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.