I have never been to a Sears Automotive before but my car was having problems and I figure it must be the car battery or starter. For some reason I really wanted the Sears DieHard battery because of the ads on tv. I went there and took a test that cost $12.
That should of been a warning to me because every place that I have ever been too never charge a dime to test batteries. It turns out my battery was ok. They are not sure but assume that it is my starter. They ask me if I wanted to replace it. I said, "sure... How Much?". I know that when a repair place orders the part, there is always a mark up but I would never imagine the mark up was.
The guy calls around to auto part stores like Pep Boys, Autozone, and Kragen. He told me they all where charging $400 for a Toyota Camry Starter. I told the guy I never once recall a Starter ever costing $400 in my whole life. He says, "Well, Kragen is and they are the only one that have in stock" I ask was he sure it was $400, he said yes they are charging $400. I figure there is no point for me to price shop since Kragen is already charging that much; installation is $70. Total price out the door was $523.69. That was the most expensive Starter I ever owned. May be the price just went up and I have fallen behind in the auto part world.
I got my car fixed and went home and looked up Kragen and ask for the price of the Starter. Kragen sales rep told me it was $180. I couldn't believe that Sears totally just raped me and there was nothing I can do about it. I asked the Kragen Sales Rep why did the Sears guy said that Kragen was qouting me at $400? The Kragen guy told me that auto repair places have the right to mark up prices even up to a 100%. I said I understand there should be a mark up but by that much? I was told "yes".
So next time when you go to Sears Automotive and asked for repairs. Ask them how much is the mark up on the parts. This is my first time and my last time to ever take my car to Sears again. I'm so disgusted by Sears that I will never shop at their retail store again too.
They are one of the biggest rip off as far as auto repair goes. I will never do business again with them. It may be legal but in my eyes, it's still rape.
0 comments