Are you telling them why the tires are being balanced ? If not then the job may fall to the inexperienced kid who is just balancing the tires like he was told, same thing applies with an experienced, competent mechanic. Either you're not telling them all they need to know, or you'rer going to the wrong shops. The common factor in the repeat failures is you, the car owner.
Take your post here for example. You have to understand that asking someone to diagnose the cause of steering wheel shake with so little information is very difficult, and over the internet no less.
When did the wheel begin to shake ?
Was there some other coinciding event ?
How old are the tires and how many miles on them ?
Are the tires the factory size and type ?
Steering wheel vibration or wiggle indicates a problem with the components that connect with the steering wheel. Balancing the rear tires won't help you in diagnosing your problem.
As a mechanic, after discussing with you what the problem is, I would drive the car , with you in it ideally, and verify the conditions at which the problem occurs. Then look at the front tires and wheels carefully, looking for signs of curbing, a slipped belt or some other tire failure, then check the tie rod ends, Pitman arm, idler arm and the front suspension parts. If the tires, steering linkage and front end parts all look OK, then swap one front tire with the same side rear tire. Drive the car again. If the shake is gone you know the one tire or wheel now on the rear is the problem. If shake is till there then swap tires on the other side. Drive again. If shake is gone it is that side's tire or wheel. If shake is still there double check the front end of the car. That's your starting point.
Have that done at the right shop, give them all the info, ride with the mechanic and see what they find.
KBX
