And i thought i was finished with school...

Until i learned i was purchasing Motorbug, and asked my first question as a member.

Almost a year has blown by since then.
In that time i have learned, and learned, and learned...
That i will never learn enough.

I have parted ways with 2 employers...
And got fed up trying to find one i can tolerate.
So i started a mr. Fixit type of handyman business...

And remembered why i stopped doing that type of work a decade ago.


Purely by accident, and solely at the fault of you guys...
I have become the go-to guy in my area for working on these beasts.
It started with tweaking trucks for friends...
And my addiction grew.

I got very comfortable under the hoods of these road dragons...
And posted an ad on craigslist in victoria for 7.3 repairs/maintenance/mods.

I started a wildfire by doing so. And now have a fulltime business to run.
Some of you guys already know what im talking about, and i feel its time to open the bag of cats. Im only a month in - just getting started... but i have never been happier performing work in exchange for green pieces of paper. This forum (forum31) is the sole reason i am able to do what i absolutely love. Thanks in words just arent enough.

Im calling myself (the business) The Diesel Dr.
And have themed the business as such.
Customers trucks are my patients.
Work performed is referred to as surgery.
My tools and reference material are my Dr. Bag.

I have set a few rules for myself.

I will never charge a customer more for a part than what i pay.
I.e. if i come across a part for free... the customer does Not pay for it.
I feel it is wrong to upcharge on parts. The customer brings their vehicle to a mechanic because they dont know how to work on it, or dont know where to get the parts. As a mechanic... parts hounding is an aspect of repair that should be included in procedure labor charge.

I promise to educate my customers about their trucks.
What failed? Why did it fail? How did i fix it? How to prevent future failures...

I promise to give all my customers access to my parts sources. I pass out cards from clay and bob like candy. And the people rejoice...

No unnecessary repairs. I will be honest with my customers about modifications they have in mind for their truck. If it isnt good for the truck... it isnt good for the Diesel Dr.


Im just tired of seeing good people get bent over by unscrupulous businesses. I refuse to bend anyone over... there is a better way.

I welcome any and all comments and suggestions... good or bad...

Bring on the popcorn!

 

I wish you luck. I hope you have a long following of customers for as long as you want. Sounds like a real honest place to do business. god bless,

Chet

 

Now Diesel Doctor, I know a little of what your issue has become. It is a great service that you now provide to the unknowing and the unsuspecting customer/patient to which you serve. I pray your wrenches never break and that the service is continuous.

Thank you for all of your assistance with my rig and the bringing together of the Texas 7.3 brotherhood to my place for some tech work.

 

That's pretty cool Chris. Hope it works out. As long as your honest and not afraid to say "I don't know", then more power to you. I am thinking you don't have a lot of overhead, so you can be fair with prices.

 

Kinda sorta like how Clay got started!

Very cool!

Good luck to you!

Stewart

 

I wish you the best of luck, 7.3's are everywhere and with endless mods avalable you should be pretty busy! If im ever near Victoria TX I might have to stop in for a checkup!

 

Man... This is one if the best story's I've read on here in awhile! I hope all works out well for you and the course and out come is what you wish it will be. As Stewart said kinda like clay... From what I know of him he is great and still manages to stay humble... Don't ever get too proud and I wish you the best of luck...



I need gears doc.... Installed along with my locker lol

 

Very, very cool Chris. I'm glad it's working out for you and you found your true calling. Next time I'm in Victoria (there about once a year for work) I will stop by and check out the E.R. Or is it an O.R.?

 

May god bless you for being a resource for those of us who are fed UP with our alternatives. Do everything myself now (even when I don't have the skills or tools) find a way; because I'm so tired of getting "bent over". We need more people like you out there, my bests on the success of your new business. Too bad your all the way in Texas and I'm lurking over from the gasser forum anyway.

 

how about moving to Dalton,Georgia???

 

While between jobs, I'd considered doing something like this, but ended up going another direction. Glad things are working out for you!

If you ever get back logged, give me a call and I'll be happy to come down and lend a hand!

 

Once I change jobs, I will be available to lend a hand to repay you for your assistance.

 

Wow guys!
Ya'll r makin my blushy parts work here..
Being likened to clay is to me, an extremely huge compliment.

Move to Ga.? Eh... its just too muggy there for me...
Spent about a year in school at Ft. Gordon. Pcs'd there from huachuca, Az. My 2 mile time tanked when i got to Ga. Tx is home for the rest of my natural(or unnatural, in case of zombie apocalypse) life.

Michigan is just a tad out of range... but i got a 5er you can crash in if you wanna cruise on down brother!

Rozzi, i would open my toolboxes to you any day of the week. If the load does get out of hand i wont hesitate to give you a buzz! Any profits from the wrenching will be split 50/50. Heck with waiting.. im gonna call you my standby surgeon!

Brothers...
Thank you all for the support. I only hope that my endeavors with this venture will bleed just a little bit of morality back to the automotive service industry.

Could you guys do me a favor?
If i do ever seem like my head is getting to big for my shoulders to support it...
Please pop the bubble and remind me who i am... and where i come from.

 

Awesome story. I hope your new venture is prosperous and full of good time's.

 

Good luck in your endeavor! After meeting you at Ted's and talking with you, I could tell you are a "stand up guy". Your honesty and sincerity will get you far in life.