That’s one of the many things I learned over the 25 years working at several aircraft maintenance shops. As explained later in the issue, money matters can turn a healthy working relationship into a hostile separation. When this happens, the customer and the shop will lose. That’s why it’s the responsibility of the owner and the shop to keep this uncomfortable part of the work on the rails. With some rare exceptions, it’s also a reason why an owner shouldn’t take the aircraft without paying the invoice.
Both of these rules were broken when a friend recently brought his airplane to an avionics shop for autopilot work. There was a long history of favorable dealings on both ends of the counter. In other words, both the shop and the owner were assets to one another. But that unraveled when the shop’s owner asked for payment. Insulted by his arrogant tone—and feeling like a deadbeat—my friend assured the shop’s owner that he would put a check in the mail when he got home, as he’s done countless times in the past. These payment terms were acceptable for previous work, so why was this time any different?