Always the debate, pay the high cost going-in at a dealer or local shop - - or use these chains, and then hope you can battle them as they try to get back to those same high prices.
I called first, and then went in with a common japanese car that was operating with no issues, but I knew it was probably time for brakes. I signed papers that said that if they found no other issues, they were authorized to do the front/back work for $99. On most cars, front/back brakes are not going to wear at the same rate - - so they have that initial tool on a well maintained car where they can first tell you that you only need work on one axle - - and now you are thinking they are honest. Well, they told me that, but also said one axle is $89 (both are $99?). If I still wanted to get the front done, it would not be the $10. No, even though they never said anything to me when I called or when I left my car, front pads for my vehicle were not in stock - - so that would be another $40-$50. For the one axle they first throw out $260 with a bunch of safety BS (remember, I had no noticeable problems), then gauge my resistance. They finally convinced me I needed "hardware". So, basically, you go in expecting $99 for two axles, and risk spending $260 for just one axle (I gave-in at $130). If you spend any time in the waiting room, you start thinking you are in a telemarketer's office as you listen to these guys call their customers and try and squeeze extra $'s out of them. You might still end-up paying less here than at a dealer - - but you won't feel good about how they run their business, and will always wonder if you really got what you paid for.
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