Herewith a copy of an e-mail I sent to Micheldever today. Methinks they may be polite and friendly, but beware the smile on the face of the tiger. They've got too big, greedy and successful.
"I am very sorry to have to write to you about this matter since I have coming to Micheldever tyres for some 30 years. But I don't think I'll bother again. I came in yesterday to have a nail removed and puncture repaired. I was told very politely that the nail, which was 1/2 an inch from the edge of the tyre tread, had damaged the side wall and could not be repaired. I questioned this, knowing a little about this area of tyre repair, but was told firmly that it was beyond repair and a new tyre would cost £270, which Micheldever just happened to have in stock. I declined to have the tyre repaired, convinced the tyre was actually repairable. I drove on to London with the tyre on the rear wheel where I went to a large tyre dealer near where I live. Fully prepared to have the tyre replaced if he gave me a second opinion that agreed with yours, he, on the contrary, removed the tyre and without any suggestion that the puncture might be in a fragile area, or any discussion repaired the wheel without a murmur - £10. That's what it cost, £10 for the repair opposed to £270 which Micheldever insisted had to be done. If you want my opinion, I think you've got too slick, too arrogant and too popular and now believe you can write your own cheques. I am extremely disturbed that your tyre fitter and whoever he may or may not have consulted lied to me about the state of my puncture in order to sell me a very, very expensive new tyre. This behaviour is dishonourable and makes a nonsense out of all those men who insist on an all-round tyre inspection while we wait for our repairs. Clearly their only interest is to sell more tyres when they aren't even needed."
Yours sincerely read more