Foothill Car Care did the repairs without providing an estimate first, and charged 100% mark-up on parts! Grass Valley, California

OK I would like to set the record straight#1 in any state there is a law against price gauging#2 no parts can be installed at all until it's authorised by the customer#3 the customer has the wright to chose rebuild or new or supply his or her own part or parts#4 customers have the wright to see or keep there old part or parts#5 there are two words cost&list, so with that being said the one person who said they can mark up 100% is so wrong as most automotive repair shops who provide excellent service have happy customers witch means said shops are busy cause they love what they do and treating there customer with respect and if said vehicle was there own. so before you say anything i have and know my facts as i have never ever mark up any part or parts 100% and give them a choice new rebuild or there own and if they do supply there own part or parts i only warranty the labor so before you say bull s**t for me i believe in honesty respect and business ethics plus i talk to my customers not at them and try to explain to them the best i can so they understand, most of all women who come in are treated the same way see to us it's not $$$$$$$$ sings we see it's a problem that needs to be fix and what caused said problem so Mr 100% mark up man you totally mist what the OP was saying said shop did work with no authorisation and disrespected over charged most importantly shops like this makes people think that all shops are like this when it's farther from the truth so to the original author know this you need to use the correct alternator cause#1 it will not do what it should be doing#2 you will be replacing the alternator a second time cause it was working over time to keep your battery charged properly#3 pro v con the pro a new alternator all parts are new the con more money a rebuild pro cheap the con they only replace broken parts only witch means 50/50 so feel free to contact me any time at my e-mail scotthreeclouds@yahoo.com. thank you hope this helps you

is a WHOLESALE ONLY supplier, so this price is irrelevant unless you have an account with them.
This means you CAN'T get this alternator for that price, just like you CAN'T buy a car at wholesale prices unless you are a dealer.
 
 Why didn't out check the RETAIL price of said alternator? Oh yeah, because it would probably be 50-75% markup at autozone, advance, o'reilly etc... so an independent shop being at 100% isn't out of line. If you think AZ, Advance, oreilly have better prices, GO BUY IT YOURSELF!

 As an independent repair shop in NY, if you bring your own parts to me, I raise my hourly labor rate ( and yes, it is posted in the shop. It is about 50% more per hour to use YOUR parts), and charge actual time- not book time. Also there is NO warranty on the part or labor once you leave the shop!

 Next time take it to pepboys and see how well they do, I'll be waiting for your ROR on them.

"I know that auto repair shops mark up their parts, but I was unwilling to settle for eating a 100% increase. I did some online research and found information that 20% to 40% of the retail price [ and Foothill certainly paid less ] is a reasonable mark up. "

   I agree that they should have called with an estimate and authorization.   But, I have to point out that your statement above has no basis in reality.  Not everything you read on the Internet is true.  I've worked with auto and motorcycle shops and 100% is about the norm for parts markup.    The price at the auto parts store is only valid if you're planning on doing the work yourself.

The deal may be "done" but it doesn't mean that the OP does not have recourse.

By law in CA a mechanic is required to provide an estimate of work to be done.  If the cost increases they are required to get the person's approval.  This doesn't have to be in writing and it can be over the phone.  However, if they call the person they must write the date,time, number they called and who they talked to.

http://www.bar.ca.gov/80_BARResources/07_AutoRepair/Auto_Repair_Guide.html

IF the mechanic did not notify the OP in advance they have a valid complaint and can take additional steps.  This would include filing a complaint with the CA BAR where they can investigate and possibly get a refund of the money paid.  Now, a mechanic is not going to want the BAR breathing down their throat, especially if they are skirting the law.  So just the suggestion of going to them may be enough to get them to refund the difference.

They may also be able to take action in Civil Court, but that is something they should consult an attorney over.

So to the OP..you may have a valid complaint, but keep it focused.  Keep it on not giving authorization.  Because you can't have both.  You can't on one hand say you didn't approve it, but in the very next sentence say it was too much.  If it costs $200 or $2000 it doesn't change the fact that you didn't authorize it.

I just read a review (Report: #788862) where Ken was accused of working for Volvo in Kansas City. Wow Ken, that's quite a daily commute from California. It's a cop out when someone is accused of working for a company because someone else doesn't agree with their reply. I've been accused of working for several finance, auto repair and electronic manufacturing companies.

There is no question that the repair shop should have requested authorization from the customer prior to the repair. The time to complain and decline the repair was when he returned to the shop to follow-up on the service. A merchant can charge any amount they choose for their service and parts. The customer accepted the terms and negated his right to dispute any part of the agreement when he paid the bill and took possession of his vehicle. There was no rip off.

Wipe your tears, pack up your signs, get off the street and go home to your mommy.

As the originator of this thread, I find it interesting that "Ken" used virtually the same language and arguements to justify Foothill Car Care's deplorable gouging as the employee who harrassed me in the street did; and the comment to "stop making a fool of yourself" - almost verbatim to what Andrew Brocke said to me, as well, when I was picketing his business. Classic tactic of the abuser, blame and vilify the victim.

I'm with threeclouds - I believe "Ken" is an employee with or an owner of FCC, hiding behind a psuedonym and posting a rebuttal instead of man-ing up and going the "Repair Your Reputation" route.

I would like to say this much i know where he is coming from as first they did not call him to get a verbal ok#2 they did not give him a option#3 by law no work can be performed with out consent and can not go over more that 10% of the original estimate, so F Y I ken get your facts before you say anything that you know nothing about the automotive service laws as i am a master auto tech with over 35 yrs in this filed and know that i can not do any kind of work on a customers vehicle until he or she say yes OK then the customer has the wright to chose if they want a new one or a rebuild as there are pros & cons wen it comes to electrical parts. and yes a customer has the wright to see his old parts as what some of you do not know is there are core charge for remans and some new depending were or who makes them as some shops will let you supply your own parts and labor rate for a alternator R&R meaning book time is know more than a 1.0 or a .5 as most shops rates are from $100.00 to $80.00 as dealers are a lot more pricey as newer vehicles alternators are really really pricey a chevy trail blazzer is $400.00 as a older one is $65.00 so there you have it Ken cause you sound like a employee who works @ this shop or you don't no jack.

"I have filed a complaint report with the California Bureau of Automotive Repair."
How would that complaint read, exactly?
Many to most auto repair shops mark up parts !00%+.
Many electronics repair shops do the same.

Are you a co-owner or stockholde in Foothills Car Care, enabling you to help set their business model?  If not any of the above, YOU can't dictate their policies.

A business sets their rates and prices to give a pre-determined profit.  Whether they charge more for labor and less for parts, or vice-versa, the total will be about the same.....get over it and stop making a fool of yourself.

Not surprised you've been restrained from setting foot on their property again.