Repair Estimates

We receive these calls every day; “Can you match this other shop’s estimate or price quote?”  Sure, everyone wants to save money. I know I do. However, when I price shop it is for the same product, brand, and identical item.  Let’s first start by saying this: when Target or Walmart price matches a 4 oz. can of Del Monte string beans, they are price matching the same brand and size product.

When you price match an auto repair job you have to take many things into consideration.  Some shops may offer a $49.00 brake job and use cheap no name brake pads, cut corners, and have an unqualified person performing the repairs.  Will we price match such a thing? Absolutely not.  So many things have to be compared.

(1)       Do the technicians performing the repairs have the same qualifications?

(2)       Are the parts being used the same brand and quality at both shops?

(3)       Are the employees on commission and getting paid on how fast the job gets done?

(4)       Is the shop clean, reputable, and insured?

We recently had a customer tell us that they preferred to use us but instead they went price shopping and found another shop that could do the timing belt and water pump job for about $66.00 less and asked if would we price match them.  The approximate cost for the repair was $1200.00.  When I compared the two estimates, here is what I found:

Other Shop’s Labor Charge – $816.00          Our Labor Charge – $702.00

Other Shops Parts Charge – $374.03            Our Parts Charge – $496.00

Other Shop’s Supply Charge – $29.75          Our Supply Charge – $2.25

Other Shop’s “Discount” – $75.00

After taxes, our cost was $66.00 higher. The main difference was the price of the parts and this is why we are not comparing apples to apples but apples to oranges.  If I was just out for money, I could use the same cheaper parts, not use the manufacturer’s recommended coolant, and then charge an extra $100.00 labor.  Sure we would make more money on the job and save the customer $66.00, but the customer is the one that really loses not wins.  Find a shop that you trust, is fair, uses quality parts, stands behind their work, treats you right and stick with them. If you do decide to price shop, be sure to take all things into consideration as you are not just buying a can of beans.  Relationships, commitment, pricing and quality go both ways for the auto repair shop and the customer.