Remember the 'automobile wipes' over in DW? Honestly, this is too much for me to digest: 70k mi brake job roughly $160 labor, $230 parts. Okay painful but "Betty Jean" (my honda) was literally screamin' & screachin' - so yes, waited too long. My regular go-to mechanic was just not as accessible.
While in the shop, I protest to clerk about the unnecessary add-on charge of about $30 for "supplies." Cost of your business, not mine. He skillfully and strategically pulls out a Shop Supplies list with this opening msg:
We are sure you are aware of the ever-increasing costs of doing business. One of these costs is the many miscellaneous materials needed to repair your car, which cannot be directly charged to your work order because the cost of the unit package is greater than the amount used. For this reason, these materials are billed directly to you as a percent of the parts and labor charge, as this is the most equitable way of charging for these materials. Included in the list of materials used in the course of repairs to your car, may be the following... (then 2 columns of Fifty parts/materials, incl. some of these shown.
wheel weights windshield wiper fluid grease(4 different types listed) grinding discs welding rods wiping cloths cutter pins masking tape hacksaw blades
It was a gross insult to my intelligence. How did their cost of doing business become Mine?? Never had a salon bill separately for shampoo or nail polish I use. |