Outrageous wipers-Chevy Sonic
Yesterday, had my 2012 Chevy Sonic (great toad) serviced at my favorite Chevy dealer and said to replace wipers. Got the bill-$72 for the pair of wipers and $8 to install. The service guy said I could...
Forum Discussion
I never let a dealer work on any of my vehicles. Warranty is about the only thing I'll let them do and I haven't bought a new vehicle in 30 years or so. The average car dealership doesn't make that much money off a car sold. The service department is what keeps the lights n and pays the mortgage.
I do buy some parts at the dealership but I put them on myself. I've worked on cars and trucks since I was 5, ran my own shop for a few years and still keep my hand in working on my own vehicles. granted, I haven't changed my own oil in 30 years since a friend owns an oil change place and he lets me walk underneath to inspect my under carriage. Plus, I don't have to dispose of waste oil.
Look at the shop rate for work. It's anywhere from $70 and up. high end dealerships charge over $100. Of that, the mechanic might get $20 if he's lucky. I know a bunch of indies who used to work at a dealership but wanted to make a better living.
Some of the dealers around here are pretty good about free advice and such. Others, one in particular, pull the same stunt as the OP got regularly. I bought a 30 year old Buick from an estate recently. Some of the receipts show outrageous prices charged to the elderly woman who used to own the car. The same dealer that did it kept telling my sister there wasn't anything wrong with the ignition on her car. An auto electric shop I finally got her to go to replaced the ignition switch (yes, it's in the recall) and it turned out the GM replacement was bad too. Repeated questions were met with "you'll have to make an appointment and there will be a charge for that".
On wiper blades, I replace mine twice a year. More often if ice damages one in the winter. A really good blade from Autozone runs around $12 and they will put it on if you ask. I save the blades I just took off and toss them in the trunk or behind the seat in case I get a bad one and I then have something to put on.
I do buy some parts at the dealership but I put them on myself. I've worked on cars and trucks since I was 5, ran my own shop for a few years and still keep my hand in working on my own vehicles. granted, I haven't changed my own oil in 30 years since a friend owns an oil change place and he lets me walk underneath to inspect my under carriage. Plus, I don't have to dispose of waste oil.
Look at the shop rate for work. It's anywhere from $70 and up. high end dealerships charge over $100. Of that, the mechanic might get $20 if he's lucky. I know a bunch of indies who used to work at a dealership but wanted to make a better living.
Some of the dealers around here are pretty good about free advice and such. Others, one in particular, pull the same stunt as the OP got regularly. I bought a 30 year old Buick from an estate recently. Some of the receipts show outrageous prices charged to the elderly woman who used to own the car. The same dealer that did it kept telling my sister there wasn't anything wrong with the ignition on her car. An auto electric shop I finally got her to go to replaced the ignition switch (yes, it's in the recall) and it turned out the GM replacement was bad too. Repeated questions were met with "you'll have to make an appointment and there will be a charge for that".
On wiper blades, I replace mine twice a year. More often if ice damages one in the winter. A really good blade from Autozone runs around $12 and they will put it on if you ask. I save the blades I just took off and toss them in the trunk or behind the seat in case I get a bad one and I then have something to put on.
