dart451 wrote:Would have loved just ordering gaskets but they seem to make it more difficult for the little guy to make it. (Would have been nice to find both gaskets needed without getting items I don't need) I live in a very remote area, population about 300 and I know the people will just go out a buy a new one after a few years if the repair bill gets anywhere substantial. Ya, they will! So I get by with pretty low mechanic fees. I'm retired and don't need the money...just like to keep my hand in it...
It does take a lot of research to find decent vendors. Google has been good to me.
Just can't buy from the local shops here as they were intently over charging and giving bad advice. It has taken me 10 years to get the level that I am now at. I only had a Briggs distributor until last year when TEW shutdown causing me several months of addition expense on parts. You be surprised how many times Amazon can provide parts at a cost below even the distributors; just got to be careful though as some claims parts to be OEM parts when in fact they are selling aftermarket parts. Matter of fact I ordering a couple Carlisle tires Monday that are nearly $20 less apiece and they even include shipping where my distributor wants extra for the shipping. I will be selling them for the same price as the distributor's Chinese tires list price.
As for your fees don't sell yourself short. My brother wanted to do repairs for $10 per hour and lost his shirt tail the first year [over $6000] then he throw his hands up and I got struck competing repairs that he already got paid for as legally I was on the hook as the business was legally in my name. I raise the labor rate to a reasonable amount. Yes I initially lost customers but most have came back now as several of my competitors have also gone under due to poor workmanship. You have to do quality work and you do deserve fair compensation.
Customers will take advantage of you if you let them. I even had a few to try sneaking in equipment saying I didn't fix it right. Sorry I do keep records of my work and the serial numbers.
There also those that will make partial payments for a repair and never finish paying. I got one that just finish paying his previous repair bill after 18 months and I got his mower in the shop now and it will not leave until fully paid this time. It is a policy I put in place because of him and several other deadbeats. I simply don't like being lied to by the customers or the vendors.
The truest measure of society is the how it treats its elderly, its pets, and its prisoners.