My recent experiences have been the polar opposite to that to be honest. My local independent has completed all work I've asked for recently and has actually appreciated that I've passed on advice taken from this forum to help make his job easier. I'd have had my A8 back with new brakes etc fitted yesterday if it wasn't for TPS letting him down with delivery of four bolts costing less than a tenner. Their "computers went down" after he'd placed the order on Thursday, hence the delayed delivery and me without my car all weekend
I actually asked him earlier in the week "Are you sick of me constantly hassling you to get work done on this yet?" and his response was "Certainly not, I'd much rather work on this car than some of the newer sh1te I get in here" which I took as a compliment. He doesn't take my eyes out every time it's left with him and I'm sure his labour charges never reflect the time actually spent on it.
Alternatively, I rang Newcastle Audi to get a price on some pads for the Brembo's and when the parts department actually answered after a few minutes of the call bouncing from the switchboard and back to them he asks what I'm after.......
"I'd like a price on some pads for a D2 FL fitted with Brembo's brakes and 345mm discs please?"
"Can I have your chassis number?"
"It's irrelevant, I'm upgrading the brakes on my car with the ones I've just described, is that not enough information to take a look?"
"No, I need your chassis number"
"It doesn't matter, forget it".
This was an older guy judging by the voice, not a trainee, surely he could at least have known the options, or am I being unfairly harsh?