What a crappy afternoon.....

[b5blue]

  I agree with both of you...sort of. My TRUSTED friends shop is/was too far for my emergency repair. I never ask for a discount, but always an estimate that be held to. Shops don't always get best pricing on parts and labor is a fuzzy area. If a shop is slow they may want more work and discount or increase. If they are busy they may not even want to do anything but get you back out to get to the next guy waiting.
  I know all this as Steve who I bought my Charger from owns/runs Trico Transmissions here in Largo. He's described much about both of your comments in one way or another, Mondays and Fridays are mostly a bitch and some Tuesdays they can be knee deep to boot.