Was I overcharged?

Baggio...

hey all,

I hope this is okay to post here - I'm not looking to name names or anything. I wonder if you could help me out though?

I've moved out to the country and I'm using one of the local mechanics here. However, I can't help thinking I'm being overcharged. I seem to remember that a service (I drive a yaris) was around 150 - 175 quid. I'm now paying qiote a bit over two hundred.

Also, I recently had a new clutch put into the car - I was charged over 570.00 euro. I can't but feel that I'm paying a bit too much . If it turns out to be true I'll simply change my mechanic. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

Robert.

Heroditas

Celbridge by any chance?

spartacus93

Baggio... wrote: »

Also, I recently had a new clutch put into the car - I was charged over 570.00 euro. I can't but feel that I'm paying a bit too much . If it turns out to be true I'll simply change my mechanic. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

I wouldn't be too sure about these things. Seems a bit expensive tho. To give you an idea a new clutch + labour in a main Skoda dealer for an Octavia is €440. Can't see why a Yaris would be that much more expensive.

Drummerboy08

Baggio, The service sounds like alot @ €200 +. I get mine done for around the €120 mark. I'd shop around if i were you, or else i can put you in touch with a good mechanic in West Dublin, who may collect from Celbridge.

As for the clutch, well that sounds expensive. Particularly for a Yaris.

Baggio...

spartacus93 wrote: »

I wouldn't be too sure about these things. Seems a bit expensive tho. To give you an idea a new clutch + labour in a main Skoda dealer for an Octavia is €440. Can't see why a Yaris would be that much more expensive.

Many thanks for taking the time to answer!

Wow... that's a lot cheaper, considering that's form a proper dealer too - who you'd expect to be dearer than your self employed mechanic. And I reckon your right about the skoda, there's no real reason that it should be all that much different from my small Yaris Clutch.

Cheers,

Robert.

Baggio...

Drummerboy08 wrote: »

Baggio, The service sounds like alot @ €200 +. I get mine done for around the €120 mark. I'd shop around if i were you, or else i can put you in touch with a good mechanic in West Dublin, who may collect from Celbridge.

As for the clutch, well that sounds expensive. Particularly for a Yaris.

Thanks for the advice and answer!

Gah... I have that sinking feeling now...:( Yeah, I thought that was very over the top for even just a service. I'm actually based close to Kildare town, so it might be a bit out of the way for your fella'. But if not, I'd be interested in him for the next time I need some work done.

Thanks again,

Robert.

Mr Benevolent

I suggest doing the service yourself next time. It's easy, interesting and gives you the confidence to tackle other jobs.

Baggio...

Confab wrote: »

I suggest doing the service yourself next time. It's easy, interesting and gives you the confidence to tackle other jobs.

With my hands? I'd probably implode the car to be honest.

Seriously tho', I' quite happy to pay a professional, as long as it's at fair price.

slimjimmc

What did the service involve Baggio? It's easy to say it was just a service but many garages and customers have differing opinions of what that actually entails. For example some places might include replacing the air filter or pollen filter, others might not. Likewise some customers assume certain things are part of the service too and don't realise what they're buying.

If your service was simply plugs, oil + oil filter then €200 is very steep imo.


I always have a laugh when I see ads listing what you get with garage X's new 20-point service for €199 or whatever. 15 of the points simply involve looking at lights, tyres and can all be done in about 3mins. Great value :rolleyes:

poxx

Have a look at your invoice and post what was done. €200 for a propper FULL service is not that bad. Did you ask what their labour rate is? how dose the car perform now? Some times you get what you pay for and some times you get shafted! :eek:

Gurgle

Baggio... wrote: »

Also, I recently had a new clutch put into the car - I was charged over 570.00 euro.

You haven't just been 'had', you've been absolutely ridden.

maidhc

Gurgle wrote: »

You haven't just been 'had', you've been absolutely ridden.

Really?

A new decent clutch is going to be the bones of €300. That leaves €270 to split the car and install. Then there is VAT, and brake fluid, and probably a new slave cylinder.

Even a clutch and pressure plate are only €200 I can't see how the job can be done for much less than €500.

I find these "have I been had" posts a bit distasteful. I'm not a mechanic, but I know a lot more than most people on this forum. If there is a job out of my league I go to a local mechanic. He charges a price, it is always fair.

People should try and build a relationship with their mechanic rather than getting excited about whether they were charged 30-40 too much. It works out better in the long run.

Fishtits

maidhc

You've said it all.

Plus, add Rates (one days turnover every week = Rates,)

Strange that I'm discharging more water than I intake, and they are charging me accordingly, Justification should be interesting...

Interceptor

maidhc wrote: »

I know a lot more than most people on this forum.

The Weetabix I had for breakfast knows more than most people on this forum...

OP - if you got a good quality job and your mechanic didn't steal your Maria Carey CDs then I wouldn't worry about it. The real test is when your car doesn't start on a winter Sunday night and you phone the guy for help - if he comes out, pay him whatever he asks and buy him a Terrys Chocolate Orange as well.

'cptr

Sam Kade

Interceptor wrote: »

The Weetabix I had for breakfast knows more than most people on this forum...

OP - if you got a good quality job and your mechanic didn't steal your Maria Carey CDs then I wouldn't worry about it. The real test is when your car doesn't start on a winter Sunday night and you phone the guy for help - if he comes out, pay him whatever he asks and buy him a Terrys Chocolate Orange as well.

'cptr

By any chance would you have a broken down car I could fix, we can discuss the cost of repairs when the job is done:rolleyes:

Baggio...

maidhc wrote: »

People should try and build a relationship with their mechanic rather than getting excited about whether they were charged 30-40 too much. It works out better in the long run.

You said it yourself your not a mechanic....

I thought we had a good relationship with ours - I was throwing him a lot of business his way too. Unfortunately, it now it seems I was over charged by way more than 30-40 euro (if it was only that amount I wouldn't bat an eyelid).

The clutch part itself was a lot cheaper than you intimated. It was a labour cost that was, in my opinion very expensive.

Anyway, there's a lot of people out there for me to choose from, I'll ask around down here, and get someone who charges a fair price.

slimjimmc wrote: »

If your service was simply plugs, oil + oil filter then €200 is very steep imo.

That was about the size of it... Nothing major.

I did notice that stuff like the wipers were constantly being replaced (and each servise and some other minor bits). Which I didn't really want done as they were in perfect condition.

maidhc

Baggio... wrote: »

You said it yourself your not a mechanic....

I thought we had a good relationship with ours - I was throwing him a lot of business his way too. Unfortunately, it now it seems I was over charged by way more than 30-40 euro (if it was only that amount I wouldn't bat an eyelid).

I'm not a mechanic but I can swap out a clutch. I know the work involved, the equipment required, and it isn't a job I'd start on saturday evening if I wanted the car for work on monday.

Also it is difficult if you are dealing with mechanical equipment to give a quote up front. God knows what snakes are lurking under the bonnet of any car. Something small like a rounded bolt in an awkward place could cost you 2 hours of your time.

If you think €300 is about right for the Yaris 3 piece clutch kit tis a relationship with your motor factors you'd want to work on.

testicle

maidhc wrote: »

Really?

A new decent clutch is going to be the bones of €300. That leaves €270 to split the car and install. Then there is VAT, and brake fluid, and probably a new slave cylinder.

Even a clutch and pressure plate are only €200 I can't see how the job can be done for much less than €500.

I find these "have I been had" posts a bit distasteful. I'm not a mechanic, but I know a lot more than most people on this forum. If there is a job out of my league I go to a local mechanic. He charges a price, it is always fair.

People should try and build a relationship with their mechanic rather than getting excited about whether they were charged 30-40 too much. It works out better in the long run.

Jow come the same job is only €440 in a Skoda Main Dealer?

bijapos

Only way to find out if you've been done on the clutch is to ring 4 or 5 Toyota dealers and ask for a quote on a clutch change. Standard job so they'll have an idea how many hours it takes. If its way over you could ask for a refund of sorts but I'd ring around first.

You cant use the Octavia price as a basis for this, all cars are built differently, and come apart differently.

As regards the service as a poster above said, check what parts were put in and ask the other garages for a quote based on this.

Baggio...

maidhc wrote: »

I'm not a mechanic but I can swap out a clutch. I know the work involved, the equipment required, and it isn't a job I'd start on saturday evening if I wanted the car for work on monday.

Also it is difficult if you are dealing with mechanical equipment to give a quote up front. God knows what snakes are lurking under the bonnet of any car. Something small like a rounded bolt in an awkward place could cost you 2 hours of your time.

"Could, may, might",etc... that's a bit of a "what if" situation without any tangibility. That can't really be quantified, as you have know idea if a bolt took the mechanic 2 hours (or some other fiddly bit may have been there). Plus, a professional, I'm sure, will have ways of speeding things up. I'm sure they are well used to working on cars that are far more awkward then a small yaris.

RoverJames wrote: »

If you think €300 is about right for the Yaris 3 piece clutch kit tis a relationship with your motor factors you'd want to work on.

The guy didn't charge 300 for the yaris clutch.

So what does the average mechanic charge for an hours work then? What is considered a fair price for their skilled work?

bijapos wrote: »

Only way to find out if you've been done on the clutch is to ring 4 or 5 Toyota dealers and ask for a quote on a clutch change. Standard job so they'll have an idea how many hours it takes. If its way over you could ask for a refund of sorts but I'd ring around first.

yeah, I might ask around a bit... To be honest I'm not really a refund type guy. I just do the typical Irish maneuver. I never go back and simply find someone else to give my hard earned cash to.

blue42

three and a half to four hours labour last time i did a yaris, quicker if you have a two post lift! i didnt.

Baggio...

blue42 wrote: »

three and a half to four hours labour last time i did a yaris, quicker if you have a two post lift! i didnt.

Thanks mate, I appreciate the answer there - that helps me a lot.

Rob.

maidhc

Baggio... wrote: »

"Could, may, might",etc... that's a bit of a "what if" situation without any tangibility. That can't really be quantified, as you have know idea if a bolt took the mechanic 2 hours (or some other fiddly bit may have been there). Plus, a professional, I'm sure, will have ways of speeding things up. I'm sure they are well used to working on cars that are far more awkward then a small yaris.

I'm not familar with the Yaris, but doing the clutch on some cars (Ford Mondeo springs to mind) is a god awful job that can take a lot of time.

As regards hourly rate for a skilled self employed mecahnic with his own premises. I don't think €60-90 is out of order.

blue42

maidhc wrote: »

As regards hourly rate for a skilled self employed mecahnic with his own premises. I don't think €60-90 is out of order.

i think 60-90 euro seems high...that more like main dealer rates!

bladebrew

it was €668 for a clutch on my saxo,that was including €90 to hire a recovery truck,€570 in an independent is really pushing it,my dad was told later the local mechanic back home would have done it for around €350!
my family know him fairly well but i dont think he was leaving himself out off pocket charging €350,

i dont claim to know more than anyone on boards, but i hope i know more than a weetabix:eek:

Baggio...

maidhc wrote: »

As regards hourly rate for a skilled self employed mecahnic with his own premises. I don't think €60-90 is out of order.

Just out of interest... how are you arriving at these figures?

maidhc wrote: »

I'm not familar with the Yaris, but doing the clutch on some cars (Ford Mondeo springs to mind) is a god awful job that can take a lot of time.

Well, as your're not familiar with a Yaris I can't really take you opinion on board. Plus, the fact that the OP has said that he's done it, and it didn't take all that long per se (3hrs or so).

ninty9er

Baggio... wrote: »

Well, as your're not familiar with a Yaris I can't really take you opinion on board. Plus, the fact that the OP has said that he's done it, and it didn't take all that long per se (3hrs or so).

And you're not familiar with it either. I suggest untwisting your knickers adn ringing around a few Toyota dealers to get the cost.

As for your service, wipers would certainly not be included in the average service, just because they were fine going in, doesn't mean they would have been fine 'til the next service. Did you have brake pads changed? Fuel Filter?? Bulbs? headlight alignment? All of these are costs outside of the average service criteria.

"pretty much" doesn't say what was or wasn't on your invoice. I know myself that the engine bay of the new Yaris is certainly a painful place to be, and I was only trying to change a bulb (and failed.)

You can't compare a Yaris with a Skoda. The parts are completely different, the clutch mount could have any number of differences, and the Yaris is one car, the Octavia is about 5, meaning it's more than likely built for more generic maintenance.

JHMEG

maidhc wrote: »

As regards hourly rate for a skilled self employed mecahnic with his own premises. I don't think €60-90 is out of order.

While I agree with the rest of your posts, €60/hr is what a main dealer in a Nissan/Honda dealership in Dublin charges. A mechanic "down the country" charges €20. I even know of one lad in Co Louth that charges €50 labour to do a timing belt.

ninty9er

JHMEG wrote: »

While I agree with the rest of your posts, €60/hr is what a main dealer in a Nissan/Honda dealership in Dublin charges. A mechanic "down the country" charges €20. I even know of one lad in Co Louth that charges €50 labour to do a timing belt.

I'd say €60 is very light. €40 might be the wage for a qualified mechanic who'd be entrusted with a clutch, €70-€90 would be more like the cost to the customer when overheads are accounted for.

JHMEG

ninty9er wrote: »

I'd say €60 is very light.

It's what I paid!