I wouldnt want to be an auto mechanic, it would get old fast and to tell the truth all the gizmo stuff doesnt interest me. The only part that does is the concept of matching men, tools and machines where they belong together to solve a problem,, it really doesnt matter what the problem is, its more of a getting what I want issue.
I like a an earlier part of this thread where someone hit on part of being a mechanic, really at the root of it which is modifying your surroundings. Its a bit of the reason I spun off left handed when the issue with the shop teacher and the hoist came up.
No offense,,,, but,,,,,, the reason I ninvest in my own shop and infrastructure is so I dont have to take it to guys like you. Business and dealers like yours. Dealer installed,,, doesnt mean it still want some kids first day or done by substandard help,,, like the guy next to you that you complain about,,, only half are above average.
Even good contractors I cant get the kind of service I can on my own equipment,,, and if it was taking it to the dealer for a bad ground,,, so be it, I tell a couple people,,, take it to dealer for drivability issues where everyone and brother has looked etc, some people got good luck with dealers too, if a freind asked me how to have car serviced I would highly reccomend she go out of her way to source a local similar to one in this thread, sells you work you do need when you need it,
As was said, (amd same here) and oil change in my shop is 75$ but you get a good look see. Wheels off, drums pulled, fuss the brakes if they need, make sure they are working, if they need something beyond a look I add it to the bill. Rotate tires, if I find the battery a real mess I add small charges, if I find something where I earned my keep, something that was to stall this car I charge for it and if I save them a 300$ part I got no interest in selling I charge for it, I repair exhaust hangers, weld up joints, I got kind of a flat rate thing for that a 25/50 thing but the rest of the system is good I make a good repair, a job I am extremely proffecient at.
I aint no good with the puter and scanner, I would struggle and have my master do what minor we need to do, I can solve some problems and work thru them for our own interests, last thing I would do is hang my shingle out with a drawer full of 10K$ meters I could care less about using when I can sell a strait up repair like the exhaust hanger or clean some battery terminals, put in a wheel bearing over a weekend where I can charge a little premium without robbing the customer.
The salesman,,, owner in many cases developes some truct with the customer, as I said, dont always do what they ask but they trust we will give them what they need.
Figured I'd jump into this thread as well...I work at a small indie shop in a small town. My boss has numerous years experience in the field as a tech, service manager, and shop foreman. I get the feeling he knows how it is to be screwed by superiors in this field and he does a fantastic job of making sure that doesn't happen in his shop. Technically I'm his only full-time tech but he also works on cars and we have some other folks that work part time a couple days a week doing odd jobs around the shop, cleaning, helping me, and occasionally simple things like oil changes and tire repairs.