[EssentialBludger]

I need a wheel bearing replaced. Pretty simple right? DP could do it himself if he were home.

I got 4 quotes: $250, $298, $365 and $595.

FIVE HUNDRED AND NINETY FIVE DOLLARS?!?!?!?! TO REPLACE A WHEEL BEARING?!?! It's an hours work!!

It was a small (not a chain type place) mechanics. Family owned I think. Does this make a difference, or were they trying to take me for a ride?

[ellebelle]

Maybe they didn't want to do it.....standard tradie way of not interested right now.

[EssentialBludger]

Maybe they didn't want to do it.....standard tradie way of not interested right now.

Wow, really? Most people I know are taking all the work they can get right now.

[au*lit]

It's like any industry, there will be people who are honest and those not so honest. There are people who just charge enough to keep their business running and people who charge heaps.

My dad is in the industry and generally recommends not to go to the big chains. He seems to think most people working there don't know what they're doing and charge a premium for it.

The PP might be onto something, they probably can't be bothered to do the job and quoted accordingly.

Also, whether they're using genuine or after market parts can make a big difference to the price, depending on the make of car.

[gettheetoanunner...]

I've had similar disparity in mechanic pricing, with the smaller individually operated "shops" usually being more costly.

I thought it may have been due to the larger franchises having more buying power when it come to parts and thus being able to offer cheaper prices as a result.
The individually operated shops may not have access to this volume discount from part suppliers.

I have also found on two occassions that my gender affected price costing, as DP was offered a much cheaper repair by the same person/shop with exactly same repair.

I thought the gender price hike was a bit of urban myth - in my experience, on these two occassions, it wasn't.

Fair gave me the tom tits.

Mind you - had loads of repairs over last twenty years, so these two occassions were anomolies.



This post has been edited by gettheetoanunnery: 30/11/2012, 11:07 AM

[steppy]

Short answer: Yes

[JJ]

Yes, absolutely. I know someone who is still trying to get their money back from a recent 2k repair that ultimately didn't fix the problem (that was done by another, more honest and far cheaper mechanic later on).

[Bluenomi]

It's like any industry, there will be people who are honest and those not so honest. There are people who just charge enough to keep their business running and people who charge heaps.

I agree with this.

There is also the part to consider. I got a range of quote for a car repair that required a part. The quote varied hugely because some were quoting based on a cheap part and others quoted based on the brand name part.

[~kitteh.hoardere...]

My dad is in the industry and generally recommends not to go to the big chains. He seems to think most people working there don't know what they're doing and charge a premium for it.

I don't agree with this... I know that with DF, his work (that is a chain here in Canberra) they pay far better than the smaller mechanics, so unless they are wanting to work for themselves, it would makes sense that they go to the larger places.

I think in any job you get the competent and the not so competent.

I'd definitely say the costing of parts comes into it.

[MrsLexiK]

Wow, really? Most people I know are taking all the work they can get right now.

I know my DH's work is so busy right now, unlike his mates in the building industry or construction industry since he got back into it (from the construction/building industry) they have been packed every day. I suppose people might not be buying new houses but are still getting their car serviced (and usually not going to the dealership - as in the car brand dealership as they are more expensive if you are not in warranty)

Also alot of mechanic shops do car yard work, it won't come as a shock that new car sales are down (hence all this 0% finance) and more and more people are buy second hand cars therefore giving alot of mechanic shops that work.

Yes, absolutely. I know someone who is still trying to get their money back from a recent 2k repair that ultimately didn't fix the problem (that was done by another, more honest and far cheaper mechanic later on).

Of course some will rip some off like all - not all mechanics do. Also my DH just did his BIL's car he fixed it, then he was driving it home and the ABS light came on. Now the ABS light would not have come on if he had taken it for a test drive (as it was close to our house when it came on) so if it hadn't of been BIL the client may have been peeved. It just happened to be by chance.

I don't agree with this... I know that with DF, his work (that is a chain here in Canberra) they pay far better than the smaller mechanics, so unless they are wanting to work for themselves, it would makes sense that they go to the larger places.

I think in any job you get the competent and the not so competent.

I'd definitely say the costing of parts comes into it.

I do and don't agree with this. DH has worked for chains and a car dealership at present he is in a shop (as second in charge) he has always made more working in a smaller place then a chain. It could be that he can negoate and when he was in a chain he couldn't? He is being paid much higher then he was when he left the industry 3 years ago (even taking into account CPI)

However I do agree a bigger chain can get better price for parts, some will still charge more then Joe Bloggs and some will charge massive labour costs.