Ski service - UK vs abroad

I've been inspired by a comment snapzzzz made on the wibble thread about having his skis waxed to post this question.

Now, could be personal choice, but I'm curious - what do you find to be better/what do you prefer to do: have your skis serviced in the UK before and after skiing or when you're in resort?

I personally tend to chuck mine in the nearest shop on arrival in resort and collect the following morning. I tend to trust them more than say, Snow & Rock, at doing a good job for a good price.

Discuss.

I use Captains Cabin at Canterbury for my skis, always had good service. They took my OH's board which looked like it had been used in a gravel pit and gave it back mint, we were not convinced it was the same board.
At the end of the holiday I dry skis properly and apply too much wax then ignore them under the bed for the rest of the year.

Personally I'd avoid the big stores here for a service. I took mine recently to a well known large outlet at an indoor ski slope and the waxing was terrible. I ended up stripping the wax and doing it myself. If you've a smaller shop locally I'd do them here then you dont have to bother once on hols. But up to you.

In my fav resort, I have tried all the service shops, settled on one. Over the years, the charge has fallen to the point that I almost feel guilty. Almost.

I also can go into the shop at any time of the day, ask for an edge sharpen, go into the service room, and watch them do it. One advantage is I can ask for a particular edge angle.

Then, in the bar at night, I buy them a beer. As I do for the lifties.

I have to admit to having never even looked for anywhere local, S&R are the only places I know of, and I find them expensive to be doing half the job that someone in resort would probably do in half the time, for half the price and a million times better.

Best place I ever found was Bennys in Livignio. Excellent service at a good price. But it's a bit far to go.

Last year we had them done in Les Houches, can't remeber how much it was - no more than 20€ if even that.
There's nowhere near me that do it so made sense to have them done by the hire shop.
Really knowledgeable too....

Hope my hire shop does a good job, last years was dire :(