Monday, October 04, 2010

a car workshop analogy

i've owned several cars, some 2nd-hand, since i started working 25 year ago. each time i sent the car to the workshop, parts were changed with minimal hassle & i have very few grouses with the workshops. that, perhaps, is because i make it a point to send to the dealers' workshop.

how would you react if you sent your car for a part replacement in the morning & sometime at noon, the service guy phoned you & told you they didn't have that particular part? remember, they made that appointment with you on the premise that they will get the car fixed.

how would you respond, considering that they've literally taken your car apart & then found out that the spare part was not in stock? & to rub salt into the wound, they enquired if you'd settle for an inferior part?


so, you are wondering - where's the analogy here?

well, how about this.....

you go for an operation in a private hospital. the surgeon opens you up. the assisting nurse tells the surgeon they don't have an essential piece of equipment in stock. then she asks the surgeon, would he mind modifying his procedure to accomodate an alternative but inferior device?


this, of course, is only an analogy of a hypothetical event.

19 comments:

Reanaclaire said...

Doc, so far i have not experienced my car being opened up and the mechanic telling me that he has no stock.. hope i wont go thru that.. but it is good to have your car checked thoroughly...

Adino said...

At first I thought it was some story about a mistress or something... me and my wild imagination!

missyc said...

Yrs ago I stressed myself silly over my sis Carnival as the engine had to be overhauled due to mfg defect. She took my car while I had to make do with workshop car for weeks (hubby drove as I'm hopeless with manual) that also coz Me the assertive one insisted for free use while forced to wait 1mth for spare parts.

Cars get stolen for spare parts ! Drives you crazy doesn't it..

Talking about hospital, the other week I had to go for CT scan, the machine broke down so they tried to get me go public side but I'm paying private fees so I said No Way I'm gonna wait after having to fast for 6hrs then wait somemore till after 5pm (roll eyes*) for God knows when will be my turn (sad scenario at public side)

Anonymous said...

They better not do that in hospitals! We're talking about human lives...not cars :)

I have a trusted mechanic that I go to for regular car service.

doc said...

Claire,

no doubt it won't happen - the workshop won't fix that appointment if they didn't have the spare part.

doc said...

Adino,

that was indeed wild imagination. or, could that be an expression of your subconscious??

doc said...

MissyC,

carnival (later naza ria) has been fraught with problems from the start but it was a great people mover when it was running.

hope your CT was ok.

doc said...

Mei Teng,

hospital? hmm...

in our lives, we need a few people we can trust - mechanic, electrician, plumber, lawyer & probably last, if at all, a doctor!

Yvonne Foong said...

Hey, using the car workshop analogy to explain the second was cute!

While I was raising funds to treat the trapped ventricle two months ago, a fellow NF patient in Malaysia asked me to consider flying Dr. Lekovic here and perform the surgery in Malaysua.

That is more than just taking him away from his equipments. It's also taking him away from his crucial multidiscplinary team of specialists.

ilene said...

But DOC, you must also understand .... if they don't tear the car apart, they won't be able to get to the root of the problem.

You should have asked them to loan you a car in the meantime! I know of some service centres that provide such service.

I hope not to come across such scenario in the hospital!

Lastly, my two cents worth: TRUST NO ONE!!

doc said...

Yvonne,

in your case, the good doctor will perform his best with his regular team & setting.

yes, you definitely need to fly there.

doc said...

Ilene,

what i meant was, the workshop already knew the cause of the problem, but when they set the appointment date, they didn't realise the spare part was not in stock till they ripped open the car!!

how utterly unprofessional, negligent even, was that?

missyc said...

doc, no need to publish this

CT ok but I hv post op pains esp thymectomy seems sternum didnt heal proper :( the constant back pain n all.. so got to go see doc again.

ur right about the carnival but its guzzler so had to rid of it when petrol $ went skyhigh

Unicorn Girl said...

let's look at it this way - the car is a machine which can be replaced annually ( if can afford it ) , or maybe once in five years...... but the for body , I'm pretty doubtful that has ever happen ......( or maybe NEVER happen ) - or else I ( or my next of kin ) may just sue the hospital !

ps/: as for the car workshop - curse the hell out of them !

doc said...

UG,

you are one fierce lady - suing the hospitals & cursing at the workshops!

zewt said...

i am sure the hospital wont do this... or are they?

iml said...

Your toyota altis? So what was your respond?

doc said...

Zewt,

it should not happen...

doc said...

Iml,

the altis is fine. i just imagined this workshop scenario.