On 12/18/08 my mother, a senior citizen living off of a small retirement and what little money she makes on a part time job, went to the Golden Valley Precision Tune AutoCare to get the serpentine belt replaced as they had suggested.
Since my father passed away a year ago and I live better than an hour drive away, she wanted to try to get her 1995 Ford van fixed herself by taking it to someone she thought she could trust.
She was subsequently charged $66.77 for the belt itself (well over a 200% markup for the retail cost of same), plus $58.33 for labor (anyone who's ever changed a serpentine belt knows it takes approximately 5 minutes or less) AND she was changed an additional $9.61 for "shop supplies" (for what?!). After sales tax and their $5.00 coupon the total came to $134.32 - for a $20.00 part and 5 minutes labor.
This is what I would call a predatory service shop. They will charge what they feel they can get away with - if the customer does not know any better, thinks they can trust them, and is worried about being stranded, they will be taken advantage of!
0 comments