Friend Got An Outrageous Quotation From A Chain Muffler-And-Brake Shop

[97prizm]

I've never paid for a brake-fluid flush, so the price sort of floored me - but as I think it through, $200 is not a bad price if a shop does it.

My complaint was the $1200 (plus tax) quote for the front brakes. That seems really high for here. Plus, I'll be surprised if I find anything wrong, especially with the calipers.

I feel like after the pandemic shops got greedy, maybe it's just me. I had a shop near me that used to be really reasonable. They mostly work on higher-end European models like Audi/BMW but will take on other makes and models. I sent alot of repeat business to them. My rear e-brake cable stuck causing my drums to overheat. They were able to retract the e-brake but wanted $1200 for parts and labor. I said absolutely not it's a 2005 Dodge neon.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I feel like after the pandemic shops got greedy, maybe it's just me. I had a shop near me that used to be really reasonable. They mostly work on higher-end European models like Audi/BMW but will take on other makes and models. I sent alot of repeat business to them. My rear e-brake cable stuck causing my drums to overheat. They were able to retract the e-brake but wanted $1200 for parts and labor. I said absolutely not it's a 2005 Dodge neon.

CPI is 25% headline since the pandemic, but different categories have increased much more. Not sure where auto repair falls - but maybe transportation services? Its much higher than 25%. For example, in the year ending 2022 it was 14.6% all by itself. For one year.

https://www.bls.gov/news.release/archives/cpi_01122023.htm

 

[BHopkins]

Nice work, but what's all that reddish brown stuff?

Says the guy from Central California, where they wouldn't know how to apply salt to the roads, because they have never had to.

 

[Number_35]

Naw, that's under-funded because we are frittering away money on other nonsense, like this gem for a cool $1 billion dollars:

"This project aims to accelerate the transition from coal-powered to clean energy while ensuring a holistic, integrated, socially-inclusive and gender-equal just transition in recipient countries: India, Indonesia, Philippines and South Africa for the first phase of the project. There could be more recipient countries in following phases. The Climate Investment Funds - Accelerating Coal Transition (CIF – ACT) investment program is building support at the local level to reconsider the development of new coal plants and accelerate the retirement of existing coal assets. "

Government staffing costs have also increased by over $100 billion since the man with the fancy socks took office, so government largess is now a considerable factor.

There's a graph of real (inflation-adjusted) GDP per capita for Canada and the U.S., from 1995 to 2025.

There's a steady upward trend for both countries up to 2015, with GDP per country being almost identical.

After 2015, American GDP continues to climb linearly, while Canadian GDP flattens*.

* Both countries experienced a COVID dip and recovery, after which the trends continued - Canada flat, and the U.S. increasing.

 

[goblin]

There has been spirited debate here on BITOG about whether or not the fluid mixes (Brownian motion) and thus whether or not it helps to syringe brake fluid out of the master cylinder and replace it with fresh.

Even if the fluid mixes via Brownian motion - brake fluid is like the second easiest liquid to pollute after blood, isn't it. Even if they mix fully the new liquid will not cure the old one or chase the water out of it. It will just become old fluid that is a few percent cleaner than it used to be.

I call it the French Flush because in the 90s French magazine Auto Plus was checking dealerships and ranking them. It was really the easiest thing - they'd get the manufacturer's provided checklist of say a 30k mile service, and bring the car to a dealer. The thing was really, really easy - if the mechanic simply followed his own manufacturer-provided checklist - they'd get the full 50 points. It was insanely easy stuff, like - check the pressure in the spare tire, check the wipers. The spare tire would be deflated in advance, the wiper's arm's nut would get loosened, so a simple check by the mechanic would find it, and they'd just need to tighten it. Easy stuff.

One of the things was flush the brake fluid. That speaks for itself.
They had this for years, every other week or so - barely once or twice did they have the dealership flush all the fluid. It would usually syringe out the fluid tank, or nothing at all.
So - French Flush.

The matchstick check ? Immediately after taking the car away from the dealership - remove the rubber cap off the rear caliper's nipple, poke the hole with a matchstick. If it comes out dry - the system has not been flushed.

 

[SC Maintenance]

There's a graph of real (inflation-adjusted) GDP per capita for Canada and the U.S., from 1995 to 2025.

There's a steady upward trend for both countries up to 2015, with GDP per country being almost identical.

After 2015, American GDP continues to climb linearly, while Canadian GDP flattens*.

* Both countries experienced a COVID dip and recovery, after which the trends continued - Canada flat, and the U.S. increasing.

I am familiar with this phenomenon - but have yet to get a valid reason why? My belief is purely demographics are causing it.

 

[Number_35]

I am familiar with this phenomenon - but have yet to get a valid reason why? My belief is purely demographics are causing it.

I have theories - but thought I was a bit too close to bringing politics into my previous comment, so for now will not comment further.

 

[Johnny248]

Naw, that's under-funded because we are frittering away money on other nonsense, like this gem for a cool $1 billion dollars:

"This project aims to accelerate the transition from coal-powered to clean energy while ensuring a holistic, integrated, socially-inclusive and gender-equal just transition in recipient countries: India, Indonesia, Philippines and South Africa for the first phase of the project. There could be more recipient countries in following phases. The Climate Investment Funds - Accelerating Coal Transition (CIF – ACT) investment program is building support at the local level to reconsider the development of new coal plants and accelerate the retirement of existing coal assets. "

Government staffing costs have also increased by over $100 billion since the man with the fancy socks took office, so government largess is now a considerable factor.

Holistic and socially-inclusive? Lol what the hell is even that

 

[OVERKILL]

Holistic and socially-inclusive? Lol what the hell is even that

It's from the same Muppet brain trust that brought us "because it's 2015!", "the budget will balance itself", "we'll grow the economy from the heart-outward" and "I don't think about monetary policy". This is why we now have 20 minute land acknowledgements before every public speaking event, even when it's a time-sensitive missing person case.

When your life is theatre, the world stage is the ultimate venue. Performative nonsense and idiotic word salad become the currency of communication.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I feel like after the pandemic shops got greedy, maybe it's just me.

It's called inflation. I haven't bought a steak in years. Thinking about it, though. But the prices...

 

[JeffKeryk]

Says the guy from Central California, where they wouldn't know how to apply salt to the roads, because they have never had to.

Helpful, but what's salt?

 

[SC Maintenance]

It's called inflation. I haven't bought a steak in years. Thinking about it, though. But the prices...

How much is a prime steak from the grocery store out there?

Harris Teeter has something on special most any week - usually Prime T-bone, NY strip or Ribey - for maybe $12.99 / lb or so. I would do them just about every weekend. We actually cut back, trying to do more vegetarian and fish purely to stay healthy. Older is harder.

 

[Number_35]

It's from the same Muppet brain trust that brought us "because it's 2015!", "the budget will balance itself", "we'll grow the economy from the heart-outward" and "I don't think about monetary policy". This is why we now have 20 minute land acknowledgements before every public speaking event, even when it's a time-sensitive missing person case.

When your life is theatre, the world stage is the ultimate venue. Performative nonsense and idiotic word salad become the currency of communication.

That sounds like stuff that would be thought up by a drama teacher rather than someone with a background in public policy. Hey, wait ...

 

[JayhawkRoy]

How much is a prime steak from the grocery store out there?

Harris Teeter has something on special most any week - usually Prime T-bone, NY strip or Ribey - for maybe $12.99 / lb or so. I would do them just about every weekend. We actually cut back, trying to do more vegetarian and fish purely to stay healthy. Older is harder.

Prime boneless ribeye is $27 per lb at Sam's Club around here. Sometimes it can be had marked down to around $20 per lb. Have never seen prime at $12.99 lately.

 

[JeffKeryk]

How much is a prime steak from the grocery store out there?

Harris Teeter has something on special most any week - usually Prime T-bone, NY strip or Ribey - for maybe $12.99 / lb or so. I would do them just about every weekend. We actually cut back, trying to do more vegetarian and fish purely to stay healthy. Older is harder.

Too much. Dunno. I want a Ribeye. Loan a poor boy a dime?

 

[97prizm]

It's called inflation. I haven't bought a steak in years. Thinking about it, though. But the prices...

Find a local reputable butcher shop. Some places you can make a deal. I bring in two bottles of bbq sauce every so often and I get a couple of free pork chops in return.