"One wonders if such dismissive attitudes to presumably lesser persons comes across to people like mechanics, hence why some customers find their maintenance not up to a standard they imagine to be desirable or their costs increased."
I treat everyone with respect, at least on first meeting them. But respect has to be earned in the longer term. I always say please/thank you to shop assistants, delivery drivers, call centre workers and anyone else where our paths cross.
My attitude to the garage trade stems from experience. I used to use a local garage for MoTs. It was owned by two guys who were honest and very easy to like. I stopped using them when they got the junior to replace rear pads on my CMax. Realised there was a problem when the wheels were getting so hot you couldn't touch them.
A Ford specialist misdiagnosed a fuelling issue on the same car, replacing a part I told him had already been replaced and telling me it was fixed.
The brake fluid change on my Astra. Main dealer managed to leave a rear nipple loose so that fluid squirted out when the brakes were applied.
Hence I prefer to do my own servicing and repairs.
Many trades have there fair share of rogues and chancers but, IMO, the motor trade has more than most. Low pay is possibly one reason and poor training another, but you can find that in lots of businesses. Most times it's an annoyance and you can make allowances because you are not paying £100 or £200 per hour for the privilege.
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