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Wow! I had no idea Iffy Lube was that expensive. My local Toyota stealership charges $54.95 for a full synthetic oil change.
Jiffy Lube Synthetic Oil Change - $109.99!
- Thread starter The Critic
- Start date
They've always been more expensive than average. I found a receipt from Jiffy Lube circa 1998 in a used car I bought. $25 to change the oil on a 1988 Mustang GT. I think most places did it for $19.95 back then.
Yeap, Jiffy Lube charges that amount because it's an amount people are willing to pay it.
It's gone up, but not much, IMO. My daughter stopped at a Valvoline near her house in CT pre-covid and they bagged her for $90 for syn 0W20.
I think I hurt my back or something which is why she didn't stop by for an oil change.
I think I hurt my back or something which is why she didn't stop by for an oil change.
Patman
Staff member
Now that I live in an apartment I take my cars to fast lube places to get the oil change (say it isn't so Patman!!) but I only pay $72 (with tax) for Magnatec 0w20 in my Honda and I pay $40 for them to change the oil in the Corvette (with the ESP 5w30 and Fram Ultra filter that I provide them) Once I move back into a house again I will change my oil again, I still have my Race Ramps for when that happens.
Dexos D 0W-20 oil is 3.61 per quart on Amazon is you purchase the 55 gallon drum. With all the oil hoarding these members brag about, this is a more efficient and cheaper solution than storing 220 quarts of oil in small bottles.
When a bar buddy who was a mech all his life and his BIL decided to open up a Jiffy lube in the late 90's that price is what got me in the door. I could hardly do it at home for that price plus not having to dispose of the oil and filter, no mess to clean up plus that's when I started having back issues.
I still have an indy that changes oil for $20 if you bring them the oil. Just had them do it with the Mercedes, no idea what they charge, but it takes 8.5 quarts of oil. They rotate the tires too for that $20.
14.25 hr is minimum wage in MA. They lost money doing all that for $20 if they are above board.
I have no idea how your Indy stays in business at those rates.
They probably really have to push the upsells.
$20 is very cheap. Even pre “current pricing.”
Or they're paying certain employees with cash and not keeping them on official payroll.
Some indies will underreport revenue. By offering discounts for cash, and doing a great deal of their parts and supplies business in cash, they can make it hold up to some degree of scrutiny. I had an oil customer who was C.O.D. by choice. There's nothing wrong with that, but they were adamant about paying by check and cash alternately with each delivery. When I asked why, all I got was a broad grin.
Loss leader, I think he normally charges $90+ hour for labor. I use him for little jobs and other jobs where my other indy that's even cheaper won't handle.
The independent shop I use for my fleet charges $90 for a synthetic oil change, up to 5 quarts. He's a good guy and doesn't use loss leaders to scam people into other business. He's been around for a long time. He doesn't make a killing but he makes more than enough to stay in business and even hired a few more techs a few years ago. When I see those chain mechanic shops that are offering $20 or $30 oil changes, I know they are losing money on it so they have every incentive to find something else wrong with your vehicle (whether it exists or not) and sell you on that repair. I don't trust places that get you in the door with cheap oil changes because they HAVE to sell you something else to make money.
I'm not sure how my mech stayed in business, he only charges me $10 for an oil change when I bring in oil/filter. If he has to add any fluids he does charge for that. This year it's time for a rotation and will charge $10 for that.
I say "stayed" in business because over the last year or so he lost both of his mech so he closed up shop and only kept a few customers to keep him busy, luckily the wife and I were one them.
I say "stayed" in business because over the last year or so he lost both of his mech so he closed up shop and only kept a few customers to keep him busy, luckily the wife and I were one them.
I told the wife to go to the dealer for the last OC; It was Tire Rotation time and I ain't doing that
in the driveway with one floor jack..
Plus they had to see her anyway IMO, to get her on the booksin service. She is rich, she can afford it : )
Then it ended up being a free first service - even though it was the third !
Of course they overfilled the oil by a quart. I left it in - 4.4qt cap. now with the new NA 2.5F series
in the driveway with one floor jack..
Plus they had to see her anyway IMO, to get her on the booksin service. She is rich, she can afford it : )
Then it ended up being a free first service - even though it was the third !
Of course they overfilled the oil by a quart. I left it in - 4.4qt cap. now with the new NA 2.5F series
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That’s really not bad these days. Equal to one tank of gas for a 1/2 ton pickup….
$100 ain’t squat anymore.
$100 ain’t squat anymore.
Just did my OC in a 1/2 hour. cost 24 bucks. The 76 bucks not -spent will buy me lunch - my main meal - for two weeks. Yes they are frozen dinners - but good ones
So it is something, J.R.
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