Here is the deal, in MD anyone can charge anything they want for inspection, but it typically runs about 70-80.
Well, I drop my 98 Impreza off at a repair shop for inspection. When I pick it up a day later, they tell me the total is $150.
I ask to see the summary. The inspection was $75 and the other 75 was replacing 2 tail light bulbs and windshield wipers, they gave me $35 parts and $35 labor.
If they had told me it would run me 75 bucks to replace windshield wipers and a tail light bulb, I would have never consented, it's about 2 minutes of work, if that.
Price gouging or business as usual?
But once I was presented this evidence, post facto, I had no leverage to negotiate and I think they knew it.
So I just paid it and it became a learning experience, to notify them in advance to not do any work before letting me know what it takes.
Then I found out that in MD they are supposed to notify in writing the repair estimate if any repair is over $50.
Well, I drop my 98 Impreza off at a repair shop for inspection. When I pick it up a day later, they tell me the total is $150.
I ask to see the summary. The inspection was $75 and the other 75 was replacing 2 tail light bulbs and windshield wipers, they gave me $35 parts and $35 labor.
If they had told me it would run me 75 bucks to replace windshield wipers and a tail light bulb, I would have never consented, it's about 2 minutes of work, if that.
Price gouging or business as usual?
But once I was presented this evidence, post facto, I had no leverage to negotiate and I think they knew it.
So I just paid it and it became a learning experience, to notify them in advance to not do any work before letting me know what it takes.
Then I found out that in MD they are supposed to notify in writing the repair estimate if any repair is over $50.