I've always been a fan of cars and motorcycles.  Well,  the good (read: European/Japanese) ones.  That's how I wound up doing what I do today.  I'm an assistant manager/techinician/whatever you want to call it at a foreign automotive repair facility.  We always get all kinds of fun/fancy cars in to work on (and test drive!).  Usually the people that own these vehicles are actually pretty cool.  But every now and then, something like this happens...  And this story, is the worst.  Please continue:

A ten year customer of our's brought in his BMW 5-series sport wagon.  He complained about a few things that he wanted repaired, and he also needed an oil change.  After spending time on the car, it was apparent he needed shocks and struts, brake pads and rotors (front & rear), and his oil change (which he always specifies we use Mobil 1 synthetic engine oil). 

I proceeded to call him with the estimate for the repairs.  After giving him the total cost (roughly $1,500... $1100 cheaper than the dealer, but still using OEM parts), he asked if I could break it down individually.  I gave him the price for each repair, and after each one he just said, "No, thanks."  We got down to just the oil change, and he said, "You know, you guys have been getting more and more expensive as I come here.  Over the past ten years, I can't help but notice how your prices have slowly increased.  This is absolutely ridiculous.  Please just do the oil change, and I'll take my business elsewhere."

This man is a geologist for EXXON-MOBIL. 

After I explained everything to him (including how he had paid the exact same amount for an oil change for the past three years and how he works for an oil company and has the audacity to bring up price increases), he decided to go ahead and have the repairs done. 

Granted, we did do the work, but it took a lot more convincing than it should have.  I mean, he drives a BMW.  Some people just don't understand that higher-end cars legitimately cost more to repair, even the people who have owned them for years.  I understand that the automotive industry does have a bad wrap for "ripping people off," but I just ask everyone to compare prices.  In the end, they always realise that we offer the best quality work (better than the dealerships... I mean, it is me we're talking about.  Heh...) and the best price.  I do have to sleep at night, so I can never justify ripping people off.  That's why we have so many loyal customers.

Even ones that work for Exxon-Mobil.