My daughter let herself be ripped off today.

[NYEngineer]

I'm not knockin' the OP. I get it but I also see that as pretty reasonable. Threads like this remind me of this one time I was having coffee with my friend at the end of the day in his battery store. He sold everything from watch batteries to 8D's. This one day, a guy comes in and wants a battery for his car. My buddy has the battery up on the counter, he has cleaned the terminals and asks if the customer would like it installed in his car. The guy asks how much to install it? My friend replies four dollars. I did a double take because I couldn't believe how cheap he was doing that for.
The customer comes back with GEEZ! Four dollars?? He was dead serious. My buddy looks him square in the eye and says what do you do for nothin'?
That moment lives on in my mind forever. Taught me a valuable lesson. Value your time. I also talked my buddy into upping the installation cost to ten dollars on cars where the battery was in some crazy location and five for a normal engine compartment battery tray.

 

[PF52]

The third brake light is in the trunk lid and to change the bulbs you open the trunk, press the four tabs that hold the assembly into the trunk lid and pull it out to access the bulbs. Less than a five minute job. They charged her $2.64 per bulb and about $25 in labor.

Maybe the 2010s are different, but on my Cobalt there is a sound-deadening carpet on the underside of the trunk lid that has to come off first before I can even see the 3rd brake light assembly. It's held on by nine plastic clips. I've never taken it off, but I assume they need at least a little bit of care to avoid totally ruining them upon removal. It might be more than a five-minute job.

 

[pcoxe]

$25 labor isn't a bad deal nowadays, for people who aren't do-it-yourselfers.

 

[RooflessVW]

$25 labor isn't a bad deal nowadays, for people who aren't do-it-yourselfers.

Even for people that are.

I'd rather pay $30 since my car and I are already there.

 

[MasterSolenoid]

It's not a rip off. Probably a lot cheaper than the ticket she was risking for brake light out and safer too.

I always check my lights every three Months / better than being pulled over.
I pull up to a store with large windows and check the front lights.
Then back up to store and look thru rear-view mirror.
It's my vehicle .... and my responsibility.

Don't make your daughter feel bad.

 

[Eddie]

A fair price I think for that service. Not everyone works for next to free today. Many shops would charge you much more than that or 1/2 hour shop time +$50 +

 

[cb_13]

You don't get a ticket in MO for a third brake light being out and she still had one working bulb.

I’m not in law enforcement but I am a state safety inspector. Two out of three bulbs not working in a lamp would fail inspection. It also states that if a high mount brake lamp is visible(not blocked by a flat bed/camper shell etc.) it must be functional.

Lighting violations are ticketable offenses, even tag lights. So unless the law is somehow different than the inspection policy I’d assume you absolutely CAN get a ticket. Odds of actually getting pulled over for it are slim.

 

[LDB]

I guess we're still looking for these prices for services.

 

[jeepman3071]

Charging her $30 to fix that (as long as it's done properly) is not a rip off. Charging her $100 would be.

This.

It makes me laugh that certain people (usually of a certain generation) expect things like this to be done for free. $25 isn't a rip off, especially considering the complexity of some car light assemblies and the difficulty to reach them. $150 like a dealership would charge (for an hour of labor) would be a rip off. Gone are the days where the shop fixes small things for free in order to gain your loyalty, because usually they are chain shops where the corporation doesn't care about it's workers, it's customers, and will find any way to make an upsell.

With all that said, I think the employees did your daughter a solid. They checked the safety stuff for her (went the extra mile), and charged her a fair price to fix it. $25 sure beats a fix-it ticket from local law enforcement.

 

[PF52]

I pull up to a store with large windows and check the front lights.
Then back up to store and look thru rear-view mirror.

LOL You too eh?

Based on the amazed, incredulous reactions I get when I tell people that's how I check them, I was starting to think maybe I'd invented the technique. Glad I'm not the only one!

Large chrome bumpers on very large trucks often work well for checking the taillights also.

 

[PF52]

I guess we're still looking for these prices for services.

View attachment 113858

You just described my dad. He always thought most repairs should top out at about $20.... Anything more than that and he was being ripped off. Maybe he was correct once upon a time but it isn't 1930 any more.

 

[jeepman3071]

LOL You too eh?

Based on the amazed, incredulous reactions I get when I tell people that's how I check them, I was starting to think maybe I'd invented the technique. Glad I'm not the only one!

Large chrome bumpers on very large trucks often work well for checking the taillights also.

I bought one of these, pre-covid when they were $20. I use it for checking brake lights, it's really handy for checking trailer brake lights as well.

https://www.amazon.com/Thexton-THE3...61344842&sprefix=gas+pedal+tool,aps,85&sr=8-4

 

[TiGeo]

Also, I know this is nuts, but....just get someone to stand behind you..hahahaha...could even be a random stranger at the grocery store parking lot.

 

[XCIDMigs]

You don't get a ticket in MO for a third brake light being out and she still had one working bulb. It's my opinion it was an excessive charge. Obviously other disagree which is okay.

That is definately not correct, you can get citation for having any lighting not functioning thats up to individual officer decision. YRMV

 

[Hall]

I think it's time to lock this thread since there is nothing else constructive to come from it.

Hehe, that's not the real reason you want it locked though

 

[TiGeo]

Hehe, that's not the real reason you want it locked though

In before lock. I always win.

 

[brages]

I actually agree with the OP as far as saying I would personally feel like I had wasted money if I paid someone $30 to replace my third brake light bulbs. But that's why I DIY everything I can.

A couple of comments -- it's hard to buy bulbs on short notice for cheap. Rockauto is the only place I know where bulbs are really cheap. And there, of course, you have to deal with the cost and time of shipping. If you go to an auto parts store, be prepared to pay $5-10 for a 2-pack. And headlight bulbs... the last time I bought a headlight bulb at NAPA, I was surprised how much it was, close to $20 IIRC.

 

[Kira]

"Why would you think that I have any say in what she does?"
Because you said she texted you to ask.

I've been a window-reflection-bulb-inspector for my entire driving life.
That bulb inspection can be such an involved 'thing', it should come as no surprise that checking tire pressure goes undone.
That paying garages is so odious to many, do you think, maybe, that's where some sludged-up engines come from?

Sounds like the "real time" opportunity for the bulb change (getting the job done with the car in the bay etc.) while receiving the oil change and tire rotation simply didn't allow for all parties to communicate so they could feel warm and fuzzy.

I wonder if the coupons mentioned are commonly available or if they are "neighborly offers" made only to fellow businesspeople on the same street. If relationships with a nearby, good mechanic are initiated, it's super beneficial.


In Brooklyn, in the '80's, a garage inspected my van for the minimum price. The fellow approvingly informed me my brakes were new. However, a taillight socket had melted. They just pulled one out of the scrap bin and just spliced it on. $2. I never felt so ripped off in my life.
I coulda had my shoes shined on the Staten Island Ferry for that kinda money!

 

[spasm3]

I think its reasonable. He has shop overhead and costs to operate. He stocks multible types of bulbs, some are easy to access, some are not. The cost of leaving, finding bulbs, replacing, coming back again to finish the inspection , not worth it.

I usually look over my lights and so forth before i go for inspection. But $30 is reasonable to have them replaced and leave inspected.

 

[D60]

I actually agree with the OP as far as saying I would personally feel like I had wasted money if I paid someone $30 to replace my third brake light bulbs. But that's why I DIY everything I can.

A couple of comments -- it's hard to buy bulbs on short notice for cheap. Rockauto is the only place I know where bulbs are really cheap. And there, of course, you have to deal with the cost and time of shipping. If you go to an auto parts store, be prepared to pay $5-10 for a 2-pack. And headlight bulbs... the last time I bought a headlight bulb at NAPA, I was surprised how much it was, close to $20 IIRC.

Auto parts stores rape you on bulbs, same as wipers, chemicals and most motor oil.

WalMart and, surprisingly, Home Depot can be quite affordable on basics like 3157's etc but selection is limited. Plus, if I didn't have a good reason for already being there I'd gladly pay $30 to not have to find parking and then stumble through any of the big box stores.