$1,100 for new shocks? Is that right? - Democratic Underground

NewJeffCT

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Fri Oct-27-06 08:06 AM
Original message

$1,100 for new shocks? Is that right?

My wife brought her car in for an oil change yesterday. The guy there told her that her car - a Toyota Corolla with over 100K miles - needed new shocks, at a cost of $1,100.

Obviously, she did not get them at the time, but that seems awfully high to replace shock absorbers? What else could have been wrong that the guy told her that much money?

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catmandu57

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Fri Oct-27-06 08:28 AM
Response to Original message

1. He needs to make a boat payment

Go somewhere else this guy is trying to rip you off.

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NewJeffCT

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Fri Oct-27-06 08:40 AM
Response to Reply #1

2. That's what I thought

but, wanted to see if there could have been a related problem that caused the price to be raised up that high.

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BigMcLargehuge

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Fri Oct-27-06 08:44 AM
Response to Original message

3. struts, springs, and shocks for a late model corolla

should only cost about $400 retail (parts only, front and back). If you know someone with a lift they are WICKED EASY to change out. Seriously, it's like four bolts. The tricky bits are in the front where you might have to take off the lower front tie rods to get to the suspension, if so you count how many turns of the wrench until the rod comes off, then take it for an alignment when you are done.

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NewJeffCT

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Fri Oct-27-06 08:50 AM
Response to Reply #3

4. Thanks

My brother is pretty good with that stuff, but I know he does not have a lift.

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BigMcLargehuge

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Fri Oct-27-06 08:51 AM
Response to Reply #4

5. you can do it with jackstands, it's just harder to get the shocks out

and you have to jack the car wicked high to do it.

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peekaloo

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Fri Oct-27-06 09:47 AM
Response to Original message

6. Find another mechanic/shop. Their labor costs must be ridiculous.

I replaced the shocks & struts on an old Pontiac Sunbird (160,000) AND had a tune-up, oil change, tire rotation for under $500.

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HughBeaumont

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Fri Oct-27-06 10:02 AM
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7. That'd be a giant fat NO.

Edited on Fri Oct-27-06 10:03 AM by HughBeaumont

Yeah, new laptop or new shocks?

That's like 200% markup on just the parts. I'm not even going to THINK why it costs that much for labor. Let's not even get into the fact that a Toyota Corolla at 100k miles is probably only worth 3x that cost.

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NewJeffCT

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Fri Oct-27-06 10:37 AM
Response to Reply #7

9. I'm guessing

Since my wife is female, and English is not her first language, they probably thought they could take advantage of her.

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HughBeaumont

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Fri Oct-27-06 10:56 AM
Response to Reply #9

12. My friend, who used to be a Conrad's mechanic . . .

. . . says they lie to everyone, but especially women. This is why he would tell some of these customers on the side to just come to him for certain things (stuff that didn't absolutely require a lift) rather than get shanked by Conrads.

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bif

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Fri Oct-27-06 10:21 AM
Response to Original message

8. Get three estimates

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mad-mommy

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Fri Oct-27-06 10:44 AM
Response to Original message

10. did you ever...

figure out how many hours you would have to work to get paid what repair/labor costs are? I had my microwave door replaced, he was here less than an hour, and it would have been $120.00 for labor, $210.00 for the door, yes, just the door. A new microwave would have been $100.00 cheaper. It was covered by the factory. He owns his own business.

Same goes for auto repairs, but when a mechanic works for someone else, he gets paid a lot less of what they charge you.

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Rabrrrrrr

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Fri Oct-27-06 10:56 AM
Response to Original message

11. Bwuhahahahahahaha!!! That's outrageous!

I don't even think Chicano-style hydraulic shocks would cost that much.

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