Here’s something that happened to me last Friday. Tell me what I should do.
I park my Sukuki Samurai either in free, on-street parking or a $5 a day parking lot near my office building. (Rather than pay $95 a month to park under my building.)
Anyway… one day I pull out of my parking space and notice my front right tire is flat. Two things compound me changing the tire: 1) the woman who sold me the Samurai had a locking hub nut on the spare, but couldn’t find the key. (I always meant to get it removed by force, but never did.); 2) the scissor jack barely lifts the vehicle.
I went in to an auto body repair shop that I stopped in front of and asked if someone could help me remove the nut. (This was before I realized the jack wouldn’t help me either.) The gentleman there came out with various tools, but nothing he used could get a grip on the nut. He then asked one of his mechanics, who said he was busy, but he could look at it in about half an hour.
The mechanic came out with better tools, but still couldn’t get the nut off. He talked to the counter guy, and the counter guy said they’d need to use their power tools in the garage. He carefully drove my car into their service bay, beyond where I could see.
15-20 minutes later, they drive it out. They’ve removed the nut, but rather than swap tires, they fixed the flat and remounted it. Then I ask them how much this would cost.
“No charge. Don’t worry about it,” the counter guy said. :eek:
Please don’t repay them. That would spoil it, maybe make him too selfconscious to do a favor the next time. It’s fun to do favors, but not if you think you might get unduely noticed.
My repair guy does things free for me all the time, and that’s why I’m so loyal.
I have gotten free service at places like that too. I never want to make a big deal about it because I don’t want the person who gave me free service to get in trouble it they weren’t suppose to.
I always repay them by making sure that I go back there when I need something done that will be paid for.
I also tell my friends and family about what a wonderful (bodyshop, gas station, jewerly repair, eyeglass repair) place it is.
I personally would send them a big-assed basket of junk food goodies with a thank you note. I would also write a brief letter to the editor of my local paper about how nice they were, as that would likely get them more business.
But that’s just me
Zette
(I had an older guy help me out with a flat tire in the pouring, sheeting rain. When I found out he is a cook at a local pub, I bought him a beer for helping. Every single time I am in there I buy him a beer. He always thanks me and tells all his buddies why this lady is buying him a brew. He seems very proud of how he helped, and I am still appreciative.)
I agree that the best thing would be to give them your business the next time your car needs something. And you should also spread the word about this shop among your friends and family.
But if you’d also like to show your appreciation in a little more tangible way, I’d suggest going into the shop with some coffee and donuts for the guys. It’s not a large thing, so it won’t embarrass them, and I’m sure they’d appreciate it.
