Should He Pay the Dealer?

[Phil P]

Bit of a long story but here goes.

One of my customers tried calling me on Friday, however I’d left my phone at the office and Friday is my airport day so didn’t get his message until until late afternoon.
So, I got back to him and his jd 6820 had stopped driving and had a load of lights flashing/blowing a fuse. However because he couldn’t get hold of me and was desperate he’d got the dealer out to it, told him no problem, I have no issues with that and hope they get him sorted.
I always tell my customers I have no problem with them getting the dealer out if they can’t get hold of me, l think it’s good to stay on decent terms the your main dealer.

Anyway, come Saturday evening and he calls back sounding a little stressed, apparently there’d been a lad there all day Friday, Saturday morning and there was two lads there till 8pm Saturday afternoon and the tractor still wasn’t going! They then wanted to wagon it into the dealer workshop. So he asked would I mind nipping and taking a look Monday morning (this morning) and see if I could shed some light before the deal bill got any bigger.

WARNING GRAPHIC IMAGES AHEAD


So, went for a look this morning to find the tractor cab had spilled its guts all over the place. ?

They’d stripped all the wiring looms out, panels of everywhere, inside and out.

Well, it took about 20 minutes to establish the fault was actually outside the cab on the transmission (the lads had been insistent that the fault was in the cab). Then took probably another 40 minutes to track the actual problem to a broken speed sensor cable, I had to remove one of the wheels (800 tires) so that took a couple of minutes?. A pipe had rubbed the cables and they where shorting together.

soldered and then insulated and the job was sorted.

Now then, the only trouble is it then took around 3 and a half hours to re-insulate the cab harness and put the rest of the cab back together!

So question is, should he pay the dealer for their time? I’m sure he’ll still get a bill.

The job at worst shouldn't have taken more than 3-4 hours but the dealer will have best part of 16 hours in it already!

 

[spin cycle]

effin hell

 

[Tomr10]

Depends on how much he wants to upset the dealer. I would ask for a full breakdown of the cost at least.

 

[ARW]

I think a meeting with the workshop manager would be sensible, sort it before a invoice arrives. A deal can be done and relationships saved, but he will have to pay something

 

[Extreme Optimist]

I think a meeting with the workshop manager would be sensible, sort it before a invoice arrives. A deal can be done and relationships saved, but he will have to pay something

This!! Speak to someone in authority before any invoice is sent

 

[Lofty1984]

I’d be more concerned why they didn’t find in 3 days what you did in 20 mins

 

[ollie989898]

Looks like someone didn't want to get their hands too dirty that afternoon... He is going to have to pay someone something though.

Can you explain the back-story though, did you sell him the tractor or what? What is your business and what is your relationship/exposure to the customer you describe?

 

[spin cycle]

i don't know why ppl are even contemplating paying the dealer......16hrs and they can't fix....then op finds/fixes......if we send our produce not fit it gets rejected

 

[Phil P]

Depends on how much he wants to upset the dealer. I would ask for a full breakdown of the cost at least.

I have told him not to mention I sorted it?, however the dealer will probably have a good idea who it was?.

I think a meeting with the workshop manager would be sensible, sort it before a invoice arrives. A deal can be done and relationships saved, but he will have to pay something

That’s what I would say, can’t expect them to come out for nothing, however sending young lads with no idea of electronics to pull random bits of your machine to bits hoping to stumble across the fault is a bit of a p!ss take in my opinion!
Everything is electronic on modern tractors and has been for a number of years now, to have no idea how to diagnose such faults means a total lack of either training or understanding.

 

[Adeptandy]

I had a similar experience with the local MF dealer. Sent a lad out to find a problem, came and went for a week, long story short, he never found the problem. Invoice turns up for £1200, quick chat to the workshop manager and it reduced to the part he fitted ( £200 & not needed ) and no labour charge.

 

[Phil P]

Looks like someone didn't want to get their hands too dirty that afternoon... He is going to have to pay someone something though.

Can you explain the back-story though, did you sell him the tractor or what? What is your business and what is your relationship/exposure to the customer you describe?

Come on Ollie, you should know what I do for a living by now ?

no I didn’t sell him the tractor

 

[Steevo]

If I were him I wouldn’t be very keen to pay the dealer! I’d also think twice about calling them out to the tractor again.....sounds like they sent someone inexperienced but charged out at full rate!

 

[Highland Mule]

Just tell your customer to get in early and bill the dealership for their untrained staff’s vandalism and your time to reinstate.

 

[icanshootwell]

I would send an invoice to the dealership for unnecessary works undertaken.

 

[daveydiesel1]

I wouldnt be payin a penny. The dealer can be cross if he likes. They didnt actually fix anythin so therefore how can they expect payed ut may suck for them but thats life. No fix no pay

 

[icanshootwell]

I would send an invoice to the dealership for unnecessary works undertaken.

 

[Steevo]

Just tell your customer to get in early and bill the dealership for their untrained staff’s vandalism and your time to reinstate.

My worry would be what damage the fitter had done in the process. Could easily have a dislodged wire that will cause trouble in the future.

 

[Highland Mule]

My worry would be what damage the fitter had done in the process. Could easily have a dislodged wire that will cause trouble in the future.

Too true, and by the sounds they won’t have the ability to diagnose and fix their damage either.

 

[S J H]

I wouldn't be paying them. I'd bill them for your time putting it back together.

 

[ollie989898]

Come on Ollie, you should know what I do for a living by now ?

no I didn’t sell him the tractor

I don't remember or keep extensive files on what all TFF'ers do for a living, their household income, age, gender, sexual preferences or social status- there is too many of them and not enough room on my desk. Only the very most interesting 'celebrities' are worth stalking here; besides which if you don't have at least one Fendt, Volvo loading shovel or Swanndri gilet you don't make the TFF 'rich list'.