Do most auto repair shops rip people off?

Question

Do most auto repair shops rip people off?

Answer 1

Sadly, most repair places will take advantage of you. There are some very good and honest mechanics out there but there are also a bunch of morons and greedy jerks. I spent years in the biz and I know there are good people out there. The problem is finding them. Ask around and see if you can get any refferances. In my experience, the owner/operator mechanics are the best, if they have been around. They could not survive without repeat business. I would also avoid chains stores like Midas, Mineke, and others. They don't need repeat business and have inexperienced techs, crooks, or the incompetant techs that no one else will hire.

Read Kittycats answer below, he is correct about mechanics working on commission and other stuff. All of the answers so far are correct.

Word of mouth is the best indicator of who is good and who sucks. Just remember there is good and bad in shops because there are good and bad people.

Answer 2

I'm not sure I would say most. They are in the business of making money and selling you services. It is your job as a consumer to know if you really need an injector flush or not.



The bottom line is you can put it back on them by saying, if you do this repair and it doesn't fix my problem, you want them to put your car back to the way it was when you came it and only pay the labor for the original job.



You should not have to pay for their guessing. If they are not willing to stand by their diagnosis with their money, take your business elsewhere.



For many of these other services, such as motorvac's and transmission flushes and so-forth, educate yourself and decide if you really need them or not.



A consumer is only ripped off if they say yes to something they don't need. So make sure you are informed and use your power to say no if you are uncomfortable with what the service writer is suggesting.



If they deliver work they promised to deliver, that you said yes to doing, you didn't get ripped off. You may have been sold something you don't need, but you said yes.

Answer 3

Owned a garage for many years until five years ago. I can tell you the answer to that is yes.

The problem is that the large chains (and stores) have a quota and/or commission system. The mechanics are required to sell so many of a certain part per week or risk losing their job.

With the commission system, they get a certain percentage of all labor and parts. So their paycheck is dependent on how much they do or sell.

You're better off with independently owned garages. But that's still no guarantee. There are greedy owners.

Go by word of mouth. That's always your best bet.

Answer 4

The last answer is going to be your best. Exactly what I was going to say. They're in the business of making money. Some would say that's ripping you off to charge $1,500 for a $50 part and a few hours worth of installation but that's how they pay their bills and you're not willing to do yourself.



Get the repair guide to your vehicle, set it on the back of your toilet and read it everytime you're in there.