I am an amateur mechanic, the only reason I decided to go to Monro was due to the fact that the A/C system has to be drained and filled by qualified technicians using a gas recapturing device so as not to leak coolant into the atmosphere.
On 8/21 I went to Monro #59 in Williamsville, NY to have my a/c system checked as it was not producing cold air. During my two hour wait in which my car was only actually touched for about 10 mins, even though there were NO other cars in the shop. I was told several times that the system was not turning on and that more and more tests would be needed. At the end of the wait I was told that the problem was with the a/c compressor which was no good and would need to be replaced.
The manager there told me that it would be about $1100 but that he would do it for $1000 cash. I decided to confirm his diagnoses myself before continuing. I paid $64 for labor and assorted a/c fluids and dyes for the check. After researching the parts that he had outlined as needing replacement I decided that it would be more cost effective to do this myself.
After purchasing the parts at a substantially different rate from what Monro wanted to charge and digging into my car I discovered that there was nothing wrong with the A/C Compressor at all, in fact, the only problem was that the power cable that runs to the compressor was severed which cost me about $25.
I think that since I paid for a completely faulty diagnoses that there should have at least been some sort of a refund or discount. It cost me almost 100% more to have my vehicle diagnosed incorrectly then it did for me to purchase the parts and take the 20 mins to attach them.
I have approximated the charges from my quote.
A/C Compressor
$600 - Monro
$300 - Auto Parts Store
Receiver Drier
$90 - Monro
$11 - Auto Parts Store
Fluids
$60 - Monro
$18 - Auto Parts Store
Labor
$350 - Monro
$0 - Self
I understand that to some degree there is going to be a markup for retail parts at Monro stores but I think that 800% on a receiver drier is a little much. This is not to mention that labor for replacing an A/C compressor (a relatively easy procedure) should not take more than 1 hour, which should be about $70 according to Monro's labor rates, not the $350 that was quoted to me.
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