Found out I Could Get Car Fixed Cheaper Elsewhere after I Agreed to Quote

Ash-Say on 16/11/2020 - 11:48
Last edited 16/11/2020 - 15:45 by 1 other user

I booked a car for brake fluid flush, however I found brake fluid leakage one side.

I brought it to the attention of the mechanic when I left car this morning. He showed me a cut on hose and stated it require replacement, and he can't let me drive the car because it's unsafe. Fair enough!

He gave me pricing and stated the car will be ready in next 4 hours.

Afterwards I rang couple of mechanics and they quoted me $115 less for the same fix. Overall they quoted $150 less including fluid flush. They stated the labour will be less as they would have already taken off the wheel for repair.

I also rang local Ford dealer who quoted me a price for a genuine part which was $40 less than what I was quoted by this mechanic.

Should I question mechanic when I go to pick up the car and ask for some discount?

Many thanks

Poll Options

  • 9
    Yes - mechanic is trying to take advantage
  • 94
    No - I already agreed to the pricing
Automotive

Comments

  • Euphemistic on 16/11/2020 - 12:07
    +20

    If you have already told him to go ahead with the work DON’T check other prices.

    • Ash-Say on 16/11/2020 - 12:12

      Yes I had no choice but to proceed, as he won't let me drive the car. Only option was to tow the car which was a hassle. That's said, I don't think it's fair to charge more than genuine part price. I don't know whether he is putting new genuine part. Even he put it new on a tax invoice, there is no way for me to check.

      I put it here, so I could see if someone would have approached it differently. $150 is fair bit of difference, however the majority of votes appear to suggest that I shouldn't bring it up.

      I will let it go.

      • Drakesy on 16/11/2020 - 12:21
        +2

        This is the price we pay for convenience unfortunately.
        He would've known the tow charge would've been that, however for the hassle and cost you would've come out on par.

        Personally i'd rather pay that then get a tow truck/waste a day.

      • Euphemistic on 16/11/2020 - 13:52
        +1

        Did you drove the car to the mechanic with functioning brakes? Can he really stop you from driving off again?

        End of day you had it booked in, you took it there for brake work and the mechanic performed due diligence and fixed your car.

        • Ash-Say on 16/11/2020 - 13:56

          I took the car there. I brought leaking fluid to their attention and they inspected to figure out the root cause.

          Anyways just picked up the car and paid the agreed price without argument.

        • brendanm on 16/11/2020 - 14:21

          Can he really stop you from driving off again?

          I'm not sure on the complete legality of everything, but I've had to tell people they are going to have to sign a waiver acknowledging that their vehicle is extremely dangerous and shouldn't be on the road before. Only had to happen a couple of times luckily, and they both had the repairs done instead.

          • Brian McGee on 16/11/2020 - 15:43

            @brendanm: You cannot enforce signing a waiver to release a car either. All you can do is write it down and make the appropriate notes, e.g:
            On your R/O (spoke to Mr X at 11;30am and they declined the repair of leaking brake hose). That way phone records can be audited if required.
            Printed on the invoice and highlighted that you brought to the attention of the customer.

            • brendanm on 16/11/2020 - 16:08

              @Brian McGee: Who says you can't? If they had left like that I would have called the cops and informed them anyway.

              • Brian McGee on 16/11/2020 - 16:43
                -2

                @brendanm: Nice one nark. So why don't you ask them to sign and then call the cops anyway?
                You really know how to treat your customers right.
                You are not part of the law (police,judiciary) so you have no legal force to have someone sign a disclaimer/waiver (possibly you could have your legal department draw this up for the Ts&Cs on the acknowledgment on the RO), but try enforcing that to someone that has just paid you for the services agreed too. You have no legal power after that transaction.

                • pegaxs on 16/11/2020 - 17:03
                  +4

                  @Brian McGee: Nark? What is this, kindergarten?

                  Legally the vehicle is not road worthy and letting someone take the car in that condition would absolutely come back to bite you on the arse if they drove out of the driveway and into the path of an oncoming truck.

                  I would absolutely keep a customer's car and not let them take it until such time as the problem was rectified or it was leaving on the back of a flat bed tow truck. I would be happy to chat to the police if the customer called them and explain how the vehicle is not only un-roadworthy, but a death trap waiting to happen.

                  I would and have in the past held vehicles for similar gross safety issues and made them sign the invoice to say they have read and understand that consequences for driving the vehicle.

                  So, while ever I can be sued for your stupidity, even after being told it has no brakes, don't think you are getting your car back without either signing that you know it is a death trap and are taking it anyway, or, you are loading it onto a flat bed.

                • brendanm on 16/11/2020 - 17:23
                  +7

                  @Brian McGee: So you'd be happy for someone with no brakes to be driving around on the road?

                  First instance I had to do this was a BMW with baby seat in the back, shock had punched through the strut top mad was falling around, and wheel bearing had collapsed.

                  Second instance was a company work can that some poor employee had to drive, tyres were through to the steel belts, one side of the rear brakes was so far worn that the pad had fallen out, and the caliper piston was doing the braking. Guy that owned the company wanted to just put it back together as he had work to do, I told him no, he is not only putting his employee at risk, but everyone else on the road.

                  I won't have some selfish person put everyone else in danger. If that makes me a nark, or a bad person, I honestly couldn't care less.

                  • Brian McGee on 16/11/2020 - 23:08

                    @brendanm: I didn’t say I was happy with it, but you have no legal right to have the owner sign anything or deny them of their vehicle if they have paid all outstanding invoices. What you have done in the past does not make a legal precedence.
                    The company car driver should refuse to operate the vehicle in such an unroadworthy condition, but that is between him and their boss.

                    • brendanm on 17/11/2020 - 07:18

                      @Brian McGee: Are you sure there is no legal right?

                      • Zachary on 19/11/2020 - 02:08

                        @brendanm: My mechanic teacher told me that if a customer came in with a bald tyre(or any other issues) that was obviously illegal and non road worthy and they didnt want to replace it or had no money to replace it, then you can't not let them go. You've already told them its a safety convern and for whatever reasons they don't/can't fix it, you just have to let them go…and be on their way…..blank-404 is kinda right in this scenario…

      • kanmen on 16/11/2020 - 14:14
        +1

        There's a chance the tow truck would have cost more than the difference here so really you could have come out on top anyway.

  • TheBilly on 16/11/2020 - 12:15
    +5

    $100 difference in price is not a large amount

    The other thing is if you get a quote off somebody on the phone, they always quote cheap, so you actually come in to the workshop.

    • Ash-Say on 16/11/2020 - 12:18

      Thanks for the advice.

      I will let it go.

  • Danstar on 16/11/2020 - 12:28

    https://forums.whirlpool.net.au/thread/1724856

    Happened to my missus when she took her car in for a oil change.

    They said brakes are practically 99% worn and need replacing. And they too can’t legally let her take the car.

    I went to go pick it up and told them no chance the brakes are worn as much as they are saying. They then changed their mind and said they’re about 80% worn and will only Last about another week then they tried adding a few other issues. But the car is practically new and just passed a ROad worthy 2 months earlier

    • Headless on 16/11/2020 - 12:58

      Happened to me too on a 3 month old car (ultra tune Cannington), I suspect they take the OEM discs for their own use and replace with generics.

    • TheMindsetTraveller on 16/11/2020 - 15:43
      +1

      This is a Subaru dealer in Sydney. I went to get my car serviced there as I was too time poor to take it to my guy - who does 95% his work on Subarus.

      The dealer said my brakes were almost finished and needed replacement. I told them to bugger off as it was Covid and I am not planning to drive my car match in any case (car is 7 years old / 60,000kms).

      Took it back to my guy recently for the next 6 monthly service and he said I am still looking at 50% left !!

      Ouch Subaru!

      • Gazpacho on 17/11/2020 - 16:19

        @themindsettraveller which Subaru dealer is this? Bit dodge

        • TheMindsetTraveller on 17/11/2020 - 21:32

          Hey mate, I will send you a PM

          In the meantime I pulled up the last three service receipts I have from this Subaru dealer.

          October 2018 - 47,000kms - 60% brake pad left
          June 2019 - 51,000kms - no mention about brakes (but they upsold me $1,000 worth of crap of which $550 was labour charge)
          April 2020 - 59,000kms - 3mm (30% or time for replacement)

          October 2020 - my guy said >50% left.

          I am just going to stick to my guy now even if it means taking an hour each way to get there. I have been taking it to him since day 1 of ownership. All he does in Subarus, preferably the turbo ones :D

    • bobbified on 16/11/2020 - 12:33

      Start walking around the workshop…

      Username checks out! lol

    • brendanm on 16/11/2020 - 14:26
      -1

      He can't let you drive it because it is unsafe?

      This is a "duty of care" issue. No brakes on a car is very dangerous, both to the owner, and others. Would you be happy if the mechanic let the vehicle be taken, and they then proceeded to crash into a family member of yours?

      • brad1-8tsi on 16/11/2020 - 19:56

        Damned if you tell them, damned if you don't

    • Zachary on 19/11/2020 - 02:11
      +1

      Hahahaha, I read this as sarcasm…

  • pegaxs on 16/11/2020 - 12:41
    +4

    "Ok, thanks for the quote, let me get back to you once I've rung around and got some alternative quotes for the work…"
    "Yeah hi, Ford have quoted me $40 less for the part and Fully Sikre Salim's Sled Shoppe said they would change it for $115 less, are you able to sharpen your prices?"

    The other thing is, it would be very unsafe to drive, and if you wanted one of the other mechanics to have a look at doing it, you would have to get it tow trucked… would that have been less than the difference in cost?

    You paid for the convenience of having it done on the spot and at the time without having to tow it or get it booked for another day or for having it sit around for 2 days until they had time to work on it, basically cutting the queue.

    • Ash-Say on 16/11/2020 - 12:45

      Completely agree

      Tow truck won't cost anything due to NRMA roadside assistance, however it would have been hassle. So yes I am paying extra for convenience :)

      • pegaxs on 16/11/2020 - 12:47
        +15

        I think NRMA would tow it from somewhere to a mechanic if you had any issues, not just pick it up from one mechanic and drop it off at another for free because you wanted to use another place based on price. I would check your PDS on that.

    • DashCam AKA Rolts on 16/11/2020 - 13:03
      +2

      Fully Sikre Salim's Sled Shoppe

      Do they have branches all over?

      • Seraphin7 on 16/11/2020 - 15:35
        +1

        Yeah, but only ever one at a time.

  • kolorijo on 16/11/2020 - 12:48
    +5

    Let this one go and find another mechanic for your regular service.

    • Ash-Say on 16/11/2020 - 13:17

      Yup agreed

  • webtonmoy on 16/11/2020 - 13:18
    +1

    "they too can’t legally let her take the car"

    I have heard this too many times. Is there any legal basis behind their claim? What will they do if someone does not agree to what they have said?

    • pharkurnell on 16/11/2020 - 15:43

      Duty of Care. Mechanic knows brake lines are badly damaged.

      It isn't a blown dash globe, its the brake lines being cut by something..

      Where do you think it would end up if they took the car, and the brake line totally let go and people or a cute puppy dog were injured/killed?

      I'd be happy my mechanic showed the the damage first of all, and second gave enough of a shit to stop me driving down the road.

      You could always call the cops and get them to come down and sort it out… I'm sure they'd be happy

      • Danstar on 16/11/2020 - 16:02

        And who can prove it is that bad if the cops were called ?

        • pharkurnell on 16/11/2020 - 16:07
          +1

          The mechanic would show the damaged brake lines to the cops..
          I'm sure they'd be happy to wack a defect on there.

          • Danstar on 16/11/2020 - 16:19
            +1

            @pharkurnell: It's all a little grey imo. I don't think they can legally hold your car

      • Euphemistic on 16/11/2020 - 19:19

        Duty of Care. Mechanic knows brake lines are badly damaged.

        While it seems that way, we are going off the word of a disgruntled customer who appears also to have no idea about cars. It is possible it has been overstated that the line was ‘cut’.

        No one here knows the exact situation. The car may have been drivable.

        • Danstar on 16/11/2020 - 21:34
          +2

          It was drivable to the mechanic

  • Queue2Queue on 16/11/2020 - 13:18
    +2

    Leave a google review regarding the mechanic to warn others, hopefully affect his bottom line and don't go back.
    An honest business would charged you the fair price instead of predatory tactics.

    • Euphemistic on 16/11/2020 - 13:54
      +2

      But it sounds like he did charge a fair price. OP agreed to the additional work along with the original work. Some places charge a bit more so they can do the job properly and not end up with complaining customers - but you can’t please everyone.

      • yippy on 16/11/2020 - 15:11
        +4

        I think it was a fair price too the mechanic had to find where the actual brake fluid leak was coming from. OP rang other mechanics knowing that the brake line needed replacement hence got a cheaper price as a result.

  • John Kimble on 16/11/2020 - 13:21
    +2

    I would be more concerned somone cut your brake lines. Do you have any enemies? 🤔

    • Heaps for Cheaps on 16/11/2020 - 17:59

      It was the mechanic.

    • Zachary on 19/11/2020 - 02:14
      +1

      get stainless steel braided brake lines….no ones cutting through that!

  • Youfah Mizzum on 16/11/2020 - 14:01
    -3

    Similar thing happened to me several years ago. It was early December.
    Took car in for a regular service at a local mechanic, estimate $450.

    Get a phone call "brakes need doing. Happy for us to proceed?" Yep.
    Get another phone call half an hour later "you're nearly at the timing belt change. Happy for us to proceed?" Yep (but I'm now getting suss and a bit nervous at the final price).
    Get another call "when we took the brake pads out we noticed the rotors also need replacing. Happy for us to proceed?" In hindsight I should've said no, but I said yes and no more surprises please.

    In the meantime I check the dealer price for the same service and timing belts and it was about $300 cheaper! At the dealer!

    When I went to pick up the car the final price for what I thought was $450 ended up being about $3,600! Needless to say & ranted and raved & complained but I still had to pay up and that Christmas was very bleak. All my money had gone on the car.
    As a positive, the mechanic had done an excellent job (I wouldn't expect anything less) and the car was running like a dream. But never went back to him. He certainly burned his bridges. Unfortunately he didn't have any online presence where I could write a bad review.

    • pegaxs on 16/11/2020 - 14:32
      +16

      So, you didn't ask for prices or quotes, you just kept saying "yes, yes, yes…" and somehow this is their fault? I just wished there was a review site for leaving reviews of customers…

    • Muzeeb on 16/11/2020 - 14:45
      +11

      Unfortunately he didn't have any online presence where I could write a bad review.

      Why?
      The mechanic did everything you agreed to.
      The friggin entitlement and lack of personal responsibility in this automotive forum is unbelievable.

      the mechanic had done an excellent job

      Then you should have left a positive review

      • pegaxs on 16/11/2020 - 14:54
        +9

        It's like negging JB HiFi on Google reviews because a week later you found the same item for sale at Good Guys for 10% cheaper…

        I swear, half the bad press mechanic shops get is from ignorant or buyers remorse customers.

        "Meh, I don't want to get any competing quotes, I'll just threaten to review bomb them later if they don't give me a good price…" (ie: RAV4 dingbat and his canoe issues)

    • badg3rz on 17/11/2020 - 09:34
      +1

      You can with Google Maps.

    • Zachary on 19/11/2020 - 02:16

      fark 3600….

  • OzHunterNSW on 17/11/2020 - 13:08
    +1

    Agreed shamed… who care… it was only a quote, and who cares. Go where it is cheaper.
    I'm sick of these mechanics ripping off everybody.

    I've had quotes for brake pad changes, even with me supplying the brakes, in excess of $600…. it is a simple job - yes I did it myself.

    • Euphemistic on 17/11/2020 - 18:41

      Sometimes the mechanic takes a look at you and decides it’s not worth the effort and so ups the price to discourage you - or collect extra coin for the trouble of dealing with you.

      • Ash-Say on 17/11/2020 - 21:51

        Absolutely agree. I asked local mobile mechanic for brake fluid flush, and he said $350 lol

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