I think the issue here is the practice of assigning the rating to the shop.
Authorized shop is a far cry from 'Certified tech'

IMO Fender is far to lax in allowing shops to 'authorize' their service departments. You have no idea what kind of qualifications any given tech has aside from reputation, and their network of authorized dealers does nothing to change that.

The old fashioned way of finding out a service techs rep is still the best.

Also people throw around the term 'Luthier' like it's confetti, most people here say "My luthier this, and my luthier that" but i would hazard a guess very few of them actually are. Guitar tech, or repair guy, or service dude is not 'Luthier' just like french frie boy at McDonalds is not 'Chef'

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.