Garage closes doors due to customer behaviour

Business owner cites violent, threatening, and non-paying customers as the reason for closure

Garage closes doors due to customer behaviour
Image: Facebook

A garage in Poole, JJ’s Auto Services and Repairs, has been forced to close its doors after eight years of operation. The decision was made due to a series of incidents involving violent, threatening, and non-paying customers.

The garage owner highlighted the impact of late or missed payments on small businesses, along with the importance of timely payments and the stress caused by dealing with non-paying customers.

The owner also expressed frustration with the lack of respect and understanding from some customers, particularly regarding emergency call-outs. They noted that attending breakdowns at late hours often resulted in verbal abuse rather than gratitude.

The garage had already taken steps to reduce working hours and limit emergency call-outs to weekends. However, the ongoing negative experiences led to the difficult decision to close the business.

The owner went on to urge customers to be considerate of small businesses and to adhere to payment terms. They emphasised that small businesses rely on timely payments to maintain operations and provide quality service.

Source: Bournemouth Echo

4 Comments

  1. Sorry to hear this.The majority of our customers pay on time.
    But the odd few who take advantage are not welcome again.
    It’s not fair that small businesses who provide a service suffer like this.
    It’s worth remembering that if independent garages disappear then car owners will be at the mercy of high charging main dealers.

    Reply
  2. This is the sad view of running an independent garage these days.
    We’ve taken a long hard view , and after 35 years of running a village garage we’ve decided to run our business down due to the attitude of the younger generations, “I want it done now “ attitude and the expectation of unlimited credit to pay for it, “why is it so expensive “ ????
    The garage is under valued and will be missed when it’s gone, just like the pub
    As the previous post put it they will moan when they have to go to the main dealership!!

    Reply
  3. As an award winning garage we have grown our business over nearly 15 years with set parameters, systems in place and customers pay before taking their car, (just as you would going food shopping!!)
    Constantly, we are seeing customers who want something for nothing, so we have got to know to deal with those, politely and professionally advising them that maybe we are not for them and that it is a business we run, just like any other business. It is all to often the perception of this industry, but garage owners also need to run a professional clean, modern workshop to attract the right customer. I wish you all the very best for the future in whatever you do and hopefully have some peace once you have moved on.

    Reply
    • While I can see (and know) that there are customers as described, there are an amount of ungrateful ones around, it seems a little odd to me that a garage would close down because of it. I have to wonder whether the garage staff have been antagonistic with customers in general. Don’t shoot me, I know this happens…. And eventually the whole thing becomes toxic. Who loses ? Not the so called customer..they just move on to the next garage .

      Reply

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