Mechanics see a woman coming and BAM!!!

[moosmom]

I found what I THOUGHT was a great auto repair place down the street who came recommended to me.

In the past year, I've put over $2,000 into my car to keep it running. I asked them for a repair history and noticed I got charged TWICE for a left front axle!!!

I called them on it and they said that yes, they made a mistake. When I picked up my car yesterday, I heard Curt, one of the owners, tell a customer over the phone that he overcharged HIM and to come back and they'll credit his account.

IMAGINE my surprize when I see the left front axle on my car history TWICE. Once last year, and again last week!!! I am SO pissed right now. I told them to take the overcharge and put my motor mount in. It's going in on Friday and that's the last time they'll see me!!

BUYER BEWARE!! Learn from MY mistake!!

[Lady's Human]

What does this have to do with you being female?

He's evidently got someone working for him who's double billing, he needs to find out who it is and fire them.

Thieves don't care what your gender is.

[happylabs]

I agree with you. I think mechanics take advantage of people who do not understand cars, mostly women. If you Google it, you will find tons and tons of articles about it.

I would be irritated too and definitely take my car to someone else.

With my car, I always question everything they tell me I need. I have an all-wheel drive Subaru. I got a flat on one tire and they told me I had to replace all 4. I checked into it and found that it wasn't completely necessary because I didn't have that much wear and tear on the other 3 yet.

Also, they are always trying to sell me filters I do not need. I go in and say oil change and that is it. No extras.

I just read an article that said to read your manual for your vehicle to know what the usual repair/replacement items are.

[Lady's Human]

If all mechanics take advantage of women, then how is going to a different mechanic going to help?

Don't use quicklube places, they don't really check your vehicle, and they try to sell you everything. However, air filters, cabin air filters, fuel filters, etc. DO need to be changed occasionally.

Find a shop you can trust (and no, contrary to the articles, cleanliness has JACK to do with how good the shop is) and use them, even get oil changes there if you can't do them yourself (and they're ridiculously easy to do), build a relationship with them and you'll be fine.

Sheesh, ain't broads funny, they don't know anything about cars.

[Freedom]

Read your owner's manual and only get what they suggest for regular maintenance.

Find an online forum your car - make, model AND YEAR - and read what folks say!

This was critical for me when I bought Carmine, the Prius, 3 years back. (Wow, 3 YEARS already!) Back then even Toyota dealers didn't know all the ins and outs, and would try to sell you stuff you just plain didn't need - the Prius didn't HAVE that part!

Changing the cabin filter on the Prius is a 10 minute job, I do that myself. Haven't actually had to CHANGE it yet, I annually take it out, hold it under running water to clean it, and put it back. Learned this from the forum, they told us what signs indicate you need a new one vs. cleaning it.

Every time I have my oil changed, the place will put a sticker on my windshield. Each and every one suggests I go back in 6 months of 3000 miles. But the Prius owner's manual is every 6 months or 5000 miles!

You really do have to pay attention, just like reading labels for foods. UGH!

Thank goodness for Prius Chat, or I'd have been done for!

[moosmom]

I have a high school chum that has a garage in Wethersfield that I was taking it to. The only reason I tried this other place down the street was because it was so convenient. I have a call into my friend now. My car is going into his shop tomorrow to get another estimate on all the work the other shop claims it needs.

Sorry Lady's Human, but I disagree with you on this one.

[Freckles]

Thank goodness for Prius Chat, or I'd have been done for!

And thank you for the information Prius Chat. Me, and my eight year old Prius thank you.

[happylabs]

If all mechanics take advantage of women, then how is going to a different mechanic going to help?

Don't use quicklube places, they don't really check your vehicle, and they try to sell you everything. However, air filters, cabin air filters, fuel filters, etc. DO need to be changed occasionally.

Find a shop you can trust (and no, contrary to the articles, cleanliness has JACK to do with how good the shop is) and use them, even get oil changes there if you can't do them yourself (and they're ridiculously easy to do), build a relationship with them and you'll be fine.

Sheesh, ain't broads funny, they don't know anything about cars.

I didn't see where anyone wrote that it was all mechanics.

[Lady's Human]

The title of the thread?