Today after we got finished shopping, we stopped by our favorite place for fried fish. We were sitting down eating and I had my back to the door. Vince waved at someone and said hello. I’ll say that again . . Vince waived at someone and said hello. I was thinking “Jeremy must have walked in” because Vince doesn’t really know anyone else who would be out eating. Old Bud but I doubted he’d be in there. I was expecting Jeremy to show up at our table at any minute and Vince said “It’s the body shop guy.” Oh . . ok.
Then, Vince put his fork down and jumped up. I said “What’s wrong?” OK folks . . sit down. Swallow whatever you’re drinking .. Vince said “I’m paying for his lunch!” He got up, went to the counter and paid for the guy’s lunch!
When Vince got back to the table, he must have noticed that I was sitting there with my mouth open, fixing to call 911 because my husband seemed to be acting really weird! Vince said “I like that guy!”
OK. I haven’t heard that in a while.
You’re probably thinking . . Vince has been here not even two months. How could he already be friends with the body shop buy? Remember the blow out when he came here in November? The first body shop wanted almost $1,000 to fix the Honda. This guy charged $500.
Also, the actuator in the passenger front seat door lock had gone bad (probably five years ago). Vince ordered the part (probably five years ago) but had never put it in. When we got out of the car and hit the button to lock the doors, that door sounded a bit like a machine gun for about 5 seconds but only when you locked it – not when you unlocked it. Vince got here and decided to finally fix it but he had actually ordered the actuator for the window and not the door lock so he had to order another one. The first body shop had told him $90 to change it. Vince didn’t want to take the door panel apart. He took it to the other guy and he did it for $50.
We left as he was leaving and Vince laughed – the guy was driving a newer model BMW. Vince said “He’s driving a BMW and I’m driving a 20 year old Honda and I just bought his lunch!”
Except . . we weren’t really driving the Honda because . . it’s in the shop AGAIN! Yesterday as we were coming home from me picking him up at the shop, Vince said “Sooner or later, we’re probably going to have to buy a newer car.” I wanted to say “Oh, no . . surely we can wait another 20 years!” but I think my face just made one of those involuntary expressions that get me in so much trouble. I caught that “newer” and not “new”. I think both new and used cars are kinda hard to find around here these days but I’m sure “sooner or later” for Vince really means “much, much later’.
Sibyl Scott says
Judy in thinking about the auto body guy. If he was charging 50% less than the other shop, yet was able to drive a nice vehicle like that, tells me one thing. He is doing something right. Not taking advantage of his customers. When you are like that, customers will come back, and also refer others to him. When they do a good job they will be rewarded in more ways than one.
Nelle Coursey says
That is so funny but I am glad Vince is making friends there. It sure makes it a lot easier when he is happy there!
Judy Laquidara says
You are so right!
Susan Nixon says
It’s nice to hear this. I think Vince must be much happier now.