I had the tires rotated and wiper blades installed since it was a rainy day and I didn't feel like riding to the auto parts store with only one blade.
I was OK with the charges for the work but they added a $4.50 shop supply fee onto that. This was done at a Ford dealer and that is just low class nickel and diming of customers.
Shop supplies for a tire rotation?

 

They've come up with all kinds of fees to pad their progit margin such as doc fee, preparation fee, electronic data fee. Some places charge extra for the license fee, more than it cost to get the license. POs everybody probably but it's the way things are done now. I look at motorcycles on craigslist and the dealer bikes have this note on the bottom of the ad saying price doesn't include a multiple of fees. I checked on one bike I was interested in that was advertised at $7585. I called and the out the door price that included 3% sales tax was over $8300.

 

I ALWAYS ask about those fees ahead of time and I make it clear that I'm not paying them. So far, I've never had a shop that refused to drop them. Doc fees at auto dealership and shop supply, hazardous waste disposal and all the other fees are just a gimmick to suck more money out of the customers.

 

I change my own oil and take the used oil to the local county fire station then dump it in the huge used oil container they have set up there.
I take used anti freeze to auto zone or advance auto parts.
15 minutes of work for $60 plus tax and a $4.50 shop supplies fee. What shop supplies? If I ran my business like that, I would lose 50% of it.
At least I can write these off as business expenses.

 

It's to cover the rags they use to wipe things down and clean their hands, hand soap, and the rubber gloves they wear - stuff like that. All the stuff that we USED to consider as being part of the cost of doing business.

 

The last time that I talked to one of the stealerships about getting my oil changed they wanted to charge me $5 as a disposal fee. I told that I wasn't paying it and that, in fact, they could give me back the old oil since I had a friend that could run it in his multi-fuel engine. They looked absolutely shocked! They then proceeded to tell me that it was "hazardous waste" and that I wasn't ALLOWED to have used motor oil! I told them that that was fine and that I would continue to change my own oil and that I would do what I want with the old oil. They not only didn't get the oil change job, they also lost a car sale with their high handed manner and their BS lies!

Is it any wonder that people call them stealer-ships?

 

I thought that oil recycling companies take away the used oil for free since it will be reused. Walmart and all auto parts stores will take used oil for free.

 

Not if they can convince you to pay a fee! I think that most shops SELL their used oil and grease. I know a lot of people with .MIL trucks buy it.

 

A friend of mine did this. He uses Amsoil and when he used up the case of 12 he put the full used bottles back in the case and glued it shut so it appeared to be new.
He parked his truck at Walmart with a dash cam pointing out the rear window......he put the glued shut case in the bed. 2 Hispanic men stole the case! These Mexican/Puerto Ricans/whatever probably used the oil in their ricer Hondas anyway since it way better than what they normally used . LMAO

 

LOL! He should have added some sand to it!

 

That would have put some nice rifling grooves in their 20 year old Honda Vtech's cylinders.

 

The worst is not the shop fees but when they verbally give you a price or show you a piece of scrap paper with a price scribbled on it. Then when all is said and done it always costs more, sometimes by a large amount even when taking out taxes and fees. Always get a quote in writing.

 

X2. I can't believe the number of people that FAIL to do this and then come whinning to me about the cost. My response; You should have known better!