yeah I agree with kbOnly. Saying that 99.9% of customers are idiots is a bit harsh. I do work in a grocery store (some people don't make as much as you do) and there are some really mean/stupid customers. But most of them are okay.
LOR, the big thing is, mechanics over the years have been blasted for this and that by the general public and go into the shop IMMEDIATELY assuming they're going to be screwed.
When John Q. Public's Nissan Maxima with the VQ35DE in it (that has been rattling for two years) quits running, he knows Mr. Big Bad Mechanic is going to bend him over.
$6,000 for an engine? Yeah, that's a lot. Mr. Big Bad Mechanic doesn't need to charge $6,000. But that's John Q. Public's fault that it blew up, right? He should've just gotten the timing chain/tensioners replaced, dealt with the little butt-pucker of $800 and change rather than being out $6,000.
This is a true story, btw.
Or maybe Darryl ***********, who thought oil changes being needed were just a myth perpetuated by the oil companies.
He bought his 2003 Cavalier with the 2.2 Ecotec I4 new. Got the oil changed at 3,000 miles only because it was free. Never got it changed again.
For some ODD reason it made a strange noise for about 5 seconds, then just quit running. Dunno why?
He calls a tow truck. Tow truck gleefully charges him $150 to tow him 5 miles to the shop. Does Darryl *********** cry because of an OUTRAGEOUS charge? Nope.
But he ******* up a storm when he's presented with a $3,800 estimate to put a USED engine in his 2003 Chevy Cavalier. Mr. Big Bad Mechanic is ripping him off!