If this isn't best story/post of the year, nothing is.

Hah.

WTF. I think that mechanic screwed your whole family over. So do your own wrenching dudes or get your wife screwed

The only thing that sounds off to me is the brake rub, however I have seen wheels that were bent untrue themselves to return to their equilibrium after being serviced. Also, mechanics are people and miss stuff. I know on a busy day I've taken a wheel off and put it back on, intending to, and believing I did, true it. When you build five bikes and do five tune ups in a day, while stopping and walking away from what you're doing repeatedly, to help customers you're bound to miss something. Of course, a good shop will look at the bike when they return it to you and correct issues, since they know it happens. On a busy day accessories get left on the bench all the time. Especially seat wedges. Since most work stands grip the seat post, it's often taken off to provide enough post to clamp safely.

I usually replace anything under about $10 that needs it without asking for approval. Cables, tubes, small runs of housing, it's been my experience most people are more interested in a functional bike than being bothered with an explanation of why I can't make it work as is. They're usually happy to pay the extra couple dollars and if they seem unsure I'll explain to them what and why I replaced, and that's it. You should receive quality service but don't expect people not to make mistakes from time to time.

Bicycles are so simple and elegant so do it yourself is by far the best way and satisfying.

As fro the brake rub ... unless the customer asked for the wheel to be trued, i wouldn't think he would get it---and at whatever was the going rate. As was mentioned above, truing a wheel is not generally part of a tune-up.

This. Good show.

Near the end of the OP's difficult to read opening post, he states that he pointed out that the front wheel rubs on the brakes and asked the mechanic to correct it. While he didn't use the words "true my wheel" (brake rub is not indicative of an out of true wheel, but it could be one of many issues), he did ask that the problem be corrected as needed.

There is a local shop near me that writes down specific notes on your bill when you bring the bike in. Then they check repairs off the list as they do them. This is a good small town shop run by fellow cyclists. They hold weekly Mtb and road rides from the shop. Good people with a growing business.

Dat good!

I personally could not imagine calling a customer asking permission to replace a tube.

Is a "big Century" just a regular century but for fat people? Or was it in Texas? Are there small centuries?

Cut the guy some slack, his mechanic is sleeping with his wife!

Cut the mechanic some slack, he can't be expected to be an expert at wrenching and wenching.

^ ..