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Started By
Message
Mechanics why are there so few honest ones
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:41 pm
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:41 pm
Toke the SUV in because the steering wheel felt a little loose when driving. Mind you i'm no real mechanic but have changed a few things here and there. My ABS light was on and i wasnt sure why exactly. Well I get the call telling me that my tires needed to be changed and that the ABS sensor needs to be replaced. I ask where is the ABS sensor located because i like to ask these things?
He proceeds to tell me that its on the right side front wheel on the hub assembly. Well i had recently changed the left side hub assembly six months earlier not because of the ABS sensor. Didnt't take me long like 30 mins and about 85 dollars for the part. I didnt mention that i had done this to him when he called me about repairs.Didn't really want to mess with it and figured id let them change it with the new tires i was getting.
He quotes me like 1300 hundred dollars. 750 for the tires and over 500 dollars to replace the abs sensor.
350 for the part and like 175 for the labor.
Why do people have to take advantage of people just because they think they can? They could have changed this out in 10 mins with power tools. I could understand max 300 dollars total for part and labor but over 500. Anyway i told the guy i had just changed the left one earlier in the year and what it cost me and he got quiet. I will not be going back to there again. Just lost a customer for trying to be greedy. I ended up changing the part out myself for 85.00.
Anyone else have any stories of trying to be taken to the cleaners for something that really wasn't that hard of a fix?
He proceeds to tell me that its on the right side front wheel on the hub assembly. Well i had recently changed the left side hub assembly six months earlier not because of the ABS sensor. Didnt't take me long like 30 mins and about 85 dollars for the part. I didnt mention that i had done this to him when he called me about repairs.Didn't really want to mess with it and figured id let them change it with the new tires i was getting.
He quotes me like 1300 hundred dollars. 750 for the tires and over 500 dollars to replace the abs sensor.
350 for the part and like 175 for the labor.
Why do people have to take advantage of people just because they think they can? They could have changed this out in 10 mins with power tools. I could understand max 300 dollars total for part and labor but over 500. Anyway i told the guy i had just changed the left one earlier in the year and what it cost me and he got quiet. I will not be going back to there again. Just lost a customer for trying to be greedy. I ended up changing the part out myself for 85.00.
Anyone else have any stories of trying to be taken to the cleaners for something that really wasn't that hard of a fix?
27
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:42 pm to FLObserver
Because you touch yourself.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:43 pm to FLObserver
quote:
Toke the SUV
hey hey hey heyyy.............smoke weed every day
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:45 pm to FLObserver
quote:
Anyone else have any stories of trying to be taken to the cleaners for something that really wasn't that hard of a fix?
Nope.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:46 pm to FLObserver
They just go by the book man
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:46 pm to FLObserver
Out the place
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:47 pm to FLObserver
quote:
Toke the SUV in
They took advantage of you because you were high.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:48 pm to FLObserver
Twenty years ago, I had a 1971 Mercedes 280SL. It would run fine if I put the cheapest possible gas in it. Decent gas it would run like crap. I'm thinking it is a problem with the fuel injection pump (which was a mechanical pump).
Stupidly, I took it to the Mercedes dealer in Tyler, Texas. Service writer comes out and says "If it just with the pump, $1200.00 ... it will be a lot more if it is a computer problem."
Of course, car didn't have any computers. Took it elsewhere. Turned out the cam was incredibly worn down.
ETA: ETA: This is the only problem I've ever had with a mechanic. Service writer was paid a commission so he had an incentive to run the bill up.
Stupidly, I took it to the Mercedes dealer in Tyler, Texas. Service writer comes out and says "If it just with the pump, $1200.00 ... it will be a lot more if it is a computer problem."
Of course, car didn't have any computers. Took it elsewhere. Turned out the cam was incredibly worn down.
ETA: ETA: This is the only problem I've ever had with a mechanic. Service writer was paid a commission so he had an incentive to run the bill up.
This post was edited on 8/14/17 at 4:52 pm
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:53 pm to FLObserver
I always ask labor cost up front before bringing the car in or even giving a hint to what's wrong. I also ask for the diagnosis cost. $75-$100/hour is common and they usually will say you pay the first hour up front. Meaning if they finish in ten minutes, you're still paying $75-$100. If they quote a ridiculous price for a part, I'll offer to buy it myself and bring it in. Good mechanics will take that deal but shady ones want to make extra money.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:55 pm to FLObserver
$$$$$$
Posted on 8/14/17 at 4:55 pm to FLObserver
Upper control arm bearing was getting bad on GMC truck. Tire shop wanted $760 to change both of them. It took me and a buddy 45 minutes to change both of them and the parts cost $110. $550 for in labor and markup on the parts.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 5:05 pm to FLObserver
I do all my own maintenance. I'm no grease money but most things can be fixed at home with not a lot of tools. There are manuals and tons of videos on YouTube of every possible thing that can go wrong on a car.
I've replaced:
Water pump
Head gasket
Fuel pump
Brake pads/rotors/calipers
Radiator
Battery
Starter motor
Rotor bug
Charged A/C
I just realized yesterday I need to replace the lower radiator hose and it got me thinking how many thousands of dollars I've saved over the years by doing these myself.
I've replaced:
Water pump
Head gasket
Fuel pump
Brake pads/rotors/calipers
Radiator
Battery
Starter motor
Rotor bug
Charged A/C
I just realized yesterday I need to replace the lower radiator hose and it got me thinking how many thousands of dollars I've saved over the years by doing these myself.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 5:06 pm to FLObserver
Look, I changed out a clock spring assembly ($105 OEM ebay) on an Infinit G35 despite the air bag removal warning, etc. Had Pep Boys reset the steering sensor for $35.
Dealer cost $500-$600 clock spring and $110 to reset steering sensor.
Dealer cost $500-$600 clock spring and $110 to reset steering sensor.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 5:10 pm to FLObserver
The Honda dealer charges $45 labor to replace the cabin air filter. 
Posted on 8/14/17 at 5:11 pm to FLObserver
Mechanics, insurance salesman, lawyers, pharmacists, used car salesman, home builders/contractors. It's not just mechanics. It's everyone except clerks at convenience stores!
Posted on 8/14/17 at 5:13 pm to FLObserver
A lot of them don't know what they are doing or do a sloppy job for the money they charge, which makes them dishonest.
Good luck with an electrical problem that can't be scanned. Most shops are really weak and hack their way through making a repair that will fail, yet they charge a fortune.
Good luck with an electrical problem that can't be scanned. Most shops are really weak and hack their way through making a repair that will fail, yet they charge a fortune.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 5:16 pm to FLObserver
quote:
Mechanics why are there so few honest ones
Mainly because there is almost always an owner pushing them to produce. Then make it even more complicated by mixing in all the insurance issues.
Just one more industry getting corrupted by the loss off owner-operators.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 5:19 pm to Kingpenm3
I had a major overhaul done to my Jeep a few weeks ago, and they actually came in under the estimate. You can still find honest folks. Just have to ask around for local experiences. My neighbor knows the guy that owns the place I took the Jeep. That was enough for me to trust them after I had taken it there.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 5:21 pm to FLObserver
I've never had a problem with mechanics who run their own shop. My current mechanic charges based on a computer program that estimates labor costs and time to do the job. It seems like he's looking out for costs when he calls me with the estimate. I have a relative who is an honest, but expensive mechanic and he is usually surprised by how low priced my mechanic is.
It's the national tire shops, muffler shops and dealerships that I've had issues with.
It's the national tire shops, muffler shops and dealerships that I've had issues with.
Posted on 8/14/17 at 5:24 pm to FLObserver
My mother brings her Honda to the dealer to get oil changes. The last time she brought it in, she told the service advisor to check her dome light, as it had stopped working. A little while later, the service advisor came into the waiting room and told her that they would have to replace the whole dome light and wire to it. He said it would be about $175. She told him that she would not pay that much.
After she left the dealer, she called and told me about it. I went to Pep Boys, bought a replacement bulb for $4, went to her house, replaced bulb, dome light works again.
So it appears they were going to charge her $175, and just replace the bulb.
After she left the dealer, she called and told me about it. I went to Pep Boys, bought a replacement bulb for $4, went to her house, replaced bulb, dome light works again.
So it appears they were going to charge her $175, and just replace the bulb.
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