Charge for a written quote for repairs??

vodkababy

I was wondering if anyone had ever heard of charging for a written quotation for bodywork repair?

I got told that a garage wanted €100 for a written quotation. Is that correct??

Owen

Whatever about the exact price, it seems fair. The garage will need to take an hour of their time to inspect the car, identify the parts, catalogue them, price individual parts and then complete a quotation from you. A written quotation is a lot more exact than a visual guesstimate.

vodkababy

I had never heard of charging for a written quotation. Rang a couple of garages and they said they didn't charge. Thought the other was pulling my leg.

Gumbo

vodkababy wrote: »

I had never heard of charging for a written quotation. Rang a couple of garages and they said they didn't charge. Thought the other was pulling my leg.

they charge you to try stop people getting the most expensive written quote then going with the cheapist quote.

as above, the garage have to spend at least an hour assessing your car, identifying parts etc etc etc

and im nearly sure that if you buy the written quote then the 100e is taking off the overall price should you use them.

vodkababy

kceire wrote: »

and im nearly sure that if you buy the written quote then the 100e is taking off the overall price should you use them.

That's helpful.

vodkababy

Thanks everyone for your help.

Anan1

I've never paid for a written quotation, and I couldn't see myself starting now. The way I see it, the garage is bidding for the work - if they want to charge to bid then i'll look elsewhere.

vodkababy

Anan1 wrote: »

I've never paid for a written quotation, and I couldn't see myself starting now. The way I see it, the garage is bidding for the work - if they want to charge to bid then i'll look elsewhere.

That's what I thought.

L-M

Anan1 wrote: »

I've never paid for a written quotation, and I couldn't see myself starting now. The way I see it, the garage is bidding for the work - if they want to charge to bid then i'll look elsewhere.

+1

I've never paid for one.

Bring in the car - estimate on the price - write it down.

If they want your business they're not going to charge you 100euro for a piece of paper. Plus the fact that most established crash repairers will know the rough cost of most parts, and any irregularities in pricing for hard-to-get-parts on certain cars.

If someone asked me for €100 euro for a written quote, I know where I'd be going.

Drummerboy08

I have heard of places charging for an estimate, but not charging €100. Any place i've seen has been charging in and around €40 per estimate.

Trinny_Wicklow

Not a chance in hell I would be paying for a quote. There are enough garages out there that you can shop around and not have to pay for this. Especially with the state of the economy at the moment.

If you really want to go with them, tell them that you will pay the 100 euro and if you go with them then you want a 100 euro discount from the quote.

Anan1

Trinny_Wicklow wrote: »

If you really want to go with them, tell them that you will pay the 100 euro and if you go with them then you want a 100 euro discount from the quote.

I'd assume that's a given. Still wouldn't make me pay them to quote, though.

Hagar

You're looking at the difference between a quote and an estimate.

If you give them the work you can only be billed the amount on the written quotation whereas an estimate is just that, a non-binding estimate. The job could be twice the price of an estimate.

Is it worth the cost of the quote to know how much the job will be to the cent?

Drummerboy08

Hagar wrote: »

You're looking at the difference between a quote and an estimate.

If you give them the work you can only be billed the amount on the written quotation whereas an estimate is just that, a non-binding estimate. The job could be twice the price of an estimate.

Is it worth the cost of the quote to know how much the job will be to the cent?

Exactly.

Anan1

Hagar wrote: »

You're looking at the difference between a quote and an estimate.

If you give them the work you can only be billed the amount on the written quotation whereas an estimate is just that, a non-binding estimate. The job could be twice the price of an estimate.

Is it worth the cost of the quote to know how much the job will be to the cent?

In a word, no. I would expect a binding quote, in writing, before making a decision. I would not even consider paying for this, if the garage want the work then it's up to them to tender for it.

mickdw

Its a joke. Dont pay that. Yes they will have to spend alittle time on a quote but thats all part of the job of being a bodyshop.
All other businesses have to prepare quotes/tenders and get f*ck all if they dont get the job.

Hagar

Anan1 wrote: »

In a word, no. I would expect a binding quote, in writing, before making a decision. I would not even consider paying for this, if the garage want the work then it's up to them to tender for it.

Ideally I would agree with you but the reality as another poster mentioned above is that a detailed binding quotation takes time to prepare so many garages will charge for one. Often the cost of the quotation would be deducted from the final bill if you give them the work. But even if you are not charged up front for the quote as a separate item the cost will be hidden somewhere in the final invoice. There is no such thing as a free lunch.

Dabko

Jaysus, if i was making money for written quotes, id be a millionaire by now.

Ha ha, paying for a written quote is bullsh1t, belongs in the days of the tiger. Obviously, there are a very busy place with no downturn in business, therefore are not too bothered about asking for 100 scoobys for a quote.

Redsoxfan

I got 3 detailed (part numbers specified etc) written/documented quotes/estimates* when looking to get repairs done recently and didn't pay anything. My company fleet is never charged for quotations/estimates and we use a wide variety of repairers.

*I don't distinguish between a quote and an estimate and wouldn't expect either to be binding.

L1011

I wouldn't expect to pay for one in this economy, a while back when garages seemed to not actually want to do work it was normal enough to get charged - but 100 was even dear then!

Also if anywhere isn't refunding the quote if you get the work there, they're ripping you - and were a year/two years ago too.