Why do mechanics try to rip off women?

Question

My 97 Sunfire's Timing Chain broke and the Pontiac dealership is saying it's gonna cost about 1500 to fix. I told the guy it's not even worth that much and how much is it for you just looking at it and he told me it was $280 just for them looking at it to see what was wrong... I told them what was wrong. What should I do? I'm not paying them almost 300 for them to have done nothing to the car to fix it!

Answer 1

Mostly because, and I'm not trying to be stereotypical here, a lot of women realy don't know a lot about cars. Here's what you should do. If you are being seen at a dealership, then take your concerns to the service manager and ask them to explain the charges. There is a manual, I don't know the name of it, but it lists all sorts of jobs and the hours that it would take an ASE mechanic to fix it. And sometimes to diagnose an engine problem takes more than a quick link up to a computer. Even though you told them what was wrong, they're still required to run full diagnostics. If they fix what you told them was wrong, then something else was wrong and it breaks the repair job, then who's at fault. Anyway, talk to the service manager, and if he doesn't satisfy your concerns, then talk to the customer service rep, every dealership has one, and they have direct lines to the owners or even corporate when resolving customer complaints/issues. Good Luck!!

Answer 2

Dealerships usually cost a lot. However, if the timing chain broke while driving or the engine running there was probably a lot of other damage done to the engine besides just the chain. Although I think this year has a timing belt and not a chain they serve the same purpose. It could very well have broken the cam, valves, pistons, etc,. At least some work would have needed to be done to find out what all parts are or are not damaged to give you the estimate they did. $280 at a normal dealership shop rate of $70/hr is only 4 hours work, which, does not seem to me (a male who knows about cars) to be a rip off. They probably took a good deal of parts off to even look into the engine to see what all would need replaced. Because they need to know that to give you an accurate estimate. otherwise they'd give you a guess and later while doing the work discover something else is broken. The book being mentioned to in another post lists what's called the "Flag hour" and it is a guide but if you're doing more than one task sometimes it's hard to add up the hours.

Answer 3

most mechanics find women in general not to know that much about cars what motor is in your sunfire some motors when the timing "belt" not chain brakes you have to do a valve job on them too and if this is your case 1500 is still a little high but having you pay 280 for them to just look at it is BS i love messing with shops like that 1 id have to much fun

Answer 4

Now the next time your car breaks down, take it to an independent mechanic, not the Pontiac dealership. Only use the dealership when it is under warranty.

Answer 5

Mehcanics (most not all) will try to rip ANYONE off that seems like they don't know about cars. Women are easy targets because not too many expect women to know too much about cars. I'm glad you told him what you did and he didn't trick, you, good for you! Do you have a friend that can help you? dealerships are usualya rip off too, try a local garage and see what they shoot you for a price. good luck!

Answer 6

Did you sign something that said you would agree to pay for an inspection?

Dishonest mechanics will rip off both men and women, women just tend to have less knowledge about cars and therefor make easier targets.

Answer 7

1. some mechanics think women don't know anything about cars. How wrong they are.
2. Dealership Mechanics are notorious for over-charging. Shop around.
3. Once you find a mechanic that you trust, and that listens to you, always take your car to him/her. There's only one person that I trust to touch my car, I know he knows what he's doing, and he won't cheat me.

Answer 8

mechanics do that jus because they no that women dont understand a car very well and if they dont have a man that doesnt either he could say sumthing and you would believe him because u dont have a clue whats going on my tip learn a car pretty much inside and out befor u take it to a mechanic i mean like no the basic stuff not every single little detail

Answer 9

thats a dealership though

go to a local garage.

and yes they tend to rip women off..cuz they think we dont know anything about cars

Answer 10

because they think women are stupid and know nothing about cars. 1500 sounds a bit expensive but working on front wheels drive cars is more expensive.
~peace~