I'm laughing at Hugh's busy one-legged man at a butt kicking contest. I'll make a point to use that today.
Endearing one's self to the shop: I have an old trick that my parents and grandparents used. It's a Southern secret, but plainly the Imperial Club (Yankees and all) qualify as cool enough to be told......food. I almost never drop my cars off for work without advancing with a box of doughnuts or something similar. Everytime, No Matter What. Simple oil change to transmission rebuild.... doughnuts. If I'm doing an afternoon drop-off, I'll substitute chips and dip. I just put it in their break area and don't make a big deal out of it. My wife accuses me of cheap bribery. Maybe so, but I've built a genuine and close relationship with my mechanic and his staff over the years, and it really helps both ways. I don't expect price breaks or anything like that in return, but I know they're more comfortable talking to me and giving me advice. Recently, when I bought my '58 Southampton from a town 360 miles away, my local mechanic was pivotal in helping me get it home and properly serviced. I probably owe him two boxes of doughnuts for that one! I do love that old car.
In writing this, I'm remembering that my grandfather and my dad usually brought beer and liquor. Maybe I need to be less puritanical.
Patrick Moore
Southeast Louisiana
1958 Southampton 4 door.
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