Why is it that breasts, or even just a female name, seem to cause blokes in the engineering industry to get very confused about prices and addition. I’ve had it before, at a scrapyard where they wanted over 100 quid for the head off a mini engine. My mum had some wanker of a plumber tell her she needed a complete new cistern at over 200 quid instead of, say, replacing the 8 quid part.
I sent off for a quote for powdercoating; as I did so I thought “hrm, should I loose the ‘kate’ bit of my sig and set it to mail as ‘K Elliott'” but decided against it.
People suggested that between 40 quid and 80 quid was the price I should be expecting to do both wheels (complete, starting from the wheels as they are now and stripping, cleaning and coating them). Guess the quote… go on, guess. 130 quid. Arseholes.
So now I need to ring round. Fortunately, if I flatten my speaking a bit, or sound like I’ve got a cold, most auto-shops assume I’m male – presumably ‘cos I know what I’m talking about and a girl couldn’t possibly know about cars or bikes. So, I’ll use that to my advantage getting the quotes, I hope. I’m pissed off though, as I always am when this happens.
