Exactly. Some shops have integrity. Sadly, some don't.
One of my techs told me he works at CT even though it has a poor image because it gives him the chance to work on all types of vehicles, as opposed to working at a dealer or specialty shop where he would only learn the skill set for one brand of vehicles. He is also one of the few people I allow to work on my cars.
It really boils down to the individuals who run the shop and work in the shop. In a small town, you can't afford to lose customers.
Is Your Garage Ripping You Off
- tehbrookzorz
- Regular Member
- Posts: 1561
- Joined: April 29th, 2006, 6:59 pm
- Location: Calgary, Alberta
Re: Is Your Garage Ripping You Off
This is a good reason to learn how to do most of the work yourself.
110 an hour labor makes me cringe - especially for simple stuff like
batteries and sparkplugs
110 an hour labor makes me cringe - especially for simple stuff like
batteries and sparkplugs
1994 MX-3 RS
Worklog: viewtopic.php?f=46&t=62251
B6 goodies for sale:
viewtopic.php?f=2&t=66333
2nd BP engine: http://www.clubprotege.com/forum/showthread.php?t=46695
-
- Regular Member
- Posts: 1603
- Joined: March 6th, 2007, 1:17 pm
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA)
Re: Is Your Garage Ripping You Off
This is why I think it's a NEED to know about your car. As much as you possibly can. Even if you don't want to do the work yourself, at least know what your in for.
But I'm with the rest of you.. I'm really thankful that I know a great mechanic/friend who has never led me wrong. I also have a local parts guy who does things old school (no electronic filing of his parts, and he KNOWS his siht..).. I've been screwed over by Advance Auto and a few other "chain parts stores" plenty of times.. meanwhile he has never led me wrong. Always gets me the correct part, is VERY helpful, and pretty much amazing.
If it weren't for both of those guys, I'd be a LOT worse off.. they have helped me out a ton with my car.. almost as much as you guys =)
But I'm with the rest of you.. I'm really thankful that I know a great mechanic/friend who has never led me wrong. I also have a local parts guy who does things old school (no electronic filing of his parts, and he KNOWS his siht..).. I've been screwed over by Advance Auto and a few other "chain parts stores" plenty of times.. meanwhile he has never led me wrong. Always gets me the correct part, is VERY helpful, and pretty much amazing.
If it weren't for both of those guys, I'd be a LOT worse off.. they have helped me out a ton with my car.. almost as much as you guys =)
Re: Is Your Garage Ripping You Off
Most of the shops were retail shops, a lot of retail shops are dumb kids working who don't know any better I had a guy replace a lower radiator hose on my cousins Grand Am at Jensen Tire (I was busy with school and did not have time to go over nor did I want to work outside in the December) the hose was pushing against the pulley, he charged $400 (US) also for refilling and flushing the radiator and claimed to fix it. A week later it went out again and he said he could not fix it. Since the hose was pushed back from a car accident. I told him if he couldn't have fixed it he should have said that and not charged him the money, since he took on the job it was his liability, then I instructed him how to fix it. The next day when he called to pick up the phone he told my cousin I should not have been so rude. But honestly the best shops are small local ones who can not afford to lose a customer and have qualified, certified technicians.
93 GS/SE
Re: Is Your Garage Ripping You Off
Caveat emptor
2004 Subaru WRX Silver, stage 2, minty interior.
2002 Subaru WRX Blue, SOLD (best E test numbers I've ever seen)
94 MX-6. Sold
92 GS KLZE 5 Speed
96 GS 5 speed, KLZE, Sold
95 GS Minty Shape Sold
92 GS Sold
92 GS Parts Car scrapped.
Feedback viewtopic.php?f=37&t=66348" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
7477th member.
I know you believe that you understand what you think I said but I'm sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
2002 Subaru WRX Blue, SOLD (best E test numbers I've ever seen)
94 MX-6. Sold
92 GS KLZE 5 Speed
96 GS 5 speed, KLZE, Sold
95 GS Minty Shape Sold
92 GS Sold
92 GS Parts Car scrapped.
Feedback viewtopic.php?f=37&t=66348" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
7477th member.
I know you believe that you understand what you think I said but I'm sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.
- WhiteFinish
- Regular Member
- Posts: 1635
- Joined: April 3rd, 2006, 9:48 am
- Location: Netherlands
- Contact:
Re: Is Your Garage Ripping You Off
Amazing how much scamming there is going on.
- Nd4SpdSe
- Senior Member
- Posts: 11212
- Joined: May 25th, 2002, 2:01 am
- Location: Québec City, Quebec, Canada
- Contact:
Re: Is Your Garage Ripping You Off
One thing I just noticed (just started part 2) is that they complained that they worked on the car for 15min and was charged an hour. That can be typical since the shops work on a "unit" based system. Ya, sure, the mechanic took 15min and they got charged an hour, which may of been the standard for that work on that car, but what if the mechanic spends 2 hours on a job that's suppose to only take an hour, would you want to be changed that extra hour, would you? It helps keep the system honest by not gauging customers by taking longer than required, but also encourages productivity by the mechanics, who get paid by the units. Sucks in cases like my mechanic and my cousin where they new mechanics take all the easy jobs and the senior ones get the harder jobs and literally end up with smaller paychecks.
1992 Mazda Mx-3 GSR - 2.5L KLZE : Award Winning Show Car & Race Car ['02-'09] (Retired)
2004 Mazda RX-8 GT - Renesis Wankel : LS3 Coils, BHR Mid-Pipe + Falken RT-615K 245/40r18
2011 Mazda Mazda2 GS - 1.5L Manual : Yozora Edition (1 of 500)
2003 Nissan Xterra SE - 4x4 Supercharged : 2" Body Lift, 4" Suspension Lift & 33" MTR Kevlar
2001 Nissan Frontier SE - The Frontrailer : Expedition/Off-Road Trailer Project
2004 Mazda RX-8 GT - Renesis Wankel : LS3 Coils, BHR Mid-Pipe + Falken RT-615K 245/40r18
2011 Mazda Mazda2 GS - 1.5L Manual : Yozora Edition (1 of 500)
2003 Nissan Xterra SE - 4x4 Supercharged : 2" Body Lift, 4" Suspension Lift & 33" MTR Kevlar
2001 Nissan Frontier SE - The Frontrailer : Expedition/Off-Road Trailer Project