Originally Posted by
margarets
It's the lying and crap attitude I object to. Plus the bike is eventually going to need another tune up, so that chain case will have to be opened (and possibly broken) again. <snip> her attitude was pretty crap - that classic thing of talking down to me like I just don't know enough about bikes. Ugh.
This reinforces for me that it's an ethics problem, not a materials problem.
If it was a materials problem and they were meant to be replaced when they're opened, then the shop would include it in the "plus parts" part of the tune-up. Around here tune-ups are advertised as labor only, "plus parts like cables, housing and chains, which vary by bike". Add "chaincase" to the phrase and everyone's happy.
As for their reputation as the best in town, I've had similar experience with the alleged best in town. I've learned to value experience over reputation. And I've learned how to work on my own bikes.