From a customer’s perspective, I think it’s a good thing to know how much something should cost, and if the stated cost is way higher than what it “should” cost, then question it, but at the same time make sure you have some supporting evidence that gives some credence to your claim. I’ve saved literally thousands by knowing how much things should cost. Keep in mind, I’m not pulling figures out of my posterior when I do this. I use the outfit’s stated labor rate, allow for an average of 100% parts markup in my figures, etc. I’m not lowballing, I’m just making sure everything is on the level. Unfortunately it seems that car dealership service departments are a hotbed for blatant overcharging with apparently zero oversight from the mangers (they have no reason to discourage it.)
You can read my latest epsiode regarding this sort of thing here .