what can i do if i feel i have been cheated by a mechanic (financially)?

Question

All the prices are double from what i can tell!! For example 32.12 for a thermostat 6.00 for the gasket, fanfuse 5.99, 250.00 for radiator. And a 35.00 shop fee? The final cost was 892.37. 1995 camaro

Answer 1

Number 1. the parts prices seen very fair. I work in a garage, and the prices are right around the same prices I give.

Number 2. Garages mark up parts costs, for warranty issues. If a part fails then the shop is out that much money, by marking up the price by x amount of dollars then they can offer a warranty on parts and labour. This works out better in the long run if a parts fails. I know I would rather pay $50 for a part with a warranty, rather then $40 for the same part without warranty. I would much rather have a warranty to cover any problem associated with that part rather then pay $10 less and be SOL if any problem occures. (I'm just using $50 and $40 as example numbers, I pulled them out of no where).

Number 3. You did not have to go ahead with the work. You could easily of said no to the job and gone else where. Cars now adays are not cheap to work on, maintain, or repair. As the econmy booms, shops rates keep up with the times. The shop I'm at runs $92/H and that rate is going up in the next few months because of how the econmy is rolling in my area and how the other shops are raising prices. A shop will never want to be the cheapest shop out there, Then you get a reputation for being "cheap" and using "cheap" parts and underskilled labourers.

Number 4. Shop fees cover maintance on hoists, and machines. It covers environmental fees for disposal of old coolant. It covers clean up supplies, solvants, rags, paper towel, soap, brooms, mops, ect. It added on by any shop for x amount of dollars. our shop is about 9% shop fee, if I remember right. Which for our area is the average.

I see no problem with the pricing, and if to do calculations, that adds up to about $330 and the rest being labour. Not all cars are part in part out, 10 minute swap, and you're done. I've done cars, where to change the radiator, you've had to remove the front bumper and fender structure. That itself can take over two hours to do just to get to the radiator, and at $92/H that nearly $200 in labour right there, and thats before any of the replacement work is being done. I havn't personally done any work on a Camaro for the cooling system before, and depending on the engine, it can cause cramped space and the tighter the space, the harder it is to work in. The price seems completly fair, to make it in easy terms, Do you work hard and work for free? Why should a mechanic. I'm currently in school for the ASTP program and its a 4 year cource for a basic cource, some mechanics I've known have taken 10+ years of schooling. Mechanics now adays are not mechanics of the 40's. Not everyone can do it. Its a lot more then turning wrenches and busting knuckles, a lot of mechanical work isn't preformed on the car itself, its on a computer diagnosing the problem. Thats shop time as well that a mechanic is being paid for, he may not be on you're car, but he's working on it per say.

Answer 2

You can cross check your parts online at most part stores. Although you would probably purchase from the cheapest store, remember that a repair shop will likely deal with a few warehouses and their prices may not be the cheapest. As for the parts you listed (from Napa Online):

Thermostats: 5.99 - 21.79
Radiator: 193.00 - 216.00

The prices you listed are a bit higher but they are trying to obtain parts quickly rather than shopping around.

Answer 3

Guess you are new to having a car worked on.

I don't see a problem with any of those prices and all shops charge a shop fee. this covers their environmental charges, towels, clean up, etc.

And labor rates are from $55-$110 per hour.

Looks 100% fair to me and I've been around the business since I was born as Dad was a Snap on Tools man and I work in the industry in the paint side for the past 10+ yrs.

Answer 4

Discuss it with the mechanic. I'm sure he would be willing to explain the costs. Truthfully they sound about right to me. Repairs are always the cost of the parts, plus the labor charge multiplied by the number of hours it takes according to the book. A shop fee is also normal, it pays for fluids, shop towels, things like that.

Answer 5

My first ideas are: what style of guy saves all his money and maintains to stay off his lady pal? i'd heavily doubt what he's announcing to you. no one saves plenty that they have got no longer something to stay off. you reside first, then save what you may. If he's looking you to help him circulate lower back, then that is sparkling he would not have a cent to his call, simply by fact the 1st element you will do became get right of entry to those cost less costly rates. i'd have been mega p'd off related to the final minute holiday cancellation, in fact i'd pretend i did no longer get the e mail and take place besides to be certain what the heck became occurring. some thing looks truly fishy approximately this guy, i'd even suspect he would desire to be in yet another relationship - that would desire to describe the lack of ability of communique, loss of money and time-honored vagueness. he's been taking earnings of you for many too long and you may desire to place a quit to it. so some distance as i'm conscious, the cyber web expenses extra to have than it does to deliver a text fabric message now and lower back. the place i'm, it expenses 25c according to message! If I deliver one distant places, that is 50c. So quite plenty peanuts. it would be 50/50. If my better half borrows money for some thing different than the foodstuff we the two eat, he constantly pays it lower back to me as quickly as he gets paid. I stay with him 0.5 the week, so he pays the lease and the charges and that i purchase the foodstuff. This works nicely for us and is honest, some thing we the two agree on. you may desire to resolve this occasion and refuse any further financial help. tell him you're sorry, yet you're actually short on money simply by assisting him out plenty. See then if he grants that should assist you out with the cost less costly rates he apparently has, and if no longer, do away with him.

Answer 6

well the prices you listed do not sound too outrageous except for the total but if you feel you were cheated. take a list of the things they changed to a couple of respectable shops and get a couple of written quotes. if they are less and you feel you were cheated take the quotes and go talk to the manage. if nothin comes out of that call the better business bureau on them and have them investigate them.

Answer 7

get estimates from other repair shops to compare then request a refund . it costs nothing to report them to the better business buroe, 25.00 in most state to fill a claim in small claims court. and a letter to you editor of your local news paper warning others in your city. will wake up the high priced jerk. how ever the numbers you list don't add up to 892.37?

Answer 8

the price is fair.do you expect a mechanic to pay you for the privellige of working on your car?

Answer 9

if you didnt request a written estimate before hand not much you can do its normal for them to mark up parts prices

Answer 10

...you wouldn't be paying this price if you've learnt how to repair your own car, and get your own spare parts stocks already...
My advice: Ask before you send for a service, that's all.