Is there anything you can do about an overpriced shop bill.

[cameron92]

My buddy just got shafted on his 2000 grand Prix. He got the wires, plugs, fuel filter and an oil change done. 760$!

I told him to wait till the weekend and we would replace the plugs but his parents brought his car in during the day.

Is there anything to do to get some money back or once it's paid you're kind of SOL. Theres no way what was done should cost that much is there?

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[spazzz]

sounds like a tad over $600.00 in labor.....easy money

[gtpeddie]

You cant do anything about it now, but that sounds like an average price for a shop to do the work, shops usually charge about $90+ an hr labor rate, not sure how many hours the job calls for though.

[cameron92]

Wow, I'm glad I found this site a long time ago and learned how to work on my own car. I can't imagine paying that much for what was done.

[Scottydoggs]

Wow, I'm glad I found this site a long time ago and learned how to work on my own car. I can't imagine paying that much for what was done.

i paid 40 bucks more for my whole car lol

[Scottydoggs]

not a chance, some one approved that work and the bill. and the shop won. little over 100 in parts for 550 in labor. i need to open a shop lol

but then again, if his parents didnt question this high of a bill for a simple tune up and oil change theres something wrong with them too.

300 would be a better price. maybe his mom dropped it off, they saw woman and raped her? idk thats a high ass bill.

wires 35 bucks
plugs lets say 40.
filter lets call it 20 idk what they cost.
oil change is 25 bucks at most lube places.

and that shop pays 20% less then you do at the parts store, then they turn around and charge you full blown list price, so add 30% over the counter cost of parts. thats how they also make money off you.

you can call and b1tch, ( or the owners you dont have a leg to stand on) lol or check their bbb ratting out, and contact them if you want and file a report on them. maybe get something back that way.

[cameron92]

not a chance, some one approved that work and the bill. and the shop won. little over 100 in parts for 550 in labor. i need to open a shop lol

but then again, if his parents didnt question this high of a bill for a simple tune up and oil change theres something wrong with them too.

300 would be a better price. maybe his mom dropped it off, they saw woman and raped her? idk thats a high ass bill.

wires 35 bucks
plugs lets say 40.
filter lets call it 20 idk what they cost.
oil change is 25 bucks at most lube places.

and that shop pays 20% less then you do at the parts store, then they turn around and charge you full blown list price, so add 30% over the counter cost of parts. thats how they also make money off you.

you can call and b1tch, ( or the owners you dont have a leg to stand on) lol or check their bbb ratting out, and contact them if you want and file a report on them. maybe get something back that way.

Yea his parents don't know much about cars, they just bring it to the shop and say fix it lol. If it was me I'd be in there now losing my **** lol. But then again I wouldn't have brought it there in the first place.

[Fivefingerdeathpunch]

I'm glad my work doesnt shaft people, we did one recently and it was only 300-400 bucks total. We didnt do a fuel filter though.

Our labor rate is 100 an hour too.

[Timing]

lol wires plugs fuel filter and oil change is an hour worth of labor. He got hosed.

[cameron92]

lol wires plugs fuel filter and oil change is an hour worth of labor. He got hosed.

They said "Diagnostics" was a big part of the price. Even though I scanned it for him the night before and said to hold off it probably just needs some new plugs and wires. The code was P0303

[Russosaur]

Actually this is good for you, when his car breaks. Tell them get a quote from a shop. Say its like 1000 for like a wheel bearing or something. Say I'll do it for 400, PROFIT. But its probably morally wrong.

[Scottydoggs]

300 to run the scanner lol i bet they charged at least a hour for that.


i mean i know they have overhead and all but come on.

[cameron92]

300 to run the scanner lol i bet they charged at least a hour for that.


i mean i know they have overhead and all but come on.

Lol its a joke. Robbery.

[Sven the Sexman]

My estimator shows a little less than 3 hours to do the work if it's a 3800 NA car. Even at the average US shop labor rate of around $108.72, you're looking at around $320ish in labor. Some shops charge "list" price for the parts...for instance, when you go to Advance Atuo, they have two columns of prices...what the "list" is and what you pay. Some shops use the "list" as what they charge for the parts...typically it's around 40% more than a customer could buy them for. So, the "list" price for the spark plug wires was probably around $80 and the plugs were probably around $13 each (if using iridiums) and the fuel filter was probably $40...now you're up in the $600 range before taxes and disposal oil fees that some shops tack in there. I can't say I agree with their practices, but I'm guessing that's what they did.

EDIT: Diag fee is typically one hour labor at a majority of shops...so at another $108ish to that. LOL

[cameron92]

My estimator shows a little less than 3 hours to do the work if it's a 3800 NA car. Even at the average US shop labor rate of around $108.72, you're looking at around $320ish in labor. Some shops charge "list" price for the parts...for instance, when you go to Advance Atuo, they have two columns of prices...what the "list" is and what you pay. Some shops use the "list" as what they charge for the parts...typically it's around 40% more than a customer could buy them for. So, the "list" price for the spark plug wires was probably around $80 and the plugs were probably around $13 each (if using iridiums) and the fuel filter was probably $40...now you're up in the $600 range before taxes and disposal oil fees that some shops tack in there. I can't say I agree with their practices, but I'm guessing that's what they did.

Yea that sounds about right. It is a 3800 NA. I'd be livid if I was him. He just says oh well, guess my tax money will have to go to it -_-.

Edit: Wow, I should start scanning peoples cars for 40$ lol.

[Sven the Sexman]

By the way Scotty...I teach high school auto shop...the curriculum sucks balls. And I can't deviate from it because we have to remain NATEF certified. SMH

[Scottydoggs]

i blame the High schools for dropping auto shops. kids cant even change a tire theses days. its all kinda sad really.

it all started with them damn yuppy's, their kids all suck.

[Sven the Sexman]

Shops make money because people are willing to pay it. I do side work...$25/hr. If you think it's too high, don't come to me. Some jobs, I simply charge a set amount. Want an engine thrown in your W-body? $300. Trans...$250.

[cameron92]

Shops make money because people are willing to pay it. I do side work...$25/hr. If you think it's too high, don't come to me. Some jobs, I simply charge a set amount. Want an engine thrown in your W-body? $300. Trans...$250.

Thats very reasonable. Anyone who says thats too high isn't at all realistic

[Sven the Sexman]

I had a guy here who wanted some side work done on his sh!tboxes...I tried working with him...but he could only afford $10 here...$20 there...it was driving me insane. Then he wanted me to run around using MY fuel and manpower and didn't see why he should pay for it. I told him to go pound sand.