This wouldn't mean my neighbour knocking at the door to advise me of my car's flat tyre - although it was nice of him and it was also a surprise, but the real nice surprise transpired in the events which followed.
Fortunately, he had also suggested any breakdown cover I happened to have might cover it, which it turned out - rather nicely and surprisingly too - did. So the temporary wheel was on within a few hours and a trip to the garage was in order the following morning.
This is a little place not too far from us whose owner and mechanics only see me when I'm desperate. My car is old but good, rarely serviced because of the expense and only begrudgingly MOTd because it has to be. Every visit is accompanied by me charmingly begging them to please not cost me too much money if they can help it and they are generally obliging.
When I first moved to the area and had a problem with my brakes, they advised me that it was due to the amount of rain we'd had combined with the car not having been moved for a few days and that it would soon sort itself out, sending me on my way with no charge whatsoever, and, indeed, they were proved correct.
Another time, there was a problem with the exhaust and a similar scenario ensued. On each occasion they could have exploited the lone, ignorant female as some workers are wont to but they didn't so, naturally, I could never go anywhere else and my business has been theirs for several years now.
Seeing my pained expression at even having to be there recently whilst trying to maintain control of the half naked Fearsome Four Year Old sent them searching for a part worn tyre to replace the tiny one. As it happens I'm not too keen on them and they weren't successful in that regard, but while one of them was off looking, the other one and I investigated a dodgy looking patch by the petrol cap that had suddenly become faded compared to the rest of the car.
It looked like there must have been a bit of a previous respray and he muttered something about T-cutting. I mentioned a small bottle with a similarly sounding label in the boot with the right colour that a friend's husband had given me, erroneously assuming gratitude and the kind of time and inclination on my part that might find it useful and before you could say 'That'll be £60 for a brand new tyre, please' he'd found it, splashed a load on a cloth and was working on the offending area.
Then he got his mate involved and once the wheel was changed they were both at it. It wasn't T-cutting but some sort of polish. NEVER have I been more grateful that the childrens' obsession with the local car wash had meant it wasn't in its normal shoddy state but it did mean that all the scratches and marks galore were very easily spotted and sorted!
So while the little one got on with this in the office, in between bursts of playing with their air machine, causing havoc and running amok:-
The men got on with this, with whatever this special polish was, covering the entire car in it.
And then he got his buffer out!
And my faith in humankind was renewed.
There was no charge for this either. They were bored, they said, quiet, wanted something to do, but there were cars in and out all the time, so there was work there if they wanted it. The owner might have minded but he certainly never even hinted at it.
I guess that's what you call going the extra mile and for a local garage, to be doing that for cars is kind of par for the course, but to be doing it for customers is something special, isn't it?
When has this sort of thing happened to you?

Wonderful! Local garages are just the best - in all my driving years I have never strayed from ours and in fact my car is in there tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteExactly Jenny. What a difference they can make! Good luck with yours tom xx
DeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice that the local garage does something nice in return for you bringing your vehicle to them.
ReplyDeleteIt makes such a change from the 'I'm all right Jack' mentality that prevails in England nowadays Catherine and our youth have a bad rep that they don't necessarily deserve, as these young men have testified to :)
DeleteSo which one fancied you? And did you fancy him back? :-) :-) xx
ReplyDeleteTwenty years ago perhaps Penny!
DeleteWow I would love someone to do this to my car! I have a very neat like of teeny little scratches where I keep parking the car then opening the door but scuffing it ever so slightly against the corner of the wall!
ReplyDeleteThere are ways Tas - just don't ask me what they are!
DeleteSara Guiel copied me in here. I run a motoring club for women where we share good and bad feedback and provide lots of 'not for profit' support services and so on. The Club is funded by a network of garages/accident repairers we approve and promote to women because they've gone that extra mile for other females. Rare and wonderful as you say. If you wanted to thank this garage properly via http://www.foxychoice.com/good-garage-feedback-for-women.php then that's formally online for the benefit of other females to see and respond to.
ReplyDeleteThat is SUCH an interesting site and organization, thank you. I will sign up and submit their details, gladly :)
DeleteWow, I am very impressed! I have had good and bad experiences, but this is fantastic. xx
ReplyDeleteThank you - we're quick enough to complain about bad service, it's important to give the good guys a shout out sometimes I think!
DeleteThat is the sort of story that does renew your faith in people as sadly so many garages can rip you off. We have a great mechanic who has often done small jobs for nothing as he feels that this builds up good will and more customers. It did make me laugh when you said he got his buffer out ...
ReplyDeleteThank you. Glad to hear you've got a great mechanic who believes in goodwill too - it makes such a difference. And the buffer? What was I supposed to say? ;)
DeleteAh that's nice to read, local businesses often get overshadowed by the 'big names' which is always a shame. And oo-er to the buffer!
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't hurt to give the good guys a shout out - especially when they actually get their buffers out!
DeleteAhh what lovely people.
ReplyDeleteMakes such a nice change from being hideously over-charged for things you suspect don't need doing anyway!
I think they meant well - it started out quite innocently and turned into quite a long job! And you're quite right - it's nice not to be harbouring suspicion when really necessary work comes up. :)
DeleteThat is amazing service. I am half tempted to drive my beast over from here to get the various scratches sorted! :D
ReplyDeleteCan't say I would blame you! My car is gleaming :)
DeleteAwww, what lovely people, and as Liz said makes such a change for big dealers who just rip people off. xxx
ReplyDeleteIt took them ages and they were really sweet - such a change from the sullen ones working for big dealers, yes. xx
DeleteFabulous, and they have Lego too! Everyone needs a decent mechanic they can trust. Ours is a friend from our antenatal group, he even rescued us by the road once and kept the kids entertained by blowing up blue rubber gloves and tying them to sticks. Love the post title too!
ReplyDeleteYes, the lego was a bonus, I must admit and they were brilliant at keeping the little one entertained (read ALIVE) too!
DeleteHaha! Got some great mechanics here...not sure they've got their buffer out for me (yet) x
ReplyDeleteThat's good and time will tell ;) x
DeleteFabulous! We have a couple of really reliable garages, close to us. They are a rare breed x
ReplyDeleteThey're not looking as rare as one might have imagined if these comments are anything to go by, but they're no less appreciated for that, no doubt!
DeleteWhat great service - it's so good to hear positive stories about mechanics, sometimes you only hear the bad stuff.
ReplyDeleteYou're right - it's all too easy to moan about bad service, I wanted to give the good guys a shout out!
Deletewhat a fab bunch of fellas
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteNow that is something to be cheerful about! I dont' drive but am aware that some work men can really take advantage of women. Let's here it for your local garage men, they truly set and wonderful example :0)
ReplyDeleteThank you!
DeleteHow nice of them... so rare to see people acting so kindly these days, and not ripping you off. Our local garage is really nice too - they accidentally scratched Younger Dad's car and owned up to it, promising to repair it, I could think of much bigger outfits who wouldn't do that. X
ReplyDeleteYou're right - kindness is increasingly rare. As is honesty so good on your guys too! We are blessed, dear friend :) xx
Deletewhere is this garage, I spend a fortune of my car and it's not that old!
ReplyDeleteIt's very near me - so not too far from you - will happily share xx
DeleteI thought this was going to go down the, 'Well next time you can suck my willey' road, like the builder who fitted some lights then cool as a cucumber propositioned you!
ReplyDeleteNot this time, thank goodness!
DeleteThis is so nice!
ReplyDeleteSome people really do try and take advantage of women on their own. I had a leaking toilet once whilst my husband was in the Falklands and a plumber gave me a quote for £100!!!!! A friend got his plumber mate to come out and he sorted it for £40 parts included.
Some people have no scruples whatsoever - it's quite shocking - but tbh, I've found others can be exceptionally kind. All we need is for people to be fair, and these boys might have been bored or just love cars more than most, but they certainly put themselves out, for which I am grateful and it's good to share these things :)
DeleteI thought this post was going to contain a half naked mechanic!
ReplyDeleteAh well.
How good to have a reliable place to go. So many of them are dodgy as hell.
Sorry to disappoint! But am rather relieved to if I'm totally honest!
DeleteIt is so good to hear of good people out there and not always trying to make some money from you. I too thought I was in for a bit of a heated post *sigh* but very pleased that his buffer did the job for you x
ReplyDeleteAgain - sorry to disappoint. I think those days have passed me by - am definitely in the old enough to be their mother category wherever I look nowadays! x
DeleteI hope you didn't have an eye on the lad in the second picture, that might even be breaking the law I think!
DeleteJail bait for sure.
What brilliant service, lucky it's close by too.
ReplyDeleteWhat brilliant service, lucky it's close by too.
ReplyDelete