Did I get ripped off

[zapper]

I thought I might get a new key for the VS as the open button looks worn,so I rang the local lock smith and he said it would be $120….So I get there and he says its too worn down to copy did I have the key number.i said no.he asked for the windscreen sec number and made a phone call in front of me and got a return number.then said now its $160..thought it was a bit rich..

[Dragz]

lmao yes it is a rip off

[Skitz]

Considering you could have looked around,yes I think he may have saw you coming.

[minux]

Wait, wait, wait. You happily paid for a service to fix a problem. Were you unhappy with that service? Does not sound like it, so how is it a rip off? Paying too much for a good service that you are happy with does not constitute a rip off.

[zapper]

OK lets put it this way:What have other people (you) paid for a key…..

[quick308]

i define a rip off being anything that has been over prised. service has nothin to do with it

[r_i_d_a_h]

Mister Minit usually does Commodore Key copies for $120, there was a special in certain shopping malls for $100. Just give him the key and he'll cut and download the code into the new key, no need to go to the fuss of finding your commodores key code.

when you say, 'he said the key was too worn down', did he mean that the battery was gonskies?

[Shounak]

i define a rip off being anything that has been over prised. service has nothin to do with it

Bull****. Every good or service has a price and if they are overpriced, the price will be driven down by consumers not willing to spend extra for nothing.

If you're getting something extra for the added price, you could be happy to pay the premium. Businesses can only charge what people are willing to pay. If the business did something unconscionable, then that's a seperate issue.

But if the business gives a price and says "take it or leave it", it's all in the consumers hands.

Example. Holden charge $105 an hour for labour whereas most workshops charge about $66. Does that make Holden over priced? No. Because for that extra money you're paying for a nice lounge, your own service advisor, coffee machine, courtesy drop off , knowing that the manufacturer is working on your car (people who should in theory know all about the car).

People are happy to pay the extra. If people weren't, Holden service would either go out of business or be forced to lower their prices.

That's how businesses work. No business can survive in the long term by offering an overpriced good service (unless there's a monopoly or a strong market inefficient)

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

If what you payed for doesn't work then you have been ripped, if it works then it's a case of remorse that you weren't smart enough to shop around.

[Shounak]

If what you payed for doesn't work then you have been ripped, if it works then it's a case of remorse that you weren't smart enough to shop around.

Or he was happy to pay the extra so he wouldn't have to shop around.

If someone had of told you at the time that you could've got it done for $140. Would you be happy to go home, ring around for half an hour, spend another half an hour getting there (petrol and time costs), in order to save $20.

Realistically, it would probably eat up a few hours of your time. If you only value your time at $10 an hour, I've got a few things I need done around my house. I'll pay cash.

[jules]

any time a price rises above that quoted, the vendor should seek your permission before doing the work that incurs the extra charge.

prices shouldn't magically rise, even if there was work involved to justify it.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Or he was happy to pay the extra so he wouldn't have to shop around.

If someone had of told you at the time that you could've got it done for $140. Would you be happy to go home, ring around for half an hour, spend another half an hour getting there (petrol and time costs), in order to save $20.

Realistically, it would probably eat up a few hours of your time. If you only value your time at $10 an hour, I've got a few things I need done around my house. I'll pay cash.

But thats my point, he was happy to get it done for that price on the spot. If not, then he would have stayed home and made a few calls before going anywhere. If price was an important part of your decision on where to get something done, then you would do your homework first.

[Reaper]

i define a rip off being anything that has been over prised. service has nothin to do with it

1. If you agree on a price, the vendor carries out a service (or whatever) at or above the agreed standard) then you have no right to bitch about the price afterwards. If you don't like the price then go elsewhere.

2. Service has everything to do with it. My company is not the cheapest around (in our industry) and we value our very loyal customer base who also know we aren't the cheapest around but for them our service is worth way more than the money. Further more, by your logic, we should all be driving Hyundai (and the like) crap boxes as they are cheaper than Commodores etc.

Reaper

[Billo55]

I got mine done by a locksmith on beaufort street in Perth (for any Perthians) for 60 bux....down near the hire shop close to Morley...i thought that was pretty cheap hey =)

[Reaper]

any time a price rises above that quoted, the vendor should seek your permission before doing the work that incurs the extra charge.

prices shouldn't magically rise, even if there was work involved to justify it.

If the vendor quoted a specific job and when you come to do the job it changes then they have every right to recover their extra costs. Of course the prudent thing to do is warn the customer first if that is at all possible. Other things such as significant price rises (without warning) on bought in items are also justifiable. Of course warning the customer before going ahead should happen whenever possible.

Reaper

[minux]

Unless a quote is signed off on paper then the business can change price as it see's fit.

Even while building our house people would verbal quote, at times it was 2k more than quoted at other times 2k less.

Quotes really do not mean a thing a unless they are on paper and signed and even than most quotes have a subject to change clause for obvious reasons.

[jules]

If the vendor quoted a specific job and when you come to do the job it changes then they have every right to recover their extra costs. Of course the prudent thing to do is warn the customer first if that is at all possible. Other things such as significant price rises (without warning) on bought in items are also justifiable. Of course warning the customer before going ahead should happen whenever possible.

Reaper

the real issue is when you've specifically asked the vendor to contact you for permission before raising the price. (which you should always do)

if they agree, then shaft you by not doing so, it doesn't matter about the reasons for increasing the price (and the ones you've listed are good reasons), you can refuse to pay the price.

the problem is it can become a mess after that point, particularly if they've got your car for example. that doesn't make their actions lawful though.

[Spaced]

New key head from mister minit cost me 65, or 2 was 120. Full key cut was less than $100 and that was the standard price.

If you paid the price before shopping around I hate to say its your own fault. You still had the right to cancel the transaction there and then.

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Did he do the job then tell you how much it was? Or did he tell you before he did it?

[quick308]

1. If you agree on a price, the vendor carries out a service (or whatever) at or above the agreed standard) then you have no right to bitch about the price afterwards. If you don't like the price then go elsewhere.

2. Service has everything to do with it. My company is not the cheapest around (in our industry) and we value our very loyal customer base who also know we aren't the cheapest around but for them our service is worth way more than the money. Further more, by your logic, we should all be driving Hyundai (and the like) crap boxes as they are cheaper than Commodores etc.

Reaper

1. if they already carry out a service of course i dont have a right to bitch about it. cause iv seen tha prise and gone ahead with it. thats jus common sense. i call about 5 different places and if they r about the same price then i will make a disision which one i wld be goin to.

2. i know now i was wrong when i said service had nothen to do with it. but if there were two companies and one had resonable service and the other one had really good service. but the one with really good service had double the price and the job was jus as good i know which one i wld be goin for. its a money savin thing not all of us have money to throw away. and how has driven hyundai's instead of commodores relavent. it depends what u want in a car. i know i wld not be runnin as good as times as everyone else down tha quatre if i owned a hyundai. or in other ppl cases be able to tow a resonable sized boat or a trailer with a big load. what a stupid statement. buyin a car their are other things to consider then the prise to run it or the prise they r sellen it for.

[zapper]

I would like to say that I’m not bitching about this.i was asking was I ripped off on the price they had charged compared to other people getting a second complete key.The shop had to make a phone call to probably holdens to get a key cutting number that he said he gets charged for and charges me $40 extra above the $120 quoted over the phone.this technology in unlock/lock doors via a key is not cheap.i only needed for some one to say yeah that’s the going price these days or you were ripped of by eg:$50 compared to what most off us pay..see not so hard a question??

[Reaper]

and how has driven hyundai's instead of commodores relavent. it depends what u want in a car. i know i wld not be runnin as good as times as everyone else down tha quatre if i owned a hyundai. or in other ppl cases be able to tow a resonable sized boat or a trailer with a big load. what a stupid statement. buyin a car their are other things to consider then the prise to run it or the prise they r sellen it for.

The analogy is very relevant. The crux of your argument was price is king over everything else. I suggested that analogy to point out how stupid your argument was. I'm glad you agree.

Reaper

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

I would like to say that I’m not bitching about this.i was asking was I ripped off on the price they had charged compared to other people getting a second complete key.The shop had to make a phone call to probably holdens to get a key cutting number that he said he gets charged for and charges me $40 extra above the $120 quoted over the phone.this technology in unlock/lock doors via a key is not cheap.i only needed for some one to say yeah that’s the going price these days or you were ripped of by eg:$50 compared to what most off us pay..see not so hard a question??

It is an inherent human trait to say you were ripped off no matter what price you paid. There will always be someone who got it cheaper. If you felt the price was a bit steep, say something before the job gets done. Otherwise, you paid the asking price, you got the intended goods and service you paid for, so, no, you were not ripped off.

[benjiaka]

I would like to say that I’m not bitching about this.i was asking was I ripped off on the price they had charged compared to other people getting a second complete key.The shop had to make a phone call to probably holdens to get a key cutting number that he said he gets charged for and charges me $40 extra above the $120 quoted over the phone.this technology in unlock/lock doors via a key is not cheap.i only needed for some one to say yeah that’s the going price these days or you were ripped of by eg:$50 compared to what most off us pay..see not so hard a question??

Don't worry mate, they have a lend of everyone.