I work at an auto shop. We had a tricky case: a car with a persistent engine issue that had resisted all the usual diagnostic steps. Finally, one of our most seasoned mechanics pinpointed the culprit.
He explained to the customer, "Here's the problem. Your fuel injectors aren't delivering a consistent, fine mist. That means the combustion process isn't clean, which is causing those misfires you feel and the drop in your gas mileage. Essentially, the chemistry is off—the fuel-to-air ratio is unbalanced, and it's throwing the entire system out of sync."
The customer, who hadn't been paying much attention, just nodded. "Uh-huh. So, how much is this going to cost me?"
The mechanic gave him the estimate. "For the parts and the labor, it will be about $800."
The customer was stunned. "$800?! For what? It's just spraying some gas into the engine! That's ridiculous!"
"It's not *just* spraying gas," the mechanic clarified patiently. "It's a precision calibration. A few milliliters too much or too little, and the engine simply won't run correctly."
"Absolutely not. I'm not paying that," the customer declared. "I want to speak to your manager."
The manager was briefed on the situation and came out to speak with the customer.
"Sir," the manager began, "the price reflects the highly technical nature of the work and the expertise required to perform it correctly."
The customer scoffed. "Why? It's not like it's rocket science!"
The manager didn't miss a beat. "Actually, sir, it's combustion chemistry. It's *exactly* like rocket science."
That left the customer with nothing to say. He quietly agreed to the repair, and our mechanic got back to the delicate task at hand.
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