Do shops charge women more for car repairs?

[Patman]

I don’t imagine that most modern shops would charge women any more than men because what they charge is all in their computer system. They have a set labor rate for each service and the cost of parts is a set price too.

But with an old school shop that doesn’t have any kind of computer system to determine what they charge, anything goes and it’s entirely possible that they charge different prices for different people.

That being said, small shops rely on word of mouth for their customers and these days with social media it’s even more important to have good customer service and good pricing. My girlfriend has a couple of different shops that she uses for her car and the prices that she pays sound very reasonable to me.

 

[Zee09]

Only if they are unattractive

 

[Skippy722]

Somewhere along the line, they've been conditioned this way. The opportunities for micro learning are astronomical compared to the pre internet days and many younger folk don't take advantage of it.

On the other topic, my wife is still salty that a kindly old HVAC repairman ripped her off for a new thermostat before she met me.

My oldest asked me a few days ago “how do you know so much stuff???” So I showed him this and told him anything I see and go “huh… that’s cool” I go look up online and usually learn something in the process. I am way behind because I keep falling asleep

 

[Smoky14]

My wife never gets tickets- just warnings. Not me! Never a warning

My wife is very personable and well endowed, with a little manipulation of assets she never gets tickets. Me not so much.
Smoky

 

[D60]

I always assume there is a husband, brother, uncle in the background who would second guess my diagnosis.

Without trying to "talk over" the woman I make it clear I'm happy to answer questions from "the man" in their life.

I send lots of pics via text, and avoid the typical catastrophic predictions of most shops -- very few things are truly "you must fix now or you'll kill a bus load of nuns." If it's really bad I say "I wouldn't drive it this way but it's entirely your call." This does NOT include brake pads at 3mm, a leaking strut, or a TRE with minor play. Those items I mention but don't push. 99% of the time people want them fixed anyway (which, certainly, is a good idea)

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Agreed. I work with young college age students. Many young men are also clueless about how things work, cars and more, and especially clueless how to educate and self advocate for themselves.

I'm going to guess that decades ago women were targeted more for inflated auto repairs, but today its a more level playing field (both/all genders are prone to being taken advantage of). Unless, of course, there is a phone app. for vehicle maintenance - maybe make it game-like, things explode if you choose the wrong repair.

Old person bias in effect here.

My guess is that part of the blame is on the fact that vehicles are just so much more reliable than in the past. This high level of reliability limits the number of repair events that young adults as kids might have participated in.

 

[2005jettatdi]

Synthetic blinker fluid is extra.

Hey, they stuff is expensive. An 8 oz bottle cost me $ 10 on Amazon. On the other hand, I have not had to add any more since I got it. If you are getting any, make sure it is ID-10T rated.

https://www.amazon.com/Blinker-Fluid-HAND-VERSION-Hilarious-Gift-Stocking-Stuffer-Car/dp/B06ZXSKDZG/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1B1GUL2RVPTQE&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Fy8T-LhW73OJpyOvW7SL4MUeCv46UhjfWrN8kiVn53CywMy6w18UV3Rnx3sjCiqWXwxckhi-_DejTuk0I8qUXG3hTd7H7A_39ZUKg6kVb5jAew1nB4NqRokxnk_r_e1BdUF9TfdqO7SuzSh0BsvtGgsvZD9krmzBuscwjT8mCmCmeMsWCOHkZ_vFMEf7R26Bfhv1jvEkvrGDcL7UTljYJr-ysMtD8C6GVP6BQVw3yMvh_7WxKdMIAUFl5OmfTooWcUKuEndMYFu3uKgMnFaapRGBYgrEQRr3wYQAcgMJlPE.IndyK3ZSv015m9RB7zrvcOv75dlxeemCG4Y64qFj-fE&dib_tag=se&keywords=blinker+fluid&qid=1743780432&sprefix=blinker,aps,153&sr=8-2

 

[Jimmy_Russells]

I believe in equal opportunity - I try to rip off everyone equally




(yes that is a joke...)

 

[Johnny248]

Not mine. Not a chance.. Everyone pays just as much as the other person.

 

[Jdeere562]

My wife is very personable and well endowed, with a little manipulation of assets she never gets tickets. Me not so much.
Smoky

One of these days, she will get a gay cop.

Maybe you too, if lucky for a change.
Practice your manipulation of assets.

 

[PandaBear]

Uninformed people who don't walk away from a bad deal get charged more. It can be women, old people, foreigners, kids, men with egos who want to be pleased, racists who only want to shop somewhere they like, religious people who prefer venders of the same religion, etc.

 

[tcp71]

The automotive "general knowledge" has dropped. As teens we were always tinkering with someones car to keep it running (and us mobile). Spark plugs didn't last 120k miles, oil needed changing every 3k miles, brakes wore fast, etc, carbs had hoses that leaked, etc. Modern vehicles don't need the same level of care, so the inherent knowledge of the last couple of generations has been on a steady downhill course. Easier prey and lots of victims to be had. I regularly quiz my 20-30yo nieces and nephews about their vehicle spec's and maintenance, and they know almost nothing. Cha-ching goes the register. I deliberately had my boys take auto shop in high school, maintain the vehicles they drive and learn to drive a standard. Life skills when I was young.

 

[Rust_Belt_Pete]

Shops sometimes yes, the bad ones. Dealerships? Very often.

 

[Urshurak776]

First thing you have to ask them is if they would be interested in having the ash tray oiled, as it's on special for $1. If they say yes, then emit an evil laugh and start making a list.

 

[dubber09]

Beside dishonest practices, women more so than men let car issues propagate and snowball as they in general don't catch the issues in time. My wife is an example, ask her how car is running and she says 'fine' as she doesn't monitor any gauges but gas and speed, never hears any 'additional' sounds, never visually checks tires for low or flat... so, if one lets tire go flat and still drives, well, tire and rim if not more will need replacements and repairs. Engine temp starts climbing up, well, you may blow the engine. Thus repairs are significant.

 

[The motor guy]

Beside dishonest practices, women more so than men let car issues propagate and snowball as they in general don't catch the issues in time. My wife is an example, ask her how car is running and she says 'fine' as she doesn't monitor any gauges but gas and speed, never hears any 'additional' sounds, never visually checks tires for low or flat... so, if one lets tire go flat and still drives, well, tire and rim if not more will need replacements and repairs. Engine temp starts climbing up, well, you may blow the engine. Thus repairs are significant.

Your wife sounds expensive. Personally I'd just take her car for a drive myself as we all know asking a woman about vehicle issues is a waste of time.

 

[NormanBuntz]

Unfortunately, many women and men fall victim to the dreaded upsell because they know no better.

 

[dubber09]

Your wife sounds expensive. Personally I'd just take her car for a drive myself as we all know asking a woman about vehicle issues is a waste of time.

I drive her car and I do visual and other checks and trying to educate her and develop habits but women are made differently.

 

[ripcord]

I drive her car and I do visual and other checks and trying to educate her and develop habits but women are made differently.

It's not all bad. It makes them more interesting

 

[SC Maintenance]

Uninformed people who don't walk away from a bad deal get charged more. It can be women, old people, foreigners, kids, men with egos who want to be pleased, racists who only want to shop somewhere they like, religious people who prefer venders of the same religion, etc.

^^ This. I have sat in the waiting room when I used to have "free" service and it was all I could do to hold my tongue when a service advisor walked in and was telling someone all the things there 5 year old car needed, immediately.

They would try with me and I would just cut them off.

I think those type of shops are equal opportunity crooks, whomever they think they can get one over on.

On the other hand, I worked in a small town dealer growing up, and we ripped off absolutely no one. We did tell some hard to deal with customers we would prefer they took their work elsewhere, but even that maybe only a couple times.