A DC9-30 INCURRED A LENGTHY DELAY DUE TO TECHNICIAN INSISTENCE ON REPLACING THE TAILSKID SHOE WHICH CREW BELIEVES WAS WITHIN LIMITS FOR SVC.

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PICKED UP DC9 IN ABC TO ORIGINATING TRIP ABC-ZZZ. DURING MY WALKAROUND DUE TO SNOW AND ICE I ALSO INSPECTED TAILSKID BUMPER. AS PER OUR MANUAL THE TAIL BUMPER WAS UNDAMAGED AND THE INDICATOR WAS SAFETIED IN THE HORIZ POS. THE WEAR PLATE HAD A FLAT SPOT FROM BEING SCRAPED BUT IT WAS WHOLE; INTACT AND IN GOOD CONDITION WHICH MEETS THE GUIDANCE OF OUR FLT MANUAL. WHILE SITTING IN COCKPIT AT OUR ZZZ GATE THE LINE MECH WHO MET THE FLT INFORMED US THAT THE SKID PLATE WAS SCRAPED. I TOLD HIM THAT WE WERE AWARE OF THAT. HE CONCLUDED THAT THE BUMPER AND INDICATOR WERE GOOD BUT HE WANTED TO CHANGE THE SKID PLATE. HE ASKED ME TO WRITE IT UP IN THE LOGBOOK WHICH I DID. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD PUT A 25 MIN ETR (ESTIMATED TIME OF REPAIR) ON OUR FLT. IT SEEMS HE HAD NEVER CHANGED ONE OF THESE AND HIS 25 MIN JOB TURNED INTO HRS. THE COMPANY CANCELED OUR NEXT 2 LEGS WITH THIS ACFT AND GAVE US ANOTHER FOR OUR FINAL LEG TO OUR ROUTINE OVERNIGHT. THE MAJORITY OF DC9'S HAVE THEIR SKID PLATE SCRAPED. THAT'S WHAT IT'S FOR; TO PROTECT THE BUMPER. AS LONG AS IT'S IN ONE PIECE AND SECURE TO THE BUMPER BODY IT IS OK FOR SVC. BEYOND THAT IT IS A MAINT CALL. IF OUR INSPECTION (PREFLT) REQUIRES MORE DETAIL THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED.