Where inflation is hitting us average folk....

...in 2000 I had to pay for a complete brake job for my 1995 Infinite I-30 which ran about $900.00 for replacing all four rotors, calipers, brake pads, labor and brake system fluid.

I traded that older Infinite for a newer 1999 I-30 with really low miles <15,000> in 2003 from the Infiniti dealer who I bought the original one from and have driven it about 50,000 miles since. So, the brakes need to be replaced again.

Guess what the current Feb 2, 2007 quotation is from the dealer?......$2,292.00 plus 7% sales tax AND SOMETHING COMPLETELY NEW AS AN ADD-ON.....shop disposal fee of $210.00.

Total price without tax $2,502.00, a 178% increase in the charge for the very same replacement and service. This is Bush's economic bullshit legacy at least in the automobile service sector, about a 35% annual increase. Everything related to automobile operation and upkeep has shot through the roof and the sad commentary is that the reliabilty of such repairs and replacement parts has fallen. Give me high speed rail anytime.

milk $1.69 in 2000, now $3.19--same brand, same store.

capitalism is based on the false and perverse assumption that resources are infinite. It is utterly unsustainable. Now that we're running out of everything from oil to trees to air and water, the only "free" replaceable resource is labor. The capitalists are working overtime to jack their profits and to enslave most of humanity.

low income people , as I am one,over the price of food. Gets higher by the week. Everything is rising FAST.

Food prices are sky high.

Go somenwhere else.

As the national debt increases, investors in US treasury bonds worry about whether the government can meet daily debt obligations. The only saving grace is that the US government has never failed to meet obligations, but past history IS NOT indicative of future performance. Investors are still confidant that the US government will meet obligations, but they are simply not as confidant as they once were and nowhere near as confidant as they were when the government once had a good fiscal policy and comparatively lower debt loads.

Because of uncertainty, the US Dollar consequently trades lower relative to other world currencies. This usually wouldn't mean too much for domestically produced products, but it will mean something for people who buy foreign.

Unfortunately, most manufactured goods are made with foreign labor now. That's very bad news in the current situation.

What's making it worse is a case of stagflation caused by high fuel prices. Stagflation is where both inflation and unemployment rise. Usually, stagflation is never seen unless there is an oil shock.

usually where the most cost is, so of course it gets recommended. There's no way that quote is fair or accurate. I'd look for a second opinion, and then as a last resort, buy the parts yourself and get a mechanic friend to help you do it yourself for a few bucks and some beer.

I have and you're lucky if the only thing being consumed was a beer or two.

Replaced the pads on the front for about 30.00. Of course he had supervision from a friend who can no longer get down on the ground and work.

parts for your vehicle. I like to have more experienced folks supervise me because I'm pretty much the least handy man in the world, but I like to try at least.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11098797/

There's more to the story than buying cars and big ticket items. Once again, the media misses it.

My husband owned an auto repair shop for years (before bush wrecked the economy and we lost our asses, as well as our business)

ANYWAY...that really sounds high for the disposal fee and frankly it all sounds insanely high for that job in general!

Is that disposal fee supposed to pay for them to get rid of the old parts?
I have never heard of anything like that before.

I would check out an independent shop and see what they quote you, IMO most dealers rob people blind (and most pay their employees like crap btw)

Regarding the general message of your post, hell yes--everything has gone up except wages for the average person.

bushco has really F'd up this country in all regards.

But $2500? Dayummmm! And with the extra kiss of the "shop disposal fee, yeah, your getting screwed.

First off, unless the calipers are shot, you don't need to get new ones with every brake job. Same with the rotors, it's just a waste. And even if there is minor damage to your rotor surface, you don't get new ones, you get the old ones turned and polished. All you generally need for a brake job most of the time is new pads and new fluid. This dealer is screwing you royally.

Go find a good independent garage, or hell, if you've got some basic mechanical know how and some time, you can do it yourself. But whatever you do, unless the calipers and rotors are shot, don't get new ones. And don't patronize a place that charges outrageous disposal fees. Disposal is part of the overhead cost, and a small one at that. In fact for many parts, these dealers sell them to salvage joints that refurb and resell them. The rest they simply toss the material either in the trash or in the recycle. About the only real extra cost for these guys is disposal of the brake fluid, and that should amount to maybe ten bucks at the most.

It is shit like this that got me into doing my own autowork years ago. I trust very few mechanics, and have found the rest to either be ripoff artists(what you have) or incompetent.

My guy (who used to work as a mechanic for the road commission and now works from his home), charged me 125.00 I bought the part rebuilt for 69.00. Had car back and AC charged for less than 200.00. He also did the rear end on my 1994 pickup for 700.00, try getting a price for that from a dealership.

Sorry but your getting screwed. First up your calipers should be fine unless you have just tore the hell out of your car.

Its pretty standard to get new pads and your rotors turned(NOT replaced, turned).

I didn't get all four done at once but I think even at a dealership my mustang was about 165 or so. $87hr shop rate.

Run away from this dealership.

I can buy new Calipers, pads, rotors, by Bendix for less than $800. And it doesn't take a full day to install them. Not to mention that your calipers probably don't need to be replaced and your rotor may or may not be able to be turned.

Go somewhere else.