What the hell is going on with shops?

Lonewolf3165 said
It sounds more like people don't like it when someone makes a profit on them. GOD forbid they find out the shop buys a part for less than they charged the customer for. Then all of a sudden it's a RIP-OFF!! RIP-OFF!! But then when it comes to what they do it's a whole different thing. Then it's "I gotta make a living don't I?" Funny how many of us shop owners, who provide a place for others to make a living too, live for free. We don't need a paycheck to buy our food or pay rent.
But the cheap people of the world will never get it! They are never satasfied when it's done cheap because it's done 1/2 assed & they don't see a value in having it done right by experts because it cost a little more. So I do't even bother with them. I price things out fairly & honestly. If it's too much for some- oh well. So be it! I'm not the most expensive guy around but I won't be the cheapest around either. I also stand behind my work as good as or better than any others. I lose a lot of sleep at night being in business for myself, but never because I ripped someone off or because of what I charge.
I've always found the guy who is always looking for a special deal or bitches about everyone else is a guy you don't want to work for or hire to do something for you because he is the 1st guy to pull tricks to cut corners & line his pockets better.
You know, sometimes(most of the time) prices for services are driven NOT by what the market will bear as much as what's required to cover expenses & yes make a little profit. If the company you work for doesn't make a profit then you're out of a job!

Please pardon my rant!

X2.

When we buy parts, people think we get such a huge discount. We don't. Sometimes walk in price and our cost are uncomfortably close, and we have to mark the part up to stay in business. And if we buy cheap crappy parts to get the price down, we just put a cheap crappy part in that we have to warranty just as long as a quality part. I won't do it. If my name and reputation go into this repair, it is done right and with good quality parts. That may be OE or it may be aftermarket, depending on my experience. Also, pulling a code is like looking at a compass. It points you in the right direction. Then the skill part comes on, checking to make sure everything is capable of working electronically, that the pcm is commanding them to work, that the pcm is getting the right info,checking line pressures under different pcm commands, etc... Not as easy as looking at a scanner. The original estimate was, in my opinion, high. But your choice as a consumer is to say no and get a second opinion.

Also, when a shop is slow, I can't imagine them racking up the price to make up for slow times. Usually they lower the prices to get cars in. I don't have that problem. We are always busy and book several days in advance. I'm sure it has mostly to do with quality work at a fair price and our good reputation. And we stand behind our service. All that makes for a successful shop.