What's up with Lakes Region Merchants?

[MarkinNH]

Originally Posted by TomC

I was rather disappointed that the local "neighborhood" garage basically told me to take a hike. This could have been one of those "good guy garage stories", but instead i'll never be able to recommend them. A shame...

Sure sounds like a put down to me. The ONLY reason you have to Not recommend Cliffords is out of spite. Because they wouldn't drop what they were doing and fix your car. If they had fixed it incorrectly, then you would have a legitimate reason to "not recommend" them.
Those of us who live and work year round here, are all grateful for the income that comes our way from the out of state seasonal residents and the tourist trade and none of us like to or want to turn away work. Sometimes it is the only proper thing to do when your plate is currently full. Trying to take on a job you know you Really don't have time for, but you agree to it because the person is in a bind, isn't being honest to the person in the bind nor is it fair to customers with previously booked work.
Even a 30 minute repair, which in reality will probably burn up an hour, means that everything else previously booked and promised now gets shoved back an hour. As Greens Basin Girl already said. I to would be mad, if I went to pick my truck up, needing it for work etc., assuming it would be ready per agreement, only to find out that it isn't ready because the mechanic walked away from my job so as to accommodate somebody who drifted in off the street wanting and needing his car fixed right away.
Chris ( yes I have known him for 20+ yrs.) was not telling you to take a hike. He was being honest and up front.
Would you have preferred him to say, Sure I can fix it, Come back in an hour. Then when you return you find out he hasn't touched it yet because he was trying to help out Another person in off the street ? I don't think so.
Sometimes you just have to say No I can't do it, I just don't have time. I am glad you were able to get your repair made. I am also sorry that you now have a poor opinion about a local business that did nothing wrong.

[Lucky1]

Originally Posted by MarkinNH

Sure sounds like a put down to me. The ONLY reason you have to Not recommend Cliffords is out of spite. Because they wouldn't drop what they were doing and fix your car. If they had fixed it incorrectly, then you would have a legitimate reason to "not recommend" them.
Those of us who live and work year round here, are all grateful for the income that comes our way from the out of state seasonal residents and the tourist trade and none of us like to or want to turn away work. Sometimes it is the only proper thing to do when your plate is currently full. Trying to take on a job you know you Really don't have time for, but you agree to it because the person is in a bind, isn't being honest to the person in the bind nor is it fair to customers with previously booked work.
Even a 30 minute repair, which in reality will probably burn up an hour, means that everything else previously booked and promised now gets shoved back an hour. As Greens Basin Girl already said. I to would be mad, if I went to pick my truck up, needing it for work etc., assuming it would be ready per agreement, only to find out that it isn't ready because the mechanic walked away from my job so as to accommodate somebody who drifted in off the street wanting and needing his car fixed right away.
Chris ( yes I have known him for 20+ yrs.) was not telling you to take a hike. He was being honest and up front.
Would you have preferred him to say, Sure I can fix it, Come back in an hour. Then when you return you find out he hasn't touched it yet because he was trying to help out Another person in off the street ? I don't think so.
Sometimes you just have to say No I can't do it, I just don't have time. I am glad you were able to get your repair made. I am also sorry that you now have a poor opinion about a local business that did nothing wrong.

Maybe another way would have been that the mechanic worked two hours longer on that day and thus was able to do his regular jobs and also do this job? Let's face it, those who work at the so called big box stores or let's say, Pep Boys, where they took my car on a holiday and finished it on a Sunday, work long and irregular hours to keep their clients happy.

[Jonas Pilot]

How do you know he didn't work an extra two hours to try to finish the work he already had in the shop?

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Lucky1

Maybe another way would have been that the mechanic worked two hours longer on that day and thus was able to do his regular jobs and also do this job? Let's face it, those who work at the so called big box stores or let's say, Pep Boys, where they took my car on a holiday and finished it on a Sunday, work long and irregular hours to keep their clients happy.

Well you should know that places like you mention, big box stores, quick lube places, auto parts stores etc... all employ either brand new rookies or dealer cast off mechanics that couldn't hack it because they either had no clue what they were doing or did sloppy work with a ton of "come backs". Dealers cannot afford to employ these folks, if they have a crappy mechanic they are shown the door and they end up in those places cause they can't work anywhere else. Couple that with the cheapo made in Mexico one size fits all parts that are surely guaranteed to fail prematurely and you're absolutely right, that's one hell of a deal you get at those places. There are some decent parts you can get from a parts store, but they are far and few between and you gotta love that "lifetime warranty". I find it comical how many folks will drop 20- 30 - 40- 50K on a vehicle then take it to some place where substandard parts are used and the work is done by a bunch of wanna be hacks. Hey it's your vehicle, your money, your investment, how you treat it will determine how it treats you. Why do you think now so many manufacturers and dealers are wrapping "free service" in with lease deals? Cause they don't want you going to those places, that leased car is at some point going to come back and be re-sold. Dealers don't want stuff back that has not been properly maintained, especially off lease vehicles which are the biggest money makers for them. They loose a significant amount of money if these cars come back and end up sent out for wholesale.

[fatlazyless]

Looking for an owner-operatored, independant hardware store with very good inventory selection and decent pricing including interior paint, exterior paint and exterior stains? Check out Ash Hardware, in the precise geographic center of New Hampshire, Ashland, NH, Rt 93-exit 24, or on Rt 25.

[VtSteve]

The thread started out with the problems with local merchant's hours of operations. Yes, some things are worth waiting for. Some not so much. I know our Costco is a great local employer. Excluding the benefits, which are very good, they pay their employees at least $3-$4 an hour more than any local merchant does. I don't care what the owner(s) make.

Wal Mart, well everyone knows their practices. Don't confuse local ownership with all that is good, it's not necessarily that way.

As for car dealers? I patronize my local car dealer almost 100%.

[Greene's Basin Girl]

Originally Posted by VtSteve

The thread started out with the problems with local merchant's hours of operations. Yes, some things are worth waiting for. Some not so much. I know our Costco is a great local employer. Excluding the benefits, which are very good, they pay their employees at least $3-$4 an hour more than any local merchant does. I don't care what the owner(s) make.

Wal Mart, well everyone knows their practices. Don't confuse local ownership with all that is good, it's not necessarily that way.

As for car dealers? I patronize my local car dealer almost 100%.

I stopped at The Old Country Store in Moultonborough last night at 8:25pm. I asked the clerk if they were closing. He was extremely friend and said that they were open until 9:00pm. That's one local merchant that stays open to increase business. So...if you out and about in Moultonborough in the evening it may be a place to visit.