Con artists - "Approved Garages"

Well, just picked mine up from its MOT.

Failed last Thursday on rear subframe bushes. I could have got them for £10.99 each off ebay branded as Meyle (but no guarantee that's what they are) and fitted them myself.

Or, I could let them supply and fit them for £25+ VAT each in a guaranteed brand and not have the hassle.

I let them supply and fit. Total bill was £275 for something that, if I'd done it myself would have been a solid 7 hours lying on my back, with hardly any access, after I'd spent a couple of hours making up a suitable puller to extract them.

I'd have ended up with bushes that would have passed the MOT but could well have failed again inside a year when it turned out they were made from bean curds.

The thing is, the total bill was worth it to me to save aggro and discomfort and, if I'd supplied the cheap parts (which, as it happens, it happens they would have let me), then overall they would have had to make up the lost "mark-up" somewhere because - as pointed out above - the cost of running a garage isn't just the cost of the time.

They have very expensive equipment to buy, maintain, and replace. They have utility bills that would make your eyes water thanks to lots of high power 440v 3 phase kit. They have admin and accountancy costs. They have training costs for the MOT scheme.

None of those are reflected in the hours worked, but they're all part of running a business and still have to be paid for. Paying a bit of mark-up on a known quality part helps towards that.

If you have a problem with that then you might be better joining a commune where everyone donates their labour according to ability with no reward beyond the good of the community.

hucker wrote: »

I take care when I'm doing something dangerous - like having a spare chute when parachuting. The chances of needing a seatbelt are very slim if you drive properly. I did wear one for the first few years after I passed my test, until I was sure I'd never crash.

I sincerely hope you never reproduce.