Highway Robbery
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 7,215
Likes: 1
From: Orlando FL
As much as that stinks it is true
I did a brake job (4 sets of pads and replace 2 rotors) last week. The estimate was for $675 the end result was It cost $128.00 for parts and took me 2.5 hrs, I charged the lady $100. ...labor rates are out of the box
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,171
Likes: 0
From: TN
Cruise-In VII Veteran
I took the vette on a trip for work this morning, and fouled a few plugs. 
I have a lose wire to one of my computers, and will be fixing that this weekend. Anyways, the company i was auditing, had a GOODYEAR tire shop in the same parking lot. I figured I'd stop in and ask, what they'd charge me to throw in 8 new plugs. <which i carry spares in my car>. I explained my situation, and that i can do the swap in under an hour. The guy starts tapping away at his computer and then on to a calculator. He looks at me with a straight face and quotes me 307.38 for labor 
I laughed all the way out the door. I could have towed my car home for less than that. Long story short, i drove the car enough to clean out the plugs and drove safely home.
I have a lose wire to one of my computers, and will be fixing that this weekend. Anyways, the company i was auditing, had a GOODYEAR tire shop in the same parking lot. I figured I'd stop in and ask, what they'd charge me to throw in 8 new plugs. <which i carry spares in my car>. I explained my situation, and that i can do the swap in under an hour. The guy starts tapping away at his computer and then on to a calculator. He looks at me with a straight face and quotes me 307.38 for labor I laughed all the way out the door. I could have towed my car home for less than that. Long story short, i drove the car enough to clean out the plugs and drove safely home.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 10,295
Likes: 4
From: Downers Grove IL
St. Jude Donor '15
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 0
From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 3,599
Likes: 622
From: Coldwater MI
Maybe as an adolescent the Goodyear guy had an unnatural attraction to his older sister ---a sister who at one time dated a suave and debonair Corvette owner in college. Thus giving him a subconscious aversion to any and all Corvette owners. 
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,314
Likes: 1
From: Chicago Illinois
Talk about crooks. I was selling a vette and needed to have a hanger welded back on to an exhaust pipe so I took it to Midas. The manager said I need a complete exhaust and that it was illegal just to fix it the way I told him to. So I took it across the street to Merlins muffler and they welded it for 20.00.
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Oxford PA
When I got my Borla Stingers, I stopped by the local stealership to pick up a new set of gaskets. Just for kicks, I asked them how much they would charge to install them for me.....
Their estimate was "about $325 
Roughly 4 1/2 hours to do the job cause the tips take a lonnnnnngggg time to get them lined up just right. Oh by the way, the tech who was going to do the job, knows what he is doing because he used to work at the local exhaust shop and has done lots of these installs"
Long story short, I took it to that same local exhaust shop and in 45 minutes and about $60, I was rolling out the door
Their estimate was "about $325 Roughly 4 1/2 hours to do the job cause the tips take a lonnnnnngggg time to get them lined up just right. Oh by the way, the tech who was going to do the job, knows what he is doing because he used to work at the local exhaust shop and has done lots of these installs" Long story short, I took it to that same local exhaust shop and in 45 minutes and about $60, I was rolling out the door
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 13,421
Likes: 8
From: Lake Mary Florida
He probably did you a big favor. So let's say it was half that and you said go ahead. Then only to find out later what else was damaged or destroyed in the process. One would have to wonder how many plug jobs they have done on Corvettes much less just a C5 model. Some times things are blessings in disguise.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 14,285
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From: Houston, Tx Got traction?
CI 5-6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07-'08
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,324
Likes: 440
From: Tucson Arizona
I have another Goodyear story for you, I had a screw in the tire on my Grand Cherokee, so I pulled in and had them fix it, my mistake was I didn't ask how much, I figured it would be around $20 or $30, $77 later it was fixed, I told him I didnt pay much more for the tire when I bought it new, what a hose job