Wow, just read this topic......
I can share something about how local mechs works, and how oversea mech works.
Apparently, in our local community, workshops tends to give the best price to cater every customer so that customers feels easy-going and economic to go back to the same shop again. In order to fulfill this goal, they local mech will intro and sweet talks the budget products that is within your spending power.
To me, Autochild is a place for ppl who have been trusted in a good workmanship, which every service is done detailedly, with the best quality of service. (Same thing u spend your money on good food in Starhill).
As a norm, in oversea a regular workshop will charge service per-hourly, seperate charges for each different service. And they follow the regulations of professional workshops, so keep the place clean is a norm.
Perhaps, the customer himself should know better what car he is driving, what kind of service he requires, and how much he should spend for all the service, and the last but not least, WHERE TO SERVICE YOUR CAR ?
I finds it rather funny if a customer doest not inquires the price of the services before making a move, that is SUICIDE..... nobody will ever do that!
So, last words, you should choose the mech/workshop that you trust. There is not "Give A Try" or "Testing-Testing". Ask before you do, until all your questions are answered regarding any service you wish to do.
I think picking up a workshop's reputation in a forum is not very polite, to me it seems, is the customer problem. Unless you drive something 100k, perhaps someone will give u more attention when u drive into such places. Its just plain commonsense to everyone.