Debate: Should we tell customers when their car isn't worth fixing? (My Monday story)

Had a rough Monday last week. An '04 Civic came in with engine knocking bad (needed a full swap, like $3,500). The owner was a college kid who just bought it for $2,000. I felt bad, so I told him straight up it's probably not worth fixing and he should cut his losses. My coworker got mad at me, said I cost the shop a big job. But the kid came back Tuesday and thanked me for saving him the money. So which side wins here (or is it always case by case)? How do you guys handle telling someone their car is toast?

2 comments

2 Comments

valw3614d ago

The price on that swap sounds a bit high for an '04 Civic. You can usually find a decent used engine for around 400 bucks, and labor should run you maybe 800-1000 on top of that. Still might be more than the car's worth to a college kid, but 3,500 sounds like dealer pricing with a brand new motor, which is overkill for a car that old. Being honest with the customer is always the right call though, even if it costs you a job. The shop gets more respect in the long run that way, and that kid will remember it.

knight.mason14d ago

Swapped a motor in my old beater a few years back and yeah, a used engine from a salvage yard plus a weekend of wrenching cost me under a grand total. 3500 is definitely dealer territory, that shop was smart to send the kid packing with good advice instead of raking him over the coals.