mechanics ripping off girls...

[Kaitlin]

Today I called a well known suspension specialist in my area and asked about getting my car lowered and wheel alignment. I was quoted $400 all up and I was supplying the springs... I then had to wake my boyfriend up (he does night shift!) just so that he could call around for me because apparently as soon as they hear a female voice they assume we don't know what a fair price is. I now have it booked in elsewhere for a total price of $155. Has anyone else had this problem?! I find it really annoying and this is not the first time this has happened!!

[Crisis63]

While in many cases true, don’t feel too bad. Guys get ripped off too. It does pay to at least get a few quotes.

[acarmody]

Is the 'well known suspension specialist' Pedders? Because they don't discriminate, they rip everyone off.

[Clutchy]

Did you get ya boyfriend to ring back the place you got the 400 doller quote from and see what price they give him ?

[Full Spectrum]

Is the 'well known suspension specialist' Pedders? Because they don't discriminate, they rip everyone off.

Good call.

[Hangman]

Did you get ya boyfriend to ring back the place you got the 400 doller quote from and see what price they give him ?

This. If you haven't then do it, just to see.

[monkeys437]

I think mechanics quote rip off prices to anyone who they perceive as not knowing that much about cars. The other day my brothers missus got stung a bit much to fix a minor overheating issue. Before they picked up her car my brother who knows only the very basics about cars called me and I talked him through common faults with the cooling system, what process they should go through to test what they should have tested, and how long it should all take. He walks in full of confidence and starts talking like and expert and asking the right questions and they took $40bucks off the price they told his missus.

[acarmody]

I think mechanics quote rip off prices to anyone who they perceive as not knowing that much about cars. The other day my brothers missus got stung a bit much to fix a minor overheating issue. Before they picked up her car my brother who knows only the very basics about cars called me and I talked him through common faults with the cooling system, what process they should go through to test what they should have tested, and how long it should all take. He walks in full of confidence and starts talking like and expert and asking the right questions and they took $40bucks off the price they told his missus.

Agree.

If you want in to a mechainc and say this is happening, fix it, prepare to be taken for a ride.

If you go in and say my car is doing this, these are all the symptoms, I think it may be this this or this, these are the previous faults that may be correlated, can you have a look at it. Your probably going to come out better. Up until you piss the mechanic off by trying to make him look like hes incompetent, or telling him how to do his job, mechanics hate that.

[Full Spectrum]

One place it happened to me. The very first time i went in i was after something to fix the fuel gauge but had other stuff that had to be done first. I was new to the VT and was quoted about $550 to replace the fuel pump and have the system reset and bla bla and god knows. By the time i got around to replacing the fuel pump i had worked out what model had what and the issues that many have faced being common faults. So when i went back i knew what had to be done and the difference between VT series 1 and 2 units and Holden had changed all pumps and sender units to the one unit not individual parts. Cost me almost half that in the end. They do smell car knowledge and lack of it.

[someguy360]

It is true some dodgy mechanics will take advantage of women....I always get my misses to ring up and get a price on her car then I go down and say its mine and ask what they will do it for......the difference in $$ is ridiculous.

[GothicKidd]

Is the 'well known suspension specialist' Pedders? Because they don't discriminate, they rip everyone off.

I could say the almost same thing about holdens IMO.

[Hangman]

I've had the opposite happen, was for a part though, not actual work.

Mrs rang a well known commodore shop about a door mirror for my old VR and got quoted one price, then I went in to buy it but didn't mention the phone call and it was $10 dearer. Until I asked him what the go was...Must have liked my mrs voice or something

[DAKSTER]

I go into a mechanics and ask them whats wrong with my car. I give them a minimum of information and let them go from there.

If what they are suggesting makes sense to me, then they get the job. I may be no expert but I know enough to know if something seems right or not.

If I dont understand what they are telling me, or I know little about cars, I think I would go to more than one mechanic, telling them as little as possible, and seeing what they all come up with. If they all agree, then you can be sure its probably correct.

Go into a workshop with a noisy tappet and tell him your engine is dying you need a new one, he will quote and fit a new one. Go in and say what the hell is that noise, and he will tell you its a tappet and it will cost X dollars to fix.

Its just stupid to go and ask a pro whats wrong with your car whilst telling him. If you already know, dont ask. If you're sure its a tappet.. just tell him to fix the tappets, dont ask him anything. If you arent sure, shut up and ask him what he thinks the noise is.

If you genuinely have any mechanical knowledge, you'll be able to figure out if his opinion is plausible.

[Tim Smtih]

I'm pretty sure my missus has bigger balls then i do, not many people fudge with her. Although when we went to buy the ute she called up and i tagged along for the ride. We turn up and the sales guy had gone home despite the appointment she had made, on top of that they didn't have the model we were after. So we had to pace around the back of the sales yard looking for something similar. We found it after ten odd minutes and they couldn't open it, no keys apparently. They did have one in their other yard across the road but it was locked up. I kinda feel sorry for the guy that had to cover for the other git, i was raging big time. They promised to throw in tinting and a ful tank of petrol, but still wouldn't have the ute in for another week. We ended up going to another dealership and had the paperwork signed and the ute within five working days.

[HamaTime™]

It's normal but it's not just ripping off girls.

Shop around and get a few prices. I had my VS lowered with a full wheel alignment for $400 including the cost of springs.

But to put it in perspective I rang two places to get quotes on fitting extractors, one place quoted $350, other place $150. I rang the $350 place back as it was closer and asked them what $350 entailed, said a couple of hours work to fit them and that's it, so I said I got quoted $150 from another shop, price match or I'm going there. He refused, so he lost the job. Bad luck.

People always try and rip you off, so if you don't have a good mechanical or price range knowledge, shop around, or do your homework so at least you have peace of mind that your car is in good hands and you're not paying for a long time loving all weekend and only ending up getting a handjob on the front doorstep.

[m1lky]

I find the opposite on small things. I send the gf down and they often do it for free. Got all 4 wheels balanced for free the other day.

But I find as above if you know what your talking about they don't take you for such a ride. Dropping your car at the mechanic to 'fix' a problem is like writing a blank cheque.

[Jonno]

my mums mechanic does it too her all the time

but she 'trusts him and doesnt want to go anywhere else'

its absoloute bullshit and she wont listen too me

lol

[Kaitlin]

Well see, I was only calling up to get front spring put in and a wheel alignment. He told me that he had to put the back in (which my boyfriend can do for free!). I knew the price was way too much as my partner has had fronts put in for $80 and no way is a wheel alignment $320!! I now have to go to two places. One to get the springs in and another for the alignment. I don't mind though as I am saving a bucket load.

But this has happened multiple times. Once when I wanted my spoiler removed, holes welded up and a boot respray. This dodgy guy quoted me $550 just to have the spoiler removed and the holes plugged!!! Went somewhere else and was quoted $600 for the whole lot. I might be a little young lady but I definitely am not about to be taken for a ride. And don't get me wrong, I have had a couple of tiny little things done for free. But when i have been given an absurd price for something that I know shouldn't cost that much, I get a little bit angry.

Also don't know how to quote people but yes the place beginning with 'p' was the culprit. But I thought they'd be good because they've done work to my partners clubsport for a reasonable price.

[Blown V6 Hatch]

Ahhh, yet another mechanic bashing thread, here we go again. If you all know so much or think you're getting ripped blind, why don't you do it yourself?

On the other hand, i love customers that "self diagnose", that makes my day

[Grennan]

I could say the almost same thing about holdens IMO.

That doesnt make any sense.

Holdens dont let girls drive them?

When I take my car anywhere, they see my Burson badge hanging from the mirror and all of a sudden shit is about half the price :P

[Bravotwozero]

To the OP. Just show some jubs and pout.

[HamaTime™]

When I take my car anywhere, they see my Burson badge hanging from the mirror and all of a sudden shit is about half the price :P

Mad ####

Got to get me one of those

[Kaitlin]

Ah no. Not just another mechanic bashing thread... As I stated, I got it cheaper elsewhere. So not ALL mechanics are rip offs. But I do find that when it comes to girls or as stated above, people who arent quite sure of what the problem is a majority of them are...
And as for, 'do it yourself' I thought that's why mechanics did their certs and whatnot? So that other people didn't have to do it themselves?

[greenacc]

Its just a dollars game. If they get 2 customers paying $400 for a $200 job its easy money compared to doing 4 cars at $200.
$155 sounds very cheap tho ... i'd be sceptical about the quality of their work. While the springs are out it usually pays to replace strut tops at the same time.

[Kaitlin]

Yeah my partner found his Monroe shocks that still have the springs in them so going to call in the morning and see if they can chuck them in too how excitement!!