Hello All having read the above i tend to think that we all spend a fortune on training, and diagnostic equipment and skills in a effort to make a crust and keep our customers returning to us rather than the main dealers.
someone said to me the other day (a Doctor) that when he learnt his profession he learnt where all the relevent parts in the body are and what they do, and in the years since man (and Women) have been around they are still in the same place and still do the same, so he does not have to keep relearning his trade, The same with a lot of professions, BUT not us every month some thing else is added or wiring is altered etc. etc. So i think we should be recognised for our talants, by whom?? well there has been mention of many name's RAC AA Bosch, all of these have there own service centres and i think would not be happy if they thought we would be attacking there customer base, and so could be awkward.
Ask any joe public where he would go for an exhaust,or perhaps tyre,s a great majority would say Kwick Fit. Why because of clever and continual advertising, the same with the AA. RAC. they all started small and from small acorns?? i think if run by whoever if the avertising was national and continual, subliminal advertising it would not take long to get ourselve our own "branding" "THE GREAT BRITISH GARAGES" or whatever.
we DESERVE to be recognised for our TALANTS and dump the freds in a shed that blacken our names and talent.
A last Thought, with so many of us around the country why not put forward for a regional council, we would then have people who understand the trade