Would you pay for tech support?

[wrench]

This popped up on my radar today:

Don't exceed 15 minutes or else...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1968-1969-1970-Cadillac-Eldorado-Support-Knowledge-1-Item-7/173225092143?hash=item285505242f:g:1UQAAOSwbw1aLikN&vxp=mtr

This topic is not meant for the For Sale section, it is just a point of interest and possible discussion.

I was pretty surprised at the level of chutzpah of this.

[WTL]

I see nothing wrong with the concept, but I certainly would want to see some sort of credentials.  Give me that and it might even be a decent deal, if I had a real stingy problem.  Of course this board probably has a better chance at solving a problem then anyting I can think of. 

How do I know it's not just the same kid behind the counter at AutoZone? 

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

Good idea in theory, however I haven't had an issue that you guys couldn't solve. People will probably do it tho. If it's online it must be better, right???
I would love to quiz him on a few things just to see what he knows.
Jeff

[tripwire]

I don't know if he can answer questions but judging from the other items he has for sale it looks like he can take a car apart.  There's a bunch of Caddy stuff in his listings.

[Dan LeBlanc]

This is the same goofball that sells 1970 parts at astronomical prices - like $500 for a clock, and $1500 for a steering column.

He wouldn't get a penny from me.  I'd burn my 70 before he got a penny of my money.

[Jeff Rosansky CLC #28373]

He wouldn't get a penny from me.  I'd burn my 70 before he got a penny of my money.

Can  I get some parts off of it first?

[76eldo]

Dan,

It's the same guy.

Brian

[chrisntam]

This is the same goofball that sells 1970 parts at astronomical prices - like $500 for a clock, and $1500 for a steering column.

He wouldn't get a penny from me.  I'd burn my 70 before he got a penny of my money.

+1

Wish eBay would do something about him, very little if anything of his sells, it's always relisted and it clutters up my searches.     His listing fees must be paying many a salary at the firm though.

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

Can  I get some parts off of it first?

PMSL!

\m/
Laurie

[Dan LeBlanc]

Can  I get some parts off of it first?

Ha!  I'm a little too deep into her now to let that happen.  I'm diving in next weekend on the refrigeration side of the a/c system - new evap, condenser, lines, dryer, seals, expansion valve, POA, blower motor, and Pro6Ten compressor are all ready and waiting to be installed.  I may burn it in the process though if I get too peeved off.

[harvey b]

Sort of like Alldata and Mitchell on demand?,those are subscription based programs that shops use for technical help.They are about 300 and up a month,i know its not the same,but you get the idea.Not a lot different then someone calling a lawyer or doctor for 15 minutes,it is propably cheaper then that.   Might not be a bad idea if it got you out of a jam. Harveyb

[59-in-pieces]

I'm going out on a limb now when I say I hope this guy is better than the customer service people you get who are located out of the USA, can't hardly speak English, and can only read from a pre-printed script, that regurgitates only the simplest of unhelpful responses.

Anybody else been to that ridiculous dance, when calling a large retailer or Bank for Customer Service - off shore support sucks, IMHO.

Have fun,
Steve B.

[Caddy Wizard]

This popped up on my radar today:

Don't exceed 15 minutes or else...

https://www.ebay.com/itm/1967-1968-1969-1970-Cadillac-Eldorado-Support-Knowledge-1-Item-7/173225092143?hash=item285505242f:g:1UQAAOSwbw1aLikN&vxp=mtr

This topic is not meant for the For Sale section, it is just a point of interest and possible discussion.

I was pretty surprised at the level of chutzpah of this.

I am not familiar with the guy or 67-70 models.  But I can understand the idea behind the pay-as-you-go tech support.  I am fairly knowledgeable about 49s, 54-56s, and to a lesser extent 50-51.  Jay Friedman is the National Technician for 49s and I think he'd like me to take it over one day.  But I have a busy day job and it would be tough.  If I were being compensated for taking time with folks to answer their technical questions, it would make it more attractive.  But I prefer to help out whenever I can without charging someone...

[cadillacmike68]

This is the same goofball that sells 1970 parts at astronomical prices - like $500 for a clock, and $1500 for a steering column.

He wouldn't get a penny from me.  I'd burn my 70 before he got a penny of my money.

AMEN - right on!

+1

Wish eBay would do something about him, very little if anything of his sells, it's always relisted and it clutters up my searches.     His listing fees must be paying many a salary at the firm though.

I notice he only has 112 feedback, that's quite low for a seller with thousands of parts as claimed.

I wonder who are the poor souls that make up the 112?

[wrench]

I am not familiar with the guy or 67-70 models.  But I can understand the idea behind the pay-as-you-go tech support.  I am fairly knowledgeable about 49s, 54-56s, and to a lesser extent 50-51.  Jay Friedman is the National Technician for 49s and I think he'd like me to take it over one day.  But I have a busy day job and it would be tough.  If I were being compensated for taking time with folks to answer their technical questions, it would make it more attractive.  But I prefer to help out whenever I can without charging someone...

Art, It is interesting to see here the support for the idea of paid tech support. While in the case of data and information, i can understand the sentiment. In the case of a parts vendor who stands to charge a sizeable amount based on his 'consultation', i feel the potential conflict of interest could outweigh any value of the paid information.

I guess, paid consultancy would be a separate topic and we can probably share a lot of war stories and horror stories and success stories. I have no bones about paid consultancy as long a fiduciary responsibility is recognized. I would imagine some sort of hold harmless agreement would be needed as well.

AMEN - right on!

I notice he only has 112 feedback, that's quite low for a seller with thousands of parts as claimed.

I wonder who are the poor souls that make up the 112?

Well, this guy has at least 2 other ebay accounts that I can tell as he has a unique 'style', but even then, yeah 20,000 parts or whatever and a total of a couple of hundred feedback is a strange ratio.

I think that is an interesting indicator.

[Steve Passmore]

It's a good thing the guys on this forum don't charge for advice. Can't imagine who would want to pay him when this forum it's for free?  There's a few of us here who would be very wealthy now if we charged.

[76eldo]

I agree with Steve.  Unless this guy was a certified Cadillac tech in the 67-70 time period his advice would be worth very little.

Read the shop manual and look at the issue.  If you are not qualified to do the job, don't do it.  Too many new people into these cars think that diagnosing a problem can be done over the web.  The skills that I have took me 45 years to acquire and I am still learning every time I touch one of my cars.

Brian

[cadillactim]

To add what Brian said, many think that they can do a repair simply by watching a YouTube video. If you don't have a good basic understanding, such videos will show you enough to get yourself in trouble. Like trying trying do a heart transplant yourself by simply watching a doctor do one.

Knowledge has to be there. And many today think such knowledge should be free. Many times I get calls from people wanting me to diagnose their problems for them over the phone. I spent years of education and experience acquiring that knowledge, should I give it away for free? It was not free or easy for me acquiring it.

Knowledge has value.

I will point them in the right direction, but when the abuse starts the free information stops. There is a line of providing free help and charging for expertise.

And as many will agree it is difficult to diagnose some problems over the phone or web for cars this old. What modifications were done over the years that are not necessarily known to the one trying to troubleshoot? Just seeing the situation at hand offers a lot of information that can't be given over the phone. That being said, offering paid assistance this way may not be practical for cars this old and sometimes this complex.

Tim

[cadillacmike68]

Well stated Tim.

So what do I need to do to get my 1968 off of the steamboat switch and make it a purely electrical blower fan energizing system like the 1969 DeVilles / Fleetwoods?

["Cadillac Kid" Greg Surfas 15364]

You know, this may be a little off the subject, but I remember when "gar folks" were one big family and they spent hours helpoing each other.
I distinctly remember one guy (seemed old to me at the time) when I was 16, hanging around at a local mechanic that doubled as a speed shop after hours.  He used to show up on Friday and Saturday nights, watch what we were doing, asked questions and sometimes offered very mild suggestions.  His name was Ed Pink, and for those of you for whom the name is familiar you understand the implication.  Here is a guy fully credentialed and with a going business taking the time to share his knowledge with us young guys.
For any of you that read Hot rod magazine, the Obituary of Hot Rodding, you know most of the guys of that era are gone, West they call it.
Tings change
Greg Surfas