shaunv74

Yup I understand. It just seems like there's a lot of venting this week specifically. I wondered if there was a specific catalyst for that or if you guys are all on the same cycle. Just trying to lighten the mood a little.

DarthRX8

I have been in the Army for almost 8 years now and have learned this:

It doesn't pay to be the shining star, the one with the answers, the one who gives a damn about their job or the one who knows how to get things done. At the end of the day; the person next to you that does half as much gets paid the same as you. In the end you might get promoted a little earlier but in the end you work your *** off and gain very little in regards to money or rank. The one thing that truly matters is ones reputation! Your rep in the Army determines where you go and how nice it can be.

Jeff and BHR are in the same boat. You work your *** off for others at your expense and get bitched at by all sorts. The reason RX8 owners seek you out is because of your reputation, which speaks volumes about what you are really about!

It use to really **** me off, however, now when I encounter people or Soldiers like this I just laugh inside because I know that there true colors will show in time and when they do I will be there to kick them the hell out of our unit. This is one of the only times being in HR feels good!

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

it's because Darth has Jedi training.

Me on the other hand...

jsjjr

iTrader: (1)

Awesome analogy. Sums it up pretty well.

shazy

Can't believe no one posted this yet...wait... what the hell happened to the images thing? I can't post images.

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

^^^ you can only post the image link or attach it in this forum, not display the image in the thread

DarthRX8

That's why I went to the Darkside.... unlimited POWER

quazmosis

iTrader: (2)

I've allways respected you. Didnt have much to do with you and your doings, however I would respect you even more provided you have a cigar in hand on your porch! I'm just saying.

canaryrx8

iTrader: (3)

So what if all those things you say don't pay off, are the very same things that earned you your rep? If you bust your ***, are indeed the shining star, the one with the answers etc., wouldn't that contribute?

I really hate to see statements like that, it's like you're saying "why try?", that's the problem with some people and this country in general, nobody ******* tries anymore, "why should I?" I don't get nothin'?", maybe if people stopped piling on copouts and despair, and got out and made an effort things might not be as they are. (** cough** auto unions** cough**)
Me personally, I can't drive home with a clear conscience and a good feeling unless I've given it my all at a job, so maybe I don't alwayys get noticed, so what, I'm not going to let that stop me from kicking *** and doing a fabulous job, and it shouldn't stop anyone else either.

DarthRX8

you missed my point entirely!

my point was that rising to the top is very frustrating and painful, when others around you work half as much and get the same return.

I was not saying not to bust your *** everyday doing whatever. I was pointing out that when you care about what you do it reflects on how others feel about doing business with you, which builds your rep; good or bad.

The people doing good things for the community (RX8 Club), BHR and MM in this case. Are having to deal with the very people that you have an issue with in your above statements.

I too can't look myself in the mirror everyday unless I know that I busted my *** for anyone and everyone that has the pleasure of doing business with me

Your points only add to what I was trying to laydown. The ones who care have to work twice as hard with only that extra pat on the back as a reward. To some (MM, BHR) that is enough to keep them going and I am very glad that they do...

Thats enough philosophizing from me.

Darth Out!

TeamRX8

iTrader: (25)

kind of reminds me of the mid-90s when there was this one and only guy that made real performance chips for BMWs that some petty idiots always took the wrong way, accused him of being an egotistical a-hole, etc. to the point that they refused to buy anything from him no matter what

so they went and paid several hundred dollars for ECU chips that were known to be nothing more than eliminating the top speed limiter or adding a higher rev limit, but had no power/performance improvement, sometimes even lost power

yeah, they showed him ...

Roariee

Team posting lolcatz is legendary lulz...

shazy

No it was missing the button and I couldn't do both for some reason. It was also missing the picture button that had hills and a sun on it....

Grungepup

iTrader: (2)

Hmm... I too spent 8 years in the Army, and in no way did I ever come away with the idea of not to strive to be better because the guy next to me is getting paid the same for doing less. I don't know what kind of units you are in, but where I was at (and when I was in charge of my people) I took special notice of the lazy, weak, and know nothings, and when 1SG came looking for **** detail people, guess who were at the top of the list. Those who busted *** and were the stand outs were recognized, just not with with pay. They were the ones we rewarded with awesome assignments, 4-day passes, and other various rewards. The turds always found a way to flush themselves out.

As for MM, seems like a great guy, but I for one will never do business with him. While his work is top notch, his customer service is lacking. When choosing where i do my business I take everything into consideration. As a consumer we have that right, and if you choose to do business with him then you know going in what kind of service you will receive in return. So if the outcome is not to your liking you only have yourself to blame. MM doesn't have to provide the service he does, he chooses to do it and many around here applaud him for the work he does. And i completely agree with him when he gets frustrated with the way people react, its a direct reflection of the state of today's society. Patience is virture that not many have, both customer and vendor alike.

Flashwing

Last I checked, likeability and customer service didn't tune a car properly...skill and experience do.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Customer service is not one of the services I offer.
Sorry.
Feel free to look elsewhere.

Aznxkaiser

You would do the same thing if you were the customer.

Socket7

Maybe. We're all human, and that means we are all prone to being fools. However, people like myself actively try to avoid being raging delusional idiots who demand unreasonable things from people.

There is a large portion of the population however, who seems to be the polar opposite. Who actually get off on being ignorant sons of bitches who just want to scream gimme gimme gimme, and then call you an ******* when you don't capitulate with their unreasonable, childish, and frequently completely impossible demands.

I still cannot fathom how people like that can go through their life thinking everyone is an ******* but them, and never once pause to think that perhaps it's their own behavior that's causing bad outcomes. Where are your powers of introspection? Were you given a full brain when you really only need a spinal cord?

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Hell I just wanna click checkout and receive my product as described. However, if you are buying a service then that is a whole other issue.

I manage over 30 people all ranging from high school drop outs to M.D.'s and teaching customer (patient) service is the hardest thing. If you argue with customers then eventually you will have no customers. Yes they can drive you crazy but its part of the business. It's all about communication.

For example, If a doctor is running and late and my girls just let the patients sit and wait then eventually I am up front trying to calm down and angry patient who has been waiting for a long time. If I direct my girls to explain to the patients when they sign in that the doctor is running late and I tell them to give the patient an option to reschedule then usually I get no complaints at all.

For the most part people are reasonable and will not complain because we have explained the situation and given them an option. Sure, there will always be the one ******* who is not satisfied but that is just the way it is, there is no point standing there arguing with them wasting your time.

I have dealt with vendors that act like they are doing you a favor by selling you their product and to be honest is some cases you have no other choice but to deal with them but in most cases there is an alternate vendor waiting to sell you the same product.

Might I also add that I have bugged some vendors many times for quotes and never bought a thing from them but eventually I will buy something and if they have treated me well during all thsoe dealings then when I do buy it will likely be from them.

Grungepup

iTrader: (2)

And that is exactly my point, but what you don't seem to understand is that as a vendor you do provide a service for a the customer. How you handle or deal with the customer is your customer service. Whether you like it or not you do provide, just because you choose to provide crappy service is a totally different story.

I work as a purchasing agent for a specialized construction company, in the past month I have had senior presidents of companies like GE, Bosch, Pelco and HID in my office all vying for our business. I choose what vendors we use based on customer service.... who is going to get me my **** when i need it and not going to create bigger head aches down the line.

MM, please don't take this as a bash on you, its not. You run your business how you want, its your choice. What I am saying, is for all those that choose to do business with MM don't get pissed and start yacking up a storm on here about how he is a bad guy when things don't go as planned. **** happens, i know from personal and professional experience, nothing ever goes as planned. And with the type of work he does, if i was to choose to buy from him, trust me i would rather he take his time and do it right rather then rush it and f&ck it up.

StacyT

This has been an interesting topic.

I know were MM is coming from. He is one of the best at what he does, so he does business on his terms. I am the same way. I am good at what I do, and well I can be picky about who I will take as a customer. If the customer doesn't want to listen, wants to complain, or well if the are more of a pain than I feel they are worth I will drop them. I turn away enough business every week that there is always another customer ready to take their place. Since my time is money, and there is not another me that can do the same job, I limit my customers to those that appreciate what I can do.

I am also the type of person that prefers getting it done right, and waiting, rather than rushing through something and getting crappy results. I once took a gun to a gun smith to get it refinished, a family heirloum, and I took it to the best guy around. It took him 2 years to get it back to me, but it was well worth the wait.

Aznxkaiser

What are you going to do when competition inevitably arises in your field? Once they offer a similar level of quality at a better rate without turning down anyone and giving better customer satisfaction, you will be SOL. Business is business, and if someone can offer something with similar results at a cheaper rate, there WILL be a market. Look at replica car parts or cheaper alternative car parts, look at how much HKS, Greddy, etc. is losing business to cheaper American brand alternatives. No one is going to be "the best in the business" forever, and eventually the market will become saturated with similar buys at half the price, be it RX8 tuning or gun refurbishing.

StacyT

My field is over saturated, and yet even in this economy I turn away business, and job offers. I am not greedy, and charge probably even below market price right now for my time. I live well, dont stress about work, and I dont work to hard. So my customers know to respect what I do, and do what I what I tell them without to much static.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Well, there is a reason some businesses fail and some have been around and been profitable for 20+ years. It's no different despite the chosen field. Eventually the ignorant weed themselves out and its sad because often they are very gifted. I have known many doctors who are brilliant but have continuously failed do to their egos and their lack of business sense.

I don't care how great you are at what you do, there is always someone better. MM knows his **** and offers a service that is very unique and he runs his business how he pleases. I wish him the best of luck and when the time comes, I will be a customer and hopefully I will be a satisfied one.

shaunv74

I get what StacyT is saying. When you are providing a product or service that requires a lot of interaction with your customer you need to be choosy about who you are going to do business with to make sure that you have compatible styles and that you and your client have similar goals and expectations. Also you need to set clear ground rules up front.

My wife is a graphic designer and deals with this type of issue constantly. If she doesn't define the engagement up front with clear ground rules and push back when the customer is breaking the rules then it becomes a mess.