Difinition of a Specialist

[WDB124066]

Einstein on Schooling; Wisdom is not a product of schooling, but the lifelong attempt to acquire it.

Formal Training helps, but it is not a substitute for the above IMHO.

[spanner]

Most Mechanics are Sharks, do not kid yourself. Some are not, but if you assume they are until you know they are not, you won't be disappointed.

With that attitude you're going to get poor service wherever you go.

[WDB124066]

Originally Posted by spanner

With that attitude you're going to get poor service wherever you go.

Not me sunshine. I look after my Mechanics.

This is the reality of the situation now days. Reality often hurts!

[Pontoneer]

Originally Posted by WDB124066

choosing one of the Specialists who frequent this and other trustworthy forums. Why? Because they care enough about their business and their customers to put themselves out on a limb and contribute to the general discussion thereby, to a certain extent, legitimising the contributions of the members.[/FONT][/COLOR]
To me this is really one of the very best assurances there is.......

Originally Posted by big john

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]There are plenty of indies, on this forum included who have had no formal training.
This forum still promotes these indies (quote)

'Specialists' or 'Indies' on this forum are recommended by INDIVIDUAL members of the forum and are not in any way endorsed by the forum itself , as far as I am aware .

I am fortunate to have two independent specialists local to me , both of whom meet the criteria outlined in my post above . I tend to do just about all of my own work , but have used one of them for diagnosis of an ABS fault as the labour charge was less costly than throwing parts at the problem until the fault went away ( although they only confirmed what I thought was wrong anyway ) . I have used the other one to buy parts from as they always hold a good stock and are nearby .

One of them is an officer of the official 'Mercedes-Benz Club' and is technical advisor to the club , active on their forum , has all the proper diagnostic equipment and regularly attends training courses with MB to keep up to date ( the walls of his reception area are lined with framed certificates for all the courses attended and qualifications passed by he and his brother ) . The other was a technician in a nearby MB main dealer for many years , before he went into partnership with a friend who was an ex-BMW technician to set up as Mercedes/BMW specialists .

So , yes , I have two good 'indies' nearby and I try to support them by giving them what business I can and recommending them to others when looking for someone in this area .

We also have a former main dealer , who lost the franchise when the dealer network was reorganised some years ago , but is still an authorised MB service agent with full MB back up and charges lower labour rates than the main dealers . There will be others throughout the country and can be a good option for some .

[WDB124066]

Agree with the above and I trust you leave a box of beer in the boot for those that provide you with top service every now and then.....

[Pontoneer]

I noticed it as soon as I had posted , think there was a syntax error in the quoted post .

Hopefully makes sense now .

[Pontoneer]

Originally Posted by WDB124066

I trust you leave a box of beer in the boot for those that provide you with top service every now and then.....

I haven't actually done that , but I hope that recommending new customers to them ( which I do regularly ) is seen as a token of appreciation .

[WDB124066]

I often do both, makes a huge difference to the service you get. I cannot remember having to go back for anything that I truely thought should have been put right in one shot.

My Father would leave beer in the letter box for the Milkman at Xmas, we NEVER had a problem with the milk!

[Rob77]

Originally Posted by WDB124066

My Father would leave beer in the letter box for the Milkman at Xmas, we NEVER had a problem with the milk!

Did he leave a straw for him to suck it out through

[Pontoneer]

No , but I bet the postie was prompt with the mail for a week or two afterwards