December/January 2019

T he festive season is almost upon us down here at Parkit Motors, and yes I am having to put up with all manner of Scrooge allusions from the team, the customers and Mrs Parkit. All I said was “I think it is very important that we are open on Christmas Eve.” Have none of them ever read the story? It’s not exactly Charles Dickens’ longest work. Yes I know, mechanics, The Sun, bread and circuses, ”mechanics don’t read much,” yada-yada-yada. It’s an unfair slur if you ask me. Vehicle technicians are practical for sure, but we are not stupid. We read enough technical updates to cover our reading, as well as business stuff too. Have I read ‘A Christmas Carol’? Well, yes I have, many years ago, for school. Anyway. The point is Ebenezer Scrooge wanted Bob Cratchit to work on Christmas Day itself. I wouldn’t ask that of them would I? We reopen on 27 December, and then we have New Years Day off too. See, fair! Anyway, as I pointed out for the umpteenth year in a row, we do need to provide a service to our customers if we want to keep them as customers. Apart from all the usual stuff about smiling, and listening, and keeping them updated, we need to be open so they can access us. Just because it is Christmas Eve, it doesn’t mean breakdowns go on holiday. Besides, we try to make sure as much is done before the day anyway. More broadly beyond the Yuletide period, we try to keep our customers happy by offering early opening, late closures, pick-ups where possible, all that goodness. I know I come across as a grumpy curmudgeon (don’t call me Scrooge) but I know it is important to meet our customers halfway. They are not there for our convenience – we are here to help them, and if we do not, a number of my competitors would be more than happy to pick up the slack. Speaking of slack, to be honest we are pretty quiet over Christmas anyway, and I have toyed with a week shutdown. One day I will go through with it and give Mrs Parkit that December-January getaway she hankers after. I might have to dissuade her from buying that expensive winter coat she wants to buy for it. She dreams of Christmas markets in Munich, while I am leaning more towards the Maldives? Should I surprise her and take her to the sun? Or opt for the wintry trip she wishes to take? What kind of fool do you take me for? Of course I know what the answer is! So, we will remain open on Christmas Eve and support the community that has supported us all through the year, and many years before. We will make it fun though, with mince pies and Heart Christmas playing on the radio (yes we have the relevant music license, and the other one). I guess there is nothing more to say at this point but Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our readers, and we look forward to seeing you in 2019, come what may. DON’T BE A DICKENS AT CHRISTMAS 66 AFTERMARKET DECEMBER/JANUARY 2019 TEABREAK: MEMOIRS OF A MOTOR MECHANIC www.aftermarketonline.net