Will this take off? - Rent a garage & hoist, tools supplied, fix your own car - New in Vic

[GO FURTHER]

I have no affiliation with this company and I am not trying to promote it.
I just came across this new service being offered in Hoppers Crossing, Vic in an online auto article.

It's a relatively new service that has recently started up which is open seven days a week.

Basically, you can book and rent an auto garage workshop by the hour, complete with hoist , set of 254 piece trade quality tool kit, compressed air line, workbench, and a host of specialist tools such as ODB code reader, cooling system pressure tester, ball joint separators, vacuum brake bleeder, fluid extractors and many more.

I guess for many people wanting to save money on service and repairs, have the skills, but don't have a garage, hoist or proper tools it has merit.

Would be interesting to see if this idea takes off and maybe spreads to other states and suburbs.

I believe its based on an idea that has taken off overseas in the UK.

What do you all think?

http://yourgarage.net.au

[ratter]

Similar ideas have been tried in the past and have not lasted very long for what ever reason

[Yellow_Festiva]

Public liability, personal injury, lack of training by users.

Some workshop tools can cause serious damage or death if not used correctly. Each person will need to be baby sat while there.

My kids are not even allowed to use a 300mm disc sander unless they do pages of theory, observation of safe use, a written safety test which they must get 100% in then a final hands on demonstration to prove proficiency.

If I can't prove they have done that and they get injured I'm in a world of trouble.

Imagine what can go wrong in a workshop!

[wodahs]

I looked in to this as a business venture a few years back with some others

recon it had merit

we were also looking at longer rental times as well like a week or weeks on end with a set up so you can come and go as you please but can only access common areas and your own storage cubical and a like minor parts (repco/supercheap type) facility on site to help with the profits of the venture , based on an american setup we had knowledge about

the killer was the base insurance for if joe idiot (or multiple joe idiots) came and did his repairs on your premises and hurt himself the fact that you were responsible legal wise , and I wonder how soon some one will try and take a claim for as much as possible , so how do you rate what they can of cant do

edit :- you beat my posting Yellow Festiva

[ltd]

The potential for insurance claims will ensure this doesn't last long. All it takes is for some novice to injure themselves at the location and the lawyers will scream a collective "ka-ching". Furthermore, the fact that the owner is inviting people to use tools of which they're not qualified to operate will add to the contributory negligence.
Don't know how you'd even get any kind of insurance if this was your business - unless you plan to be there supervising the whole time.

[ratter]

doesn't liability law suck, why can't people take responsibility for their own actions?

[Xauterus]

It's a shame we live in a time where people can only look at the negatives of an innitative like this. Imagine people's response in 1976.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by Xauterus

It's a shame we live in a time where people can only look at the negatives of an innitative like this. Imagine people's response in 1976.

It worked great in Adelaide around that time.

Then Insurance companies and OH&S went mad.

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by ratter

doesn't liability law suck, why can't people take responsibility for their own actions?

The business model should still work, as long as the customers are made to sign a liability waiver before using the equipment and whatnot. It's fairly straight forward actually. The only reason this wouldn't work is you have to hire the space on an hourly basis, and I'd say the majority of DIYers would prefer to do the work leisurely at their own time on the weekend. The hiring a hoist would definitely come in handy though, it'd be nice to just chuck the car up on hoists walk under and have a good looksie/inspection and maybe change the oils while at it. Can't see it being a highly profitable business model though...

EDIT : On the note of the liability thing. Signing a waiver would mean the garage is completely safe from claims resulting from customer error and whatnot. But if the equipment fails and hurts someone, then the garage will be liable.

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by ratter

doesn't liability law suck, why can't people take responsibility for their own actions?

We need to follow the Kiwis on this one they have it right.
http://www.acc.co.nz/

Basically a no fault personal accident system, like we have in Australia for motor vehicles.

In NZ very few people suing other people over silly accidents. Unless there is real negligence.

Not sure what the 12 000 lawyers we train up every year are going to do, many of them can not get work now.

That is why the USA has so many people suing each other, too many lawyers with nothing to do!

[GT014]

Would be good if buying a second hand car, put it and give it a thorough inspection.

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Public liability, personal injury, lack of training by users.

Some workshop tools can cause serious damage or death if not used correctly. Each person will need to be baby sat while there.

My kids are not even allowed to use a 300mm disc sander unless they do pages of theory, observation of safe use, a written safety test which they must get 100% in then a final hands on demonstration to prove proficiency.

If I can't prove they have done that and they get injured I'm in a world of trouble.

Imagine what can go wrong in a workshop!

The only thing they won't allow the clients to do themselves is put their car up on the hoist or operate it. A staff member must do this. This must be part of their insurance agreement.
The premises is also always manned by staff.
As far as using the tools and equipment on hand, they make you sign a liability waiver.... No different to if you go to a tool hire company, hire a machine or tool you are not qualified at using and take it home to perform a job, they make you sign a waiver.

However, next to rent and wages, I'd say their public liability insurance would still be a high overhead on their overall running costs.

[baboon]

Thanks for heads up

[Stefan]

Ridiculous idea IMO,

What if you roll up, start taking the car apart, the upon putting it together something does nit fit or you have the wrong part, the problem is worse than you expected?

What do you do with an unfinished car sitting on the hoist?

[Itsme]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Public liability, personal injury, lack of training by users.

Some workshop tools can cause serious damage or death if not used correctly. Each person will need to be baby sat while there.

My kids are not even allowed to use a 300mm disc sander unless they do pages of theory, observation of safe use, a written safety test which they must get 100% in then a final hands on demonstration to prove proficiency.

If I can't prove they have done that and they get injured I'm in a world of trouble.

Imagine what can go wrong in a workshop!

If equipment is well maintained & in working order there will be no problems, never know any tool that needs a licence to operate.

Of course I would imagine you will be signing the usual terms & conditions that covers liability when hiring the work shop that will put the onus back on you.

These type of workshops have been around for many years, just remains to see if it is viable in making money like any other business.

[thefargo]

worked in the Stephen King movie Christine; sort of.

[Dragoneletra]

Gumtree advert - cheap mechanic for hire. Own workshop.
LOL

I'm with the above. The idea has merit but death by lawyers

[wodahs]

Originally Posted by trublu

If equipment is well maintained & in working order there will be no problems, never know any tool that needs a licence to operate.

Of course I would imagine you will be signing the usual terms & conditions that covers liability when hiring the work shop that will put the onus back on you.

These type of workshops have been around for many years, just remains to see if it is viable in making money like any other business.

its not so much hurting them selfs using a certain tool as stated they can hire a tool go home and hurt them selfs

its hurting them selfs whilst on your property , indemnity insurance you let them carry out a procedure whilst on your property , like tripping on a council foot path thing , and being a designated work site and needing to cover any one coming and going insurance companies go to worse scenario because lawyers go that way

well that's how it was informed to me when I looked in to it

[Yellow_Festiva]

Originally Posted by trublu

If equipment is well maintained & in working order there will be no problems, never know any tool that needs a licence to operate.

Of course I would imagine you will be signing the usual terms & conditions that covers liability when hiring the work shop that will put the onus back on you.

These type of workshops have been around for many years, just remains to see if it is viable in making money like any other business.

I'm not talking about equipment malfunction, I'm talking about its misuse.

You seen what compressed air does if handled the wrong way? High torque impact / rotation tools? His speed rotation tools?

In the wrong hands they can do a lot of harm. And you may be able to use it properly, what is the guarantee that the amateur that just used and returned it didn't damage or fiddle with it?

Coffee is hot.. right? Yet we still need a warning telling us so. Same with 'hot' apple pie.

I don't agree with the system at all. But you need to plan for the worst case as that will happen - eventually.

Terms and conditions mean squat. I recall several years ago when the whole insurance industry went nuts. Horse riding establishments had to close due to this and no amount of signing your rights away was able to help them.

[Bill M]

There used to be a DIY service place called DIY car hire in McGuire St Cheltenham a long time ago, they were there for a long time as well. They had hoists, sandblasting etc.
Kennards hire out 9" angle grinders so there are others hiring out potentially dangerous tools. I would wonder about the business case.
Bill.

[vbvbvb088]

Compare to risk of pick-a-part type places with car on four rims. dreading the day one falls on someone and ambulance chasers shut the whole gig down...

[GO FURTHER]

Originally Posted by Dragoneletra

The idea has merit but death by lawyers

So all these businesses below should have died as well then;

- Parachuting schools
- Public hot laps in a V8 supercar
- Scuba diving instruction
- White water rafting tours
- Hot air ballooning
- Roller coaster and fun park rides
- Boat hire
- Uber
- And the local self car wash.... You might slip on the suds and break your neck

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Ridiculous idea IMO,

What if you roll up, start taking the car apart, the upon putting it together something does nit fit or you have the wrong part, the problem is worse than you expected?

What do you do with an unfinished car sitting on the hoist?

see below

Originally Posted by thefargo

worked in the Stephen King movie Christine; sort of.

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by BAXRSIX

So all these businesses below should have died as well then;

- Parachuting schools
- Public hot laps in a V8 supercar
- Scuba diving instruction
- White water rafting tours
- Hot air ballooning
- Roller coaster and fun park rides
- Boat hire
- Uber
- And the local self car wash.... You might slip on the suds and break your neck

Be careful what you wish for...

[Spammy]

There have been 2of these businesses in Sydney that I know of, both have closed down.

[revcore]

I've seen non experienced people try using spring compressors in the past and let me just say they nearly ended up in hospital. Personally I can't see such a business being successful due to the extreme cost of insurance.

[Qwerty321]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

We need to follow the Kiwis on this one they have it right.
http://www.acc.co.nz/

Basically a no fault personal accident system, like we have in Australia for motor vehicles.

In NZ very few people suing other people over silly accidents. Unless there is real negligence.

Not sure what the 12 000 lawyers we train up every year are going to do, many of them can not get work now.

That is why the USA has so many people suing each other, too many lawyers with nothing to do!

There's no suing culture as a result of ACC, but that doesn't mean the businesses are in the clear at all. If there's an ACC claim related to a workplace (not you just tripping over or rolling an ankle etc. which are the majority of ACC claims), the workplace in question can usually expect a follow up investigation and a visit from the ol' Department of Labour or whoever is in charge. So as far as the business is concerned, instead of getting chased up by a fancy lawyer, they're getting chased up by the government instead.

ACC is great for pretty much everyone else though. You could literally get drunk, try parkour, end up on ACC due to your sheer negligence (we've all been there) and end up getting a week off work, free treatment and the whole deal. Oh, and ACC will pay 80% of your wages/salary for however long your unable to work. Truly amazing system if you ask me.

[The Yeti]

We keep talking insurance will be the killer, and your probably right. But how do these self serve wreckers get by? The ****ers are stacked precariously on old rims, on unsealed dirt etc I've seen guys under pos's pulling out gearboxes on the ground (I don't know why you'd put your self through it, for an un known AOD) surly the risk of a car or something falling on some one is higher there than at a properly set up work shop with safety stops etc

I've even seen guys pulling springs out at these places with little more than a crowbar

[CyberWasp]

What is the cost difference per hour between this and what a paid mechanic charges to do the work in their own workshop?

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by CyberWasp

What is the cost difference per hour between this and what a paid mechanic charges to do the work in their own workshop?

According to their site it's $45 an hour.