Mechanic markup worse than wine in a restaurant.

[atalarico]

So, I was trying out a new (to me) shop in Denver, Hotchkiss, to diagnose a clunk in my 4th gen's front end. They get great reviews, and even come recommended from some forum members, which was great because they're a 15 minute walk from my house.

They diagnosed the clunk as bad LCA bushings and provided decent enough service. The trouble there is that I just had the shop I used to go to (Comprehensive Car Care) replace those within the last year. Obviously I'm taking it back to Comprehensive to have them make that right since it's been only a few months.

Anyway, the guy at Hotchkiss pointed out that they don't even bother replacing the bushings in these LCA's anyway and just recommend getting new ones since you get new bushings and a new LBJ in the deal. I looked at their quote when I got home and noticed they charge over $550 for new Moog LCAs...each.

Are you ****ing kidding me? Those are $168 on RockAuto, and OEM ones are $435 at Camelback. For those following along at home, that's a 232% markup. If for whatever reason I need them to do the work (which I won't because I'll just do the LCA's myself) I'll ask if I can provide my own parts. If, like other shops I've dealt with in the past that scam you on parts, they say no, I'll have a better idea about their...trustworthiness.

Yikes. Be careful out there, all.

 

[GripT4R]

Buy the tools and do it yourself. You will end the project with new tools, knowledge, and probably some extra money in the piggy bank.

Paying people to do easy tasks anyone with common sense and basic hand tools can perform is dumb as hell.

People often use the excuse "I don't have the time" B.S.....you have the time to make posts on the internet to rant about issues, you have the time to swap a pair of LCA's on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

 

[atalarico]

Buy the tools and do it yourself. You will end the project with new tools, knowledge, and probably some extra money in the piggy bank.

Paying people to do easy tasks anyone with common sense and basic hand tools can perform is dumb as hell.

People often use the excuse "I don't have the time" B.S.....you have the time to make posts on the internet to rant about issues, you have the time to swap a pair of LCA's on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

Appreciate the advice. I've been wrenching on 4Runners for the last 10 years, so yeah, I'm with you. LCA bushings are another story and, for me personally, worth the price to have someone else torch out and press in and all that other nonsense.

The only reason I had the bushings done in the first place was because I was coming from a 3rd gen and didn't realize the LBJs were connected to the LCAs in the 4th gens. Had I known that, I would have just did the whole damn LCA myself since it seems like they're easier to replace in the 4th gen to boot.

Anyway, the point of this thread was more of a "I can't believe this supposed trustworthy shop gets away with a 230% markup on non-OEM parts...".

 

[GripT4R]

Appreciate the advice. I've been wrenching on 4Runners for the last 10 years, so yeah, I'm with you. LCA bushings are another story and, for me personally, worth the price to have someone else torch out and press in and all that other nonsense.

The only reason I had the bushings done in the first place was because I was coming from a 3rd gen and didn't realize the LBJs were connected to the LCAs in the 4th gens. Had I known that, I would have just did the whole damn LCA myself since it seems like they're easier to replace in the 4th gen to boot.

Anyway, the point of this thread was more of a "I can't believe this supposed trustworthy shop gets away with a 230% markup on non-OEM parts...".

Its not "getting away" with it if idiots are paying for it.

No go swap out your LCA's since you have been wrenching on 4 runners for the last 10 years. :clap2:

 

[mscot]

did you point that out to them?

 

[atalarico]

Its not "getting away" with it if idiots are paying for it.

No go swap out your LCA's since you have been wrenching on 4 runners for the last 10 years. :clap2:

I was agreeing with you and qualifying that agreement with a statement of fact, and then clarifying the original intent of my post since it seemed like it was missed. That's all. No ego or bragging intended.

 

[atalarico]

did you point that out to them?

I didn't since I wasn't aware of the price difference at the time, and didn't even give their estimate a second look because I knew I wouldn't have them do the work since I'd be getting it fixed by the first place that did it.

However, for purely academic purposes of figuring out if they are straight shooters, I might call and just inquire if they'd let me provide the parts. If they give me that shit excuse that I've heard other shops say about "oh well we can't guarantee the quality of the parts, etc." then I'll know where they stand and write a review accordingly.

I also want other Denverites to see this post when they search for Denver area mechanics on this forum like I did and see that maybe Hotchkiss doesn't deserve a recommendation with a markup like that.

 

[Dillusion]

Nevermind.

 

[T4R2014]

LCAs might be a pain if the alignment cams are seized. Not a job I recommend to a DIYer in the rust belt. When I was in college I worked at a shop close by with a friend. We changed LCAs on an average Pathfinder. Seized AF. When we saw how much the owner got charged, I thought it was a total steal vs having to DIY. Pressing out old bushings in the rust belt? Good luck finding a mechanic that is down. Not even worth the time no matter how much your overcharge.

To give those guys the benefit of the doubt, maybe their local parts supplier is an a-hole.

 

[atalarico]

LCAs might be a pain if the alignment cams are seized. Not a job I recommend to a DIYer in the rust belt. When I was in college I worked at a shop close by with a friend. We changed LCAs on an average Pathfinder. Seized AF. When we saw how much the owner got charged, I thought it was a total steal vs having to DIY. Pressing out old bushings in the rust belt? Good luck finding a mechanic that is down. Not even worth the time no matter how much your overcharge.

To give those guys the benefit of the doubt, maybe their local parts supplier is an a-hole.

While I would agree there I already had another shop replace the bushings (albeit shittily since I'm having to go back because they're ****ed again). In my case there wouldn't be any issue with seized cams since they were already broken loose (and I think replaced) when they did the bushings.

I normally like to give places the benefit of the doubt, but come on...$550 for a $165 part!? I'll call them and ask if I could provide my own new parts and see what they say. I think I know where their trustworthiness stands depending on their answer.

 

[T4R2014]

While I would agree there I already had another shop replace the bushings (albeit shittily since I'm having to go back because they're ****ed again). In my case there wouldn't be any issue with seized cams since they were already broken loose (and I think replaced) when they did the bushings.

I normally like to give places the benefit of the doubt, but come on...$550 for a $165 part!? I'll call them and ask if I could provide my own new parts and see what they say. I think I know where their trustworthiness stands depending on their answer.

I just don't trust shops to press in bushings tbh. Considering the last shop messed up (using OEM bushings right?), I'd let the shop supply parts anyway. That way you have warranty on the parts from them. Some parts are not worth supplying and losing the warranty.

 

[atalarico]

Turns out the rear LCA bolt was loose on the driver's side, likely from the last place I took it to get it aligned after the LCA install. I had to fight with the shop a little because they were saying it's the stress of the lift on everything and that it couldn't be the LCAs and I was saying...no. I've had lifted 4Runners before, etc., never had this issue in 10 years of owning them, and other owners with lifted 4Runners don't talk about this. They said they used OEM bushings too, so that's kind of nice to know.

Anyway, after a little back and forth he wanted me to watch and try to pinpoint the sound as he the moved the truck backward and forward. As soon as he backed up I saw and heard the back of the LCA click. So he crawled under and tightened it down and voila.

This brings me to my next point, Hotchkiss, the shop with the really high markup on the LCA, didn't check to see if the bolts were tightened at least? Or did they and did they still give me a quote for $1500 worth of work for a loose bolt? I mean, I get it if they were just doing a rushed diagnosis, but...that kinda sucks.

 

[riceandpho]

i guess if the last person who touch your car with their tools, they are going to liable for it, maybe the hotchkiss shop didnt want to be liable for other damages caused by previous install.

 

[Muzzle of Bees]

I feel the same way about having a used vehicle checked by a shop.
The recommended shops are not very thorough.

 

[wcjeep]

The markup does not seem outrageous. They have to keep the lights on. Maybe their supplier is expensive? Vehicles cost a fraction of the msrp to make. Cellphones too. Maybe your local taxes and government rules are burdensome.

I have paid for work to be done I could easily have done. Time and weather usually decide for me. Now you are spending time and energy to have the job done again. At a certain point the more expensive shop becomes cheaper.

 

[atalarico]

The markup does not seem outrageous. They have to keep the lights on. Maybe their supplier is expensive? Vehicles cost a fraction of the msrp to make. Cellphones too. Maybe your local taxes and government rules are burdensome.

I have paid for work to be done I could easily have done. Time and weather usually decide for me. Now you are spending time and energy to have the job done again. At a certain point the more expensive shop becomes cheaper.

Taxes and government rules don't explain a 232% markup on a $165 part. Sorry, but it sounds like gouging to me. If they need to keep their lights on then they need to stay competitive, or keep things above board and work out a higher labor rate and not just mark up parts to make up the deficit. Also, marking something up like that doesn't account for warranty issues down the road either, as I'd be more than willing to pay a reasonable markup of maybe 50%.

I just wish shops would be upfront and stop feeding the stereotypes...

 

[Daddycreswell]

My son had a 2010 Jeep Grand Cherokee that I had the water pump replaced on 18 months ago. When it messed up this last time (water pumped went out again) then place that fixed it 1st was closed for 2 weeks. I needed it fixed, so I took it to a place that came highly recommended from a bunch of people. Anyway they wanted $700.00 to replace water pump and new serpentine belt. All because they said they had to remove the AC. I passed, waited till other shop opened back up. They replaced the water pump free, and replaced serpentine belt, all for $200.00. Water pump would have added $150.00 more to bill. I asked about removing AC, they said nope, it's a tight squeeze but no reason to remove it.

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[Bayou_Pro]

However, for purely academic purposes of figuring out if they are straight shooters, I might call and just inquire if they'd let me provide the parts. If they give me that shit excuse that I've heard other shops say about "oh well we can't guarantee the quality of the parts, etc." then I'll know where they stand and write a review accordingly.

Why would you even think about writing them a bad review because if this?? Did they lie to you, NO. Did they cheat you, NO. Did they do anything illegal or unethical, NO. They gave you a quote for work with clear pricing. It's your job to see if that fits your budget or not.

As far as them not doing the work with customer supplied parts, that pretty normal. Welcome to America, it's a free country. They can make their own policies. If you don't agree with their policies then shop somewhere else but don't bash them because you are being petty.

Pricing: You can't compare Rock Autos pricing to a local RETAIL shop. Rock is a huge supplier and sells to the public at below wholesale pricing. They are not buying from Rock, they are buying from the local auto parts store down the road at discounted prices based off of retail. Example: I needed some stuff for my girls Equinox and checked out Rocks prices and they were almost half of what O'Reily quoted me. My nephew works at O'Reily so even with his employee discount prices were still higher. Now keep in mind Rock charges high shipping charges and sales taxes now too. After those were added in I was just a few dollars higher to buy from my nephew so that's what I did.

You come off sounding all butt hurt and want to give a shop a bad review for a BS reason. That's just my opinion though. Glad you found your problem.

 

[mscot]

How is price gouging a bs reason for a bad review?
You say that Rock Auto marks their prices below wholesale, so let's assume that's probably a 10% discount on wholesale and their $168 would be $185 at a distributor (no business with any sense is purchasing parts from an O'Reilly down the street, they have a distributor for parts sourcing).

A reasonable mark up would be $370 (that's called keystone in retail).
The mechanic is marking it up another $180 on top of that - even if my assumption about what a wholesale price is off by another 10%, that's an unreasonably high mark up. (I actually saw that MOOG LCA for <$150 after shipping but I'll stick with the OPs quote).

Seems like a perfectly legitimate reason to leave a review that alerts the next customer to question this company's parts pricing.

 

[Volcom]

That's how shops make their money. They all do it.