Can mechanics be friends with their customers?

[@ctmaz68]

Friendship is friendship, business is business. Mature, rational people will understand the distinction.

[@CL500MBZ]

be friendly but not a friend. the way someone treats you at the end of a relationship shows you what they really thought of you from the beginning.

[@twntwrs]

From the culture of these cars' origin, there's a saying in German: "Strenge Rechnung gute Freunde" - Strict accounting good friends.

[@xmaxbabilo]

My mechanic charges far too much for me to be a freind. As a mechanic they are amazing but seeing them reminds me of the pain 😂 .

[@bluestove4716]

It’s a slippery slope…. In business friendships can forge…. But a good friend will know when to keep it distinct.

[@hanseich]

You’re not only a mechanic but also a philosopher. Very inspiring post.

[@gurneyforpresident2836]

I have been a Contractor for 40 plus years now and totally agree here. When on a project the GC and Subs are a team and mostly have good camaraderie by working together. With homeowners you strive for their complete satisfaction. Friends? No, its not ever part of the equation.

[@toddr3093]

This is great advice. I’m considering reopening my shop, and I’m starting to remember why I shut it down 2 years ago. I see someone struggling financially, and I feel obligated to give them a lower price, but it ends up being to my detriment. You have to leave emotions out of this business. Here’s the price, take it or leave it

[@Aramigo123]

Amen, Pierre. Fellow shop owner here...all 5 of your things can be summed up with one rule: Don't. Be. Annoying.

[@mundotaku_org]

I agree with you. Separate both. I am friends (first) and then a mechanic in my previous city. Sometimes, I would not be 100% satisfied with their job, which did not damage my respect or friendship. I just took my car to the specialist because I knew my car might have not been easy to repair. My car has been in the shop since December with a good specialist in European and exotic cars. He is not cheap either, but he is honest and good. I don't mind him taking his time.

[@kevinmurphy6389]

Hello Piear, it’s Kevin Murphy in Palm Bay It’s good to see you’re still going at it full throttle. I sure do miss driving my 220D I’m in tears right now just thinking about it . I just watched that clip from Mercedes star people. Thanks for all the good times.

[@johnfrei9057]

You can be friendly, but always remember it’s a business relationship first.

[@alaingillot4718]

Most customer are just that , they have no interest of becoming friends , but a small number well chosen , that have similar interests in life like you .Some will become lifelong buddies . Just be wise to choose the right ones .

[@julianaburrow7131]

I’m friends with my main mechanic. He goes the extra mile for me. We don’t socialise - but that’s mostly because he is so busy… hoping to do so in the future! I respect his need to spend time with his family and try not to contact him on the weekends. If I do that I don’t necessarily expect a reply until a weekday. He gets that I’m a little OCD about stuff and always reassured me about my worries! And I always try to pay him on time - it’s a business relationship as well…

[@christophero4489]

Legend, love your work Pierre. I wish you had a shop in Melbourne Australia.

[@jeff8207]

What was the name of the channel mentioned at ~11:10 in the above video?

[@Mercedesobsession]

To be a friend, you have to show yourself to be friendly. Being immature and unreasonable is not how friends act.

[@turn1210]

That Erling Haaland quote caught me off guard

[@Andrew-zv4fm]

This applies to any business. I think about this every now and then. I think it depends on the profession and what you specialize in.

[@fatcole1152]

I think people misuse the term "friend" Friends can mostly only be personal, a professional relationship that is considered a real friendship is rare. Even the most amicable professional relationship is just going to ever just be an acquaintance, not a friend. Using myself as an example, I have a very strict rule about not mixing my professional and personal life. After 30 years in my career, I have retained very few professional contacts as actual personal friends. My circle of personal friends grew steadily but the two circles rarely ever cross and I will NEVER do business with family.

[@mrkbbd]

Curious how estimating plays into this - if you are upfront and say this is a 6 month project and do it in 7 vs this is a 2 month project and do it in 7?

[@petererhardt8420]

What is the intro song you use in your videos??

[@premillennia]

Tilt tray services are for breakdowns. Professionals fix classic cars during business hours.

[@frederickduquette]

Business + Mercedes connoisseur = partnership. The flick "Ford v Ferrari" dramatizes two protagonists (Miles / Shelby) who were united by a project, a mission. Reincarnating the classic Mercedes is the objective, the connoisseur must be prepared to work with the few who make it their business to resurrect these machines.

[@jorgeluis3104]

My best friend is my mechanic and owner of Miami Benz for 20 years

[@alpineibex5596]

The shop shows temporarily closed. Am I looking up the right name? Thanks.

[@Andrew-zv4fm]

If I need help from a friend on a professional level, I don't expect or demand that they give me a discount or special treatment. Just be upfront and honest with me and let me know what the progress is. That's all I ask and all I want. Aside from a good job being done.

[@Mark-sg4bq]

Goes for any small business!!

[@MikkoMallikas-lc3vf]

Is possible to pay for information my own mercedes benz, thank you anserws, Seppo from FINLAND

[@alexandrebeinotti3359]

Night Shop?

[@bammbamm12]

I imagine the classic Mercedes car owners think of themselves as a club, and for some, a total identity. So they glom on to you, because this is their life. It's like the doofuses who hang out at the gun ranges all day talking about the size of the hole a certain bullet can make in human flesh.

[@douglasthompson9482]

I don’t think so….a professional nature is required. To them it’s business, to me it’s a love of my classic Mercedes. The mechanic I have used is okay as a person but not my buddy. He over charges me when ever I utilize his skill. One thing though, he doesn’t forget your demeanour. He smiles at me but really it’s more of a sneer. Actually I don’t trust anyone who smiles at you when they are conducting business. Just my observation.

[@glennlink7]

Is the car a car used for transportation or is it a toy?

[@strikeryachts]

If they're broke, no.

[@123works]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@larrydowling]

listen up if you charge $40 per hour you will have great friends ,if you charge $80 to $100.00 you will be on your own for the rest of your life,stop the rubbish if your job was not the best result,then you would do it again

[@peterhandke3936]

It is possible, sure. I am doing it, have met quite a few good guys in my garage. But trust has to be mutual.