One reason why my local Indy didnt get my IMS job.

I have been wanting some input on this for a while. "my insurance will not allow me to let you in the garage area." When I contacted this guy,. He is a one man show and does most his work in the evenings and weekends. But I over looked it and was going to let him do the job. Being he was doing the work in the evening, I told him I wanted to be there when he pulled the bearing just to see what the hub-bub was all about. He replayed with the classic insurance thing... After giving this thought.... I chose to do the job myself. He is a one man show, works on the weekends.. I felt that most likly insuracne didnt have anything to do with it. He simply either didnt want me to see how easy it was or just liked to work alone. But anyway the question is. Did have a lagitament reason (insurance) for not allowing me to be there for the bearing pull? Or was that just the smoke screen? I would think his ins company would have more of a problem of him working alone

I think he didn't want you or any other client see how look it took to the job regardless of what it was.

Its just an excuse. My wrench would not care if I hung out for the entire job. Hell he would put me to work!

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Thats usually the case for me as well. In fact the guy that does all my other cars, But turned down doing the bearing, told me I could have even used one of his lifts. I thought about it then declined the offer because I just thought that would have been over-stepping the relationship. But this guy didnt even want me in the building.

Could be some of both. I don't like customers in my work area of my shop. I always have many works in progerss. Half a dozen motorcycles in various stages of assembly, motors partially disassembled, others going back up. Customers kick and step on things, pick up and drop things that interest them, disturb intricate things like a carb rebuild in progress, upset cam timing by turning a shaft on a motor. You name it, they have to look with their fingers. Shiny new chrome or powder coated parts, first thing they do is pick it up, hand sand it, rub it on their polyester tee shirt and put fine scratches in it. And their kids with them have to touch and climb on everything. Then they pick up a sharp tool, cut themself, and want you to pay instacare to stitch them up because you were at fault for leaving a sharp tool on your work bench. Then when you work on their stuff, they want to hold this and that, have you explain what you are doing and why. Ask if you should be doing it the way you are, tell you that you make it look real easy, and they would have never thought of doing it that way. Bottom line, if they watch, it take twice as long, 4 times if they help. I have absolutely nothing to hide except possibly techniques that have taken me over 30 years of wrenching to cultivate that I don't feel like sharing with customers or my competition.

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Noted respectfully, But I just wanted to see the bearing come out.

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I wouldn't have a problem with that after hours, if you brought beer and promised not to kick ****.

I had an alignment done at my local Porsche dealership. I was talking to the service manager and in our conversation I told him why I would usually prefer to use my personal independent shop for the C4S. Although my Indy's price/labor is almost as high as the dealer's, I like the fact that my Indy allows me to walk around freely in his shop and see what's going on. There is a relationship between owner and technician, compared to a dealership where you don't even know which Klaus worked on your car. The service manager told me he has no problem letting me walk around his shop as well as talking to his technicians. He also offered to give me a discounted price to make it more affordable so that I'd consider his dealership over my Indy. So, that coming from the service manager himself, I guess "insurance" is just an excuse to keep customers out of the work area. But I do understand and agree with what nick49 was trying to say. It could really be a safety issue, and most of all, be in the way of work and business.

my indie let's me hang out while he works and he takes the time to explain why he does certain things certain ways. it encourages trust as well.

Insurance is restrictive on whats covered. For the indy I'd figure it kind of like you debating hiring an unbonded roofing crew or other types. Would you hire unbonded when a guy hurt can take your house if injured on a job you are even paying for? Not pretty when thought out.

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Makes perfect sense to me. Well explained.

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Exactly! I get very irritated when people ask me questions when working on something, especially my own since I am a perfectionist on reassembly. When I used to build jet engines, I had to be a little more focused, if you know what I mean. Distractions cost thousands of dollars in mistakes.....

I don't allow spectator hang around my personal garage if I am working on their car unless they were doing the work. They mess up my focus, ask a million questions then tell me how they think it should be done, and generally look right over my shoulder.

my indy must hate me, I am there all the time - wait what does he get.... well he gets me telling everyone what a great shop he has, he gets me selling his service and recommending his shop. I dont have my car worked on much, but am planning to drop it off for some simple stuff... not because I cant do it, but because I want to be a customer as well so friday I got to help load cams into bank 1 on a 3.6 all the way till the valve cover was on. I was not a great help, but the tech needed me a couple times (rotaional tourque on the intake cam sproket was a 2 person job) and a couple other small things. I ran the solvent tank and cleaned parts too (though I needed training ) My dealer let me in the shop (with an escort and HE wasnt cute) I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that I walk in like I work there and just really dont give a crap - its my car and I want to see it...I have always been that way and always will BTW Kyle this is a weird thread and I cant believe your wheels had never been cleaned on the 928

The Indy I go to allows clients in the work area. He is very cool when I ask stupid questions while he is working on the car. I view this as part of the service. I am sure there is time wasted but I pay for the extra time anyway... I agree with Yasuro. It builds trust. I was told his insurance allowed customers on the shop floor and that he designed the shop to be able to accomodate this. Last time there was even another customer working on his own car in the other bay. I am sure it goes a long way with many enthusiasts. I also understand nick49. Hanging out is also a privilege. First, you have check if the tech is comfortable with this. At the end of the day, it is his stuff, or other customer's stuff. Unless help is needed, I try to keep my hands in my pockets on purpose not to be tempted to touch things, talk only when he is done with one step of the procedure, etc. In my trade, we sometimes get requests from clients to have their analysts work side by side with ours in our office and we respectfully decline all the time for the same type of reasons. It may stress them, sometimes they need room to experiment, questions would waste their time, there may be confidential info from other clients around, etc. Kyle, do you know if he had done an IMS change before? It may be that he did not want the pressure when doing it the first time. FM