An even greater cost would be loss of reputation when clients tell others not to use your service. Being a stand up shop will earn trust from clients and pay dividends down the road.
I tried teaching that the area director of the last shop I worked for. getting to the point of making a real good shop is a long term game not a short term and this is exactly how you make a shop into a good shop in the eys of customers
@@senco981I made a similar comment as a main post and no reply or even any likes. I’m pretty sure the comment is shadow ghosted. Their slightly wrong fluid would not have caused such severe damage in just a day or two. Something else was afoot and they won’t address it here.
@@senco981 OH YES if a limited slip diff is involved the clutches can be wiped out or seriously damaged in less than 50 miles with the wrong fluid. Oh but yes and kudos to the shop for owning the issue. In the long run word of mouth will segregate this shop out as the guys with white hats on white horses the good guys and best. Absolute best investment ever in truth and backing their work, Way to go guys!
@@j81851 I do not question their honesty, I just don't believe this dif was OK to begin with. They were played. Check comments section in follow up video. Bunch of BMW techs stated that dif is pron to failures regardless of fluid.
This type of responsibility has become so rare. Thank you for your part in bringing customer service back to America. This is how you build a business with loyal customers.
happend to me today. accidentally put a hole in a customer's oil pan. immediately let them know and ordered new parts. he wasn't mad and understood appreciated the honesty and will continue to be a loyal customer. treat em w respect and they'll come back everytime
mistakes are made, accidents do happen, but you were upfront with it, if I were your customer, I would definitely appreciate that, and be a loyal customer after.
Isn't this the sort of mistake you had no option but to admit to? What else could you do? He can't drive far with a hole in the oil pan, and you're better off replacing that then the engine you would have to replace if you didn't fix the problem...!
What was the oil pan made of and what could you be doing to accidentally put a hole in it was it made of thin plastic the whole motor industry has gone to shit I will stay with cars built in the 90s or earlier 😢😢😢
Posting your mistake and telling the world about it says a lot about you and your integrity as a shop owner. Really appreciate your courage to raise your hand up and admitting your faults. When people make mistakes towards me I always try to work with them on how to make it right since I've made so many mistakes in my life and because of that experience understand that it's just part of life. Keep up the great work!
Shop owner here, been here in this situation far too many times, had a 2016 jeep grand Cherokee a few years ago did head gaskets on, came back a few weeks later with a piston that came apart, ended up putting a 4,000 mile used engine in free of charge, customer was happy, sent me several great referrals since, worth the oss, you guys are class acts
Working on overheated engines is a risk…aluminum blocks may warp and the threads for the head bolts on it may strip out when torquing them down…throughout the years, I’ve seen that pistons are not constructed the same as before; they have much less material on them and may warp and/or have some of type of structural damage to it because of the extreme heat that it sustained.
That's why you don't guarantee head gasket jobs. Only guarantee your work but not the engine. Far too many people run an engine hot then swear it didn't get that hot hoping for a cheap fix, and if doesn't turn out right you're to blame because you worked on it. Without completely tearing down a engine for inspection, there's really no way to know the condition on the bottom side after overheating... it's merely guess work then. A hit and miss, it "might be ok, it might not." "Mights" isn't a good thing to have a guarantee on so be sure the customer knows that before you even touch that motor... get it in writing. You'd be surprised the crap people do for a freebee if they can get one.
BMW guy here. Prior to 7/2011 BMW called for the 75-90 fluid and after for some reason switched it to 75-85 with no changes to the design of the diff. No way that fluid did that. Very unfortunate this happened to you guys. It definitely was not caused from the fluid. Much respect for replacing it on your dime. Not many people like you guys anymore. Much respect.
Maybe the tech filled the diff with rocks? No slight change in weight of gear oil even if it's a different spec is going to destroy a differential in a couple days. No way, no how! This customer was really happy that he had a junk diff to start with and was able to hose this shop for a replacement.
I'm with you on this one .carrier pinion bearings , gear lash why was it brought in to begin with? You almost have to go around the block with the customer driving today to cover your ass before working on vehicles
Likely the wrong spec ended up on the customers invoice, diff blew up after the car left and the customer seen wrong fluid was put in, so the shop is responsible. Probably not the fluid that did it, but shop still on the hook.
My thoughts exactly. Granted, the whole story is not being presented. But what little is being said... smells pretty fishy. Even AllData got blamed?? I wouldn't even know if AD listed the specs; I would reference the owner's manual. "Maybe" do a quick glance for TSBs, depending on circumstances. But the whole mentioning of AD, alone, feels like a head hunt. This channel seems to be obsessed with image and trust. I kind of wonder if the diff was already going out. Customer does what customers do... bring the car back and blame the shop. In this case, the shop didn't have the balls to stick up for their tech? I dunno... but I'm not buying incorrect lube.
Thank you for showing us real life errors and mistakes even when a process is in place. It goes to show how critical a small service can be if done incorrectly. Sharing with us helps other shops take the extra minute to be sure if cannot be verified.
This is a perfect example of how all fluids are not created equal. It is especially true for transmissions. You can put the wrong fluid in a transmission and destroy it. Good on you guys for fixing the problem. That was a tough one to deal with, but you still have a good reputation with that customer for rectifying the problem.
Doing things the right way even when expensive or especially when expensive speaks volumes about you as a people and a business. You deserve major respect and accolades. God bless.
Shop Manager here... Fluids are always a pain. I learned not to blindly trust those systems when they all told me my own Non-CVT trans needed CVT fluid. Ever since, I check the dealer and cross reference to the aftermarket unless its super obvious. And you're right, all shops will make a mistake at some point, it's how you handle it that sets you apart.
Big dog, one day I want to be a manager as well. I just manage myself right now at work and most places I've been but never an official manager that manages people (been a supervisor but manager always puts you up there with the VPs).
I was a dental surgeon for 40 years...Been there, done that....Totally agree with you...But nowaday, people are incredibly fast to file a complaint against you...Was not like that 30 years ago...You have a very nice client and he has an outstanding shop owner ;) You have all my respect .
Agree! You could place the $5000k diff for free and the customer could complain to better business bureau, google and yelp about being without a car for a couple of days even tho you made things right😫😭
I can tell you exactly why the client was extatic. I'm heading into dealing with a Toyota dealer that tried to pull some crap on me. I've only found a couple of honest mechanics in my 40+ years of dealing with cars. The nonsense I've seen pulled by shops is ridiculous. Good on you!
Wow! That's a tough pill to swallow. My compliments to you and the tech for owning it. Unfortunately that level of integrity isn't so common anymore. I believe that is one customer that will brag about his his experience to his friends. Good luck.
As a shop owner I feel your pain. You're right about the cost of putting it right, most people don't understand until you explain it though. If a mistake cost you 6 hours to fix, it cost you 12 hours revenue, 6 fixing it at no charge and 6 hours you could've been doing something else chargeable. Props for not only putting it right, but for making a video about it.
I appreciate that you're owning the issue. I was recently shopping for the correct differential fluid for my '15 Challenger SRT 392. Shopping in the aftermarket for the correct 75W-85 fluid was frustrating. Turns out that Mopar makes more than one 75W-85 fluid and the one for the Ram or the Jeep is not the correct one for my Challenger. Rather than taking any chances, I bought my fluid at the Dodge dealership parts department to make sure I got the right one.
Thank you for this video! I am a new instructor at my local TCAT Automotive Technology class! I needed this video to show my students for our ethics class! It shows how important it is to verify proper fluids but also how like you said own up to your mistakes!
Unfortunately mistakes happen. Honesty is the best policy. In addition to telling the customer that you put the wrong fluid in the diff and repairing the diff at your cost, you also made a video telling us about it. It takes a big man to own up to a mistake. You are a good man Sherwood!
This is also why I preach to never add additives to any of your fluids in the car! If you need an additive, you aren't using the right fluid for the specification! Always do your due diligence and research, research, research! We all make mistakes, but if we can avoid it, why not put in the extra effort. Thanks for the awesome video and dedication to respecting the customer and the community!
Its amazing how much integrity your shop has. Our shop doesn't do unneeded services like this. I guess thats how we avoid situations like this all together.
I wish every shop would see this video. I do feel your pain. Unfortunately, this happens to everyone at some point. The fact that you own up to it,a nd even make it into a video speaks volumes for your character. You're a good man.
I feel your pain from working in the shops for a while as I was a tech and it is tough amen something screws up as I would own up to it, I always did verify my fluids you will have that customer for a long time and I give you a world of credit for doing this video I enjoy your vids that you all do God Bless you all and I hope for a great amount of business for your shop 😀
It is really difficult to look up specs on fluids. I personally only use OE fluids and stock them. I will order any fluid i dont have from the dealer. It sucks.
I was born in 1966 and always taught honesty is the best policy. Koodos to you. Out of this mistake will come more customers which = money for your business and last but not least that customer will tell others the honesty of your shop. Word of mouth can make or break your business. Awesome job.
I messed up with my college girlfriend Her dad confronted me I had make it up. 😊 no big wedding but She and I said : yes I do . Learning from mistakes. I’m Mexicano Greetings from Toluca Mex . Now her dad has a client for life 😊
I found your channel by scrolling through UA-cam shorts and I stopped because I went to school with your snap-on guy. I started watching your videos and you guys seem like really honest, awesome people! I will be calling you guys soon to bring my truck in for some minor stuff and a tune up. I appreciate your honesty, that’s rare these days and why I haven’t taken my vehicle to any mechanics in a while because the one guy I could trust retired a little while ago.
The customer is lucky to have you as a mechanic and taking responsibility for your actions. My mom had an engine leak and the mechanic changed the crankshaft seal. She got the car back and it was still leaking oil. She took it back and the owner said the oil pump seal was leaking and that he doesn’t see that very often. She basically had to pay twice for what I believe could have been avoided if the mechanic was better at his job.
I mean let’s be real here. They don’t have a choice but to be honest. They lie they get taken to small claims court. They lie they get bashed online especially having a social media presence they’d get tons of hate and still have to fix their mistakes. They don’t have a choice
Years ago, I worked in a small shop, things were so much simpler then. Even at my home I different fluids for my vehicles, things are so complex these days. You're doing the right thing, that makes you a class act. I'm with you if a screw-up happens, own it, make it right and move on. And yes, your customer does apricates this, more than you know.
I can tell Sherwood knows the fluid mistake is the only "proof" of an error that lead to a failure and can't speculate on other possibilities. BMW would not warranty the repair. Lesson Learned. Thanks for sharing the story, hopefully it helps others learn too. I do all my own maintenance on my 2021 BMW within my capabilities and I research the crap out of tools, parts and materials needed. I appreciate the videos shared that I learn from.
Kudos to you and your team. It's hard to find an honest repair shop that does great work. Most shops would have come up with some story to tell the customer that it was a coincidence it happened. While it cost you on this one, you'll get it back from return customers and word of mouth. Good for you!
Hats off for being a stand up man in an industry that lacks them. I'm sure your techs not only learned from the mistake that was made, but they learned the INVALUABLE lesson of what to do in that situation. Really awesome. Speaking as someone from the collision industry for 35 years.....open a body shop!!! Please!
Agree with you 100%. Accidents happen. Expect them and, exactly as you said, see them as your time to shine. It's hard to be great in adversity, but that's when it matters. Great attitude. Great shop. Great business.
I admire the way you run your business; it was a honest mistake you are more than man enough to share that with your viewers and you are well stocked and your client is amazed at your honesty you will get the loss back in the long run there aren’t many shops out there like yours
I used to say the same thing in sales. A problem doesn’t have to destroy a deal, a lot of times handling it properly will forge a better relationship and win you a customer for life rather than obfuscating and trying to pass the buck. Well done!
Great people and businesses like yourself are out there but sure seem to be getting harder to find. I believe not only will he be a customer for life ,but you will also gain customers from his testimony. Word of mouth is the best advertisement there is. Nice job!
Thx for your explanation of what can go wrong in a workshop and how to avoid it. I’m the mechanic who takes a little bit longer, marks the wheel nuts after torque them up. We all make mistakes, but we need to honest about it and learn from it.
Excellent point about the honesty, integrity, and transparency with clients. I always preach to my team that we do the right thing, even if it cost us $$$. I'd rather the customer be mad now than mad later. Mad later = potentially tarnished reputation.
I left what some may consider negative comments on another video. Putting your mistakes out there deserves some praise. Sharing your process, quality, risk management as well as honesty and customer satisfaction will serve you well.
Nobody goes through life being perfect. So long as you figured out what went wrong and figure out how to prevent it from happening again then it becomes part of "life's tuition" that we all pay in some way. You handled it well imo. Additionally, in the future your customers will know you're not "sticking it to them" when other repair jobs come along. Have a great holiday weekend!
Awesome video. Understanding ILSAC , API , ACEA oil and fluid categories can sometimes be tricky at the beginning but it is a must . Most oil and fluid references with OE oils and fluid but the category needs to MEET and EXCEED OE specifications. One thing most shops don’t do right is store the right oil and fluid for the right application and that tour of you Oil And Fluid room showed how professional the business is . Anything that is stated “Suitable “ doesn’t meet spec and that’s one thing most companies don’t do right is find the OE oil so they can cancel out the being the reason for failure. As this fluid didn’t meet the required diff oil spec. But , it’s always a good learning curve. Mistakes are done . It’s what you do with them that shows your character. Great job guys 👏
I've never had a brand new vehicle and have always bought used vehicles but I am absolutely paranoid about making sure that the right fluids get into each vehicle that I have owned as I generally do my own repairs. Thankfully the fluids that I have needed over the years are readily available. For the repairs that I can't do I have fortunately found an excellent mechanic that has the same level of responsibility you show in this video.
"Recommended for use in" is not "Approved for use by" aftermarket gets tricky with wording. Be careful when buying fluids. Read the owners manual. It does matter. Thanks for being a good example for the automotive repair world.
Recommended for use is a litigable approval by the manufacturer of the fluid although not the manufacturer of the car. Not everything had to be approved by the OEM. Recommended for use by the fluid manufacturer is totally fine.
Just started following your channel for scoping lessons and came across this video, i presume you own the shop, mate honesty is the best policy and i take my hat off to you! I've been in the truck industry 30yrs in the UK and the main dealers have factory diagnosis software so really no need for scopes but now being self employed i need to learn scoping! Love the channel!
It’s really nice to see your shop own up to the mistake and then take care of it. That’s hard to find. I go to a shop that’s ran the same way, and that is why I’m a customer for life.
Being honest, owning up to mistakes, teaching others and making things right are all great things. If I lived near you I would definitely consider using your service. Thanks for sharing!
Integrity is our most valuable asset as technicians and shop owners. As complicated as newer vehicles are this can happen to anyone. Education is not free this is an awesome opportunity for all of us to learn from. Own your shops mistakes and make it right for your customers and technicians.
I totally understand using the right fluid. But you said this car was in earlier this week. So this thing went 1 day and burned up. What did the tech put in there, cutting oil. What a piece of sh*t if it can't tolerate a few miles. I'm a retired after 42 years with Chrysler. Whenever we had a car for diff or trans service we drove it before doing it. Quite a few times there was a noisy or faulty unit and the customer thought that a service would fix it, and quite a few times I saw a customer say it didn't do that before you serviced it (or did it, and they're trying to get over). You have to be careful.
Wow. You guys handled your mistake like true professionals!! Too many shops would pass the responsibility along to someone else. Kudos to your shop for showing how it's done!!
I know that the Diff had problems when the customer brought it in, NO diff goes bad or makes noise in a day or two ! Now if the tech forgot to put any fluid back in , when he drain it .............yea then it will make noise ! But with the wrong fluid........................Big BS there for sure ! Just like Automatic Trans, NOT a CV, you put the wrong fluid , it will not go bad , might shift funny, but go bad that"s BS also , now if its low on fluid..........yea..................but wrong fluid...................ALL BS !
I think it’s awesome that you guys are owning up to it and taking care of your customer instead of trying to pass the buck It’s nice to know there are honest shops out there
Thank you for sharing. This is a learning lesson for all of us. I have learned if you do something good for a customer they will ten people, but if you screw a customer that person will tell a thousand people.
BMW has always been very specific about maintenance and intervals. The early 325s used Mobil1 50W in the manual transmissions, they take a special clutch additive for the LSD. Basically, every 7,500 miles was a service, with 15k a bigger service, 30k an even bigger service, and so on. But they lasted forever back then. I learned many years ago to refer to the owners manual and to reference materials (Bentley or Mitchell repair manuals) to get the right info for fluid types and quantities. Audi used a mineral oil for power steering and brake boost. German cars could use either mineral oil or ATF style power steering fluid, even among the same models and years. I recently did an engine swap on a 2014 Explorer 3.5 NA. I used all Motorcraft fluids and filters for warranty purposes. If anything fails because of lubrication issues, then I'm not to blame. I replaced the oil pump with a Motorcraft brand and replaced the water pump with a premium brand that is built better than OE. I also wrote the date and mileage under the hood, with the future replacement mileage.
I am a small one man shop. I go to the dealership and get OEM fluids for every vehicle that comes in for me for the exact reason you state about incompatibility and honestly I couldn't stomach a repair like that because of how small I am. I am slightly over 100 bucks for 4 qts and filter and comes with multi point inspection and tire rotation. And I tell my clients to come every 2nd 3rd oil change and expect them to drop the vehicle off to get serviced. I know the general pricing of the oil I buy from the dealers and will can the oil job and just let the dealerships charge me and whatever im left with I will take. I just did a oil change on a 16 civic today total was 120 with taxes. I dont make much on the oil changes even at those prices. But I have piece of mind the car is getting exactly what it needs no corners cut. and of course, I sold them on some other work so its my loss leader.
I definitely feel your pain, but honesty is always the best policy in the long run. My field is a little different but some things still apply. I was recently repairing a customer's commercial prep table, and the previous technician did not follow proper practices for flammable refrigerant, which involves removing any service ports after work is done. The previous guy left the ports in place and crimped the copper tubing over which work hardened or weakened the tubing. I was replacing a condensate heater, which required me to move the compressor out of the way. When I went to slide the compressor back in, after successfully completing my work, the service port the previous guy had left in place and in a weakened state, snagged the edge of the cooler and broke. The hiss of refrigerant coming out was immediately disheartening. As the reality sank in, I realized I would not be able to make it to my truck in time to grab my crimping pliers. A cooler like that only holds a few ounces of charge. Needless to say, I told the customer what happened, and told him he wouldn't be charged for any additional repairs. It cost me a lot of time and money to repair the tubing, evacuate the system, and recharge the unit. But the customer knows I will take care of him and that is more important in the long run I think.
As a fleet tech for a number of years now we do frequent dealers for a number of our fluids and parts. We have a mixed fleet of over 180 vehicles with US, Asian, and Euro brands all thrown into the mix. Even though we do see the same vehicles over and over, we don't like comebacks by any metric. I'd rather explain to the higher ups why we are spending more in parts than having to ask for approval for major component replacement that was our fault. One thing that does help us I do believe is we do all of our own parts ordering so checking for proper specs is a daily requirement for us.
As a former technician (working in biotech electro-mechanical manufacturing, not auto) who made some expensive mistakes while learning new things on the job, It's really great to have a boss/supervisor with this attitude (goes for all jobs as well, of course). It means workers themselves are more likely to be upfront and open about any mistakes they do make, which makes problem-solving much easier and generally improves not only morale but efficiency and work quality. No one is trying to cover up shoddy work, pass the buck or deny ownership, and everyone is more likely to take mistakes as learning opportunities and to put in the effort to correct their own mistakes and help out coworkers.
Nice to see your attitude and approach! Sorry for your loss of time and money. Haven’t trusted a shop much in decades. It takes me a while to double check and verify fluids and parts all the time, myself. Honestly don’t know how shops don’t lose their minds with the job clock ticking down and every vehicle having its own history or pre-existing condition. It is time-consuming and I only have my own stuff to worry about!!
I appreciate your ownership on the mistake, and especially with sharing with us that shops do make mistakes. It can seem like shops never want to own up to things they've. Thanks for that! All of these specialty fluids out there are dizzying and insanely ridiculous. As a DIYer, it can sometimes be hard to make sure I'm buying the right stuff. It's even worse for people like my dad. As a Baby Boomer DIYer, he came from an era where every car basically took the same fluids. Only decision you had to make was which viscosity you wanted to run. He has trouble understanding why I am so particular with my late model BMW. He kinda just can't comprehend that you have to be super specific with these new cars, and that if you aren't, very bad things will happen.
The best thing is honestly I admire that 100% . We all make mistakes some big some small. I did a complete engine overhaul with zero labor on a 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser because of my carelessness
Taking responsibility for one's actions is admirable in today's world. Kudos to you and your business. I am sure your integrity will bring more business.
You absolutely nailed it man. I own a high level detailing business. Paint corrections coatings etc. And luckily I've only had a couple oops moments over the years and owned right up to it. The clients are still with me. Honesty and reputation goes a long way. And I had a boss years ago tell me the same thing. It's ok to make a mistake and learn from it. Just dont make the same mistake twice. Great video. It just shows that if you do the same thing day in day out youll eventually have a whoops moment.
Your a great guy and boss sherwood!! This video probably just got you more customers than any video before. It was obvious you all were first class but this just proved it!! Thanx for doing the right thing.
The employee sluffed it off just one time and it cost dearly! I hope he realizes the cost to the shop and will be more diligent the next time! With that said, if I have any doubt, it's OEM and there is still a mark-up on anything that has to be purchased. Quite frankly I wouldn't own a BMW!
So what do you use to look up fluid specs? Do you not look up torque specs? What do you tell the customer? I don’t know how to verify what covers it thus fluid in the shop might but I’m going to the dealer and you have to pay more?
Really like the comment about todays fluids it seems to take so much time to find the exact one but on some cars paying the dealer cost is worth it and you eliminate all issues arising from the fluid choice
I run a small engine and outboard repair shop. If I screw up , break something that wasn't worn out, etc, I own up to it and fix it, replace at no cost to customer. Rarely happens, but if it does, I do. You keep a customer and get good advertising. Great word of mouth advertising is the best. Unfortunately a lot people won't take the time to leave a good Google review. But they will for a bad review and if they are just unscrupulous.
An even greater cost would be loss of reputation when clients tell others not to use your service. Being a stand up shop will earn trust from clients and pay dividends down the road.
I tried teaching that the area director of the last shop I worked for. getting to the point of making a real good shop is a long term game not a short term and this is exactly how you make a shop into a good shop in the eys of customers
I don't believe wrong differential fluid would cause damage in such a short time. What tech had put in there, acid?
@@senco981I made a similar comment as a main post and no reply or even any likes. I’m pretty sure the comment is shadow ghosted. Their slightly wrong fluid would not have caused such severe damage in just a day or two. Something else was afoot and they won’t address it here.
@@senco981 OH YES if a limited slip diff is involved the clutches can be wiped out or seriously damaged in less than 50 miles with the wrong fluid. Oh but yes and kudos to the shop for owning the issue. In the long run word of mouth will segregate this shop out as the guys with white hats on white horses the good guys and best.
Absolute best investment ever in truth and backing their work, Way to go guys!
@@j81851 I do not question their honesty, I just don't believe this dif was OK to begin with. They were played. Check comments section in follow up video.
Bunch of BMW techs stated that dif is pron to failures regardless of fluid.
Admitting a mistake and fixing it for free is the best advertising you could do. Trust is priceless. Respect!
This type of responsibility has become so rare. Thank you for your part in bringing customer service back to America. This is how you build a business with loyal customers.
Literally brings a tear to my eye.
It isn't that uncommon. We all make mistakes. It is how a shop handles those mistakes that matter.
Good comment!
Pity there are now more skimmers taking advantage of our integrity in this industry, just passing up their account responsibilities 😢
happend to me today. accidentally put a hole in a customer's oil pan. immediately let them know and ordered new parts. he wasn't mad and understood appreciated the honesty and will continue to be a loyal customer. treat em w respect and they'll come back everytime
mistakes are made, accidents do happen, but you were upfront with it, if I were your customer, I would definitely appreciate that, and be a loyal customer after.
Isn't this the sort of mistake you had no option but to admit to? What else could you do? He can't drive far with a hole in the oil pan, and you're better off replacing that then the engine you would have to replace if you didn't fix the problem...!
What was the oil pan made of and what could you be doing to accidentally put a hole in it was it made of thin plastic the whole motor industry has gone to shit I will stay with cars built in the 90s or earlier 😢😢😢
Integrity and a good reputation are priceless.
Posting your mistake and telling the world about it says a lot about you and your integrity as a shop owner. Really appreciate your courage to raise your hand up and admitting your faults. When people make mistakes towards me I always try to work with them on how to make it right since I've made so many mistakes in my life and because of that experience understand that it's just part of life. Keep up the great work!
Shop owner here, been here in this situation far too many times, had a 2016 jeep grand Cherokee a few years ago did head gaskets on, came back a few weeks later with a piston that came apart, ended up putting a 4,000 mile used engine in free of charge, customer was happy, sent me several great referrals since, worth the oss, you guys are class acts
Shop owner been here before. You can't even explain what happened sometimes but you have to eat it
I feel your pain, I own a shop, you can't take that kind of lose that often, I know I can't.
Working on overheated engines is a risk…aluminum blocks may warp and the threads for the head bolts on it may strip out when torquing them down…throughout the years, I’ve seen that pistons are not constructed the same as before; they have much less material on them and may warp and/or have some of type of structural damage to it because of the extreme heat that it sustained.
That's why you don't guarantee head gasket jobs. Only guarantee your work but not the engine. Far too many people run an engine hot then swear it didn't get that hot hoping for a cheap fix, and if doesn't turn out right you're to blame because you worked on it. Without completely tearing down a engine for inspection, there's really no way to know the condition on the bottom side after overheating... it's merely guess work then. A hit and miss, it "might be ok, it might not." "Mights" isn't a good thing to have a guarantee on so be sure the customer knows that before you even touch that motor... get it in writing. You'd be surprised the crap people do for a freebee if they can get one.
@@garyr7027 would the code reader not throw an overheat code that could be pulled even if it was deleted?
BMW guy here. Prior to 7/2011 BMW called for the 75-90 fluid and after for some reason switched it to 75-85 with no changes to the design of the diff. No way that fluid did that. Very unfortunate this happened to you guys. It definitely was not caused from the fluid. Much respect for replacing it on your dime. Not many people like you guys anymore. Much respect.
Exactly, a differential knows lubrication nothing else…🙄🤷♂️
Maybe the tech filled the diff with rocks? No slight change in weight of gear oil even if it's a different spec is going to destroy a differential in a couple days. No way, no how! This customer was really happy that he had a junk diff to start with and was able to hose this shop for a replacement.
I'm with you on this one .carrier pinion bearings , gear lash why was it brought in to begin with? You almost have to go around the block with the customer driving today to cover your ass before working on vehicles
Likely the wrong spec ended up on the customers invoice, diff blew up after the car left and the customer seen wrong fluid was put in, so the shop is responsible.
Probably not the fluid that did it, but shop still on the hook.
My thoughts exactly. Granted, the whole story is not being presented. But what little is being said... smells pretty fishy. Even AllData got blamed?? I wouldn't even know if AD listed the specs; I would reference the owner's manual. "Maybe" do a quick glance for TSBs, depending on circumstances. But the whole mentioning of AD, alone, feels like a head hunt.
This channel seems to be obsessed with image and trust. I kind of wonder if the diff was already going out. Customer does what customers do... bring the car back and blame the shop. In this case, the shop didn't have the balls to stick up for their tech? I dunno... but I'm not buying incorrect lube.
As a plumber for 40 years i have made a few Fuckups in my time. Always put my hand up and sorted my mistake.
We all do, Champ! I’m an Electrician and I recently dropped a wire bending tool down inside a transfer switch. KABOOOOOM!😳
Thank you for showing us real life errors and mistakes even when a process is in place. It goes to show how critical a small service can be if done incorrectly. Sharing with us helps other shops take the extra minute to be sure if cannot be verified.
This is a perfect example of how all fluids are not created equal. It is especially true for transmissions. You can put the wrong fluid in a transmission and destroy it. Good on you guys for fixing the problem. That was a tough one to deal with, but you still have a good reputation with that customer for rectifying the problem.
Sorry sir for your lost. Very sad to hear. Just because you passed the honesty test you are going to be blessed 10 times more. Great respect!!!!
Doing things the right way even when expensive or especially when expensive speaks volumes about you as a people and a business. You deserve major respect and accolades. God bless.
Shop Manager here... Fluids are always a pain. I learned not to blindly trust those systems when they all told me my own Non-CVT trans needed CVT fluid. Ever since, I check the dealer and cross reference to the aftermarket unless its super obvious. And you're right, all shops will make a mistake at some point, it's how you handle it that sets you apart.
Big dog, one day I want to be a manager as well. I just manage myself right now at work and most places I've been but never an official manager that manages people (been a supervisor but manager always puts you up there with the VPs).
Just carry max life it covers cvt and atf.
AMEN!
@@scientist100 Most days I enjoy, some days I ask myself why I'm here. usually that's when the owner shows up and ruins everything lol.
@@alexandergunaka666 I'm not sold on universal fluids.
I was a dental surgeon for 40 years...Been there, done that....Totally agree with you...But nowaday, people are incredibly fast to file a complaint against you...Was not like that 30 years ago...You have a very nice client and he has an outstanding shop owner ;) You have all my respect .
Agree! You could place the $5000k diff for free and the customer could complain to better business bureau, google and yelp about being without a car for a couple of days even tho you made things right😫😭
I can tell you exactly why the client was extatic. I'm heading into dealing with a Toyota dealer that tried to pull some crap on me. I've only found a couple of honest mechanics in my 40+ years of dealing with cars. The nonsense I've seen pulled by shops is ridiculous. Good on you!
Moving to a new town and having to find a new mechanic is more daunting than finding a new doctor, dentist, therapist, or anything else.
Honesty is overall the best policy , I would definitely be a lifelong customer. Good people in a shop are hard to find .
Wow! That's a tough pill to swallow. My compliments to you and the tech for owning it. Unfortunately that level of integrity isn't so common anymore. I believe that is one customer that will brag about his his experience to his friends. Good luck.
As a shop owner I feel your pain. You're right about the cost of putting it right, most people don't understand until you explain it though. If a mistake cost you 6 hours to fix, it cost you 12 hours revenue, 6 fixing it at no charge and 6 hours you could've been doing something else chargeable. Props for not only putting it right, but for making a video about it.
I appreciate that you're owning the issue. I was recently shopping for the correct differential fluid for my '15 Challenger SRT 392. Shopping in the aftermarket for the correct 75W-85 fluid was frustrating. Turns out that Mopar makes more than one 75W-85 fluid and the one for the Ram or the Jeep is not the correct one for my Challenger. Rather than taking any chances, I bought my fluid at the Dodge dealership parts department to make sure I got the right one.
What a great honest mechanic, shop owner right there
Great video! Take a real leader to own up to any kind of oversight, especially an expensive one.
Total respect. You made the mistake and you owned it.
And SO rare nowadays for a business to own it! 😊
Thank you for this video! I am a new instructor at my local TCAT Automotive Technology class! I needed this video to show my students for our ethics class! It shows how important it is to verify proper fluids but also how like you said own up to your mistakes!
Unfortunately mistakes happen. Honesty is the best policy. In addition to telling the customer that you put the wrong fluid in the diff and repairing the diff at your cost, you also made a video telling us about it. It takes a big man to own up to a mistake. You are a good man Sherwood!
Honesty, like OP shows, should probably be rewarded a lot more than it is.
I'v owned this shop for 40 years now, we run exactly like you !! For sur, "I" want to sleep good at night, and my clients know it... Good on ya.
I appreciate when a professional makes a mistake shows you that they made a mistake and shows you how they fix it. It’s very reputable.
Respect that you fessed up and did the customer right. That keeps customer coming back👍
This is also why I preach to never add additives to any of your fluids in the car! If you need an additive, you aren't using the right fluid for the specification! Always do your due diligence and research, research, research! We all make mistakes, but if we can avoid it, why not put in the extra effort.
Thanks for the awesome video and dedication to respecting the customer and the community!
Its amazing how much integrity your shop has. Our shop doesn't do unneeded services like this. I guess thats how we avoid situations like this all together.
The fact that you show the mistake and that you own up to it, says a world about your shop. I wish more shops were like yours.
I wish every shop would see this video. I do feel your pain. Unfortunately, this happens to everyone at some point. The fact that you own up to it,a nd even make it into a video speaks volumes for your character. You're a good man.
I feel your pain from working in the shops for a while as I was a tech and it is tough amen something screws up as I would own up to it, I always did verify my fluids you will have that customer for a long time and I give you a world of credit for doing this video I enjoy your vids that you all do God Bless you all and I hope for a great amount of business for your shop 😀
Everyone wants honesty yet turns around and is dishonest. Glad to know you are one of the few who are honest.
Kudos to you for as you stated "owning the mistake." A tough financial hit for sure but what a testament to your integrity.
It is really difficult to look up specs on fluids. I personally only use OE fluids and stock them. I will order any fluid i dont have from the dealer. It sucks.
Literally impossible to do stock all of them if you work on all makes. You can stick about 6 to cover 99% of diffs
I was born in 1966 and always taught honesty is the best policy. Koodos to you. Out of this mistake will come more customers which = money for your business and last but not least that customer will tell others the honesty of your shop. Word of mouth can make or break your business. Awesome job.
I messed up with my college girlfriend
Her dad confronted me
I had make it up. 😊
no big wedding but
She and I said : yes I do .
Learning from mistakes.
I’m Mexicano
Greetings from Toluca Mex .
Now her dad has a client for life 😊
The honesty here is what’s most important. Thank you
I respect your level of professionalism and craftsmanship
Pressed the like button because this took guts to express. Not very many business share their honesty.
I found your channel by scrolling through UA-cam shorts and I stopped because I went to school with your snap-on guy. I started watching your videos and you guys seem like really honest, awesome people! I will be calling you guys soon to bring my truck in for some minor stuff and a tune up. I appreciate your honesty, that’s rare these days and why I haven’t taken my vehicle to any mechanics in a while because the one guy I could trust retired a little while ago.
The customer is lucky to have you as a mechanic and taking responsibility for your actions.
My mom had an engine leak and the mechanic changed the crankshaft seal. She got the car back and it was still leaking oil. She took it back and the owner said the oil pump seal was leaking and that he doesn’t see that very often. She basically had to pay twice for what I believe could have been avoided if the mechanic was better at his job.
I mean let’s be real here. They don’t have a choice but to be honest. They lie they get taken to small claims court. They lie they get bashed online especially having a social media presence they’d get tons of hate and still have to fix their mistakes. They don’t have a choice
Years ago, I worked in a small shop, things were so much simpler then. Even at my home I different fluids for my vehicles, things are so complex these days. You're doing the right thing, that makes you a class act. I'm with you if a screw-up happens, own it, make it right and move on. And yes, your customer does apricates this, more than you know.
Good bless you. Thanks for stepping up and owning the situation.
I can tell Sherwood knows the fluid mistake is the only "proof" of an error that lead to a failure and can't speculate on other possibilities. BMW would not warranty the repair. Lesson Learned. Thanks for sharing the story, hopefully it helps others learn too. I do all my own maintenance on my 2021 BMW within my capabilities and I research the crap out of tools, parts and materials needed. I appreciate the videos shared that I learn from.
Good to see there is another honest repair shop
It is refreshing to hear a shop own up to their unfortunate errors, and make it right. Congratulations...Good work.
Being truthful in the auto industry should be a law good on you for taking ownership
Kudos to you and your team. It's hard to find an honest repair shop that does great work. Most shops would have come up with some story to tell the customer that it was a coincidence it happened. While it cost you on this one, you'll get it back from return customers and word of mouth. Good for you!
Hats off for being a stand up man in an industry that lacks them. I'm sure your techs not only learned from the mistake that was made, but they learned the INVALUABLE lesson of what to do in that situation. Really awesome. Speaking as someone from the collision industry for 35 years.....open a body shop!!! Please!
Agree with you 100%. Accidents happen. Expect them and, exactly as you said, see them as your time to shine. It's hard to be great in adversity, but that's when it matters.
Great attitude.
Great shop.
Great business.
Exactly. The damage was done, but honesty saved the mechanic shop's reputation. A $50 customer is just as valuable as a $5,000 customer.
I admire the way you run your business; it was a honest mistake you are more than man enough to share that with your viewers and you are well stocked and your client is amazed at your honesty you will get the loss back in the long run there aren’t many shops out there like yours
I used to say the same thing in sales. A problem doesn’t have to destroy a deal, a lot of times handling it properly will forge a better relationship and win you a customer for life rather than obfuscating and trying to pass the buck. Well done!
Great people and businesses like yourself are out there but sure seem to be getting harder to find. I believe not only will he be a customer for life ,but you will also gain customers from his testimony. Word of mouth is the best advertisement there is. Nice job!
You have brass my man... respect your courage and willingness to admit a mistake on social media. World class!
All my love to you all! Thank you for sharing such a powerful story. I cannot express how much I appreciate your integrity.
Thx for your explanation of what can go wrong in a workshop and how to avoid it. I’m the mechanic who takes a little bit longer, marks the wheel nuts after torque them up. We all make mistakes, but we need to honest about it and learn from it.
Word of mouth is so important. The customer will pass the word and evenly you will recover the loss
Excellent point about the honesty, integrity, and transparency with clients. I always preach to my team that we do the right thing, even if it cost us $$$. I'd rather the customer be mad now than mad later. Mad later = potentially tarnished reputation.
I left what some may consider negative comments on another video.
Putting your mistakes out there deserves some praise.
Sharing your process, quality, risk management as well as honesty and customer satisfaction will serve you well.
Nobody goes through life being perfect. So long as you figured out what went wrong and figure out how to prevent it from happening again then it becomes part of "life's tuition" that we all pay in some way. You handled it well imo. Additionally, in the future your customers will know you're not "sticking it to them" when other repair jobs come along.
Have a great holiday weekend!
Awesome video. Understanding ILSAC , API , ACEA oil and fluid categories can sometimes be tricky at the beginning but it is a must . Most oil and fluid references with OE oils and fluid but the category needs to MEET and EXCEED OE specifications. One thing most shops don’t do right is store the right oil and fluid for the right application and that tour of you Oil And Fluid room showed how professional the business is . Anything that is stated “Suitable “ doesn’t meet spec and that’s one thing most companies don’t do right is find the OE oil so they can cancel out the being the reason for failure. As this fluid didn’t meet the required diff oil spec. But , it’s always a good learning curve. Mistakes are done . It’s what you do with them that shows your character. Great job guys 👏
How dare you forget JASO-GLV1 😂
I've never had a brand new vehicle and have always bought used vehicles but I am absolutely paranoid about making sure that the right fluids get into each vehicle that I have owned as I generally do my own repairs. Thankfully the fluids that I have needed over the years are readily available.
For the repairs that I can't do I have fortunately found an excellent mechanic that has the same level of responsibility you show in this video.
"Recommended for use in" is not "Approved for use by" aftermarket gets tricky with wording. Be careful when buying fluids. Read the owners manual. It does matter. Thanks for being a good example for the automotive repair world.
Recommended for use is a litigable approval by the manufacturer of the fluid although not the manufacturer of the car. Not everything had to be approved by the OEM. Recommended for use by the fluid manufacturer is totally fine.
Yeah with BMW you can call a BMW parts counter for certain fluid requirements. You are a gentleman and a scholar!
I was just talking to a buddy of mine today about this stuff. The way you keep clients is being honest. Sucks but mistakes happen.
Just started following your channel for scoping lessons and came across this video, i presume you own the shop, mate honesty is the best policy and i take my hat off to you!
I've been in the truck industry 30yrs in the UK and the main dealers have factory diagnosis software so really no need for scopes but now being self employed i need to learn scoping! Love the channel!
It’s really nice to see your shop own up to the mistake and then take care of it. That’s hard to find. I go to a shop that’s ran the same way, and that is why I’m a customer for life.
Being honest, owning up to mistakes, teaching others and making things right are all great things. If I lived near you I would definitely consider using your service. Thanks for sharing!
Integrity is our most valuable asset as technicians and shop owners. As complicated as newer vehicles are this can happen to anyone. Education is not free this is an awesome opportunity for all of us to learn from. Own your shops mistakes and make it right for your customers and technicians.
I totally understand using the right fluid. But you said this car was in earlier this week. So this thing went 1 day and burned up. What did the tech put in there, cutting oil. What a piece of sh*t if it can't tolerate a few miles. I'm a retired after 42 years with Chrysler. Whenever we had a car for diff or trans service we drove it before doing it. Quite a few times there was a noisy or faulty unit and the customer thought that a service would fix it, and quite a few times I saw a customer say it didn't do that before you serviced it (or did it, and they're trying to get over). You have to be careful.
Wow. You guys handled your mistake like true professionals!! Too many shops would pass the responsibility along to someone else. Kudos to your shop for showing how it's done!!
As a mechanic myself I respect you and your shop for this
I know that the Diff had problems when the customer brought it in, NO diff goes bad or makes noise in a day or two !
Now if the tech forgot to put any fluid back in , when he drain it .............yea then it will make noise !
But with the wrong fluid........................Big BS there for sure !
Just like Automatic Trans, NOT a CV, you put the wrong fluid , it will not go bad , might shift funny, but go bad
that"s BS also , now if its low on fluid..........yea..................but wrong fluid...................ALL BS !
I think it’s awesome that you guys are owning up to it and taking care of your customer instead of trying to pass the buck It’s nice to know there are honest shops out there
The Truth is a word people hate in this modern day and age ! Well done on the way you held your head high in this situation !
Thank you for sharing. This is a learning lesson for all of us. I have learned if you do something good for a customer they will ten people, but if you screw a customer that person will tell a thousand people.
BMW has always been very specific about maintenance and intervals. The early 325s used Mobil1 50W in the manual transmissions, they take a special clutch additive for the LSD. Basically, every 7,500 miles was a service, with 15k a bigger service, 30k an even bigger service, and so on. But they lasted forever back then. I learned many years ago to refer to the owners manual and to reference materials (Bentley or Mitchell repair manuals) to get the right info for fluid types and quantities. Audi used a mineral oil for power steering and brake boost. German cars could use either mineral oil or ATF style power steering fluid, even among the same models and years. I recently did an engine swap on a 2014 Explorer 3.5 NA. I used all Motorcraft fluids and filters for warranty purposes. If anything fails because of lubrication issues, then I'm not to blame. I replaced the oil pump with a Motorcraft brand and replaced the water pump with a premium brand that is built better than OE. I also wrote the date and mileage under the hood, with the future replacement mileage.
I am a small one man shop. I go to the dealership and get OEM fluids for every vehicle that comes in for me for the exact reason you state about incompatibility and honestly I couldn't stomach a repair like that because of how small I am. I am slightly over 100 bucks for 4 qts and filter and comes with multi point inspection and tire rotation. And I tell my clients to come every 2nd 3rd oil change and expect them to drop the vehicle off to get serviced. I know the general pricing of the oil I buy from the dealers and will can the oil job and just let the dealerships charge me and whatever im left with I will take.
I just did a oil change on a 16 civic today total was 120 with taxes. I dont make much on the oil changes even at those prices. But I have piece of mind the car is getting exactly what it needs no corners cut. and of course, I sold them on some other work so its my loss leader.
I don't think most shops would have fessed up to this. You guys are honest and trusting.
I definitely feel your pain, but honesty is always the best policy in the long run. My field is a little different but some things still apply. I was recently repairing a customer's commercial prep table, and the previous technician did not follow proper practices for flammable refrigerant, which involves removing any service ports after work is done. The previous guy left the ports in place and crimped the copper tubing over which work hardened or weakened the tubing. I was replacing a condensate heater, which required me to move the compressor out of the way. When I went to slide the compressor back in, after successfully completing my work, the service port the previous guy had left in place and in a weakened state, snagged the edge of the cooler and broke. The hiss of refrigerant coming out was immediately disheartening. As the reality sank in, I realized I would not be able to make it to my truck in time to grab my crimping pliers. A cooler like that only holds a few ounces of charge. Needless to say, I told the customer what happened, and told him he wouldn't be charged for any additional repairs. It cost me a lot of time and money to repair the tubing, evacuate the system, and recharge the unit. But the customer knows I will take care of him and that is more important in the long run I think.
Seen stuff in my years as a mechanic. I feel your pain.
Good on you for owning this. People no longer trust mechanic shops and haven’t for a while. If you were near me, you would now have my business.
As a fleet tech for a number of years now we do frequent dealers for a number of our fluids and parts. We have a mixed fleet of over 180 vehicles with US, Asian, and Euro brands all thrown into the mix. Even though we do see the same vehicles over and over, we don't like comebacks by any metric. I'd rather explain to the higher ups why we are spending more in parts than having to ask for approval for major component replacement that was our fault. One thing that does help us I do believe is we do all of our own parts ordering so checking for proper specs is a daily requirement for us.
As a former technician (working in biotech electro-mechanical manufacturing, not auto) who made some expensive mistakes while learning new things on the job, It's really great to have a boss/supervisor with this attitude (goes for all jobs as well, of course).
It means workers themselves are more likely to be upfront and open about any mistakes they do make, which makes problem-solving much easier and generally improves not only morale but efficiency and work quality. No one is trying to cover up shoddy work, pass the buck or deny ownership, and everyone is more likely to take mistakes as learning opportunities and to put in the effort to correct their own mistakes and help out coworkers.
These guys make me want to drive cross country to get my vehicle worked on. Incredible service and knowledge.
Nice to see your attitude and approach! Sorry for your loss of time and money.
Haven’t trusted a shop much in decades. It takes me a while to double check and verify fluids and parts all the time, myself. Honestly don’t know how shops don’t lose their minds with the job clock ticking down and every vehicle having its own history or pre-existing condition. It is time-consuming and I only have my own stuff to worry about!!
The fact you guys owned it says so much about your shops integrity. ❤
I appreciate your ownership on the mistake, and especially with sharing with us that shops do make mistakes. It can seem like shops never want to own up to things they've. Thanks for that!
All of these specialty fluids out there are dizzying and insanely ridiculous. As a DIYer, it can sometimes be hard to make sure I'm buying the right stuff. It's even worse for people like my dad. As a Baby Boomer DIYer, he came from an era where every car basically took the same fluids. Only decision you had to make was which viscosity you wanted to run. He has trouble understanding why I am so particular with my late model BMW. He kinda just can't comprehend that you have to be super specific with these new cars, and that if you aren't, very bad things will happen.
The best thing is honestly I admire that 100% . We all make mistakes some big some small. I did a complete engine overhaul with zero labor on a 1989 Toyota Land Cruiser because of my carelessness
Taking responsibility for one's actions is admirable in today's world. Kudos to you and your business. I am sure your integrity will bring more business.
This is the exact reason we dont do ANYT menu priced services anymore. Too many different fluids, filters, etc. etc.
You absolutely nailed it man. I own a high level detailing business. Paint corrections coatings etc. And luckily I've only had a couple oops moments over the years and owned right up to it. The clients are still with me. Honesty and reputation goes a long way.
And I had a boss years ago tell me the same thing. It's ok to make a mistake and learn from it. Just dont make the same mistake twice.
Great video. It just shows that if you do the same thing day in day out youll eventually have a whoops moment.
Your a great guy and boss sherwood!! This video probably just got you more customers than any video before. It was obvious you all were first class but this just proved it!! Thanx for doing the right thing.
The employee sluffed it off just one time and it cost dearly! I hope he realizes the cost to the shop and will be more diligent the next time! With that said, if I have any doubt, it's OEM and there is still a mark-up on anything that has to be purchased. Quite frankly I wouldn't own a BMW!
Guarantee he's not gone. That would be inconsistent.
So what do you use to look up fluid specs? Do you not look up torque specs? What do you tell the customer? I don’t know how to verify what covers it thus fluid in the shop might but I’m going to the dealer and you have to pay more?
Really like the comment about todays fluids it seems to take so much time to find the exact one but on some cars paying the dealer cost is worth it and you eliminate all issues arising from the fluid choice
Well said. Something we all know but tend to forget. And yes, it is very important to own it. Makes ypu a good human being. No one is perfect
I run a small engine and outboard repair shop.
If I screw up , break something that wasn't worn out, etc, I own up to it and fix it, replace at no cost to customer. Rarely happens, but if it does, I do. You keep a customer and get good advertising. Great word of mouth advertising is the best. Unfortunately a lot people won't take the time to leave a good Google review. But they will for a bad review and if they are just unscrupulous.