Sunday, June 22, 2008

Cheated Left, Right And Centre!

For those of you who don't want to ruin your weekend by hearing me bitch, then I'd suggest you don't read on. I know it's the weekend and I should be happy and all that. To be honest, I am happy and glad for the weekend. I live for weekends. But I just have to get this off my chest so I can enjoy the remaining Sunday much better.

I do complain quite a bit in my blog but hey, that's what my blog is all about anyway. Why do you think it's named Anything Goes! in the first place? When I complain about something, I'm normally very general about my complains. I don't specifically target or name anyone, well politicians are a different story entirely. But sometimes I really cannot help myself when people really piss me off, especially when they rip me off!

I am by nature a very patient and accommodating person. I'm friendly with everyone I meet, from the garbage man right up to presidents of corporations. I don't judge anyone and and treat everyone the same. But what I cannot stand is when someone you think is a decent person plays you out.

Now most of you know I've had some problems with my car being in and out the mechanics on a regular basis since last December. And partly it's my fault for not really taking care of that car. I'm more attentive to it's needs these days and it's serving me well. At least until about 10 days ago (that's how long I've kept this inside me). About 10 days or so ago, the car was veering off quite a bit to the left for no apparent reasons when I was driving it. I thought nothing of it and that it's probably just the alignment.

So off I went to my mechanic. Before I go further, let me explain that I have 3 different mechanics. One is just opposite my house at the Shell station. This is the mechanic I trust the most and would rely on when I need some complicated repairs done to my car. I've known him for ages and he's a decent guy. Unfortunately, he's not the cheapest in the market but that's understandable cos he does a good quality job.

The second mechanic is a couple of blocks away from my place. I'd go to him when I need simple mechanical jobs done that require the car to be left over night cos he provides me with a spare car. The third mechanic is a couple of doors away from my office. I use him when I need some quick and fast repairs done cos I can leave the car and walk to my office while he works on it.

Now, in December I sent my car for a major repair job to mechanic number two. I've also known this mechanic for years and have even recommended some of my friends to go over there. The repair job cost me close to an arm and two legs and I was happy with the work. But then, I had to send the car back to him a few times cos there were some things that were not fixed properly which led to more repairs and I should have suspected something amiss then but I didn't.

Now, with the car veering off to the left so much, I took it to mechanic number three, the one near my office to get the alignment fixed. And he instantly told me it's not the alignment. It's probably the absorbers. I gave him this blur look and told him, I just changed 2 new brand new absorbers about six months ago. And I know for a fact that absorbers have a much longer life span than 6 months.

So he jacked the car up and checked it and true enough, he called me over to look at the 'supposedly' new absorbers. And it didn't look new at all. Apparently mechanic number two had cheated me about really changing the absorbers and now it's led to a few other problems besides the car veering to the left that is going to cost me quite a bit to rectify! I was fuming mad! I wanted to scream but that wouldn't have accomplished anything.

How can anyone be so unscrupulous? What did I ever do to that mechanic for him to use inferior or perhaps even second hand parts and tell me that it's brand new? I'm not rich and spending that much money to fix the car back in December hurt like hell, especially with it being Christmas and all that.

I've even recommended my friends to go and use his services and this is how he treats me? By cheating me? It's not like I'm driving a luxury car or anything. I'm driving a beat up old Nissan and he just cons me like that? Go cheat someone who's driving a beemer or something la!

Now, because of his unscrupulousness I'm going to have to fork out some more hard earned cash just to get it fixed again. And I know taking the car back to him and complaining wouldn't do any good. He'd probably insist that it was new parts and that I screwed it up myself. I'm really disappointed and sad with the attitude of people like this.

I know everyone needs to make money but by cheating people? Is that the way to get rich? Obviously for some people it is. And I also found out that my air conditioning compressor which he also 'supposedly' replaced with a new one wasn't all that new after all, since that is also giving me problems right now.

Now, I never bad mouthed anyone here in my blog by revealing their names and such but today I'll make an exception. If anyone of you live in USJ or Subang, then I'd advise you NOT to use this mechanic called Subang Car Care Centre in SS19 Subang. If you like being cheated, then by all means go there.

And if you, Mr. Lim, the owner of the place happen to read blogs and come across my blog, then I'd like to say a big thank you to you for the 'great service' you given me! You've just succeeded in making me miserable and a lot more poorer for the month!

And if you guys actually read through this whole bitching post, I'm sorry if it ruined your day or anything but I'm glad to get it off my chest. It's been bugging me for quite a while now. I feel so much better :D I'm a generally nice person and can take a lot but even I do lose my temper once in a while. At least now I can get down to working on my mesothelioma assignment with a clear mind.
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44 comments:

  1. Oh dear you do sound fuming mad. Im guessing if you had your way you would even use expletives and give that guy a good piece of your mind!

    Ive never been played out by the people I know (and trust) but I would understand how you feel at this moment. The guy doesnt even deserve your 'ranting' time and a place in your blog for the thing he did but now it will serve as a good warning to all the people out there to be careful of this so called Mr Lim.

    But don't feel too bad abt it. Good riddance to the bad people in your life anyway!

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  2. Yikes! That really sucks. If you still have the receipts or warranty card for the "new" replacements perhaps you can confront Mr Lim.

    And you should probably tell all your friends whom you've recommended not to go to his workshop anymore. Make him lose his business.

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  3. This actually happens a lot. A long time ago the dude we used to send our car to... go in repair for one thing and then 2 weeks later or so something lain rosak. Rupa-rupa he was fixing and breaking things at the same time to make sure that we keep on coming back!

    Nasib after that we found a really good and reliable mechanic who was my dad's ex colleague. If not... die lah.

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  4. Charlene Diane - Actually I'm inclined to take the spoilt absorberI back once I get it fixed and hit the bum over the head with it!

    Yeah, he doesn't deserve a mention in my blog, but then I'd like the world to know what a cheat some people can be.

    So, people, beware of Mr. Lim!

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  5. Perky - Oh I intend to tell all the people I recommended about his extremely 'wondeful' service :D

    In fact once I get the new repairs done, I'm taking the old part and going to have a nice little chat with him. I'm really not through with him yet.

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  6. Rozella - I think that's what all unscrupulous mechanics do la ... otherwise how to get repeat business, right?

    Anyway, I'm not through with this fellow yet. When I'm angry I can be a devious evil vengeful person ... muahahaha ...

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  7. Hi Nick,
    OUCH! Sorry for your misfortune but thanks very much for telling us about this. Now, I will make sure that I dont send my car there and let my friends know too!

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  8. yes..anything goes, nevermind the rant! i still have not find a good mechanic here, anything my dad can handle, i'll leave it to him ha ha..i know nothing abt car except drive ..hehe

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  9. Hi Nick, I have just wasted 2 hours in the dirty workshop for the mechanic to service my car, worrying they may remove my new part and exchange with some old parts, haha, am I making my life miserable ...........

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  10. aiyo.. kesiannye..
    my advice is if you have the time, stay with the mechanic and see what is he doing. i myself dont have the patience for that but hubby does it. he would just stare at the work done and actually ask questions.
    yikes.. scary..
    maybe u can try this.
    have a good week ahead..

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  11. i think those people probably have conned many of their customers... just because they are the experts in this field. i hope people like that will realize that it gets them only short termed profit out of desperation but when words get out they won't be around for the long term. i'd love to write to forum or somewhere and tell the world if it happened to me...

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  12. What?! You have every right to get fuming mad. How can the mechanic cheat you in this manner. When we send our car in for service, we are actually placing our life (and family's lives) in his hands. If he does a bad job and give you bad parts, the car will not be safe to drive. To think that he is your regular mechanic some more! Now I am angry too!

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  13. Jen - Yes, you do that :D I'm just disappointed with him. I've known this mechanic for some years now and I cannot understand why he would want to cheat me? I must have done something bad to piss him off, who knows. But yes, give this mechanic a wide berth!

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  14. Deana - LOL! Well, at least your dad can handle things for you. It's not easy finding a mechanic you can trust these days ...

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  15. Molly - Sometimes that may be the best option. To stay there and watch them do the job ... :D

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  16. Lxndreasb - That's the problem, I really don't have the time to sit there and watch them do the repairs. That's why it's based on trust. But obviously some people don't believe in returning the trust. I do stay back and watch them when I have the time though, but not always ...

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  17. Constance - Yes, I do think I'm not the only one. Oh, I am going to let everyone I know about this particular mechanic ...

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  18. Here in brazil, mechanics cheat a lot. Those who doesn't know a thing about cars and its working suffers too much. I don't have a car, but I see what happens to my friends and relatives whenever they takes their cars to the mechanics.

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  19. BT - Exactly, I've known this guy for some years now and to think that he would actually cheat me is so disappointing. You want to make a profit, yes, by all means go ahead, but at least don't cheat me with old parts and claim that it's new, right?

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  20. Cidao - Yes, it really is worse for those who don't know anything at all about cars. They just have to take the words of the mechanic at face value. Sad but true ... But I don't think all mechanic are like that, just a few rotten apples to give the good ones a bad name ...

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  21. Ahhh yes, send to the place where u can see them change it..I actually look at them when they service the car..I hate being cheated. Karma! Seriously. Karma! He'll get wut he deserve by cheating ppl like dat hmph~...oh yes, I dun mind reading rants XD

    Coz I do dat often in my blog hehe.

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  22. Nick, my case is worse than yours. I sold my car and I didn't even get a single cent!!! @%#%@!I totally know how you feel and I hate being cheated too.

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  23. Awww Nick, that's terrible! I feel like you never know who you can truse these days. I would be torn up about this...I had to fight with my car dealer recently and it was worth the fight because I got the money I felt they owed me so may just give it a try to go back and complain!

    Good luck and no you didn't spoil my weekend. We're allowed to rant on our blogs anytime we want!

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  24. Maslight - That's a little problem for me cos sometimes I just don't have the time to watch them do the whole repair work.

    Yeah, I'm sure he'll get whats coming for him in due time.

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  25. Monica - Whoa, yeah, you're right. Your case sounds way more serious than mine! It's coming to a point, you can't trust anyone these days ...

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  26. Breathe With Me - That's true. It's getting harder and harder to trust people these days.

    Well, I'm glad you won your fight :D And I'm not through with my mechanic yet. Once I get my car fixed, I'm going to have a nice man to mechanic talk with him!

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  27. Yes, do make a trip down to M#2 and have a talk with him. Make him know that you are not somebody to be mess around with. Choose the busiest time of the day too!

    At least this will be what we will do if it happens to us.

    At least you vent it out in your blog, i am sure you feel better and is less fuming by now.

    Have a great working week ahead, Nick.

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  28. KM - That was my idea, I was going to make sure the place was packed with customers before I let him know what a cheat I think he is ...

    I'm soooo much better today after that vent ... hehehe ...

    I'm hoping the week ahead will be a good one too.

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  29. OMG!! I'm soooo late to read your post. That bloody Mr. Lim is just soooooooooooo 'toot' (censored a bit, cannot curse too much). Like me, if i send my car for repair, hubby will be at the workshop until everything is done while i, stay at home / office. Otherwise i will kena again like last time, i asked a service for my car, and the workshop boss did a major service which cost me RM1200! Crazy or not?? Hubby was soooo fuming mad!
    My hubby like one particular workshop. The mechanic is a very good boss and mechanic, he never cheated on anybody. (i guess lah) But, everything needed to be paid in cash.

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  30. Kadus Mama - Yeah, that Mr. Lim is a bloody 'toot' LOL!

    I would love to stay and watch what they do but I trusted this guy la. Sighh ...

    Wow, RM1,200 for a service? I'd have freaked out! Your hubby was right to be mad! I would have been mad. I normally ask the price before I do anything just to be safe ...

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  31. Poor thing! This is not a business way? You want ppl to come back of course must give good service!
    Of course you are not done with him yet until he give a very good explaination!
    Anyway, my car technician is one of my husband relative, and has been here near my house(old klang road) for around 10 years! His business is good, altough its a small work shop but it's reliable!
    I think I will not end up anything in his shop in Subang altough it's not far away. Thanks for the reminder!

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  32. Oh wow, u actually named the culprit this time! ;) Sorry to hear abt ur problem, I'd be angry too!

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  33. Lianny - Yeah, I agree. If you don't cheat people, they will definitely come back. At least I still do have another reliable mechanic around. This guy is definitely off my list for good!

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  34. Marzie - Yeah,I'm so angry that I just had to name the culprit!

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  35. Bikin panas hati betul!
    I understand your feeling. This is the right way. blog about it or even better spread the news to every people out there..let they all know what kind of ppl... or sucker mr. lim is. cilaka...
    i once got such mechanic.. sudah juga saya bomb. Not only i curse him for bad things, I even talked the owner of each the cars parked inside his workshop.. to tell them they will be conned for sure. stupid blardy toot toot punya orang!... see, im also angry..GGRRRRRR

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  36. PapJoneh - After I get my car repaired, I intend to make let his customers know just what kind of mechanic they're sending their cars to!

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  37. You being in advertising you would know that the best and worst kind of advertising is word of mouth. Methinks Mr Lim may have shot himself in the foot on this occasion. I would be furious too because of being ripped off by someone I trusted and gave a lot of business to and also because there was the potential for your car to become a lethal weapon because of shoddy workmanship. Disgusting!

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  38. Gypsy - Yup, I'm definitely going to spread the word about him. Exactly, I mean, something bad could have happened while I was driving. God, thinking about it now gives me the shivers!

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  39. Oohh.. I help spread the word to my husband and asked him to tell his friends who are staying in Subang as well.

    Last time, everytime we sent our car for service, the car's AC will be broken down. Don't have to ask why lah hahh..

    Anyways, my husband said whenever he has car troubles, he'll get himself a leave and send the car to the mechanic and no matter how long he has to wait, he'll wait there till the car is done. I call that crazy!

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  40. Oh and maybe this Mr. Lim has a brother in KK. My bro's gf's absorber had to be changed twice in 6 months. Crazy mechanics!

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  41. Shemah - Thank you, that's mighty kind of you :D

    Sometimes I do think they screw up some things to fail on purpose so you will have to go back to them to get it fixed.

    I would love to do that too but sometimes I just don't have the time to wait all day and it's worse when the car has to be in the shop for more than a day.

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  42. Shemah - I seriously would not be surprised if he did. It is crazy to change absorbers every six months. Until recently, my last absorbers lasted at least 2-3 years ...

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  43. Mesothelioma is scary. Good luck with your assignment.

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  44. Mesothelioma Resource - It is scary. And thanks for the good luck wishes :D

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