Date: Sun, 25 May 2003 10:16:29 +0200 From: "pietertje" <123dfryt676nopsamail.com> Subject: Re: Puzzled by a SAAB dealer's cliam of billings convention
"duvalautumn" <duvalautumnnopsamnet> wrote in message news:64eca996.0305241842.4b1dcb2dnopsaming.google.com... > Dear SAAB community: > > I would like to seek your advice about repair billings convention. > > Recently, I had a problem with my pulleys on my '95 900s during a > cross country trip. I was in western Virginia and decided to bring in > my car to a local SAAB dealer to get it fixed. The service advisor > gave me an estimate of about 2.5 hr of work at $81/hr and about $100+ > worth of parts (2 pulleys and a new serpentine belt), so total with > tax about $380. > > I thought this sounded kinda high just to replace two pulleys. I was > hoping that he might have over estimated the job would take 2.5 hrs. I > gave the okay anyway since I did not have a whole lot of choices in a > cross-country trip. > > I waited in the lobby. After less than 1.5 hr later, I was called that > the repair was done. When I was presented with the invoice, I was > charged for the full 2.5 hrs even though the repair only took 1.5 hrs! > > After disputing with the service department, I complained to the > service manager but he said that I gave the approval with the > estimate. He further affirmed that it is "the industry standard" that > any reputable repair shop would abide to the estimate the shop gives, > and charges no more than 10% above the estimate. So if the repair took > longer, then the shop would only charge 10% more. If less, it would > charge the longer hr based on the estimate and NOT on the actual > number of hours done on the car. Somehow, I thought I was taken for a > ride since they knew that I am from out of town. > > I am considering to file a complaint with SAAB USA. I would appreciate > your comments on whether the dealer or the car owner is bound to such > estimate. Lets say if the job ended taking 20 hrs, would they > "really" charge only 2.5 hrs plus the 10% as this dealer claims? > > OR, is it because most people drop off their cars for repairs, they > would not know the actual number of hours done on their cars, so they > would not be aware of any over-charges? In this case, I was trapped > at the dealership and waited for my car. > > Thanks for your comments and suggestions. > > Eric Phuhhhh, nice one. I always assumed that garages are just 'guessing' the hours. Furthermore this 2.5 hrs is a lot. I have the same car, also a 1995 900s. Did this job myself. It is an relatively easy job and should certainly not take more than 1hr.
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