Car Repair Prices: The Dim Underworld Of Automotive Service
Most know the most glaring auto repair pricing abuses: Service centers overcharging $100?s even $1000?s for repairs, or charging for repairs that were never done at all.
To be sure, this still happens every day. However, there are many other techniques which involve flying just low enough to avoid detection.
The savvy service centers increase the price so as not to set off any alarms. It has become so common that it?s not just an accepted industry practice, but even service customers have accepted paying higher prices.
Knowing how ingrained price-gouging is within the automotive service industry, it?s shocking (although understandable) that even service customers have succumbed to excessive car repair prices. I frequently hear service customers? state:
?Yeah, I know I was ripped off, but my car?s fixed now.? Or, ?I know they charge too much, but they?re convenient.?
This is insane! To accept auto repair price-gouging is to allow its continuation. The difficult part, of course, is how to stop it. Given that the automotive service industry is so big and powerful (and so frightfully necessary) how does one battle such a force?
Perhaps the first thing to understand is the degree to which this type of stealth-like price-gouging occurs. A two-decade undercover investigation has revealed that 98% of all repair shops (dealerships, local shops, and franchises) are price-gouging their customers in one form or another.
The following exchange, between a service manager and service advisor, provides an idea of the ?scope of scamming? below the radar.
A service advisor asked his manager how to bill more hours per month, which is another way of asking how the advisor can make more money. The service manager casually stated:
?Simply add an additional two tenths to every ticket you write.?
In other words, every customer this service advisor ?helps,? he was instructed by a superior to add a ?little? extra. So if the labor rate is $100 per hour two tenths would equal $20. Rather than pay $100 per hour, the service customer would actually pay $120.
$20 doesn?t sound like much compared to the gross injustices we all know. However, whether it?s an overcharge of two cents or $20, it?s too much.
If you visit a shop practicing this strategy alone (there are hundreds of strategies, many applied simultaneously), you may end up paying over a $100 or more by year?s end.
What?s really shocking is that being ripped off $100 over a year?s time is actually minor!
Try $500-$5000
Theodore P. Olson (Ted) holds extensive certifications from Mercedes-Benz, Toyota, GM, and ASE. He is the author of eight books and numerous articles on the automotive service industry. http://www.repairtrust.com
Related Articles:
De-Ionization Decisions in Mobile Car Washing
Many mobile car wash operators would like to add de-ionized water to their cleaning process. However before you do this you need to understand the reality of the return on investment.
Car Insurance Online Quotes - Antique Car Insurance
The opportunity to own an antique car is worthwhile because it will likely never be repeated; just like everyday cars though, they require insurance. With such interest in old cars you will not be surprised to learn there are antique car insurance companies that take a particular interest in insuring this type of vehicle. Of course, with so many classic car insurers available, an owner should not have a problem insuring their prized possession and probably won't have to pay over the odds for the service.
Car Leasing - Top 10 Most Requested Lease Vehicles
Smart car leasing consumers know that it costs less to lease vehicle makes and models that depreciate the least. That is, vehicles that hold high resale values.
Car Brief: 2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster
BMW Z4 M Roadster If a vehicle like the BMW 3 Series sedan is the Ultimate Driving Machine, what does that make the 2006 Z4 M Roadster, the latest Bimmer that made its debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show in Detroit? Call it the Super Ultimate Driving Machine or the Ultimatest Driving Machine - frankly, this promises to be one sweet ride that should be bestowed with whatever positive terms you can think of.
Cheap Car Insurance Companies in Arizona
If you're looking for cheap car insurance companies in Arizona there's really only one place to look, and that's online Online insurance sellers charge far less than their brick and mortar competitors for a variety of reasons
Water Powered Car-Use Less Gas Save $1500 Per Year
Is it really do-able to make your present vehicle to be a water powered car? Can you really save 50% on fuel?How has this technique been forgotten for 9 decades?
Car Hire Luton Airport
London is a wonderful destination that is well worth exploring with car hire Renting a car in London allows you to break out of the city and experience all that is unique
Extra car rental charges - Avoid surprises when you rent a car
When you visit Ireland, you can rent a car for your holiday. Good car rental deals are available online or over the phone. Although there are a couple of extra charges that you should not overlook. Here are a few hints how to avoid surprises when you hire a car.
Finding Cheap Car Insurance
Car insurance may be mandatory, but you do not need to be burdened by paying more than what you actually have to. Cheaper car insurance doesn?t necessarily mean less coverage. You can get the coverage you need, and save quite a significant amount by taking your time to understand the policy and talking to your insurer about the various discounts they can offer you.
Where to Find the Best Car Hire in Spain
Spain is a spectacularly diverse country offering an extensive array of regional landscapes, cities, towns, villages and cultural hot spots which are all must visit places for any one going to the extent of a car hire during their holiday.