Bull crap....

[Oren09]

Well my truck's been through hell.
Put it in the shop last Monday, just got it back today.:pottytrain2:

Final charge of $697.14 brought down from $798.08.
Parts: $148.89
Labour: $448
Misc.: $20.30
Alignment: $79.95

I sent it in for upper ball joints, fuel pump, and cruise control.
They didn't start working on it till Friday.
They replaced the ball joints. Also replaced the front rotors and pads, which I didn't ask for, no did they ask me.
The fuel pump module I bought and provided them was faulty (pump didn't make enough pressure). So they took the sending unit out of the new one and put it in the old one.
They said they had to remove and replace the tank three times....
Also got an alignment.
Cruise issue was a stuck brake switch, which I replaced just before putting it in the shop. NAPA is warrantying it so I can pick up the part tomorrow.

But, anyway, I'm now ready for my road trip.
Libby, MT to Waxahachie, TX (Dallas area)
2000 miles one way.
Definitely wanted my camber fixed before that.

[bravekozak]

Dodge Voyager

My front spring support rusted out and colapsed on my tire while driving on an overhead expressway. After smelling burning rubber, I pulled off and had to have the vehicle towed. It ended up costing an extra $20 out of my pocket because I exceeded the Motor League range. The mechanics told me it would cost $1300 to fix. I said no way can I afford that. Pull it out until I can get the parts from the wreckers. I took one day vacation. The parts cost $32. Their labor was $70 cash. I saved $1200.

You have to firmly tell them, don't do anything unless verbal or written approval is given by me only, or I am not paying for it. I always start by saying how poor I am and can't aford anything extra. Don't even bother asking. I won't be able to make the mortgage payment, I don't want to starve for a week...

When I do a brake job, I tell them to just change the pads and take the bare minimum off the rotors. Nothing else.

[TominMO]

Well my truck's been through hell.
Put it in the shop last Monday, just got it back today.:pottytrain2:

Final charge of $697.14 brought down from $798.08.
Parts: $148.89
Labour: $448
Misc.: $20.30
Alignment: $79.95

I sent it in for upper ball joints, fuel pump, and cruise control.
They didn't start working on it till Friday.
They replaced the ball joints. Also replaced the front rotors and pads, which I didn't ask for, no did they ask me.
The fuel pump module I bought and provided them was faulty (pump didn't make enough pressure). So they took the sending unit out of the new one and put it in the old one.
They said they had to remove and replace the tank three times....
Also got an alignment.
Cruise issue was a stuck brake switch, which I replaced just before putting it in the shop. NAPA is warrantying it so I can pick up the part tomorrow.

But, anyway, I'm now ready for my road trip.
Libby, MT to Waxahachie, TX (Dallas area)
2000 miles one way.
Definitely wanted my camber fixed before that.

Why would they have had to pull the tank even once? Don't they know how to access the pump from inside?

[wybnrml]

Why would they have had to pull the tank even once? Don't they know how to access the pump from inside?

It's a pick-up truck so they would have to most likely.

[Oren09]

Either drop the tank or take off the bed.
The new pump module was bad so they had to take it apart again. Not sure what the third one was....

I will most likely not go to this place again.

[Zivon23]

I just got a quote on my car.....bought all the parts and the mechanic refused to use them.....now I am stuck withe 150.00 worth of parts. This was after the mechanic said he would install aftermartket parts for just the laber costs......

Needless to say........he won't be having me as a customer.......EVER!

I guess it really is Buyer Beware.

[drddan]

Mechcanics make money off the parts they "sell" thru their shop. Usually pay almost twice as much for theirs as you can buy it at a parts store. So some refuse to use parts store parts. They guy who wanted $600 to change my distributor when it went out, told me he had to pay the same price as I bought mine for. On the estimate it was $250 for the disty. I paid him the $80 diagnostic fee. Bought one for $160, installed it myself in his parking lot in 15 minutes, and drove off.


What parts are they? Can you put 'em on yourself?

[wybnrml]

Mechcanics make money off the parts they "sell" thru their shop. Usually pay almost twice as much for theirs as you can buy it at a parts store. So some refuse to use parts store parts. They guy who wanted $600 to change my distributor when it went out, told me he had to pay the same price as I bought mine for. On the estimate it was $250 for the disty. I paid him the $80 diagnostic fee. Bought one for $160, installed it myself in his parking lot in 15 minutes, and drove off.

Yeah, repair shops usually make money on parts they sell, so some refuse to let you bring in parts of your own.

You don't take meat into McDonalds and say make me a Hamburger.

[Oren09]

This shop didn't markup the price of the rotors very much.
They bought them at NAPA and napaonline shows $37.69 apeice. The invoice shows $83.73 for both.
The pads are invoiced for $65.16. napaonline shows them ranging from $23.88 to $85.49. The closest price is $64.29.

[drddan]

A lot of shops get discounts on parts they buy. Bet they didnt pay what the online price was.
I have bought a lot of stuff at Grainger. If I buy under my name, it is catalog price, if I buy thru the company I work for, its like 20% discount.

[TominMO]

It's a pick-up truck so they would have to most likely.

Oops, didn't read carefully enough; thought you were talking about a Festy.

[Oren09]

Lol.. no.
I would NOT drive my Festy to Texas.
It needs tires, exhaust, and a radio first- at the least.
I'm taking my truck. Parked out back of an Exxon hiding amongst the big rigs in Sheridan, WY tonight