I've walked out of automotive repair shops that would not give me a written
estimate.
I've walked out of Automobile Dealership Parts stores because their price
was too high.
A VW Dealer parts guy charged me $85.00 for two Air Cooled lifters ( I never
bought even a washer from him after that but have bought from other local VW
Dealer parts counters).
I protested the price at the Porsche Parts counter and they gave me 30%
discount on the $97.00 part.
I've walked out of lawn mower WARRANTY repair shops that said it would cost
$90.00 to replace the starter cord on my 90 day old (still under warranty)
Troy Built line trimmer. I junked the trimmer and bought a competitive brand
for $95.00 with the same CC engine and features.(Warranty! Don't ever
believe that you have any warranty. Even if it's printed right there I dough
you have any warranty on anything that you buy noe days. A New Car warranty
is a little different but you'll still have to fight for your warranty
repairs.)
I returned a Troy Built Lawn mower to Lowe's when it got to be hard starting
after about ten uses in 30 days. I got full credit.
I returned a Husqvarna line trimmer to Sears / K mart when it was new
(within 24 hours) because the exhaust blew so hot on my arm it couldn't be
used.
They said "Lucky you got here within 24 hours you saved a restocking
charge".
I walk out of auto parts stores if they pick up the phone while I'm standing
in front of them with cash to purchase parts I have on their counter.
You just have to remember who the customer is and assert your right to be
advised of costs, procedures etc. If they don't cooperate then it's easy to
see you're not important enough to be their customer.
I had one independent Porsche repair shop quote me $275.00 just to charge my
A/C system with R134a. I bought a set of gauges for $79.00, a case of R134a
from Sam's club, borrowed a vacuum pump and recharged the system myself.
Total cost of $102.00 and I have a set of gauges to sell and 9 cans of R134a
left.
Many times you can do the job ten times for what the mechanic wants for the
job.
That's what Hayes, Bentley, Tom Wilson's and Muir Books are all about,
troubleshooting and repairing your own car.
There will always be jobs you can't do or you just haven't got the time to
do.
At that point you just have to trust somebody in a professional shop to do
the work.
Everybody can't be an accomplished mechanic or have the stamina to put up
with the nastiness of automotive grease and repair procedures so you just
have to save a few dollars wherever you can and then bite the bullet and
have the pro's work on the  things you don't want to do to maintain your
vehicle.
For those that always have your car repaired in shops I can say this in your
favor, I've bought many tools and keep many tools, the numbers of dollars
spent on tools are in the thousands.
But I'm one of those guys that can fix almost anything mechanical even if I
don't want to.

Stan Wilder
Engine Ceramics
214-352-4931
www.engineceramics.com
----- Original Message -----
From: "Robert Cardo" <rrecardo@WEBTV.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, September 16, 2005 9:28 AM
Subject: Re: Exciting things happening at Van-Again!

> <<I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one.
> Chris>>
>
> I know where are going, and what your thinking, and why.
>
> No Problem.
>
> I agree that the labor rates are too high.
> I agree that parts are outa sight.
> I agree that sometimes what's obvious isn't.
>
> But on the other hand there are variables in any job, and a guy has to
> be flexable when it comes to paying someone else to do the work.
>
>  And above all else I'm not saying bend over and take the pipe.
>
> Get an idea up front of what the bottom line might be.
> Worse case .
> Right now.
>
> Then make your decision if this is the place you want to get the job
> done at.
>
> I agree on that.