What, Roger? You don't think that light blue skinned people can be mechanics? Maybe next time you need your car repaired you should try fixing it with RACISM!!!
And yeah, this comic was great all the way. I love the figurative you being someone other than you.
I don't know about "light blue skinned" but now that you two mention it, Scott and Missy DO look REALLY REALLY white, compared to the mechanic. Interesting choice, coloring in any character, even just the tiniest little bit.
Scott, I really appreciate this comic, because I, as a single woman living in Los Angeles, have discovered that finding a mechanic you can trust is as difficult as finding a mate (here, if nowhere else on the planet)... which means all of us single women who haven't managed to date a mechanic get suckered into buying or leasing NEW vehicles just for the damn warranty! It sux... and I think I'd like your mechanic, if he lived out here instead of in sunny Florida. Not that I need him - since I have four more years on my warranty. :P
not all mechanics are crooks but it is the profession perhaps. my old merc was perfectly fine because i had an excellent mechanic. he was pricey, but he was good and i trusted him. i believed him and did not look at the bills. if he fixed it, you did not have to go back to him for the SAME problem. but he changed after 4 years. for one problem, he told me that he changed the oil pump and after a couple of months, the same story. once he said that he changed a part and when i asked him to show it, that part had accumulated dust of weeks!
i switched to another mechanic who was also very skilled. he too was quite honest until after an year, when he began to play fast and loose.
not to blame the whole lot, but those who become crooks are otherwise honest folk who lose their principles under stress. in both cases above, the mechanics were under tremendous pressure of a failing business.
inspite of everything, people are good at heart. i hope...
I personally know my mechanic and he will tell me if there is something wrong with my car of if I don't need any service at all. He is a business owner like me and is sick of the pathetic practice of scamming people into spending more money on repairs they don't need.
My late grandfather always used to tell me: "Make sure that among your best friends you have a doctor, a lawyer and a mechanic"
When it comes to mechanics, politicians and car salesmen, you know there are a few good men out there, but you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning twice than to see one of these good men in your lifetime.
... and this is why I believe it's more important than many folks give credit, to learn at least the basics about the operation of an automobile. The more educated one is, the harder it is to be a victim of fraud by an unethical mechanic.
That said, there's more good ones than bad ones, and there is no justification in being overly skeptical of your mechanics actions without just cause. The problem is accurately identifying whether or not there is cause, which goes back to being educated. While it may not be overly interesting to you, the knowledge can only benefit.
Not all are crooks, but let's just put it this way - it's reallyy really really really ^999e hard to find a mechanic that doesn't: a) madly overprice parts (something like $20 * wholesale price) b) charge exorbitantly to fix an otherwise simple issue c) charge relatively low fee, but jacks up the amount of hours worked to increase the cost d) sell lemon or used parts or parts soon to be voided by warranties
you ought to look at your video settings because there's no blue there. you're either running a crt over 6500k in color temperature or you're running a cheap lcd.
The mechanic looks a different color because he's covered in grease, duh! Having said that, I loved my mechanic when I had an American car. Now that I have a German car, he's not so good.
Rare or not, an honest, *competent* mechanic is worth their weight in gold. I have one I trust implicitly here in my hometown, but when I moved into the city for a year, having to find someone else hurt badly. I'd estimate that I spent an extra $200+ on my last repair because they addressed the wrong problem and told me my car was okay to drive.
When I moved back home, the first thing I did was take my car to my old mechanic and tell them how much I love them.
Yes, the cartoon is very funny. Some of the comments are a bit baffling. It always amazes me that folks who have absolutely no idea what is involved in running a repair facility, or fixing a car for that matter, can determine what is fair and what is a rip-off. Having been in the independent repair of European Cars for 37 years, 31 of which have been spent in business owner and managership, I do feel qualified to comment. How is $20.00 over wholesale "madly overpriced"? Do you have any idea how much a pair of Levis are marked up? Most repair facilities lose or break even on parts once warranty factors in. Did you know that when a part fails under warranty that the parts vendor does NOTHING to cover the diagnosis or labor involved? Not to mention potential towing, rental cars and loss of goodwill. I also find the comment regarding a mechanics ethics being compromised due to the stress of failing business. Gee, could the business be failing because he didn't charge enough in the first place? The vast majority of independent mechanics undercharge or do not charge for all the time they spend on a job. This is in part due to lack of business savvy and an essential sense of fairness. The fact is that this is a very expensive business to run; equipment, training, insurance, rent, health care, etc. are all killers. Notwithstanding, this is a tough profession! It's hard on the body, challenging on the mind and ever-changing due to regulations and technological advances. Some day you guys are going to be looking for help from an honest mechanic only to find that they have gone on to an easier, more lucrative profession. When that day comes, have fun at the dealer!
March 29, 2009
Reader Comments (32)
Nice poses in panels 2 and 4.
This is even funnier to me, because my dad is a mechanic XD
My dad is, maybe, way too decent...
I wish to hear more about the sobbing myself.
The last panel really cracked me up! Good job!! :D
[...] Mech-speak. [...]
[...] Mech-speak. [...]
Panel 2 pretty much sums up my relationship with my mechanic.
The mechanic's colouration seems... backgroundy. A little strange. But still top-notch.
What, Roger? You don't think that light blue skinned people can be mechanics? Maybe next time you need your car repaired you should try fixing it with RACISM!!!
And yeah, this comic was great all the way. I love the figurative you being someone other than you.
I don't know about "light blue skinned" but now that you two mention it, Scott and Missy DO look REALLY REALLY white, compared to the mechanic. Interesting choice, coloring in any character, even just the tiniest little bit.
Scott, I really appreciate this comic, because I, as a single woman living in Los Angeles, have discovered that finding a mechanic you can trust is as difficult as finding a mate (here, if nowhere else on the planet)... which means all of us single women who haven't managed to date a mechanic get suckered into buying or leasing NEW vehicles just for the damn warranty! It sux... and I think I'd like your mechanic, if he lived out here instead of in sunny Florida. Not that I need him - since I have four more years on my warranty. :P
not all mechanics are crooks but it is the profession perhaps. my old merc was perfectly fine because i had an excellent mechanic. he was pricey, but he was good and i trusted him. i believed him and did not look at the bills. if he fixed it, you did not have to go back to him for the SAME problem. but he changed after 4 years. for one problem, he told me that he changed the oil pump and after a couple of months, the same story. once he said that he changed a part and when i asked him to show it, that part had accumulated dust of weeks!
i switched to another mechanic who was also very skilled. he too was quite honest until after an year, when he began to play fast and loose.
not to blame the whole lot, but those who become crooks are otherwise honest folk who lose their principles under stress. in both cases above, the mechanics were under tremendous pressure of a failing business.
inspite of everything, people are good at heart. i hope...
I personally know my mechanic and he will tell me if there is something wrong with my car of if I don't need any service at all. He is a business owner like me and is sick of the pathetic practice of scamming people into spending more money on repairs they don't need.
My late grandfather always used to tell me: "Make sure that among your best friends you have a doctor, a lawyer and a mechanic"
When it comes to mechanics, politicians and car salesmen, you know there are a few good men out there, but you have a better chance of getting hit by lightning twice than to see one of these good men in your lifetime.
Well it works.
Mechanics, in my experience, have always been condescending and hungry for upsellls. So BOO!
... and this is why I believe it's more important than many folks give credit, to learn at least the basics about the operation of an automobile. The more educated one is, the harder it is to be a victim of fraud by an unethical mechanic.
That said, there's more good ones than bad ones, and there is no justification in being overly skeptical of your mechanics actions without just cause. The problem is accurately identifying whether or not there is cause, which goes back to being educated. While it may not be overly interesting to you, the knowledge can only benefit.
Not all are crooks, but let's just put it this way - it's reallyy really really really ^999e hard to find a mechanic that doesn't:
a) madly overprice parts (something like $20 * wholesale price)
b) charge exorbitantly to fix an otherwise simple issue
c) charge relatively low fee, but jacks up the amount of hours worked to increase the cost
d) sell lemon or used parts or parts soon to be voided by warranties
you ought to look at your video settings because there's no blue there.
you're either running a crt over 6500k in color temperature or you're running a cheap lcd.
I'm sorry, did I miss the group therapy session again?
[...] bookmarks tagged mechanic Basic Instructions by Scott Meyer: Your all-inclus... saved by 3 others uzumakitanume bookmarked on 04/01/09 | [...]
Point at the engine and say that that thingy is not working as it should.
[...] Basic Instructions: How to Talk to a Mechanic (tags: webcomics humour cars mechanics basic.instructions) [...]
[...] Basic Instructions by Scott Meyer: Your all-inclusive guide to a … [...]
The mechanic looks a different color because he's covered in grease, duh! Having said that, I loved my mechanic when I had an American car. Now that I have a German car, he's not so good.
hahah, this cartoon made my day
I really wish I could charge the "IMF" to some of the customers I have to deal with.
I'd love to see a revised version of this for Tech Support. :)
had a really good laugh - this cartoon made my day. haha
ahahahaha really funny cartoon m8 :)) keep it up !
nice cartoon - it got me cracking :)
Rare or not, an honest, *competent* mechanic is worth their weight in gold. I have one I trust implicitly here in my hometown, but when I moved into the city for a year, having to find someone else hurt badly. I'd estimate that I spent an extra $200+ on my last repair because they addressed the wrong problem and told me my car was okay to drive.
When I moved back home, the first thing I did was take my car to my old mechanic and tell them how much I love them.
He may be worth his weight in gold, but I bet you would freak if he made you pay it!! 200 lbs of gold is a LOT of money....
Yes, the cartoon is very funny. Some of the comments are a bit baffling. It always amazes me that folks who have absolutely no idea what is involved in running a repair facility, or fixing a car for that matter, can determine what is fair and what is a rip-off. Having been in the independent repair of European Cars for 37 years, 31 of which have been spent in business owner and managership, I do feel qualified to comment. How is $20.00 over wholesale "madly overpriced"? Do you have any idea how much a pair of Levis are marked up? Most repair facilities lose or break even on parts once warranty factors in. Did you know that when a part fails under warranty that the parts vendor does NOTHING to cover the diagnosis or labor involved? Not to mention potential towing, rental cars and loss of goodwill.
I also find the comment regarding a mechanics ethics being compromised due to the stress of failing business. Gee, could the business be failing because he didn't charge enough in the first place? The vast majority of independent mechanics undercharge or do not charge for all the time they spend on a job. This is in part due to lack of business savvy and an essential sense of fairness. The fact is that this is a very expensive business to run; equipment, training, insurance, rent, health care, etc. are all killers. Notwithstanding, this is a tough profession! It's hard on the body, challenging on the mind and ever-changing due to regulations and technological advances.
Some day you guys are going to be looking for help from an honest mechanic only to find that they have gone on to an easier, more lucrative profession. When that day comes, have fun at the dealer!
"But I haven't described the sobbing yet."
I cracked up on that line.