I know most of the mechanics in the area, so when there's something I
don't feel I should do myself, I talk to one of them.

Case in point, the struts on the Mazda. Now, struts aren't really a hard
job, but if you don't have the right equipment, it can be very unsafe, as
we all know. After seeing a 'spring clamp' (one of those things that
barely hooks onto the spring) go through a cinder block wall, I decided
this may not be the job for me. I bought a decent Lisle compressor that
actually BOLTS onto the spring, but I chickened out and returned it 2 days
after I bought it a few years ago. If I can't afford a GOOD tool for this
job, I'll pay someone that has the proper tools.

So, I asked the Mgr of the local Meineke if he could do them for me. He
said, yeah, bring it Thursday. What I DIDN'T hear was, "Drop it off in the
morning." I waited for a while and then went to get a haircut. I come back
from the haircut, the cars on the lift, the fronts are done, and the Lead
Tech (also a friend of mine) says, where's the rears? They're in the trunk!

The trunk's open he steps over and starts throwing stuff (trash) out of
the trunk...Muffler box..That's not it...clamp box..nope...hangers, nope,
not there...

Then I realize...they're in the Scion...

Now, I have an 'Advantage' card at AutoZone, for every $100 I spend I get
$20 off my next purchase. So, I saved $20 on the price of the
struts...which I then spent on a CAB to go home and get the rears.
Wooo-hooo.

We get back, they open one box, pump the strut and put the spring on it.
Onto the car. Open the other strut, and he's about to release it and says,
What's this? Instead of the plastic thingy they put on the struts to hold
them in, it's wired. Then I hear WHAT THE F@CK?!?!

The original nut was gone, there was a Hardware store nut on the strut,
and the threads were GONE! Some Bozo tried to put it on his car, must have
cross-threaded the original nut and then totally ruined the strut with the
hardware store nut, then wired it up, and sealed the box, and probably
returned it saying he didn't need it.

AutoZone is right across the street, so I brought it back. Now, this was a
Special Order, with none at any other stores; right from the warehouse. My
chances weren't looking good. Well, at least they refunded my money, and I
think the Ass't Manager was madder than I was, and she was apologizing
profusely.

Call to a local car parts place...nope. Call to another one...nope. I Knew
CarQuest didn't have them, so I call NAPA...nope. I fianally locate one 25
miles away in Northampton; ONE left. At least they deliver! 40 minutes
later the strut arrives, we get it in, and...no hardware. There was one
nut in really good shape from one of the old struts, so we used that and
got it all back together. Sheesh!

Remind me to tell you guys about the Mopars that were there...