Is my mechanic a scam artist? Or is this normal?

[Mama Hip Rockets]

I ordered a car part that seemed suspiciously high ($125 for a used, unpainted driver side mirror, plus labor and paint job on top of that), and did some research and found that the part was much cheaper online (found the mirror for $36 by doing a quick google search).

I called them and asked them about it. All I said was that the price seemed a little high, and I told him the website that was selling it much cheaper. I asked him if it would be possible for him to order it online, and the mechanic got his panties in a bunch and said I was accusing him of lying. Then he added (without any prodding by me), "I added maybe, MAYBE, $20 onto the price." That seems like quite a mark-up (around 20%), especially when he can't even remember the exact amount.

Are mechanics supposed to make their money from the labor, or is it normal for them to mark up the price that much without telling you? The thing that bothers me the most is that we have been going to this mechanic for a while, and normally the service and prices have both seemed reasonable.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

Why? I replace mirrors all the time.
Posted via Mobile Device

No offense but I would take it to a body shop, especially if needs paint.

Personally I would buy the mirror and take it to someone to paint it for me.

I fully understand some people can't do that.

[chiefforlife]

More than likely, he is trying to feed his family and pay his overhead so he can be there the next time you need him.
You dont need a body man to replace a mirror. Most shops would tell you if you need a body shop. I have replaced mirrors much higher than that 500 and up. Nowadays they have built in turn signals are heated and fully power. I only use OEM mirrors, aftermarket ones vibrate and are far less quality. Dealer parts are higher and its very common on those parts to make 20%.

[Extra Point]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

Who cares what the part cost. Was the overall price agreeable?

If he agreed on it, after the quote, then he shouldn't bitch about it.

Spend less time on your ass, posting bullshit here, and do more for yourself.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by Detoxing

Is this a power or manual mirror? 125 is way to much for most used mirros considering it likely came from a junk yard. New aftermarket is likely what u found but make sure it's not manual if u have power.

And 20% Is more than reasonable if that is true. Standard markup on most parts is about 35%, any less id consider a deal

Yeah, it is a power mirror, and I have checked a couple of websites for it. One is $36 and one is $47, and they both say that it is a power mirror, not a manual.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

What do you drive?
Posted via Mobile Device

2006 Mitsubishi Galant.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by mikeyis4dcats.

Who cars what the part cost. Was the overall price agreeable?

With labor and paint job it would be at least $170 to replace a mirror. That doesn't seem agreeable to me.

[Bump]

they are all ****ing crooks. Right up there with lawyers and doctors.

[KC2004]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

With labor and paint job it would be at least $170 to replace a mirror. That doesn't seem agreeable to me.

You took it to a mechanic. He's not a painter so he has to have someone paint it. Not cheap. Go on eBay and see if you can find a used mirror the same color and replace it yourself. Its not difficult. Should be 3 bolts and a power hook-up.

[Okie_Apparition]

I would be to busy to help you in the future, have a nice life

[Earthling]

Just had passengers side mirror replaced on a 2001 Malibu by a company that makes mirrors for different cars and trucks. My cost was 26 bucks including the labor and all. But only my mirror needed replaced as there was no damage to anything but the mirror part itself. They just glued a new mirror onto it.

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by Earthling

Just had passengers side mirror replaced on a 2001 Malibu by a company that makes mirrors for different cars and trucks. My cost was 26 bucks including the labor and all. But only my mirror needed replaced as there was no damage to anything but the mirror part itself. They just glued a new mirror onto it.

Okay, so I am not crazy for thinking $170 is a ripoff then.

[Exoter175]

Originally Posted by Hog Farmer

Mechanics have to mark up their prices significantly. They have really high emergency room bills because most of them think they have to taste the gasoline to see if it's watered down. They really need to stay away from CP.

Really? You're insinuating that Mechanics are Idiots? I realize that to most people the prospect of turning wrenches doesn't seem like a generally thought provoking and mentally challenging task, but I assure you, it is your own ignorance showing brightly through.

Believe it or not, despite the great technology out there and advancements or rather, regression of on board diagnostics, Diagnosing issues with a car can be very challenging.

Some of you out there might bring your car into the shop and say, "oh, its ticking really loud".

You want to know what is going through my head at that point?

"This ****ing asshole, 'Ticking'. Where from? What RPM? The customer probably doesn't know what RPM means even though he stares at it every day. Is it ticking, clunking, knocking, pinging, or making a typical "noise" that all cars make? Is it easily repeatable so I can find this issue? Does he/she know where the "sound" is coming from?

Even if you answer all of those questions down to telling us exactly how it sounds, when it happens, where it is coming from, and the basic maintenance history of the car from birth including its birth certificate, two forms of ID, and 4 character references, we still have to take everything you just told us with a grain of salt and check over EVERY possible problem with the car.

An Automotive Mechanic literally works in the SAME fashion that a Doctor does at a hospital. We take in all the information you can give us, try to repeat/find the issue for ourselves, and then apply what we know/have learned to the issue to treat the problem, and not the symptom.

You might know some high school drop out mechanic who doesn't know a thing about politics, business, or finance, but I promise you that perception is everything in this situation, and most people on this forum couldn't, or wouldn't want to work as a mechanic due to the actual difficulty of the job.

And I haven't even covered the mental challenge of trying to mentally prioritize every single nut, bolt, screw, clamp, hose, sensor, bracket, heat shield, and/or actual mechanic parts that we have to remove, fix, or replace on your car, all within a reasonable amount of time, without any real history with the car personally.

If you think replacing a head gasket is easy and aren't a mechanic/mechanically inclined to do it, you have no idea what I'm talking about with the whole "mental challenge" of trying to organize all 74,000 of those steps into an easy to follow plan to both get in there, fix the issue/item, and get back out without messing anything up, while trying to do it as efficiently as possible.

/end rant

Originally Posted by Marcellus

First off, sounds like you needed to take it to a body man not a mechanic.

Secondly, yea that's too much for a mirror. $125 vs $36? Only if the $125 one was brand new which you say it isn't.

This. If you need a mirror replaced, don't take it to a mechanic, don't take it to a "Full Service" shop, unless you have been going for decades. Shops/Mechanics aren't really well versed in painting/bodywork. We all have done it to some degree, but it certainly isn't our forte, it isn't something we do nearly enough to give you the quality/affordability you are looking for.

Also, the price is ridiculously high, but you have to take things into account.

1. Labor Hours to R&R the mirror (have him pull up the Mitchell/Alldata/etc to show you the suggested labor hours to replace it.
2. Brand of the Unit. If OEM, it isn't off at all.
3. If it was unpainted, add in labor hours for prep and paint, as well as the price for Paint, Primer, and Clearcoat.
4. etc.

Originally Posted by MIAdragon

Or the 125 was an OE part and the cheap ass one was from China. 36 dollars for side mirror sounds like it came out of one of those candy/toy machines outside the grocery store.

This. I can get "Sorta-Fits" (certafit) for pennies on the dollar compared to OEM replacements, but the quality is terrible, the fitment is terrible, and it just isn't something most people want on their cars, but believe me, they want that price, and the quality of the OEM piece which is 5-10 times more expensive, literally.

Originally Posted by thurman merman

With labor and paint job it would be at least $170 to replace a mirror. That doesn't seem agreeable to me.

If the guy had to R&R a power mirror, sand, primer, paint, and clearcoat it, the price would be spot on.

Originally Posted by Bump

they are all ****ing crooks. Right up there with lawyers and doctors.

I've honestly never done a shady deal, ever. Then again, I've always been upfront about it.

You want a head gasket changed on your Honda 1995 Honda Civic? Prepare to have your title transferred to me. It is going to cost you upwards of $900-1,200 dollars using $185-205 in parts, which I purchased for $25-35.

Mechanics as a whole, aren't "Crooks". The real crooks are the "Stealerships", because they get to mandate "Book Hour", and then charge the premium Hourly Rate because they ARE the "Authority" on both Service, and being the "Company" who produced your car.

Their prices are absolutely out of this world. Mechanics from your basic mom and pop shops are for lack of better reference, the balance of affordability in the automotive industry.

Just make sure you find one that is absolutely up front, honest, and doesn't really beat around the bush with you.

Finding a good mechanic is very much akin to finding a good doctor.

[nstygma]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

Okay, so I am not crazy for thinking $170 is a ripoff then.

i think he's referring only to the glass part inside the mirror. not the entire mirror assembly as you're getting.
i think what you are paying is high but its what that type of shop charges the general public(or insurance companies).

[Mama Hip Rockets]

Originally Posted by nstygma

i think he's referring only to the glass part inside the mirror. not the entire mirror assembly as you're getting.
i think what you are paying is high but its what that type of shop charges the general public(or insurance companies).

Oh, yeah I see that now.

I still think it's a ripoff though.

[ToxSocks]

Originally Posted by thurman merman

Okay, so I am not crazy for thinking $170 is a ripoff then.

yes and no. You can buy new aftermarket for $40. Downside is it needs paint, while new oem will rape your pocket. Used oem is cheapest if u can pull it off the wrecked car yourself. If your mechanic bought it from a salvage yard that pulls the parts themselves then he is likely paying a good sized mark up on it and passing that cost onto u plus his mark up. And if that needs paint too.....


It all depends on what u want to pay for.