Someone in the business please reply.

I went into local PEP Boys to get front end alignment after replacing upper A arms on my F150.
Price quoted was 69.99. Advertisement all over the shop walls stated same and NO mention of any fee.

On check out, I saw an additional 4.20 "shop fee" tacked onto the bill. No one in the joint could give any reasonable explanation for the charge. Best I got was something about covering cost of "consumable" items or special tools.

I fully understand the need for fees in some cases, especially those mandated by law for disposal of hazardous waste items (oil, tires, batteries etc), but this makes no sense at all other than a backhanded gouge.

Other than blatant false advertising on the cost of the work, what am I missing here. What possible consumables could be involved that are NOT already factored into the cost of the service would warrant this tacked on fee?

It has absolutely nothing to do with the cost of the fee (it is trivial) but I really dislike being taken advantage of.

This also will be the last time I darken their doors for anything.

 

PEPBOYS in Greensboro.NC is Closing it's doors because of a Noose hanging in the service bay and it was reported to the local news. So apperantly Pepboys only cares about gouging customers and treating their employees badly.

 

Most shops are charging these "shop fees" I had my '97 Mountaineer aligned by a local independant shop and the same charge was on my receipt.

 

Thats been going on for years.
They usually state it in the fine print down where you sign the work order.
.

 

Ask up front and if you don't like the answer, leave. The shop will understand why they lost a customer. When I buy a vehicle, I ask about processing fees up front and they have always waived the fees for a possible sale. I get out the door prices so there is never any misunderstanding.

 

I recently quit doing business with a Cat dealer because they listed 16 ounces of hand cleaner for $ 8.00 on a $ 60,000 invoice. I wouldn't have minded seeing a misc. shop supplies line item (plastic ties, gasket sealant, etc.) but the 16oz of hand cleaner really tiicked me off.

 

It usually cover supplies used during a service. Like in a brake service it covers brake clean and brake lube, etc. Sometimes hose clamps, exhaust clamps, nuts bolts, etc. We charge a fee on services where I work. Only a few people ask what it is. We don't charge on oil changes and services like that. Alot of times I remove the charge from the bill as an added discount to people. Sometimes the shop fee is cheaper than if I listed every item I might use in a job seperately like in the case of zip ties or wiring or electrical connectors, tape, etc. At my old job the fee was a percentage of the invoice total which sometimes got outrageous. My job now it seems more fair. Funny thing is no one ever reads coupons or anything that says that there might be substantial extra cost. Stuff isn't free. It costs money to maintain the building, lifts, etc. It's funny when people question little charges like this, but think nothing of walking into Starbucks and paying $5 for a cup of coffee. BTW the hand cleaner incident is pretty messed up though.

 

Yea its just a fee thay probably charge for stuff like PB Blaster, grease when they grease the front end up, ect...

 

yup if stuff was added on seperately I think you'd pay alot more.

 

One local shop around here tacks the additional 'misc' charge onto every service order. The charge is either related to whatever supplies they actually used or it's something like $0.52. The owner will do lots of small things for no charge, so I could care less about paying the 52 cent charge, but I was joking around and questioned him on it one day and he gave the best answer I've ever heard.

"Well, the mechanic's lunch cost $5.20, and I figger he'll get 10 cars done today, so guess who's payin for it?"

 

To me, that's part of the overhead. Would you object to an extra fee added to your lunch, your grocery bill, etc. to cover the cost of the grease used to fry your egg or hamburger? I expect the price quoted to include overhead.

They charge it because we let them. Most customers don't figure it is enough to argue about so they go ahead and pay it without making a fuss.

 

i dont pay fees like that..i wont pay fees like that.. as far as im concerned you estimate the labor and include it in there...its a tool or item needed for the job.. should i also pay for my wear and tare on the socket and ratchet used on the job?Give me your price to do the job soup to nuts i dont wanna hear all the BS
Same with oil changes the shop wants to charge me $$$ for oil disposal i laugh they are required to take for free 6 quarts of oil and a filter for recycling.. they sell the used oil or some places use it in one of them used oil burners for heat and im going to pay some kind of fee for that they could kiss my rosy red rump in macys window before ill pay that. People are sheep and too often a fool and their money are soon parted
Im a contractor if i charge $300 to paint a room that includes spackling the holes from picture hooks, caulking the moldings with painters caulk , paint roller, brushes,the masking tape for around metal windows door ***** etc and the paint.. i dont charge $250 plus $50 for supplies. give someone a fair price for a job and the world will beat a path to your door giving you work.. im busy that i may not be able to take a week off for christmas this year
similarly when i get someone who questions the price i tell them you dont want me to itemize all the things into that price ill realize how little im making on the job and charge you double... if they still whine i tell them you dont go to a five star restaurant and whine about a $150 steak do you? youll always get someone who wants something for nothing but come on the rape of the consumer has gone on way too much i guess everyone thinks they are an oil company these days

 

I completely agree. It should be factored in the charge. What else comes out of the $70-$80 an hour when the entry level mechanic (around here at least) only gets $9-$12 out of it.

 

Yes, just another way to gouge the customer - just like "paperwork fees" at the dealer - if you're not careful, you'll make your best deal, and then they'll get a couple hundred extra bucks ut of you. It's not like the vehicle is worth anything without the paperwork - they might as well sell you a truck and then tell you the transmission is extra.

I'd complain loudly...

How would you feel if you bought that Starbucks coffee and then they charged you $1.00 more for the cup?

Our trash pickup service lately started charging a "office fee" in addition to the regular charge *and* a fuel charge. The fuel charge I can maybe see - they adjust it so they don't have to keep changing the regular pickup charge. But an "office fee"? That's total BS. They're losing my business...

 

ive never seen a shop not charge for shop fees. they have to find a way to pay for the misc shop fees they incure. if i change someones oil, i might need to use oil dry. if im working on someones brakes, i need to use brake cleaner. these sorts of things.

Matt