RoyM, You ever maybe those guys can't fix a string trimmer in the first place so they got their prices so high as not to try. Heck, even the Stihl dealer (John Deere) couldn't repair a Hedger back in the Spring that was dieseling; just return it to me saying there was nothing wrong with it. The tech didn't even know how to do a pressure/vac test. I had to show him how to do it using my own test equipment.
Can't do much with those $100 and under either besides replacing fuel lines and maybe a metering diaphragm/gasket set. I still fix them if it cheap enough parts wise for the elderly as the larger trimmers are too heavy for some to operate any more. It does help when those el cheapo trimmer are just gave to me for parts.
My way of giving back to the senior community. Sometimes I don't even charge for my labor when dealing with the seniors. The referral of more profitable repairs is my reward from their younger relatives.
Luffydoy, Do you have the "If you watch price level" too. That one usually get them to leave the equipment especially when it is 3x my normal labor rate.
Oh in my case the locals are showing their behinds right now by not coming in because I insisted about my time off. Gee I got let my head clear sometimes. If nothing else it sure has reduced my headaches so the drugstore might start hurting a teeny bit because I not buying 100+ pills every month. I sure don't miss taking them.
The truest measure of society is the how it treats its elderly, its pets, and its prisoners.