DIY auto repair means not having to deal with obnoxious auto repair shop prices

[thastinger]

Isn't that most or at least a lot of places now?

They never used to be booked out more than a couple days prior to the panic.

 

[JeffKeryk]

They never used to be booked out more than a couple days prior to the panic.

Come to think of it, you have a point.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Some of us got where we are through years of working hard and keeping our personal financial obligations streamlined and small. Everything was calculated and there was little on the margin. Beans and rice, save and invest, avoid debt, paid off car maintained yourself, make prudent choices that benefit long run, enjoy frugal adventures. Buy wrenches at the flea market and pawn shop so you can work on your own house/car/mower/mailbox/wheelbarrow.

20 years later life is better and we have a family. There is room for some fun in the budget but the old habit of cringing at three and four figure repairs dies hard.

I have no problems with good mechanics running a good business and doing well. I do have an issue with a bunch of neck-beard hacks that can't manage to control their shop costs and passing it on to me...telling me their shop rate is $150 an hour and hitting me up for book hours while they cut corners (swollen lug nuts) on simple jobs I could do myself in less time than it takes to arrange pickup and drop off. You cutting corners and skipping best practice steps is very different from "the tools, experience, and expertise" allowing you to do it faster than book time.

Don't tell me the now-dead TPMS sensor in the wheel/tire I brought to you (working) yesterday for a tire plug is a coincidence, and will be $150 to replace/program. Your guy should've been more careful when he pulled the tire. Don't tell me the Interstate battery you sold my wife ($160) that died in month 25 will only be $160 to replace under the really great pro-rated warranty. No thanks, walmart 36 month warranty $95 and they are open 24/7.

I'm not your cash cow. We were good customers of yours. Were. Past tense. If you hit me up on the small jobs, I can't trust you on the big ones.

So you think they should pass those process efficiencies onto the customer and make less money per hour? IT's not enough that they have the knowledge to perform the repair but they do it cheaper than book time?

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

So you think they should pass those process efficiencies onto the customer and make less money per hour? IT's not enough that they have the knowledge to perform the repair but they do it cheaper than book time?

You know I managed to figure out supply and demand economics in middle school when I asked a really pretty girl out on a date. Some people never seem to grasp the greater game.

 

[SaberOne]

I wish I could do my own work, but my physical impairment and age make it difficult. The best I can do is rely on a boutique shop I trust. At least it's a small shop where the owner's reputation is on the line, so they tend to do decent work.

 

[johnmyster]

So you think they should pass those process efficiencies onto the customer and make less money per hour? IT's not enough that they have the knowledge to perform the repair but they do it cheaper than book time?

Im saying, don’t confuse efficiency with cutting corners and expect me to pay inflated rate times inflated hours for the lesser product.

 

[M1Accord]

So I took my GMC Yukon Denali for an inspection, they shop said it had brake issues, quoted me $1300 to fix it.

Upon examination, it ended up being all brake pads, 2 calipers, 2 rotors and bleeding the brakes. Got $300 in parts and did it myself in under 2 hours. Most of the time was spent jacking the car up and looking for the right sockets. I am slow and I have zero power tools. There is no way that was $1000 in labor. I spent 30 mins per wheel (and did 3/4, the 4th one didn't need it but I think the caliper is sticking thus needs replacement). I think a well equipped shop with a rack and all the tools ready can do it spending 15 mins per wheel, someone who does it every day.
No broken/seized bolts, no rusty lines, nothing special at all. I said I am picking up the car with no repairs and they acted shocked.

I get it that 98+% of the auto drivers out there don't do their own work, thus auto repair shops can exploit them. Because brake work sounds scary and most drivers out there can't tell a caliper from a you know what. I think I would have paid them $500, probably, parts plus labor. Or more if it needed the entire brake system rebuilt, like brake lines, power brake booster, master cylinder... etc. etc. What happened to these shops which did brakes only for low prices like $200 or such? I used to see them years ago, apparently not anymore.

Same exact thing happened to me except it was for my 02 Accord. I paid under $200 for all pads, rotors, and fluid. The scary thing is both of my brake lines broke a month and less than 500 miles later. I essentially paid an off-hour $150 to install the parts and took it back to get inspected. The shop’s original quote for the repair to pass inspection was $2600.

Did the shop proceed to tune up my brake lines? I would never know but it is too much of a coincidence.