What should bake pads discs and bushes cost

[Deleted User]

Hello, i have just been charged £270 to have the following fitted to a Ford Focus C MAx 2006, 1.6 TDci diesel

Front discs and pads - APEC branded
2 x rear tracking arm bushes.
work took 2 hours max.

having just checked prices online it seems the parts come to £95 max.

have i been ripped off ?
do i have the right to complain - is there an official way of complaining.
if i have been over charged can i get some money back - yeah i know thats not likely.
thanks for your help

i hate garages who never seem up front or honest.

facade

They charged you retail for the parts, then billed you £60 an hour or something for labour.

They buy the parts from a local factor with a mark-up, not online at the cheapest seller.

Didn't they give you an itemised bill?

Ask for one and then post back if you like.

(Agree with the sentiment though, never understood why main Stealers can't sell you the parts for what they cost them i.e. trade, and just charge their labour, then they would be competitive with backstreet garages, and get more business.)

arcon5

facade wrote: »

They charged you retail for the parts, then billed you £60 an hour or something for labour.

They buy the parts from a local factor with a mark-up, not online at the cheapest seller.

Didn't they give you an itemised bill?

Ask for one and then post back if you like.

(Agree with the sentiment though, never understood why main Stealers can't sell you the parts for what they cost them i.e. trade, and just charge their labour, then they would be competitive with backstreet garages, and get more business.)

Two reasons

main dealers don't care to compete with backstreet garages, who benefit from significantly lower overheads and corporate structures. They seek to maximise their profits, not just create a wage for a few mechanics acting receptionist, buyer etc.

when a garage fits a part they also take on the risk that if the part is dodgy they are legally obliged to sort it out and bear the necessary costs.


Now I accept they charge an arm and a leg for their work (in fact of these dealers charge a shocking labour rate) but there is still good cause to add a markup on parts.

[Deleted User]

thanks for your replys.
this WAS a back street non mainstream garage they never ripped me before but this time i feel ripped, i thought they were replacing the whole rear lower tracking arms on both sides but they have just changed the bushes. the bill shows £170 for discs and pads and £100 for the bushes.

daveyjp

£120-150 for front discs and pads is what I have paid recently. Take the VAT off and theres not much left for parts and all other overheads in running a garage.

facade

arcon5 wrote: »

Now I accept they charge an arm and a leg for their work (in fact of these dealers charge a shocking labour rate) but there is still good cause to add a markup on parts.

I expressed myself wrongly: I fully understand why they want to charge every last penny that they can, I still don't see why they would rather close through lack of business than be a little more competitive.

e.g. a part for my car costs £100 retail, and about £60 trade. If they can supply and fit it for £120, I'd pay them to do it, but as they want £160 I'll fit the thing myself and save £60.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Cheapest route is DIY, you could easily have fitted your own pads and discs, and simply got them to supply/fit the rear bushes if that was outside your comfort zone.

pete428

no offence gilbert and sullivan, but i would never say to someone you can easily fit your own pads and disc's. would you really want to temp fate with your brakes when your driving a near 2 tonne vehicle, and your not sure of what your doing.

I think the price is a little high for a backstreet garage, I would expect to pay that at a franchised garage tho.

tberry6686

Pads and disks are easy and barring any unforseen issues should take about an hour at a garage. The bushes however could be a bit harder, do they need to be pressed out/in, did the arms come off easily or are they a sod - can easily take more than 2 hours just for the bushes so I doubt if you have been ripped off, not really worth the garages time to rip you off for a max £40 quid extra.

Macca83_2

I went to a ford dealer for my brake pads and was charged a similar price. Needless to say, I learnt my lesson and never went back. I did price up an indicator stalk with them once and they would have charged me £122. Did it myself for £20

scotsbob

pete428 wrote: »

no offence gilbert and sullivan, but i would never say to someone you can easily fit your own pads and disc's. would you really want to temp fate with your brakes when your driving a near 2 tonne vehicle, and your not sure of what your doing.

No I wouldn't want to tempt fate and that is why I have changed my own pads and discs for the last twenty years.

I want the job done properly. I don't want a fitter just whipping out the old pads and sticking new ones in because he has to meet a bonus deadline.
I want the caliper sliders cleaned and greased. I want the old brake dust vaccumed out. I want to chose a proper brand of pads and discs not the bulk buy high profit margin stuff.

It is an easy job but by doing it myself I know it is done correctly.