Auto repair shops regularly overcharge: report

I'm SHOCKED... Oh wait, no I'm not.
Let's see "mechanics in some larger shops receive a low base hourly wage". A good Mechanic has $60K+ in tools plus years of training and no national union. A lousy doctor has $500 in equipment a fantastic union and a paycheque from the public.

Unqualified mechanic 'fixes' a car and people die, everyone shrugs their shoulders.
Unqualified Doctor gives a woman a scar and there is lengthy jail time.

So what happens? Good mechanics leave the field, bad mechanics list a lower hourly rate and spend days 'fixing' your car. End result? Consumers complain that domestic vehicles are garbage and way too many people die on the roads.

Wouldn't just be down right crazy if there were article's posted that told of the great service they received and how greatful they were that their mechanic caught a problem before it did more damage and what could have been a real expensive repair ended out being a minor repair. But I guess that make's for a boring article to read about, and as a mechanic, we get use to hearing how bad we all are, after 4 years of schooling, constant update course's, and yes, 60 K or more of tool's that cannot be wrote off, and a job that will eventually cause major aches and pains when we retire, I do expect a good wage., Do not confuse your local lube shops and chain store's with actual repair garage's, the staff training and qualifications are far different from each other. If you want the best price on a oil change then take your vehicle there, if you want a Class A mechanic to change your oil and check over your vehicle, take it to an actual repair garage and pay them 10 bucks more.

I have been going to Sapperton motors In B.C. for 25 + years and found that Tanny and Walter both run there stores with honesty and intergity, offer fair pricing and quality service and it angers me that all shops are grouped into this ripoff mentality by media mongers. There are good shops out there check the Better Bussiness Bureau for information on your shop of choice in other words do the reasearch and like me you will find a high quality honest facility to have your care serviced and repaired but be loyal and give them ALL your service and repairs, that way they can look after you like you deserve!!

I can agree with this article. I have had not one, but two encounters with the same dealership in Sherwood Park Alberta. Both times I was gouged and the issues incorrectly diagnosed. The first time I had a coolant leak. They said I needed a new water pump. $700. Well the next day my car overheated again and drained all the coolant. I took it back and they said they actually found a crack in my engine and a good used one would cost $7000 with 17x,xxx km on it.

I ended up finding one in a car lot from a car that was rear ended, $3000 with 50,xxx km on it. The next encounter, my car would not start and kept telling me the anti-theft system failed so I could not start the car. They told me $1200 for a new ECU (computer) Well, it ended up being a ground fault and replacing a simple ground wire (sort of fixed it). I took the car home and noticed the dash lights dimmed when I accelerated or if I had the air running and sound system going. I went to work the next day and woot, low and behold the car would not start after work. Now used up two AMA towing credits. Turned out they never test drove the car; they just turned it on and said it was working now so come pay us and get lost. So I had to take it back and they found another “ground fault”.

Moral of both stories and a slap to my head… Never take your car to a dealership and most NEVER do it around Christmas time. They try to boost sales just like retail stores do and they get commissions for every part they sell you. I will not name the dealership here but I will state my car is an Aurora Oldsmobile 2001 v8. That should give you an indicator as to where I had the car serviced.

Regards,
“A deflated individual “
Chris

I am very unsatisfied with dishonesty and excessively high prices of "Best Deal Motors" in North York, Steeles and Keele area.
The owner Greg, gives you a low price to get you bring your car there, then he says, oh I thought your car had different configuration and charges you tripple knowing you are stuck to have it done same done to be on the road.

He has done it to many people, beware.

It's grossly unfair to tar all repair shops with the same brush. You have the internet to research any repair facilities to find out their credibility. Automotive technicians are a highly skilled workforce who have invested thousands of dollars in tools and diagnostic equipment to service today's complex automobiles and I am sure that to recuperate their investment they have to charge! Nobody does nothing for free in today's world and in any case you get what you pay for!

For those of you who are find yourselves victims to unscroupulos mechanics, before paying, call a paralegal. They are affordable and cost less than a lawyer

IT WOULD BE NICE IF WE COULD POST THE NAMES OF THE COMPANIES THAT ARE RIPPING PEOPLE OFF SO THAT WE THE CONSUMER COULD AVOID THEM. EITHER THAT OR POST THE ONES THAT WERE HONEST AND DID AN EXCEPTIONS JOB.

This is also a common practice in the ATV/Seadoo/sled industry as well. Perhaps someone should do a similar test here in BC on these kinds of big dollar recreational toys.

I am fortunate to be able to do a lot of my own work. I did have a problem with vibration with my car-it would vary depending on whether I was accelerating it. I took to a place in 100 Mile House, and they found tire problems (and I had them change the brakes as well), and they suggested bad CV joints. I took it to another place afterwords, and they suggested new tires. Needless to say, I did not have that done. (And won't go back there.)
I did replace the front axles at another place local-which solved the problem.
Also, I had valve and ring problems with a motorcycle. The dealership treats you differently when you tell them about this, and then bring in the cylinder head (alone) to have the valves replaced. I did the rest myself.
After a bit of testing, I have found a few good places locally to have work done (that I cannot do myself). Good places don't mind if you bring in the parts to have them installed. (They do make a good profit on parts, this must be noted.)

As a mechanic (18+years) I see the number one issue-- people do not like to spend money on their cars, I have operated a shop and 65% of people think you are ripping them off if you charge them anything! My first question to them is "Do you work for free?". Most Mechanics get paid Flat Rate (Paid by the job) so if they don't work they don't get paid. This is not a excuse for bad shops or mechanics but a good mechanic will note an issue if he or she sees one. This dose not mean they are ripping you off. Communication is the key, if you don't understand talk to the adviser or the Tech that was working on your car. With the technology that vehicles have today some things are not!! simple to find or repair. The best request any mechanic gets from a customer is put the scan tool on and it will tell you whats wrong (well not all mechanics have a crystal ball). and yes you get what you pay for.

Governments are forcing people into garages . . . courtesy of the compulsory exhaust emissions test. Any garage that wants to earn a few extra dollars can easily make a car fail the emissions test . . . . run an older car in a lower gear when its on the rollers is one method. Letting the air out of the tires to increase wheel drag is another trick, then re-inflate the tires after the failed test so as not to arouse suspicion. Then the owner has to fork out cash to the government and to the garage for "necessary repairs" . Its a cash cow for government and for a few garages.

I have found the best garage around to deal with; I myself have been through my mechanics training and know what to watch for. I would love to work on my own vehicles but just do not have the time with a busy family and career so I take my vehicles to a garage for service. I myself avoid the dealerships and the big chain stores and only use fast oil change places for engine oil changes changing between $24-35 any more than that for an oil change on a regular gas engine is a rip off. The one garage I have found that I am 100% satisfied with and that I find is 100% honest and do not push additional services is Caliber Automotive Ltd 780-452-7676 16625 111 Avenue NW Edmonton Alberta. It is a small shop and the owner is involved in the everyday operations of the garage, they have many long term staff and it is nice dealing with the same people each time I go in. Alot of garages go by a book rate and I find that is a scam. An Example at a typical garage if I need a leaky valve cover gasket changed they look in a book and if the book says 3 hrs they charge 3 hrs and if it talks longer they nail you for that as well, Caliber charges what the repair actually takes if it takes 45 minutes that is what they charge, they do not gouge. I recommend this shop to everyone I know and they are an AMA approved repair facility as well.

Well. it's time to post the GOUGING shops to drive them out of business. Do us a favor by doing so. They wont sue you since they DID that ... and beyond it, once a bad reputation on FACEBOOK, Twitter, they can kiss $ good bye.
I had a dealing with a Goodyear in the US for an ALIGNMENT ... yes they come back I need a new brake job, rotors and pads ( I just changed both of them 4 mos before) and ... I had to bring the car back after a drive at hi speed on the hi-way to find out ... the wheels were veering to the left much more then before! they redid the job, another 1.5-2hrs waiting, no excuses, not a word. They treated as ... Get lost fast so we can work (and milk) others.
I kiss them Goodbye, will never go back.
Same as with Dr, when can we access their cases or legal suits from Insurance Cie or individuals?
Dont forget they too get a % commission on prescription drugs. On top of that here is a new trend: in order to be a privileged customer, they suggest you pay 1500 a year! That's not tax deductible nor claimable to the Ins Cie.

I took my car to a Toyota Dealership in the GTA and they handed me an estimate for over $2,000.00 worth of repairs when all I wanted was a new serpentine belt installed. When the service advisor showed me the list of needed repairs, I told them that my father was a mecahnic and asked him what really need to be fixed. He eliminated almost all of the recommendations. Try mentioning that a firend or relative is a mechanic but was too busy and see if this changes the recommendations.
Also, ask your friends where they get thier car fixed and always shop around. I had one repair done where the price ranged from $280.00 to over $2000 for the same fix.

Even some Canadian Tire overcharge on estimate using spare parts, rebuilt with poor Quality
and Cheat on timefor executing repairs.Others make big profits on part they get at very cheap
price and charging triple for the same part, not even more then an orinal part. How can we find out we have no way to compair..

What needs to happen is every repair shop found to be dishonest should be exposed in the media, plastered on newspapers and on TV. These punks are crooks and there should actually be more legal recourse against them. Fraud is fraud, and what many of them do is exactly that!What they do really affects many people much more than just "ripping off". I am a student and work, and really struggle to pay bills and lead a somewhat normal social life. I went to a shop the other day, one I had never visited before, to check why the heat stopped working in my truck. They told me new heater core and radiator, costing about $1600! Since I couldn't afford that without racking up my credit card I decided to say no thanks and started searching elsewhere. I went to a mechanic recommended by a friend, and he flushed my radiator and coolant system because it was clogging up, and guess what? Let there be heat! For less than $150 I have heat! Imagine that! Had I payed $1600 my quality of life would've been negatively and seriously affected for months. I would've had to stop going out, staying indoors to save money, buy less food, and cheaper food which usually means unhealthy, for MONTHS until I payed that off! Being diabetic as well that change in diet can have longer term effects, thank god I don't have children to feed as well! I can't imagine the stress on parents who struggle getting ripped off for no reason! Those bastards can rot in hell for attempting to defraud me!

it seems the whole world has become corrupt or refuse to do their jobs CORRECTLY remember what you have taught your children - I talk with people on a daily basis it seems we all point fingers at others but given the chance we will cheat also - try correcting revenue canada, a health care proffessional & see where you get! we as asociety have allowed corruption to take the norm so we as society have to take proper ownership of this - the government will not do their jobs correctly & we allow this thinking some one else will correct the wrongs being done wake up canada or take the blame yourself

I see alot of mechnics replying to this story and I can tell you that they deserve a fair wage, however I also dispute what they charge for labour. If you think that it is fair to charge $90+ per hour on labour, then I disagree, however let's say I agree to that. What I do not agree to is the repair that takes 20 minutes, but the "MAGIC BOOK" says that it takes 3 hours so blammo $300 in labour for 20 minutes. I have seen this time and time again. So sure pay yourself a fair wage, but I want someone to ACCURATELY time measure how long it takes. No exaggeration, no rounding up. If it takes 1.10 hours then its 1.10 hours, not 1.5 or 2 or 3.
A good mechanic is hard to find and once you do you stick with him/her for life. The mechanics complaining here are probably in the "other" catagory.
I don't begrudge you a fair wage, but be honest AT ALL TIMES and you'll find loyal customers are abundant.

The $90.00 per hour that some refer to is the "shop" charge. The Automotive Technician is licky to get 33% of that. The rest goes to the shop owner. That 67% covers ALL the other expenses of the business. Did a courtesy car drive you to work while your car is in the shop? What do you suppose paid for it??? Just like any field, there are people that should not be in the automobile repair trade. I think what the AMA is trying to point out in that there is unscrupulous repair shops "out there" and hopefully by "outing" them, they will clean up their act or better yet, go away!

The shop rate is a lot different then what the mechanic makes. Seems like everyone who complains thinks they know everything about anyting. Guess again. If you know so much why not find and fix the problem yourelf? People now a days are cheap and want everything done for cheap. You get what you pay for. A recommendation to fix something is just that. Its no obligation to fix it. Bring it to another shop to get a second opinion.You would if your son wa sick, why not the car you ue to drive him to the doctor? You have every right to request they charge you the flat rate and not the book rate. The book rate is the average rate to do a specific task. Its approved by the standard for the Society of Automotive Engineers. Wouldnt that suck if the brake your mechanic recommeneded to get changed actually failed. Does that mean we get to smear you for being cheap? Do some research before you bring your car into the shop, not only does it show you might actually know something, theyre less likey to try and rip you off.

Patience is a virtue, don't just sentle for the first shop that opens its bay doors to you get two or three opinions before you have major work done. In remote areas its hard to do I know on the Alaska Highway there are several highway robbers in the form of machanics, by the time they are done with the markups and fees you will owe more then your vehicle is worth. Things like that is unfortunatly society, quick dollars is all its about, I personally feel good about helping people out and knowing a Mother can drive around and trust my work, the next guy though will fell better spending that same Mothers money on his addictions, and won't even consider his patrons well being, again, its society, its just easy business to rip people off who need thier car fixed and don't know anything about automobiles.

it socks when some one has what u need in a hurry SUPPLY AND DEMAND KICKS IN MULIPLY WITH GREED LIES E T C I CAN BECOME LIKE BANKS GOVERMENT OIL COMPANYS ANS ON .... KNOWLEDGE IS UR BEST DEFENSE AND SMALL SHOPS HA PROVEN TO GIVE BEST VALUE IN ALL STUDYS DONE... AND SPEND TIME ON PHONE FIRST TO SEVERAL SHOPS IF U CAN AND PRICE OUT PART S AT WHOLE SELLER SO U DEALING WITH POWER TO REASON WITH PRICE AND LABOUR SEPARATLY CHECK INTERNET 4 FLAT RATES IF LARGE JOB .... THIS WILL NOT PREVENT MISTAKES LIKE BATTERY INSTEAD OF ALTERNATER IM VERY MECHANICAL AND IN THE TRADES DO SOME WORK MY SELF AND USING ALL WHAT I SAID A MECH CAN BURN ANY ONE IF THEY CHOSE ÉÉÉÉÉÉÉÉ GOOD LUCK IF U FIND A MECH THAT TREATS U GOOD THEN TREAT HIM GOOD REFERALS TIPS AND CHRISTMAS BECAUSE YOU A LUCKY ONE

Canadian tires is one of the worst companies when it comes to overcharging and ripoff.Their services leaves alot to be desired.I was sent there for safety test which turned out my night mare.First they double charged me for a check up and when it came to safety test they wanted me to replace some parts which did not need repllacement in the first place.This guys drained my pockets,refused to sign my safety certificate and lam conteplating to contact my lawyer for possible suing this people.
I also took my other car for a simple repair in the Canadian tire by the time l drove it from there the car has more problems in the following day.So I have decided to leave the car in the parking lot.The Canadian tire charge $ 93.00 between one minute up to one hour.

You know its not the tech's.cars or training.
IT is greed!!!!!..
As a former "service advisor" it was my job to get youto buy the B.S. services recomended.
mech would come to us with a list of "required work", we would sell this crap to anybody, because our paycheques required it. Almost all service people at dealership levels are salery + commision, all mech are flat rate, GET RID OF FLAT RATE and we will get rid of most of the issues. I have worked in the Import and domestic auto industry, both(dlr level) will try and sell you non-required services. READ THE OWNERS MANUAL!!!!!!!!!. 99.9% of all recommended services DO NOT need to be done. Brake flush?power steer flush? Diff fluids @ 24000k??????
only chryslers..

Do your research, READ the manual. The manufacture built the veh, and they know what it requires. The dealer just wants the $$$$$$$

I think that probably 70 or 80% of mechenics are totally honest(still leaves a lot of dishonest ones) !
Shop owners&Bosses(large &nd small) are a differant story though!
I'm pretty shure most of us have heard the mechs. ask the boss how much or (Esp. in small shops) the owner/boss just spits out a price without even asking how much time on the job!
They do a job& you still have the same problems--You bring your car back & they say--More work needs done & end up charging you often multiple times what you original bill was!(It's NEVER that they didn't do thier job properly the first time)!
McMaster(a London ont. Gm dealer) is a good case in point--My independant garage could'nt find the problem& said--They have newer equipment -I went & talked to them--They said they could/would tell me what was wrong with thier scanner(because& I quote--It WILL show a code--
They told me about 100 dollars--Guess what? they couldn't find the problem--They said-Need a fuel pressure test-about 50 dollars--Well, a friend picked up the car& they handed him a bill for OVER 300 dollars--he payed it-Then they told him(mabe) change the fuel pump--I brought it back to my garage& they ended up changing the distibutor& no problems in the last yr.
They said the tests were a set price(150 dollar plus tax)-Charged over 300 & didn't even find the problem-Then were insulted when I tried(unsucessfully) to get some money back-Compained to GM canada& they gave me Two free oil changes-But I'm afraid to use them(what will it cost me!

Another thing is that shops often give very fair deals for two or three vists-Then nail you(like a pool shark knowing full well that justice is hard to get& expensive!
There seems to be little or not oversight for bussnesses anymore!
Just look a the Conservitives or Republicans in the states-Winning at any cost is all that matters!

I am 52 years old and been driving the same car since I was 18 yrs old. It is a 1966 Mustang. It has never seen a mechanic. All I ever do is change the oil and air filter on a regular basis, and replace the battery, tires, and coolant when needed. I do all my own work since it is so easy. The car is unbelievably cheap to maintain. My wife has a 2003 Honda Odyssey and when I take it in for service, it is damn expensive!

So when you go to the shop to replace your water pump and flat rate is 4 hours, do you pay or say its to long, well when you pay flat rate the problem may not go away for the tech, what if the pump is defective and he needs to do it again?? be thankful your not paying plumbers wages to replace the pump for a second time, AGAIN , he does Welding, Plumbing, Electrical, Electronics, Drivability, Suspension, Engines, Exausts, Brakes, Steering, and you think a doctors got a difficult job, the human condition hasn't changed in centuries, 15 manufactures 25 different models, changed on a yearly basis, you tell me who has the more difficult job, and the doctor gets all the info he wishes, for free, mechanics need to research it and in most cases pay for it. Scan tools may point you in the right direction but they DO NOT fix cars, Stop your whining and pay up just like i do! Also remember techs are the lowest paid professionals out there, plumbers make more and they do, one thing only! Welders get paid more and they do one thing only! Electricians get paid more and they do one thing only! Most repairs could be cheaper but YOU decide when you go to the shop, not the tech, so when you delay, your writing your own expensive bill, Stop blaming techs for manufacturers making space shuttles out of your gocart, it was designed by Little Tykes, manufactred by Fisher Price and assembled by FORD GM, OR CHRYSLER,, all 3 make nothing, they assemble only!!Think People!

Hi I have found a great repair garage and have been going to them faithfully for over 30 years. They sell vehicles too and I have bought a few cars from them over the years. The mechanics are like family and do not get you to have this and have that. They tell you what the problem is or what they think it is, whether you do need the work done or not - they do not push the work onto you. I asked about a brake job and was told your brakes are fine, still got 70% wear left on them. Why pay for something not needed till another year or so? Great guys, great boss. Gurton's Garage in east Saanich, on the Saanich Peninsula, BC.