Car Repair Prices: Master Article List
The
following articles demonstrate the insanity of today's rising auto
repair prices, and the scams associated with so many auto repair parts and labor estimates and guides.
Many of the topics listed overlap with one another, making it difficult to categorize them. If you don't find what you're looking for in one section, please browse another heading.
Each heading has several articles or feature pages...
Headings:
Car Repair Prices, Car Repair Scams , Automobile Maintenance
Auto Repair Prices , Auto Repair Estimate , Used Car Prices
Extended Car Warranty , Paintless Dent Removal , Tire Road Hazard Warranty
Car Repair Prices
Ask a Mechanic: Wading Through the Mess of Car Repair Prices and Auto Repair Estimates
If you were handed an estimate to replace a water pump on your car, would you know if the price was fair? Could you trust the price? How about for a tie rod end, mass air flow sensor, or an evaporative emissions sensor? Most of us don’t know what these are, never mind the price. Yet it is components such as these that are commonly used to over charge you, the car repair customer.
Car Repair Prices – Top 5 Reasons It’s Your Fault
You Paid Too Much
Despite all the unethical practices in the auto repair business, sometimes excess car repair prices are your fault.
Car Repair Prices: Are Manufacturers to Blame for Excessive Auto Repair
Costs?
Often our
first thoughts are to blame our mechanics and repair shops (rightfully
so) for the outrageous car repair costs, but we can't forget about the
manufacturers' role either.
Auto Repair Average Costs
The following article highlights the resistance by the auto repair industry to standardize car repair prices. In an enlightening email exchange, see for yourself just how much the auto repair industry alone wants to dictate car repair costs.
Car Repair Help: What do you do when your car is held hostage...?
The following "real life" event is not all that uncommon. While your car may not be tied up for 5 months as described below, it may be delayed a number of days or weeks due to technician error and/or incompetence.
Car Repair Prices: Should I Go
to the Dealer or My Local Guy?
The battle
between dealerships and local shops continues. Which one is
right for your car?
Car Repair Prices: Who Charges
More, Dealers or Local Shops?
Many
think that dealerships are so much more expensive than local shops.
While this is true for a variety of legitimate reasons, local shops are no angels. You're just as likely to
get
ripped-off from the local guy who has been fixing your car for decades.
Car Repair Prices: How You Are
Ripped-Off Daily Under the Radar
How
does one
navigate the dark underworld of automotive service with all its
deceptive tactics and price-gouging? How does one battle such
a
huge monster as the automotive service industry?
Car Repair Prices: 10 Things You JUST NEVER
SAY to Your Mechanic
Common
everyday chit
chat with your service representative is costing you a fortune.
Just the facts mam. Just like in poker, we never want to reveal our hand.
Car Repair Prices: Why an Oil Change is NEVER Just an Oil Change
Loss
leaders never lose in the auto service industry. The house
always wins!
Car Repair Scams
Auto Repair – Charging for Convenience Despite Necessity
The auto repair industry charges for convenience. In other words, you could and should be able to get your car repaired for less – sometimes lots less – but because you broke down here and not there, you pay more.
Auto Repair Costs - The Worst Time of Year For Car Repair
Are there specific times during the year when you’re more likely to get ripped-off? The short answer is yes!
Single Mother Need Help With Car Repairs
This article demonstrates what so many auto repair customers have to do to avoid getting ripped off - whether male or female.
Car
Repair Scams: Why Traditional Scam Prevention Tips Will Cost You a
Fortune
Traditional
rip-off prevention tips don't work in today's service centers.
In
fact the old tips are often used to scam even more!
The Old
Lady Gets Taken For $1500
Auto repair scams occur daily across the
automotive
service industry. 99.9% of the time, you'll never even know
it.
In fact, you may even thank your service center for ripping
you
off.
Car Repair Prices: Jiving the
Talk, Jacking the Price
The
automotive service
industry is growing up. It's learning fancy words to
embellish
basic services in order to charge more money for the same or less work.
Investigation: Los Angeles Auto Repair Rip-Offs
Repair scams continue to come to light as yet another automotive chain
is busted in a car repair scam sting. Repair customers get ripped-off
hundreds!
Investigation Part 2: Los Angeles Auto Repair Rip-Offs
Bogus car repair
prices continue to be exposed in part 2 of the I-Team's uncover
investigation. While Las Vegas looks pretty bad for car repairs right
now, we need to remember that the types of scams revealed here OCCUR
EVERYWHERE.....
Car Repair Scams: What Would Jesus
Do?
Car repair scams are so blatant, yet little is being done. What would Jesus do--really?
Vehicle Maintenance, Automobile Maintenance
Car Maintenance Costs: What Really Needs to Get Done to Fix Your Car
This article highlights the massive price discrepancies for even a simple 30,000-mile car maintenance schedule.
Car Maintenance Costs
The RepairTrust Experiment: We're Going "Live"
to Actively Promote Fair Auto Sales Pricing Online and Off, and
Fair Car Maintenance Costs.
Auto Repair Costs- Should I Change My Oil Every 3,000 Miles?
For decades mechanics have been telling us to change our oil every 3,000 miles. Interestingly, no automotive manufacturer agrees with this
maintenance schedule – not in the last 20 years any way. So why are we being told to change our oil every 3,000 miles if it’s unnecessary?
Tune-Ups Are Dead: The Truth
About Auto Maintenance
Vehicle maintenance needs have been
drastically reduced by technology. Why is is still so
expensive?
Winterize Your Car: Myths and Facts
For years we've all been told to get our cars ready for the winter. Is it still necessary? What preparations are "actually" required.
Auto
Repair: The Top Ten Mistakes Made by Your Mechanic
Auto mechanics should be required to take an
hippocratic oath. I
swear to do no harm ...etc. But also, I
will not be ashamed to say I know not. Nor will I fail to call in my
colleagues when the skills of another could "actually" fix the freaking
car, or at least not make it any worse!
Auto
Repair: How Can They Screw Up an Oil Change?
Why do so many car repairs get screwed up?
What are they doing? What's going on under my hood?
Car Repair Prices: The Cat's Out of the Bag!
Car repair costs are high enough without having parts stolen off your car. Catalytic converters (cats) are being cut off the exhaust systems for there precious metals...
Pre Road Trip Car Maintenance
Taking a
road trip is
stressful enough without having to worry about your car.
There
are some simple things that can be done to ensure a safe and successful trip.
Snow Tires: Do I Need Snow Tires?
With
all of today's "all-wheel-drive," technology, it raises many questions
regarding the necessity of snow tires. Do you really need them?
Fuel Injection Services, Myths
and Facts
High gas
prices have
made fuel injection services quite popular today. But are
they
worth it. A myths and facts discussion.
Volkswagen Reset Engine Service Light
Check engine lights, engine service lights, and any warning light for that matter is frustrating. Check engine light help...
Auto Repair Prices: The Escalation of Car Repair Scams
The Acceleration of Price-Gouging
Ripping
people off in the automotive service industry is nothing new.
The last
few decades of technological advancements has created so much
confusion, opening wide the door for car repair scams.
Latest Auto Repair Scam Facts
This article highlights the latest evidence for auto repair scams. The evidence is overwhelming and startling...
Auto Repair HELP! Auto Repair ...STILL Topping Consumer Complaint Lists
This article shows further evidence for the continuing total dissatisfaction with auto repair. While this piece contains some decent practical advice, the statement such as "most repair shops are honest and do a good job" is actually an absurd and uneducated remark in light of the overwhelming evidence highlighted in many of the articles on this page. In other words, even the people who are suppose to be HELPING and protecting the consumer know little....
Further
Evidence That 98% of ALL Repair Shops Are Ripping You Off
Despite the overwhelming evidence that service
centers are ripping people off, there are still a few skeptics.
Even Alaska warns consumers about auto repair scams!
98% of ALL Repair Shops Are
Ripping You Off
Price-gouging
(charging excessive car repair prices) is an accepted practice in the
automotive service industry. It's so ingrained that many
service
personal don't realize they're ripping you off. They're just
doing
what's always been done.
The
Top 10 Rarely Voiced
Justifications Mechanics Use When Ripping You Off
Mechanics hate to admit it, but they continually rationalize excessive
charges. They'll go to great creative lengths to
justify price-gouging. This article takes you inside the
minds of today's mechanics.
There Are No Honest Mechanics
Despite
all the available tips and suggestions to find an honest repair shop,
they're useless. Honesty will not stop you from getting ripped-off.
The Truth About Automotive Service Managers
Service
managers wield incredible power and influence in the service industry;
yet, they lack even the basic skills of business management to keep you
from getting ripped-off.
30% Chance of Getting
Your Car Fixed Right
Can't
get your car fixed right? Of course you can't! 70%
of the technicians
lack the necessary qualifications. But you'll pay top dollar
to have
an amateur poke and prod your vehicle.
Auto
Sales Auto Service: Who Rips You Off More, Sales or Service?
The automotive industry is full of scam artists. But who rips
you
off more? Sales or service? Can one tread safely in
either?
Used Car Prices, Best Used Cars to Buy, Car Reviews
NADA Used Car Prices, Edmunds Used Car Prices, and Kelly Blue Book Used Car Prices – Whose Prices Are Right?
The Internet has been touted as the greatest resource for the used car buyer. Prospective buyers can find trade-in, private party, and retail used car prices in a heart beat. However, the real question is what Internet source is right...
Used Car Prices: Web-Based Auto Values Are Hurting Buyers and Sellers
Get your head out of the net! The Internet's a great tool for a used car search, and to gather important data about features, reviews...etc, but it's unreliable for used car prices.
Used Car Pricing: Myths and Facts About Used Car Prices
Who or what determines a used car value? Put another way: Who the hell's calling the shots! You'll be surprised....
Used Car Prices: Who Do You Trust?
Be wary of who is giving advice when buying a used car. Some advice will cost you $1000's unnecessarily...
Kelley
Blue Book Can Make Buyers Blue and The Dealer Green (With Your Cash)
Although improvements have been made, beware
of car prices based off Kelly Blue Book (or any web-based price guide. Run from anyone using or even
mentioning Kelly Blue Book values. It should really be called the Kelly Screw Book. So...How can I find out what a car is worth, really?
What's My Car Worth?
What's my vehicle worth? What a question! I wish that after 20
years in the automotive industry there was a simple answer. One would think that
with all the information available it would make prices and values easier to
obtain. In fact, in many ways, the numbers are more unclear than ever.
What's the
Best Car to Drive: European, Asian, or, American: Fact
or Opinion
Just what is the best car to drive? How does one know? What are the critical ingredients that make a car the best?
Extended Car Warranty, Protection Plans, Road Hazard Warranty
Paintless
Dent Repair: Myths and Facts About Car Dent Insurance
Dings
and dents
are very common. And PDR, paintless dent repair is a
wonderful
alternative to pricey and time consuming traditional body shop methods.
But do we need auto dent repair insurance?
Tire Insurance: Myths and Facts
About Road Hazard Policies
Do you
really need a road hazard warranty? What do the objective
experts
have to say about tire insurance. Is is worth it?
Auto Repair Insurance: Extended
Warranties, Myths and Facts
With
the rising
costs of car repair, do I need an extended warranty for car repairs?
Do auto extended warranties make economic sense?
Car Repair Help: Since When Does Waxing a Car Involve Insurance?
If you have recently purchased a new or used vehicle, upon closing the deal, you may be offered an extended warranty, a tire road hazard warranty, and/or dent repair insurance. But how about insuring your vehicle’s paint against bird poop? Spilled coffee on your seat? No problem; we got a plan for that too! No worries! Insurance—does it ever end?
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