subject: Is Your Mechanic Telling The Truth? [print this page] Most people don't have to look far into their own past before they can think of an incident with an unscrupulous mechanic. Some mechanics act on the fact that they have you between a rock and a hard place, and they believe your desperation makes you more likely to believe them.
Unfortunately many people pay their mechanic to make the problem go away; the truth is not required for these folks. They just want their car fixed. Of course these kinds of mechanics don't care if you believe them they just want you to pay. And customers just want their car back. So whether it's a lie or not, the car is already at the shop, you agree to the repair and get ready to pay the big bucks.
When to See it Coming
There is not a lot a mechanic can do to affect the price of a maintenance issue. Changing the oil or antifreeze is a simple process. Other tunes up issues are commonly priced and fluctuation is not as drastic. Most likely, it is because if you don't like the price, you still have the choice to go elsewhere. It's when they have your car and they presume that you won't take it out of their shop via tow truck that they will generally inflate the price. This is when seemingly arbitrary numbers come out of the woodwork and customers are left scratching their heads wondering, for example, why does a starter cost roughly a third or a quarter the cost of as an engine rebuild?
What Accounts for the Price?
Use instincts and common sense. For example if a camshafts or engine bearings are in need for replacement, I recommend calling the local parts store and get a price. These days most parts stores match prices so get the quote and compare it to the cost of parts at the mechanic shop. Is there a reasonable markup or is it double? The markup is supposedly because they go to the trouble of getting your part. Never mind that they probably got a commercial price, as compared to your retail price, and it was probably delivered. If the increase is any more than 25%, you are getting gouged. There is a labor time book that mechanics use to time their work and charge their customers. Labor money goes straight into the shop owner's pocket. No one wants to deprive a mechanic of his hard earned pay, but watch the labor time. If it's over the given labor allowance in the book, then you are either paying for inefficiency or getting lied to.
Just business or Just Poor Business Ethics?
These days, regular American consumers have become jaded. Often people believe that fending off overpricing and unnecessary add ons are a part of life. Unfortunately, it is. Trust is the key word. You can't know as much as your mechanic about your car. If you need major repairs like engine repair or a tune up, you have to believe that he is on your side. As with all things, look at professionalism and customer service as your guide in finding a mechanic.
