Sorry for the me-too, but I have to say I will never go to my local bikeshop again. Not only have I gotten bad service, but I've also been the victim of the steel-punch method of headset removal. I live in an affluent little community and I am surprised at the shoddy service and work provided by this shop.
It's very important to find good mechanics, let them know you appreciate them - tips, praise, thanks and repeat business. I've worked with some good mechanics (was a bike shop lackey years ago) and I respect their work. I'm also a car nut, and it is appalling at the wage differential for bike versus car mechanics. Finally, if you really want it done right, get the tools and do it yourself, and expect to make plenty of mistakes as you learn.
For bay area people, I can recommend a couple good shops for bike work:
Jitensha Studio - Berkeley Missing Link - Berkeley (make sure you get to know the mechanics) American Cyclery - SF The Bike Nook - SF A Bicycle Odyssey - Sausalito
I've been putting off the ~$500 purchase of all the frame-prep and hs/bb tools I want for years now. Someday...
Meanwhile my newly-painted Molteni Merckx is at American Cyclery, getting prepped for building and the SR headset and bottom brackets installed. I will pick it up this weekend and hope to have it built by Marc St. Martin's Livermore ride the next weekend...
Morgan Fletcher
Oakland, CA