Everyone here should read this article. Experts are tired of being second guessed by someone who just watched a YouTube video or had a code read at AutoZone.
You got that right. I’ve found physicians definitely don’t take to being told “I’ve researched this on the internet and this is the disease I have, and this is the medication I need you to prescribe!” .
So despite what I’ve researched on the internet, when I visit my doctor I just act like I know nothing about anything, other than waiting for them to ask my complaint about why I’m there. The doctor likes seeing me come to their office much better using that method.
I know I am not a real big fan of this with computers as well. I charge a pretty high upfront diagnostics fee but include that in the total if they are willing to complete the repair. I used to do free estimates but got sick of people using me to diagnose their stuff and then fix it themselves once I told them what was wrong. A guy called me today wanting me to diagnose his computer and then he would fix the problem. NOPE!
I have found that most reputable places do charge upfront no matter the service. This pisses many off but these are the places I typically go. They do a good job and have a decent customer base so have to run off the nonsense to stay successful.
Those that want to pay the least are often the most demanding and troublesome “high maintenance” customers. These are best headed off before they can get started.
I do not believe that the “majority” of mechanics–or A/C repairmen, electricians, plumbers, remodelers, etc. “rip you off”. In any service industry, there are a certain percentage of individual employees who are lazy/incompetent or perhaps even flat-out dishonest, however that percentage is a lot smaller than most people seem to think.
The fact of the matter is that companies (whether they are automotive repair shops or contracting businesses) generally want to maintain customer satisfaction for the simple reason that it costs money to attract new customers, and business owners understand that unhappy customers talk to their friends and post negative reviews online. Companies which develop a reputation for providing shoddy workmanship or “ripping off” the customer generally don’t last very long. Most companies want to provide a quality service for a fair price, which is often more than what some customers want to pay.
It sounds to me like your main complaint is that a shop–which had a good reputation–wanted to charge you $1600 to replace the radiator and water pump, while warning you that the head gasket(s) might also be bad. That is a reasonable charge, and a reasonable warning, as the mechanic has no idea how many times the engine was overheated or run low on coolant.
You didn’t say which engine your Stratus has, but neither of the available engines had externally accessible water pumps driven by an accessory belt. The 2.7L V-6 has the water pump inside the timing cover, driven by the timing chain. The 2.4L 4-cylinder has the water pump inside the timing cover, driven by the timing belt. In either case, I don’t see $1600 to replace the radiator and water pump (which would presumably have included a full timing kit) as being a bad deal, let alone a “rip off”.
The doc that did a great hip replacement on me is still limping due to s bad hip, saw him a week ago for my one year checkup. We talked about many things, get to see him in 2 years, hopefully my other hip will last my lifetime, but so wanted to ask when you go for your hip replacement who would you choose? I had heard in younger years do not buy a car owned by a mechanic, they are the worst at performing their own maintenance.
1 Like
Most of the time I’m seeking an expert is because I don’t have the time or knowledge or equipment to do the work. If I think I know more about something which I bring to an expert…then I find another expert.
1 Like
The mention of the 2.7L alone is good reason to be scared! This must have been about the worst engine made in modern times. Odds are it is the 2.4L if it is still running today.
Some of these Chrysler engines were also not the easiest to work on. Yes, if the engine was overheated, the head gasket might be compromised or at least degraded and fail down the road. The mechanic probably wanted to throw out the worst case so the customer wouldn’t come back angry after having certain work done and then having yet another expensive repair (head gasket) down the road.
People in service businesses have to be able to read a customer kinda like a cop has to be able to read a total stranger in public. Someone who comes in and complains about all the other mechanics in town is probably a bad sign. They could tell the customer wouldn’t want to do that much work and spend that much on the car so quoted them the max price it could be to run off trouble before it started. This is an age old trick to run off these people. This was mentioned as a reputable shop so they are probably busy. The time and hassle of dealing with a unreasonable person becomes a parasitic drag on a business and makes them less able to service the good customers waiting their turn for service.
Sometimes these types of people don’t work for a living so only have time to waste in going after a business that they feel “wronged” them. The business doesn’t have that luxury.
2 Likes
Oh man. You just described my elderly mother. Every time she tells me about an interaction with one of her doctors I’m impressed that the doctor didn’t smack her. She has great faith in Dr. Google.
1 Like
My favorite with computers is that the customer calls and the “power button” is bad because the computer won’t turn on. There are SO MANY things besides the power button that can cause this as I am sure you can imagine. They tell me there is no need to pay the upfront diagnostic fee because it is the power button and that is what needs replacing. They then go on to tell me that another shop was going to rip them off by selling them a new motherboard for $300. I kindly let them know that the upfront fee was also to weed out people who had no intention of paying and that was the last time I heard from them.
1 Like
This isn’t the place to go into a long rant about doctors but I will say that in my case I have found that doctors I visited have checked a menu of “current trending ailments” and they are eager to find some reason to hang one of then around your neck. They really enjoy those ailments that require long regimens of regular office visits to treat it seems.
One of the worst people I’ve ever had to deal with when it comes to automotive problems is my late wife.
Anytime there was a hiccup with one of our cars I was second guessed until hxxx froze over and she (who knew zero about car mechanicals) would bludgeon me to death.
Example. I replaced the rear brakes on our Lincoln once. A month later she comes in and says the front brakes are squeaking ever since you fixed them. No, I fixed the rear. No you did not. Yes, I did, NO…
So off to the recepit box and i produce a ticket for rear brake pads. What does that say? Rear, you’re right, I’m sorry.
I’ve told her a number of times that if she had to have a car fixed at a shop she would be their worst nightmare. Once they touched it they own it; warts and all.
I’ve also told her I’d throw her out the front door if I were a shop owner who did not know her and she pulled that crap on me.
Reminds me of a story, IT fixed a lady at works computer, that afternoon her car would not start, she blamed the tech for screwing up her car because by working on her work computer
I had a mechanic and we would try to out do each other with outlandish stories. He had replaced the condenser and distributor points in my old Rambler and said that the capacitance of the condenser wasn’t right, and that metal had been transferred from one side of the ignition points to the other. A couple of days later, I lifted the floor mat and discovered a lot of the floor board had rusted away. I took the car back to him and told him that the condenser he had installed was of the wrong capacitance. I then showed him the rusted out floor and told him that the new condenser had transferred the metal on the floor board someplace and I wanted a condenser installed that would transfer the metal back. He said he would fix it.
When I picked up the car, he said that he had not only restored the metal in the floor board but had done something that would increase the performance. He said, “You now have four on the floor”. (The car was a 3 speed column shift). Those were the days before electronic signs where the filling station operator hung out two metal signs with numbers on each sign to indicate the current gas price e.g. 35.9 with one metal panel having a “3” and the other a “5.9”. He had riveted a steel panel with the “4” to the floor board. He said that he had a couple of steel panels with a “4”. I then had a Rambler with 4 on the floor. However, I couldn’t see that having “4 on the floor” on my Rambler helped the acceleration. It did keep my feet from getting wet.
Nothing else to add that others haven’t said, other than…you mentioned 2 mechanics “ripping you off”. Last time I checked, that is at least a few short of a majority on, you know, the planet.
So the answer to your question would be: “they don’t”
1 Like
It seems people like to talk about experiences which they perceive to be bad
If they believe everything went well . . . you often don’t hear about it
tends to skew things, doesn’t it
I agree that there are many (maybe even most) people who claim to have been ripped off but actually weren’t…but don’t discount all. Several of the national chains (Midas, Sears, National Tire, Firestone) have all been charged and found guilty of systematically ripping off customers over and over again.
I’m sure most mechanics are honest, but there are far too many out there who are very dishonest.
+1
I have been billed incorrectly by two doctors over the years, but that doesn’t mean that the majority of doctors’ offices do incorrect billing. Similarly, I have gotten food poisoning from restaurant food a few times during my lifetime, but that does not equate to a majority of restaurants serving tainted food.
3 Likes
My skepticism of doctors has led me to find that as far as billing goes they jump through a parade of hoops to satisfy all the various insurance programs and affiliated healthcare providers they deal with and usually get only a fraction of the bills paid. Like the NAPA nationwide warranty and all the after market extended warranties a lot of health insurance is mostly smoke and mirrors.
3 Likes
I’m basically self taught in doing practically all of my own car maintenance and repairs. I’m heavily invested in the tools and Factory Manuals to make it happen. I have found that nobody cares as much about my vehicles as I do.
While I don’t believe the majority of mechanics try and rip you off, I do feel that a huge percentage are incompetent or are not concerned enough about proper work or saving money for the customer, or both. That said, I have a couple of professionals I do trust and turn to at times.
Same goes with doctors! I do most of my own health maintenance and repairs. I read Don’t Let Your Doctor Kill You, by Erika Schwartz, MD, and am invested heavily in treadmills, Schwinn Air Dyne machines, free weights, golf course memberships, pickle ball stuff, and lots and lots of bicycles. I exercise and work-out daily. Years ago, when I retired, I lost weight and got lean and trim and became a damn vegetarian. I understand nutrition and healthful eating. I don’t go to restaurants, except to socialize. I do get yearly blood draws and lab results are awesome.
For me the bottom line is…
If you want something done right, to your satisfaction, do it yourself. Don’t think somebody else will do it for you, ain’t going to happen, Cap’n.
CSA
3 Likes
You about done patting yourself on the back there . . . ?
I’m glad to hear you’re in great health, due to your choices 
But enough already, please 
4 Likes