So we’re all technicians who ended up in the Middle East, we all originated in different countries.
How is the tool buying culture in your country?
Im from Northern Ireland, part of the UK.
All mechanics own their own tools, many also own their own diagnostic computers. The logic behind it is that if you break it, it’s your problem, you replace it. I learned it the hard way after I connected an Autel maxisys to a Peugeot with a shorted ecu and had to replace it myself. In my time in UK I spent at least £20,000 on tools. To put that in perspective, that’s 100k dirhams. They’re still sitting on a pallet at home. The price to ship it doesn’t correlate to buying new tools here.
I was shocked when I came here and saw the garages buying tools. The mechanics would use something once and throw it. They didn’t pay for it so they don’t care. Buy a 10mm spanner on the company account, tighten a nut, leave it in the engine bay while the customer drives away.
Noticed this culture a lot in my new job with paintbrushes. Back home I’ll buy a paint brush, use it, wash it and use it again. Here it’s buy it, use it, throw it and buy another.
Any similar experiences?