Did I Get Ripped off by The Mechanic?

Big-Smoke23 on 18/05/2022 - 18:10
Last edited 18/05/2022 - 18:12

Hey guys, I just had my car recently serviced at a local mechanic. I bought it second hand and the previous owner said he serviced the car on his own. I bought a groupon voucher for an essential service and a pink slip which was 109$. The mechanic told me that for the car to pass the pink slip I'd need to do at least 550$ worth of repairs on top of the price of the voucher. This is my first car and I have no idea about cars so I took his word but now looking through the tax invoice, I feel like I got ripped off hard. Here are all the services listed on the invoice, please let me know if I just got ripped off or not with these services. Located in Sydney. Number of the left side is quantity and the right number is total price for the service

MINOR A SERVICE
This minor maintenance service includes safety inspection, labour to replace engine oil, engine oil filter, check & top up all service fluids. comprehensive underbody & under bonnet check including brakes.
steering & suspension, tire condition & pressure check,
check lights, wiper &. washer operation, battery test, road test & report

MO-1040 VALVOLINE SYNTHETIC VPS VO-25 4.20 9.50
VO-25 ENGINE OIL FILTER 1 9.10
ZLEVY WASTE MANAGEMENT FEE 5.00
ZSUNDRIES SUNDRY WORKSHOP SUPPLIES 1.00 5.00
LMAINT SERVICE LABOUR - MAINTENANCE 1.00 30.00
Sub Tot. 89.00
'
REGO SERVICE CHARGE - REGO CHECK 1 16.00
ZSUNDRIES NEW ENGINE SUMP PLUG & WASHER 1.00 35.00
.WIPEFUNSERT WIPER BLADES NARROW FITTED 2 15.00
LMA1NT MAJOR ENGINE DEGREASE 1.00 110.00
DBI416-GCT BEND1X GCT DISC PAD SET REAR 1 145.00
LB1',KE SUPPLY FIT REAR BRAKE PADS 1.00 55.00
/LBRAKE MACHINE REAR DISCS 1.00 55.00
&BRAKE PERFORM BRAKE FLUID FLUSH 1.00 65.00
LBRAKE CLEAN & ADJUST REAR HAND BRAKE 1.00 55.00

CAR WILL REQURE NEXT TIME OIL
0IL FILTER
OIL FLUSH
OIL SUMP PLUG & WASHER CLEAN AIR & CABIN FILTERS CLEAN ENGINE INTAKE & CABIN HVAC
ROTATE CROSS & BALLANCE X4 TYRES
APPROX COST @ TIME $310

Automotive

Comments

  • Bid Sniper on 18/05/2022 - 18:15
    +2

    Welcome to used car ownership

    • HeWhoKnows on 19/05/2022 - 20:17
      +1

      As we know nothing about the car nor its condition nobody is in a position to comment
      This applies especially to OP who may have bought a lemon

      Furthermore dwelling over the past which cannot be changed is rather fruitless

      Id say to OP to move on if you are not comfortable with your chosen mechanic regardless of what peoiple say here

      As a rule of thumb in future, get a second opinion when it comes to pink slips, when a list of repairs suddenly is presented to you.
      Too late now

      And another Rule of thumb…

      DO NOT USE CAPITALS!
      CAPITALS ARE WAY TOO HARD TO READ SO I DIDNT BOTHER
      How many others feel the same way?

  • SBOB on 18/05/2022 - 18:15
    +21

    bought a groupon voucher

    I already know the answer………

    • Big-Smoke23 on 18/05/2022 - 18:17

      don't hold it at against me lol

      • tonyjzx on 18/05/2022 - 21:24
        +2

        theyre kind of holding the pink slip over you

        you dont say what kind of car but realistically any 2nd hand car that has miles even as low as 60,000 can require a fair load of shit to get it to pass

        i feel like this mechanic is not even trying to establish repeat business but i'd just pay all this and go and try to find someone less mercenary but eh… par for the course for many outlets especially bloody groupon assholes

  • apsilon on 18/05/2022 - 18:18
    +4

    Does sound like a scam to get people in and hook them for work to pass rego but at the same time, are you sure all that brake work (which I assume is the bulk of the extra charges?) wasn't required. You said the previous owner serviced it themselves. That doesn't mean they know what they're doing or they didn't cut corners or were just saying that to explain why the log book hadn't been filled out and wasn't servicing it at all.

    • Big-Smoke23 on 18/05/2022 - 18:21

      that makes sense but i'm also trying to figure out if the prices for these services are normal or if I got ripped off

      • apsilon on 18/05/2022 - 18:37
        +2

        Yeah, some of the prices are high. I initially thought they may have been adding labour on to the prices but if you look at the brake pads for example, that set is ~$75 retail. $145 inc labour wouldn't be outrageous but then there's also a $55 charge to fit them.

        • megadeth on 18/05/2022 - 19:26

          Think it’s front and rear $145 is possibly for two sets

          • apsilon on 18/05/2022 - 19:29

            @megadeth: I think the 1 before the $145 is the quantity. If you look at the wipers there's a 2. It'd still only be front or rear as a set only does 1 caliper.

            • megadeth on 18/05/2022 - 19:31

              @apsilon: Hmm… RRP for pads is $82, $145 seems to have included a fat margin. I rarely buy them at RRP and believe most DIYers don’t.

      • Never Pay RRP on 19/05/2022 - 12:15
        +4

        I'm not a mechanic so take what I say with a grain of salt.
        The entire first section seems to be what should have been covered by your voucher (essential service). I.e. it reads like an oil change, and the associated costs of the oil change. Rego check presumably is the pink slip, so this should also be covered.
        You can get wiper blades on your own, but the price doesn't seem that bad for these.
        I've never heard of MAJOR ENGINE DEGREASE being a requirement for rego, so this charge/work is probably unnecessary.
        For the brakes, you can go to a different mechanic and check to see if they really require replacement (and then get another quote).
        I had a terrible experience at a Kia dealership, where they told me that my brakes had only 1% left on them, and needed urgent replacement, and they quoted me around $2000 (there were some other things included in the quote). I got a quote from my local mechanic who did all the work for around $500, and I subsequently asked him how urgent the brake replacements were, and he said there was around 10% left. So don't feel pressured to get work done at the original place, they will highball their quote to see if you are too lazy/time poor to quote around

  • bobbified on 18/05/2022 - 18:21
    +1

    I bought a groupon voucher for an essential service and a pink slip which was 109$.

    The cheaper voucher price is to draw you in. You save money for one thing, but they'll get you to spend it on another. They have to make money somehow - either by jacking up the price or adding unnecessary items.

  • Drakesy on 18/05/2022 - 18:22
    +4

    Doesn't sound too bad.
    TBH the only thing i'd query is why they're machining brake discs when you've had them replaced in the same sitting.

    LMAINT SERVICE LABOUR - MAINTENANCE 1.00 30.00
    REGO SERVICE CHARGE - REGO CHECK 1 16.00
    Also sounds like they're double dipping on their groupon voucher tbh.

    • jackary on 18/05/2022 - 18:25

      My interpretation is that only the pads were replaced. Discs machined, pads replaced

      • Drakesy on 18/05/2022 - 18:27
        +1

        They did charge for this
        DBI416-GCT BEND1X GCT DISC PAD SET REAR 1 145.00

        Which is a disc pad set which is what i'd be querying.
        Unless they only changed one side which would be very strange.

        But you could be right. $145 for pads is up there

        • jackary on 18/05/2022 - 18:28
          +1

          Call me daft, but I can’t for the life of me work out what you’re trying to say…

          It’s a set - why would one side be replaced? It’s 2 brake pads in a box, both the rear pads were replaced. The discs were machined too. That’s it.

          • Drakesy on 18/05/2022 - 18:29
            -1

            @jackary: You have 3 line items,
            1 for discs
            1 for pads
            1 for machining replaced discs?
            DBI416-GCT BEND1X GCT DISC PAD SET REAR 1 145.00
            LB1',KE SUPPLY FIT REAR BRAKE PADS 1.00 55.00
            /LBRAKE MACHINE REAR DISCS 1.00 55.00

            • oscargamer on 18/05/2022 - 18:30
              +3

              @Drakesy: They replaced the pads not the discs

            • jackary on 18/05/2022 - 18:35
              +3

              @Drakesy:

              DBI416-GCT BEND1X GCT DISC PAD SET REAR 1 145.00

              A set of 2 brake pads

              LB1',KE SUPPLY FIT REAR BRAKE PADS 1.00 55.00

              The cost of fitting 2 brake pads

              /LBRAKE MACHINE REAR DISCS 1.00 55.00

              The cost of machining the brake discs

        • gbarlett on 19/05/2022 - 08:23
          -1

          $145 sounds right when you include Bendix pads, about $80 to $90 from some retailers for the pads and $60 labour which would cover about 45mins.

          • Geoff01 on 19/05/2022 - 08:37
            +1

            @gbarlett: But they charged 55 on top for fitting

            • gbarlett on 19/05/2022 - 10:59

              @Geoff01: well that is way above retail, when i saw the price thought it included labour.
              then well yes, to answer OPs question, you are being ripped off.

      • Big-Smoke23 on 18/05/2022 - 18:30

        yea only the rear pads were replaced and the discs were cleaned

        • Drakesy on 18/05/2022 - 18:32

          Ok then
          Fair enough
          Depending on the car $200 installed for a pair of pads could.be steep

          • Big-Smoke23 on 18/05/2022 - 19:30

            @Drakesy: how much should it normally cost you reckon? my car is 2003 lexus is200

          • megadeth on 18/05/2022 - 19:35
            +1

            @Drakesy: I’ve once paid $400 for this to my Toyota dealership for front pads changed. Never went back there.

    • Dslrfirst on 19/05/2022 - 09:35

      Why "TBH" ?

      • yah00 on 23/05/2022 - 12:43

        this is to let people know that he/she is telling lies

  • oscargamer on 18/05/2022 - 18:24
    +3

    Yep, you got ripped.

    • oscargamer on 18/05/2022 - 18:30
      +11

      Negged?
      Ok
      $35 for sump plug and $110 for a degrease, how is that not ripped?

      • donga100 on 18/05/2022 - 19:38
        +2

        Got ripped a bit on those two items, the rest seems about right.

      • Toph Beifong on 18/05/2022 - 22:17
        +1

        Exactly a can of degreaser costs $2. A hose with water and done. With all the corruption that goes on in this industry, I wouldn't be surprised if the sump plug and washer were not even changed

  • Andy22 on 18/05/2022 - 18:25
    +3

    $35 for the SUMP PLUG & WASHER is excessive.
    Do the rear discs look like new?

    • MS Paint on 18/05/2022 - 19:11
      +1

      Not for a Mercedes Benz. Isn't that the ozbargain goto car now?

      Well that's what recent automotive forum posts have lead me to believe.

  • CheapandUsed on 18/05/2022 - 19:07
    +2

    LMA1NT MAJOR ENGINE DEGREASE 1.00 110.00

    I just googled this as it stands out as the equivalent of blinker fluid and sure enough the results are basically wd40 and a cloth.

    • MS Paint on 18/05/2022 - 19:13
      +3

      More like degreaser and a pressure wash. Typically a great job for the 1st year apprentice on $15ph.

    • Big-Smoke23 on 18/05/2022 - 19:30

      i figured as much :(

      • mapax on 18/05/2022 - 19:38

        If they did a full steam degrease with it on a hoist it’s not a bad price.

      • CheapandUsed on 19/05/2022 - 08:23
        +2

        Might not be all bad. If the entire engine bay is clean now it could help identify any leaks (oil or other) so you can address it whilst it is a minor problem.

        Plus with the list of what they think needs doing next service you can call around and try to find a decent mechanic.

  • Ocker on 18/05/2022 - 19:36
    +3

    Such Groupon offerings fall into the category of bait advertising..
    In reality even to perform the services included in the coupon sale is toppish. Certainly over the breakeven price for the providers.
    As with any scam, once they have you in their claws they try to up-sell for unneeded services by fear.
    Groupon itself is a mighty scam.

  • megadeth on 18/05/2022 - 19:38
    +7

    Mechanics are putting a nail in their coffins with such pricing. This ripoff actually turned me into a DIY mechanic for my own cars about 10 years ago.

  • forged on 18/05/2022 - 19:46

    It's perhaps a little on the high side, but I wouldn't call it a rip-off. Oil/filter change, pair of brake pads, and a couple of bits and pieces would be at most $150 in materials… sure makes DIY attractive if you've got the time for it.

    Mechanics can be expensive. I paid $1700 to replace my air con compressor a few months back, and that was one of the better prices I could find…

    • SBOB on 18/05/2022 - 20:01
      +1

      I paid $1700 to replace my air con compressor a few months back, and that was one of the better prices I could find…

      similar, which annoyed me even more when i found out what the trade price on a compressor was

      • enzioFirenze on 18/05/2022 - 20:33

        did you supply the compressor?

    • MS Paint on 18/05/2022 - 20:42

      Compressor only or condenser, tx valve etc as well?

      • forged on 18/05/2022 - 23:21
        +1

        Compressor only. Price for the part itself varies from $500-1100 depending on the supplier; according to the mechanic it cost him ~$900 to get one in from a local supplier, which seemed reasonable. Around $150 was for regas, and the other $650 for labour.

  • 7ekn00 on 18/05/2022 - 20:07
    +3

    Saw a Pompus Lexus owner coming, get used to it, the more of a show boat brand, the more a mechanic knows they can take you for a ride :P

    • MS Paint on 18/05/2022 - 20:44
      +2

      But it's literally a $6k car and was about $5k pre covid.

      • 7ekn00 on 18/05/2022 - 20:57
        +2

        More about the people attracted to those brands than anything else .. got a few wrench monkey mates, they love when they see BMW, Merc, Lexus and Audi drivers book a car in, their response when challenged on charges is always "well it is a <xxx> brand car, and parts for that aren't cheap" :/

        • tonyjzx on 18/05/2022 - 21:28
          +1

          what i found that if you're a moron walking in with a relatively flash car and esp. if you're female then expect to get hung out to dry

          i have one mech i really trust and i work with guys who are mechanics or they can recommended someone who they trust, invariably might even be related

          i trust this more than some groupon scammer… given that the mechanic outlet has to pay a campaign fee and whatnot to even get to be listed on a groupon deal… and its expensive

          so where are they recouping costs??? you got it… Lexus owners like the OP

    • brendanm on 18/05/2022 - 22:32
      +1

      What. It's a 20 year old is200.

  • Axelstrife on 18/05/2022 - 20:47

    Not too bad, personally for older cars I do my own oil changes, oil filter changes and brake pads as they are single things and don’t take long to do. Maybe you’d wanna think about doing your own in the future especially with how old your car is to save some money.

  • brendanm on 18/05/2022 - 22:31
    +2

    You got ripped off, but should have known that when you purchased a "too good to be true" voucher from Groupon. Goon mechanics, who don't rip people off, have plenty of work, and don't need scamming Groupon vouchers to get it.

    • Big-Smoke23 on 18/05/2022 - 23:16

      yea judging by everyone's responses, a bit of an expensive lesson to learn but learned nonetheless. Gonna have to start DIY'ing some basic mechanical procedures and need to look for better mechanics

      • brendanm on 18/05/2022 - 23:19

        Don't go to any advertising on Groupon. The ones that don't have to advertise are the best generally, as they work on word of mouth, by doing good work.

  • acoma on 19/05/2022 - 08:55

    $ sign goes before the number.

  • ylukman on 19/05/2022 - 11:53

    Yep, got ripped. Perhaps can share the mechanic's name, store and location in private so I can avoid him? Thanks.

    • Big-Smoke23 on 19/05/2022 - 12:39
      +2

      this was in Midas Rockdale, don't make the mistakes i did

      • ylukman on 20/05/2022 - 09:35

        Noted and thank you.

  • Toph Beifong on 19/05/2022 - 11:56
    +1

    So over east, the mechanic can dangle a pink slip over your head and threaten not to renew it because the washer fluid is half empty?

    • brad1-8tsi on 19/05/2022 - 13:12
      +1

      No they can't.

      The OP shouldn't be asking here, they should be asking RMS

  • brad1-8tsi on 19/05/2022 - 13:10
    +1

    A lot of those items are not a pink slip requirement. In NSW the brakes just have to work. It doesn't matter if there's only 0.5mm of friction material left.

    eg:
    DBI416-GCT BEND1X GCT DISC PAD SET REAR 1 145.00
    LB1',KE SUPPLY FIT REAR BRAKE PADS 1.00 55.00
    /LBRAKE MACHINE REAR DISCS 1.00 55.00
    &BRAKE PERFORM BRAKE FLUID FLUSH 1.00 65.00

    The price isn't terrible and you've paid for it now so move on.

  • 82norm on 19/05/2022 - 13:23
    +1

    Major Engine degrease….what did they actually do here? That’s a scam in itself. Open the bonnet and I’d bet the engine bay is still dirty. At best they probably sprayed 10 seconds of degreaser and wiped it off.

    Depending on your car, check the cabin filter (glovebox) and see if it was really cleaned or replaced. Can do that yourself in future. If it’s dirty, they’ve done nothing.

    Unfortunately unless you can stay and watch what the do, mechanics can make up any sh1t they want and charge you for it. Unless you have some mechanical aptitude they’ll take you for a ride.

    • Big-Smoke23 on 19/05/2022 - 13:31
      +1

      can you believe the guy was gonna charge me extra for cleaning the air filter and cabin filter? he told me that he forgot that I wanted the minimum job because originally he told me it was gonna cost around 750$ and then later he told me, as the bare minimum for the car to pass rego i'd have to pay at least 550$ which apparently didn't include cleaning the filters. Apparently he forgot i wanted the "cheaper job" and he cleaned it anyways and called me lucky

      • BewareOfThe Dog on 19/05/2022 - 14:53
        +1

        A friend of mine who is a mechanic, said a lot of mechanics just shake all the dust out of the Air Filter, and put it back in (unless its really dirty)

  • Euphemistic on 19/05/2022 - 13:52
    +1

    Ripped off is a strong term for it.

    Did you pay a bit too much? Yes, a little over the going rate. Was it necessary to do all this work? Can’t say, but likely that the car could have carried on for a while longer without the work or not all of it needed doing immediately. Assuming the work was done properly it’s not a completely unfair bill.

    Learn a lesson or two. Groupon deal businesses often look for extra work to make up for the discount offered. You can say you don’t want that work done today and get a second opinion.

  • OzHunterNSW on 19/05/2022 - 15:37

    Listen carefully, the best purchase will be a "repair manual" possibly secondhand book shop.

    Learn how to fix and maintain the car YOURSELF.

    You don't need a mechanic to fill the oil, or water, or change washer wipers, or adjust your seat. Start learning - quick.

    It's not so much "did" but "will" forever… you got ripped off the moment you purchased the car.
    If you had little knowledge, you should have at least bought from a dealership -with warranty.

    Mechanics are going to rip you off….

    • Euphemistic on 19/05/2022 - 17:24
      +1

      Mechanics are going to rip you off…

      There are plenty of good mechanics out there. Unfortunately there’s plenty that will take advantage of inexperienced car owners and take the opportunity to earn a few extra $ by fixing things now that could last another 6-12 months.

      Mechanics that blatantly rip people off by charging for things that haven’t been done are not as common. Things like putting used oarts in and charging for new, or not completing work at all or the meme worthy changing blinker fluid.

      Learning about how cars work and what to look for can make the difference between getting charged too much and paying for reasonable work. .

  • xlimit on 24/05/2022 - 20:27
    +1

    Realistically, I'd say this is average pricing for a Sydney mechanic.

    If you step into an auto repair shop you have to expect they will try to overcharge somewhere. Working on cars is a thankless tiring job (parts seized together, dirty, over demanding customers expecting a service to be done in 10 mins etc) so the majority of mechanics will try to get an easy buck where they can. If you can't fix your own car then you'll have to suck these prices up. If you want to save on these costs then learn to service your own car.

    In saying that, if there's an overly time consuming or fiddly job I'd still get a mechanic to do it while I work etc. And even though I know how to fix my car and how much parts cost, I'll still find I'd be overcharge somewhere - It will either be more 'labor' or from them using unnecessary full priced OEM parts (+shipping).

    So no you weren't ripped off. This is the scene and what you SHOULD be expecting if you won't do it yourself (personally I get the "it took more time" as the most frequent justification). It's just a very pleasant rainbow unicorn should you manage to find someone who charges reasonable prices AND does a proper job (I always find cracked connectors or plastic covers because mechanics are always rushing).

  • fl360 on 26/05/2022 - 14:05

    $9.1 for an aftermarket engine oil filter - that's cheap!

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