

[AusWolf]

me and my Dad used to love Ford, but they have turned into a garbage company. they changed the engine in the 2016 Ford Escapes where the valves have gaps between them to allow for more air, but basically every ford escape 2016 and after ends up needing a new engine replacement after about 60k miles, the old escapes never did, and Ford refuses to do a recall even though they know its their fault. my Dad got burned on this recently as he had a 2017 model. apparently they changed the engine back the way it was with the new 2020+ models... disgusting company. they know full well otherwise they wouldn't have changed back, and if they know full well they should have offered a free recall engine replacement.

I've watched videos on this - but they're all American. This doesn't seem to be an issue in Europe for some reason.

With that said, I'm lucky with my 2016 Fiesta ST. It's a pretty reliable car - changing rubber parts is natural in any car's course of life, so I'm not complaining. However, a mechanic friend of mine told me that from 2017 onwards, with the new 3-cylinder engine, Ford changed the Fiesta ST's dry (normal) timing belt to a wet one that runs through the oil, gets hot, needs to be replaced twice as often (at around 25k miles), and is a pain in the backside to work with. One would think that newer is always better, but this couldn't be further from the truth when it comes to (at least some) cars and car manufacturers.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I am fortunate that my son in law is a mechanic in that sense, seems with the cost of living increases most trades people have doubled their labour costs and increased their mark up on parts.

Some garages I know have started to charge a one off flat fee to even look at your car and diagnose problems or when you book your car in for repairs because some people either wont turn up at all or decide to take their car elsewhere after you've done all the troubleshooting and gone to them with an estimate for the job.

They were losing a lot of time and floor space when they could have been working on other customers cars who were happy to stump up the cash to have work done.

As for the cost of parts. Unfortunately I think this is a global issue. A lot of stuff gets manufactured in China, Taiwan, spain, mexico and all over europe and the cost of manufacturing went up while the amount of units rolling off the production line went down.

Factor in all the cost of export and import duties, retailers cut, Governments cut and then your mechanics cut before the part makes it to your car.

this is horrible. our roof was done in one day and we have a big house. The Mexicans do all the roofing in my area, for everyone and anyone, and they work harder than anyone out there, its crazy how fast they work actually. They make good money, and their food is 10/10, I am happy they are here personally.

Too many unscrupulous tradesmen/conmen in the UK. Not just when it comes to dealing with the Irish ones. We've also had issues dealing with Chinese ones in the past. Chinese builders can be just as bad as the Irish ones when it comes to cheating you out of money thats why you should always try and go with a proper roofing company even if it may cost you a kick in the nuts more to get it done. Work gets done to a higher standard and if dodgy business does happen, then at least there is legal recourse available because everything is on the books.

My family thought dealing with Chinese builders would be better (being Chinese ourselves) but while the craftsmanship is very very good (absolute leagues ahead of the gypsies) They still cant be trusted. started demanding more money while switching out the materials we originally wanted and planned to use with much cheaper/inferior ones so they could line their own pockets or make money elsewhere with it.

 

[AusWolf]

As for the cost of parts. Unfortunately I think this is a global issue. A lot of stuff gets manufactured in China, Taiwan, spain, mexico and all over europe and the cost of manufacturing went up while the amount of units rolling off the production line went down.

Factor in all the cost of export and import duties, retailers cut, Governments cut and then your mechanics cut before the part makes it to your car.

That doesn't explain why my local Ford dealership/garage charges £320 to replace a part that costs £22.50 with delivery at their own webshop.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

That doesn't explain why my local Ford dealership/garage charges £320 to replace a part that costs £22.50 with delivery at their own webshop.

You answered your own question.... "Dealership"

Dealerships are always going to rake your wallet the hardest. Go to an independent mechanic and they'll probably charge a lot less.

 

[Space Lynx]

My family thought dealing with Chinese builders would be better (being Chinese ourselves) but while the craftsmanship is very very good (absolute leagues ahead of the gypsies) They still cant be trusted. started demanding more money while switching out the materials we originally wanted and planned to use with much cheaper/inferior ones so they could line their own pockets or make money elsewhere with it.

My Mom got swindled in this same way with our new roof last year. While it was the Mexicans who do the work and they are amazing, the guy who runs the company is a white guy, big trump fan. I heard him telling my mom he went the extra mile and got the best shingles he could get, cause might as well and they were on a good sale, so I researched it, and the company that made our shingles has 4 tiers of quality for new shingles, ours was you guessed it!!! Ding ding ding, the cheapest tier you can possibly get, he just conned my mom cause she wasn't smart enough.

People fucking suck, honestly I wish the Mexicans ran the business themself but they can't speak English.

As far as the garage thing, I agree with the flat fee just to look at it, I don' blame them one bit.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

That doesn't explain why my local Ford dealership/garage charges £320 to replace a part that costs £22.50 with delivery at their own webshop.

It's the labour charge that is the killer in most places, isn't it £50/hr+ in some places now?

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Dealerships will charge the upper end of the scale because they have more overheads. More staff to pay and all the other bills/fees associated with property rental and of course the utility bills.

Independent mechanics are just mechanics. They might hire a few front of house staff to do bookings and phone calls and maybe an accountant at the end of the year to balance the books and pay whatever they need for property rental and utility bills but that will cost them a lot less then a full on showroom with all the sales staff, admin staff and mechanics etc etc.

As far as the garage thing, I agree with the flat fee just to look at it, I don' blame them one bit

The way it goes - They'll charge a fee to look at it, but if you stay with them and get the work done. they'll put that cost towards the final bill. So its not as if they are just trying to outright fleece you. Just too many people asking for their vehicles to be looked at then not liking the estimate and leaving because they think they can find cheaper elsewhere. Even if it takes a mechanic 1hr to diagnose a fault. Thats still 1hr they could have been working on someone elses car whose already paid up or good for their money.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Some garages I know have started to charge a one off flat fee to even look at your car and diagnose problems or when you book your car in for repairs because some people either wont turn up at all or decide to take their car elsewhere after you've done all the troubleshooting and gone to them with an estimate for the job.

They were losing a lot of time and floor space when they could have been working on other customers cars who were happy to stump up the cash to have work done.

As for the cost of parts. Unfortunately I think this is a global issue. A lot of stuff gets manufactured in China, Taiwan, spain, mexico and all over europe and the cost of manufacturing went up while the amount of units rolling off the production line went down.

Factor in all the cost of export and import duties, retailers cut, Governments cut and then your mechanics cut before the part makes it to your car.





Too many unscrupulous tradesmen/conmen in the UK. Not just when it comes to dealing with the Irish ones. We've also had issues dealing with Chinese ones in the past. Chinese builders can be just as bad as the Irish ones when it comes to cheating you out of money thats why you should always try and go with a proper roofing company even if it may cost you a kick in the nuts more to get it done. Work gets done to a higher standard and if dodgy business does happen, then at least there is legal recourse available because everything is on the books.

My family thought dealing with Chinese builders would be better (being Chinese ourselves) but while the craftsmanship is very very good (absolute leagues ahead of the gypsies) They still cant be trusted. started demanding more money while switching out the materials we originally wanted and planned to use with much cheaper/inferior ones so they could line their own pockets or make money elsewhere with it.

Another reason why, if I start getting any persistent problems with my car I get a new car, if I am going to flush £££ down the toilet I would rather do so buying a new toy. I mean, on a related note, this time last year I had a new (and 20% more efficient) boiler installed, although my old one was pretty old, at the time the guy said that I would need a chemical flush of the central heating system within a year or two as I don't think it had ever been done before and the corrosive sediment that builds up over time in the radiators can kill the boiler, I asked him how much it would cost and he said £250, fast forward a year and I get in touch to book him to do it before the winter sets in and it's now £360

 

[FoulOnWhite]

They don't make(much) money on the parts, they make the money on the vast labour charge. If you just get a oil and filter, there's no way it will cost the parts cost plus a tenner. I worked at a place doing motorcycle repairs as a tech, and the labour there was £40/hr

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Another reason why, if I start getting any persistent problems with my car I get a new car, if I am going to flush £££ down the toilet I would rather do so buying a new toy.

Sometimes it can be many small issues that are fairly cheap to fix/replace depending on the car itself. Certain parts have a lot of cross compatibility between manufacturers. You wont know unless you pull the part of and research model and part numbers and such

 

[Tatty_Two]

Sometimes it can be many small issues that are fairly cheap to fix/replace depending on the car itself. Certain parts have a lot of cross compatibility between manufacturers. You wont know unless you pull the part of and research model and part numbers and such

Yeah, I meant if the issues were significant, that way it helps justifying it to the wife as she hates breaking down

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Yeah, I meant if the issues were significant, that way it helps justifying it to the wife as she hates breaking down

Just get her a Honda Jazz. While you scoot around in the land rover. Problem sorted

 

[FoulOnWhite]

Someone local was selling a VW beetle 1973 in reasonable condition for just over £2k, very nice.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

The way it goes - They'll charge a fee to look at it, but if you stay with them and get the work done. they'll put that cost towards the final bill. So its not as if they are just trying to outright fleece you. Just too many people asking for their vehicles to be looked at then not liking the estimate and leaving because they think they can find cheaper elsewhere. Even if it takes a mechanic 1hr to diagnose a fault. Thats still 1hr they could have been working on someone elses car whose already paid up or good for their money.

Lol. You just described my job, but we can't charge for estimates.

It's for buildings not cars though.

Another reason why, if I start getting any persistent problems with my car I get a new car, if I am going to flush £££ down the toilet I would rather do so buying a new toy. I mean, on a related note, this time last year I had a new (and 20% more efficient) boiler installed, although my old one was pretty old, at the time the guy said that I would need a chemical flush of the central heating system within a year or two as I don't think it had ever been done before and the corrosive sediment that builds up over time in the radiators can kill the boiler, I asked him how much it would cost and he said £250, fast forward a year and I get in touch to book him to do it before the winter sets in and it's now £360

All steel pipe?

To an American, residential boilers are somewhat remarkable.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

but we can't charge for estimates.

Why not? Lots of companies will have a call out fee/charge.

Although it depends how much work has gone into it. If I was the mechanic and a fault took me less then 5mins to diagnose I'd probably waive the fee. I don't think it's fair for me to take money off you when I found the issue so quickly but diagnosing car issues can often take much much longer and you might even need to get the car up on a lift and start taking it apart. Imagine going through all that and handing the customer an estimate and they leave with the car because they think youre ripping them off? When a lot of manual labour is involved. You should charge.

But if youre surveying a property and only taking notes on a notepad I can understand why you wouldn't care about charging the customer.

At the end of the day you're paying for someone's knowledge and skillset and they should be paid if manual labour is involved

 

[freeagent]

I know I am a Westerner, but I work with a guy from Boston. He moved here when he was a kid and his accent was gone pretty quick. He is 30 now.

He can fight, and can throw a football. Good bloke.

My buddys uncle was from here, but moved to Nottingham when he was a kid, then came back 25 years ago. He recently passed away, but his accent was mighty thick.

Lol he loved to fight too.

Anyways.. just passing through

 

[Macro Device]

his accent was mighty thick

Just like mine (Russian first, Ukrainian second, English third). I'm trying to improve but without vast exposure (I'm still in Post-USSR) it's kinda hard to achieve when you're close to your 30s.

And no, not a clue why I am in this thread.

 

[Count von Schwalbe]

Why not? Lots of companies will have a call out fee/charge.

Commercial construction - nature of the industry. It's a fight to charge when you design the whole dang building let alone an estimate that only takes you a week or so to put together.

 

[Space Lynx]

my friends in England really want me to visit again, checked air bnb... my god what has happened to air bnb, seems like every month I wait it goes up in price again, utter madness. maybe I will just get a tent and say fuck it, as long as i find an elevated spot in the woodlands i should be alright, its not like i have to worry about bears there. just have to worry about the odd pissed lad coming from the pub. but i been working out so i can probably handle an incompetent wanker from time to time.

 

[FoulOnWhite]

my friends in England really want me to visit again, checked air bnb... my god what has happened to air bnb, seems like every month I wait it goes up in price again, utter madness. maybe I will just get a tent and say fuck it, as long as i find an elevated spot in the woodlands i should be alright, its not like i have to worry about bears there. just have to worry about the odd pissed lad coming from the pub. but i been working out so i can probably handle an incompetent wanker from time to time.

Camping out in the UK in autumn/winter is no fun, it can get pretty cold here.

 

[freeagent]

Like frozen river cold, or man that wind from the Atlantic really sucks cold?

I bathed in the Atlantic once. If I can avoid it next time, I will

 

[FoulOnWhite]

Like frozen river cold, or man that wind from the Atlantic really sucks cold?

I bathed in the Atlantic once. If I can avoid it next time, I will

Probably usually 5/6 degrees cold, it's quite warm here though atm, which is unusual.

 

[Tatty_Two]

Like frozen river cold, or man that wind from the Atlantic really sucks cold?

I bathed in the Atlantic once. If I can avoid it next time, I will

You wanna try bathing in the South Atlantic off the coast of the Falkland Islands

 

[freeagent]

You wanna try bathing in the South Atlantic off the coast of the Falkland Islands

My outtie turned into an innie real quick! Faster than a good 0-60 time I am sure

 

[Tatty_Two]

My outtie turned into an innie real quick! Faster than a good 0-60 time I am sure

It took me 2 weeks to find mine afterwards.