Reckon so.
did you pay for that post?
Nah.
Cheap at twice the price.
are you a band-aid?
are you a band-aid?
party_pants said:
are you a band-aid?
did Geldolf have anything to do with this?
Possibly.
Possibly not.
I can introduce you to some people who guarantee that you get the full experience.
Arts said:
party_pants said:
are you a band-aid?
did Geldolf have anything to do with this?
probably.
Ooops. That went off half cocked. (having one of those days.)
Did I get ripped off?
The answer is obviously yes, but my question is how badly?
I put in my car for repairs because of intermittent fault in one of the rear lights. I was rung not long after and told that the bulb holder had burnt out. The repairs were itemised as follows:
Bulbholder: 77.86
Housing 23.12
Standard globe 8.48
Wire set 17.17
The job apparently entailed (1) removal left hand rear light. (2) Inspected and found bulb to have burned out. (3) Removed and replaced bulb holder and contact housing. (4) Supplied and repaired wiring as required.
Cost for parts -125.93
Labour costs – 320.00 ….WTF???!!!
I don’t object to the cost for parts, but $320 for labour?
I assume this is 2 hours at $160 per hour.
Is $160 per hour normal for a licensed marque specific workshop?
Could this job possibly have taken 2 hours, given that it was done at the specific car dealership, would have been done many times before, and all the parts and tools were on site.
Any feedback appreciated.
if the oil was leaking down between the valve stem and guide the oil drop in the pic would be on the top of the valve. because it is on the guide then it must have leaked down between guide and head.
What breed of car?
captain_spalding said:
What breed of car?
pesce.del.giorno said:
captain_spalding said:
What breed of car?
Audi, but does that matter? Do rates vary according to make?
From your remark about ‘a licensed marque specific workshop’, i’m guessing it was one of those operating-theatre-clean workshops with all the mechanics in spotless white overalls, with oh-so-neat haircuts and clean hands, using only genuine Audi parts.
So, it’s about what you’d expect for that.
a normal hourly rate for a mechanical workshop is $110-$120 or there abouts.
JudgeMental said:
a normal hourly rate for a mechanical workshop is $110-$120 or there abouts.
Thanks Judge, that makes me feel a bit better but would that job take 2 hours?
pesce.del.giorno said:
captain_spalding said:
What breed of car?
Audi, but does that matter? Do rates vary according to make?
It it was me I’d scream the room down and threaten never to come back.
Also unfriend them on facebook and blacken their name on all social media – you get the drift.
there’s a lawyer out there who, one day, will figure out a way to sue the pants off someone for the ‘emotional trauma’ the facebook unfriending causes
it is hard to tell. mechanics aren’t panelbeaters and this sort of thing would be a cinch to disassemble then reassemble for a PB. plus sorting out the harness and trim etc.
Arts said:
there’s a lawyer out there who, one day, will figure out a way to sue the pants off someone for the ‘emotional trauma’ the facebook unfriending causes
Oh goodie :)
“Did I get ripped off?”
SN got it right in the second post :)
Dropbear said:
Arts said:
there’s a lawyer out there who, one day, will figure out a way to sue the pants off someone for the ‘emotional trauma’ the facebook unfriending causes
Oh goodie :)
Droppy’s gonna make a fortune
Skeptic Pete said:
Dropbear said:
Arts said:
there’s a lawyer out there who, one day, will figure out a way to sue the pants off someone for the ‘emotional trauma’ the facebook unfriending causes
Oh goodie :)
Droppy’s gonna make a fortune
Mmmhmm.. :)
pesce.del.giorno said:
JudgeMental said:
a normal hourly rate for a mechanical workshop is $110-$120 or there abouts.
Thanks Judge, that makes me feel a bit better but would that job take 2 hours?
How long did you leave the car with them for?
pesce.del.giorno said:
JudgeMental said:
a normal hourly rate for a mechanical workshop is $110-$120 or there abouts.
Thanks Judge, that makes me feel a bit better but would that job take 2 hours?
It might take more than an hour, and many places charge “per hour or part thereof” which means 61 minutes is charged as two hours.
Stuff like this is not hard to do yourself, especially if you’re the kind of person that frequents science forums. It’s really worth learning basic stuff like this.
pesce.del.giorno said:
captain_spalding said:
What breed of car?
Audi, but does that matter? Do rates vary according to make?
expensive everything – it is an expensive car with expensive parts and expensive labour costs
ripped off – yes.
Reminds me of a story about some ute that went somewhere for a service, you know oil change etc, anyway upon getting the bill there’s a new taillight assembly listed, whole visit cost a fortune. Owner at the time was sure the light were working properly when went in, so I dunno the chap doing repairs must have backed ute into something make the job worth his trouble (just imagine that comedy-like).
You know mechanic doesn’t like you, gets the rubber hammer smashes light, mutters to self ‘oh look, your rear light is broken, I better fix that for you’.
Just a story, but a funny one.
transition said:
Reminds me of a story about some ute that went somewhere for a service, you know oil change etc, anyway upon getting the bill there’s a new taillight assembly listed, whole visit cost a fortune. Owner at the time was sure the light were working properly when went in, so I dunno the chap doing repairs must have backed ute into something make the job worth his trouble (just imagine that comedy-like).You know mechanic doesn’t like you, gets the rubber hammer smashes light, mutters to self ‘oh look, your rear light is broken, I better fix that for you’.
Just a story, but a funny one.
There’s a lot to be said for finding a one-man repair shop with a guy you can trust.
Where I used to live there was a guy I went to, on referral from someone else, like that. Very good and trustworthy, the only thing I didn’t like was that he started every sentance with “Yeah, nah, yeah…”
there was a dodgy mechanic that moved into our town a few years ago. ripped off the wrong people got the shit beaten out of him and run out of town. dodgy practices don’t get you far. might work for longer in a big city. plus i get sick of hearing about untrustworthy mechanic, seeing as i know a few mechanics and they are all honest tradies.
He started every sentence that way too…
Most often it is the organisation that they work for that is untrustworthy…
I used to take my car to a big dealership for servicing until the car was 10 years old. I noticed a familiar charge for a lightbulb (numberplate light). It only cost about $3.00 but on checking, it was on every invoice I had ever received from them. Made some enquiries and was told that they use the same code for all bulbs, whether they be numberplate lights or blinker lights etc. Often I would drop my car in for service at 9am and need my car by 2pm and on returning to the dealership find that the car was still sitting in the carpark where I had left it. Turns out that the service can actually be completed at remarkable speed when you are waiting at the service counter, yet the same labour and lightbulb charges remain..
After frequenting 4wd forums for this make of vehicle, it seems that we should always be on our guard, even with the big dealerships. I remember one poster took his car in for an oil service, after marking an “X” in texta on the oil filter. He found that after being charged for oil, filter, labour etc. the same filter was still there!
you should have got a quote or three
The_observer said:
you should have got a quote or three
Yes, I did, between dealerships. They always matched price for me.
Mr S services the car now. Dealership has no idea what to do once mileage >200,000.
Speedy said:
I used to take my car to a big dealership for servicing until the car was 10 years old. I noticed a familiar charge for a lightbulb (numberplate light). It only cost about $3.00 but on checking, it was on every invoice I had ever received from them. Made some enquiries and was told that they use the same code for all bulbs, whether they be numberplate lights or blinker lights etc. Often I would drop my car in for service at 9am and need my car by 2pm and on returning to the dealership find that the car was still sitting in the carpark where I had left it. Turns out that the service can actually be completed at remarkable speed when you are waiting at the service counter, yet the same labour and lightbulb charges remain..After frequenting 4wd forums for this make of vehicle, it seems that we should always be on our guard, even with the big dealerships. I remember one poster took his car in for an oil service, after marking an “X” in texta on the oil filter. He found that after being charged for oil, filter, labour etc. the same filter was still there!
Yea, ebay sells those UV pens and lights if you’re mad into that kind of thing.
There’s a dealership here that charged me $800 for a service a few years ago…they thought it normal for someone to want a $20k car detailed at every service, which probably wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t do 10 km in 3 months.
10 = 10,000
Speedy said:
The_observer said:you should have got a quote or three
Yes, I did, between dealerships. They always matched price for me.
Mr S services the car now. Dealership has no idea what to do once mileage >200,000.
I’d never take the car to a dealership for repair or service (Too expensive & they are mostly apprentices doing the work)
or buy genuine parts if after market are available (at half the price).
poikilotherm said:
just used it to go to the shops and back
Speedy said:
I used to take my car to a big dealership for servicing until the car was 10 years old. I noticed a familiar charge for a lightbulb (numberplate light). It only cost about $3.00 but on checking, it was on every invoice I had ever received from them. Made some enquiries and was told that they use the same code for all bulbs, whether they be numberplate lights or blinker lights etc. Often I would drop my car in for service at 9am and need my car by 2pm and on returning to the dealership find that the car was still sitting in the carpark where I had left it. Turns out that the service can actually be completed at remarkable speed when you are waiting at the service counter, yet the same labour and lightbulb charges remain..After frequenting 4wd forums for this make of vehicle, it seems that we should always be on our guard, even with the big dealerships. I remember one poster took his car in for an oil service, after marking an “X” in texta on the oil filter. He found that after being charged for oil, filter, labour etc. the same filter was still there!
Yea, ebay sells those UV pens and lights if you’re mad into that kind of thing.
There’s a dealership here that charged me $800 for a service a few years ago…they thought it normal for someone to want a $20k car detailed at every service, which probably wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t do 10 km in 3 months.
Arts said:
poikilotherm said:just used it to go to the shops and back
Speedy said:
I used to take my car to a big dealership for servicing until the car was 10 years old. I noticed a familiar charge for a lightbulb (numberplate light). It only cost about $3.00 but on checking, it was on every invoice I had ever received from them. Made some enquiries and was told that they use the same code for all bulbs, whether they be numberplate lights or blinker lights etc. Often I would drop my car in for service at 9am and need my car by 2pm and on returning to the dealership find that the car was still sitting in the carpark where I had left it. Turns out that the service can actually be completed at remarkable speed when you are waiting at the service counter, yet the same labour and lightbulb charges remain..After frequenting 4wd forums for this make of vehicle, it seems that we should always be on our guard, even with the big dealerships. I remember one poster took his car in for an oil service, after marking an “X” in texta on the oil filter. He found that after being charged for oil, filter, labour etc. the same filter was still there!
Yea, ebay sells those UV pens and lights if you’re mad into that kind of thing.
There’s a dealership here that charged me $800 for a service a few years ago…they thought it normal for someone to want a $20k car detailed at every service, which probably wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t do 10 km in 3 months.
The_observer said:
Speedy said:
The_observer said:you should have got a quote or three
Yes, I did, between dealerships. They always matched price for me.
Mr S services the car now. Dealership has no idea what to do once mileage >200,000.
I’d never take the car to a dealership for repair or service (Too expensive & they are mostly apprentices doing the work)
or buy genuine parts if after market are available (at half the price).
I agree. I have had awful service at main dealers. As for cost. When I drove a VW Golf it needed a pair of front brake discs. The genuine VW discs were $300 each. I got a pair of Brembo ( the best you can buy) discs for $85 each.
pommiejohn said:
The_observer said:
Speedy said:Yes, I did, between dealerships. They always matched price for me.
Mr S services the car now. Dealership has no idea what to do once mileage >200,000.
I’d never take the car to a dealership for repair or service (Too expensive & they are mostly apprentices doing the work)
or buy genuine parts if after market are available (at half the price).I agree. I have had awful service at main dealers. As for cost. When I drove a VW Golf it needed a pair of front brake discs. The genuine VW discs were $300 each. I got a pair of Brembo ( the best you can buy) discs for $85 each.
My Lancer needed a new rear brake light…$465 from the dealer not installed…got an $70 knock off job.
poikilotherm said:
My Lancer needed a new rear brake light…$465 from the dealer not installed…got an $70 knock off job.
Wow! I could hand file one from gold for that price :)
pommiejohn said:
The_observer said:
Speedy said:Yes, I did, between dealerships. They always matched price for me.
Mr S services the car now. Dealership has no idea what to do once mileage >200,000.
I’d never take the car to a dealership for repair or service (Too expensive & they are mostly apprentices doing the work)
or buy genuine parts if after market are available (at half the price).I agree. I have had awful service at main dealers. As for cost. When I drove a VW Golf it needed a pair of front brake discs. The genuine VW discs were $300 each. I got a pair of Brembo ( the best you can buy) discs for $85 each.
The key issue is about trust… dealerships, I for the most part, are seen as more reputable and thus people are prepared to pay a premium for that.
number plate light on my camry wasn’t working. my mechanic gave the housing a thump, light work. no charge. common fault apparently.
some of the new headlight assembles are in the thousands to replace.
pommiejohn said:
Where from? (I will need new discs for the Echo soon.)I agree. I have had awful service at main dealers. As for cost. When I drove a VW Golf it needed a pair of front brake discs. The genuine VW discs were $300 each. I got a pair of Brembo ( the best you can buy) discs for $85 each.
>>My Lancer needed a new rear brake light…$465 from the dealer not installed…got an $70 knock off job.<<
>>some of the new headlight assembles are in the thousands to replace.<<
you can almost always get a replacement part from a wrecker.
The wreckers network.
the part will be half the price