You know I always dread having a mechanical problem with my truck.  About a month ago my check engine light came on….I thought O, No…this is more than just an oil change…I have to see the mechanic.    I called around discussing the diagnostic code I had received on the vehicle; it read running lean on O94.   The Ford dealership said that could mean leaky head gasket, ($452.00), or the Injector’s need replacement ($500+), or perhaps something else that could cost ($750.00).    

OUCH! I talked to another place with my diagnostic code in hand and told them of the Ford estimate (Big Mistake).  This place sent me to another place and here is where the nightmare begins.  I went to this place Fri. afternoon after picking up my son from his program.   He is Autistic and does not do well with change, or having to stay somewhere with nothing to do.   This Mechanics shop informed me that it would take an hour to perform the diagnostics.    

 I asked if I could come in the following day, Sat. at opening, so that there would be time to finish the work as I have only one car and need it for the up-coming week.   I went prepared to wait for an hour, thinking that if there were extensive work to be done I would take my son to the movies across the street.   I got there a little  after opening with my son who had books to read.   We sat patiently for one hour reading books.     

The mechanic came in and brought me a spreadsheet of diagnostic problems that could cost up to $765.00 for repairs.  However, the manager said a smoke diagnostic test needed to be performed to fill the compression with smoke to determine where the leakage of compression was occurring which was causing the (running lean on O94 code).  He asked me if I would come back in one hour after he had performed this second diagnostic test.   I walked with my son for an hour visiting a coffee house for a snack and coffee, and then off to Michael’s, then to a bakery thrift shop (my son likes to look at food on shelves).  The whole hour my Son repeated…what we were supposed to be doing insistently; O.C.D. is very typical with Autism; and I continued to inform him as to why we were not able, at that point, but that when the work was done we could.    

 I walked about three miles today, and after one hour and fifteen minutes returned to find out the results of the additional diagnostic.   The manager met me and said that he had not started the second diagnostic and that I needed to wait for another hour.   Because my son is Autistic, it gets very difficult to continue to disappoint him.  I said to the Manager, why did you tell me to come back in an hour then if you were not going to do the test in that time frame?  I was not yelling, I just asked an honest question in my disappointment.     At this point he became upset and said, “BS! You’re calling me a liar, if you don’t want to wait then have someone else do the work!” Yelling….   He knew he had me over a barrel, as he had observed my son’s activity, and also understood that I did not have anyone that could pick us up.   I replied, “No, I’m not calling you a liar…I’m just saying that if you were not going to do the work in the time you specified for me, you should not have told me to wait…   Then he said, “I’m not going to do the work! pull her car out!”   I told him I could not believe that he would turn down a cash customer that was prepared to drop $600.00 cash…I asked to speak with the owner of the company and he would not let me…    

On my way home I spotted another Mechanics shop within walking distance to my home.   I drove in with my diagnostic in hand and explained all of the work the prev. shop had said I needed and about how they continued to delay performance; getting disrespectful towards me when I questioned their business practice.     I was encouraged when this shop seemed to understand how wrongly I had been treated.   Guess what?  They performed their diagnostic and found that I was running lean because my fuel filter was clogged, needed replacement; and also I needed a fuel injector cleaning due to fuel running through a dirty fuel filter.  Interestingly enough, I had paid for a new fuel filter about two months ago at another Mechanics Shop. The work was performed, including diagnostics within two and one half hours, costing me $142.00!     It seems today that people in many businesses just don’t care about honest business practices….I guess woman are seen as ignorant and venerable by so many Mechanic Shops.   This is the way of business today in a world that is contrary to performing honest business practices in integrity, and most importantly, while respecting the customer….This is the Anti-Civilization.   These dishonest business types create an Un-Civilized atmosphere in our society today.   I felt so up-set with myself for being, “Once Again, angered and frustrated with today’s dishonest society, the Anti-Civilization.”   I am always disappointed when someone takes advantage of me because it goes back to that time in my life when the world made me believe I was not good enough; and that I deserved what I got.”    

There is a happy ending here though, after the work was performed by an honest Mechanic Shop, with an Honest Business Owner, we each saw the value of what we were bringing to the table.   He gave me good work at a very good price; without trying to over charge, and cheat me, and; I also found out that he wanted his mechanics’ to wear shirts with his company logo on them.   So guess what?   We viewed my T-Shirt website, I showed him my art and designing abilities and he emailed me his logo asking me to insert a car on a road to it and turn it into company T-Shirts.    

I love this….We, through our respect for each other, were able to offer additional value to each of our companies, and in that way continue to grow.   This is what happens when honest people work together for the benefit of all.   This is how the civilization of the civilized in the universe of honest service providers will prevail.    I just hope that at some point, I can find a Mechanic within the Neothink® Society; or perhaps, I have already found my future Neothink® Mechanics Shop….   Thank you, Elaine Ray is The Undefeated Life (at least in this outcome)…