What is my recourse in this situation?

[Car_Wash_Guy]

Had some ongoing issues with my Ryko Soft Gloss XS machine.

Local branch of a regional service chemical company was stopping by frequently to chat, offer advice and try to get my business. I eventually decided I wanted to give them some business as they ( at least the guy managing the local branch ) was a local guy and I like doing business locally.

LONG story short, not only once, but twice he convinced me certain things were causing my machine to stop. From the beginning I told him " What ever is causing the issue, FIX THAT". First it was the rollers on my wheel scrubs that were causing too much drag. Replaced those at $600. Still had issues.

Then, most recently, he told me my air cylinders were shot. I asked him ( have record in txt messages ) "Are you sure this is what is causing the wash to hang and stop, and if so, replace them if you're sure this will fix the problem". $1200 later and it still was hanging and stopping mid wash.


I finally, with the help of Darin from Ryko, fixed the machine. It was the return solenoid for the scrubbers.

I contacted the owner of said company and explained the situation to him, and said I don't want to pay to replace perfectly working parts ( the air cylinders. I "ate" the wheels as a learning experience) which didn't fix the issue.

Now he doesn't respond to my calls.

What do you guys think?

 

[rph9168]

Do you have the air cylinders he replaced?

 

[slash007]

If you haven't paid him, don't. If you have, then you would probably have to sue to get anything, and that's not worth your time.

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

Do you have the air cylinders he replaced?

Yes - I was going to tell him to send the tech back out to put my old, but working air cylinders back in an take his back.

If you haven't paid him, don't. If you have, then you would probably have to sue to get anything, and that's not worth your time.

Haven't paid him.

 

[slash007]

Yes - I was going to tell him to send the tech back out to put my old, but working air cylinders back in an take his back.

That seems fair to me... If he doesn't agree, just don't pay him. You have proof that he cheated you. I had a similar experience with a tech. Tried changing multiple parts that didn't fix the problem. What's worse, he refused to change the one part I insisted could be the issue as he claimed it was impossible that part could cause the issue I was having. I ended up changing it myself and of course problem was solved. I negotiated and only paid him part of the invoice.

 

[Kevin James]

Car Wash Guy, welcome to the wonderful world of being a car wash owner. What your talking about is pretty common in the car wash business. Most car wash distributors are nothing more than flyby night charlatans who will screw you faster than you can blink your eye. Most of the service technicians who service car washes have little or no knowledge or training of how commercial/industrial equipment works much less about the equipment they service, they show up with no parts, charge you a service call, order the parts, charge you another service call fee to come back put on the parts and hope it’ll work. We’ve learned many years ago to not rely on any car wash distributors, we do it all ourselves. You have little or no recourse. I doubt if they’ll come back and install your old air cylinders for free, they probably have already sold them.

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

Car Wash Guy, welcome to the wonderful world of being a car wash owner. What your talking about is pretty common in the car wash business. Most car wash distributors are nothing more than flyby night charlatans who will screw you faster than you can blink your eye. Most of the service technicians who service car washes have little or no knowledge or training of how commercial/industrial equipment works much less about the equipment they service, they show up with no parts, charge you a service call, order the parts, charge you another service call fee to come back put on the parts and hope it’ll work. We’ve learned many years ago to not rely on any car wash distributors, we do it all ourselves. You have little or no recourse. I doubt if they’ll come back and install your old air cylinders for free, they probably have already sold them.

I insisted on saving them( he wanted to keep them, and now I know why between what you said, and the fact that they were still good). When his repair didn't fix my issue, I invited both he and his boss to see them function perfectly on my bench.

 

[Greg Pack]

I doubt it's anything sinister, perhaps just a lack of experience or knowledge of the particular problem. It is common in this industry to encounter techs with less knowledge than an experienced DIY owner. Good techs are rare.

Many of us have had to chase problems by replacing parts.

 

[Randy]

I insisted on saving them( he wanted to keep them, and now I know why between what you said, and the fact that they were still good). When his repair didn't fix my issue, I invited both he and his boss to see them function perfectly on my bench.

Did they take you up on your offer?

 

[Car_Wash_Guy]

Did they take you up on your offer?

No, they stopped communicating with me.

Thinking about sending my text communications with the tech to the boss/CEO. Not really holding out hope though. They probably try send it to collections?

 

[loewem]

I had a couple of similar situations, but at the time I wasn't knowledgeable about my wash at all. I hadn't paid the entire bill, so I paid what I thought was fair and then I spoke with the tech and the owner of the company. They said that they would address the issues, but after two weeks I had not seen or heard from them.

I wrote them a letter detailing the situation and what I wanted them to resolve. I told them that I would not pay anything more towards the bill until the issues were addressed. I never heard back from them, so in the end I paid what I thought was fair and I learned a lesson.

One thing that I'll mention was that not paying the entire bill weighed on my mind/stressed me out. I would document what you believe to be fair in writing and put the ball in their court. Send it registered mail, then don't worry about it! They can come and install the originals and take their parts or they can let you keep the parts and eat the cost. Their choice with a very reasonable solution that you are offering.

Good luck.

 

[mac]

Kevin said it well. I have ran a service/distributorship for more years than I care to think about. Finding good techs is really hard. Finding great ones next to hitting the lottery. I have been successful here in FL because we generally do fix things correctly. And when we screw up ( yes it happens to us all), we acknowledge it and attempt to make it right, and mostly we do. Way too many green techs, and some that are more grey than green, just throw parts at it till it works. When hiring a service tech ask for references and some current customers that you can talk to. Ask about situations like yours. And when a tech tells you something that doesn't pass your smell test, tell him you will have him do it, but he gets paid only if it fixes the problem. One of my biggest competitors here ( a large international company) just let go all of their experienced techs. They hired kids with little to no car wash experience, sent them to a 2 week factory class, and put them on the road. It has been fun to watch them try to fix things, especially to customers that I lost the sale to because they are giving the machines away at close to cost. (You know who you are.)

 

[mac]

Forgot to mention your best recourse. Tell us who these people are. You might just help other operators in your area avoid similiar experiences.Don't be shy. They guys will most likely not respond.

 

[tdlconceptsllc]

Mac I think you have a heck of a point. On this form I wish we could look at others reviews and post about good & bad distributors & manufactures in the customer reveiw section either I got banned in that section about reviews which I cannot look at anymore or they closed it out. I think other operators should know the truth and we post and share the valuable information so others will know. These are costly practice as I call it, Cost someone else 5k or 100K+loss. I am off my podium I ain't trying to start nothing just saying my 2 cents. Crooks & suckers are born everyday why not tell the truth about them and let people be aware at least. " The Truth Hurts"

 

[soonermajic]

the mega distributor in Dallas is $99/hr if you're a chem customer....$119 / hr if you're not. $120 trip fee for over 100 miles , which I am. I am @ $240 BEFORE they pull out any tools!