When are you asking them for an estimate? Is it when you drop the van off,
or when the recommend a specific job?

If you tell them at the van does X under some conditions, the shop will
first have to diagnose what is wrong. It is not until a complete diagnosis
is done that they will be able to have an idea what repair will be needed.

For example, you could be taking the van in because, you tell them, the
battery will not hold a charge. The fault could be anything from the
electrolyte level in the battery is low (a very inexpensive job), or it
could be that there is an electrical drain somewhere in the wiring
(potentially an expensive job). Until the problem is diagnosed, they cannot
know what the recommend repair and associated cost will be.

Once they tell you what will be required to rectify a certain condition,
they should be able to tell you at that time what the repair cost will be.

Just my 2�.

Cheers,
Bruce
motorbruce@hotmail.com

>From: "Todd P. Last" <Rubatoguy@COMCAST.NET>
>Reply-To: "Todd P. Last" <Rubatoguy@COMCAST.NET>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Estimates for service - is it not the law in all states?
>Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2005 21:14:13 -0700
>
>I recently moved from CA to OR and was surprised to find out that in
>Oregon, they apparently have no law that requires that a mechanic give
>you a written estimate when you take your car in for service.  (In CA,
>they have to give you a written estimate, and call for approval if the
>charges will exceed that estimate.)
>
>It has been amusing to ask the service people here in OR what the
>estimate will be - they tend to look at me like I have flown in from
>Mars.  It does not do much for the confidence to leave the Van with
>someone and have no idea what the cost will be.
>
>How do those of you who live in places where it is not custom to give an
>estimate when you take your car in for repairs, deal with the situation?
>Blind trust?
>
>Todd
>'88 Westy