Ancient Mariner

I am 81 YO and have owned about 200 cars since I was 13. I have dealt with many repair shops and dealers over those years, but today, I got hosed worse than I have ever been ripped off.

I checked with the closet local dealer (who after 3 tries never contacted me to buy a C8, I am now on 2nd C8 and have a deposit in for an E-Ray). They have serviced many of my other cars these past 12 years so felt comfortable when I made an appointment to have my brake pads changed to *my* supplied Power Stop pads. Spoke with the "certified" Corvette mechanic who has been there for many years working on vettes. He quoted approx 2 hrs to replace the pads and add jacking pucks and larger splash guards. All parts to be supplied by me.

When I dropped the car off this morning I told them for 2-3 hrs, I'd wait since round trip to my house was about 2 hrs.anyway. About 2 3/4 hrs later they told me the car was ready. I figured the points for 2 C8s would be sufficient to handle the bill but I about fell out of the chair when they handed me the bill, it was $899. After exchanging many words with management, they reduced the total bill to $799. I gave up fighting as I couldn't win and take my car home, so paid the bill.

Remember those GM points....2 C8s points amount to $304 so my day at the dealer cost me $555 out of pocket for replacing brake pads. When I commented that they would have charged me less to do a full brake job, they just looked at me crazy like and said I was correct.

The dealer that should be avoided by all methods possible is:

Garber Chevrolet
Green Cove Springs, FL

I welcome recommendations for better vette service in the Jacksonville-St Augustine area,

EVL-C8

You supplied the parts so this was all labor charge? WOW

Ancient Mariner

Yup

sTz

Yet another reason why I avoid them unless there are absolutely no other options available.

EVL-C8

899 for 2-3/4 Hours work is like 326 hour labor rate ...... Geeez

wayback

My local dealership refuses to install aftermarket parts on Corvettes. The Service writer does give a written estimate of the repair cost, and customer must approve of any overages.

Did you get an estimate? If not it’s partially on you.

BigButtLover

They took advantage of you. Plain and simple. They should be ashamed.

See8

Is their hourly rate $400? More?

Taking a wheel off takes about 60 seconds. Changing the pad will take another 60 seconds. Changing out splash guards could take up to 2 minutes. Jack pucks another couple minutes.

Don't take this the wrong way, but I've seen plenty news stories of Dealers taking advantage of the elderly. It seems your situation would qualify.

kennethmiller

on the C8 the manual has the tech remove the front calipers to replace pads. Rears simple as with normal car. Still doesnt explain cost, but its not a 1 hour job

saleen556

Dealers are always a rip off. They have way to much over head cost and their hourly rate is usually ridiculous.

bmanahan

Did they not provide an estimate of costs before they started working?

In California, I think they are required to provide an estimate and if over the estimate must get approval before they do the work.

gliot1

We just did my buddies pads on all 4 corners this morn. We worked very casually and with set up and clean up it took 2 hrs. 2 hrs at dealer rate should have been $400.....

Time ti find another dealer. I stay with the same dealer if dealt with fairly. If I catch them once ripping me off they are done....forever.

dale fehrenbach

Wow, that’s terrible. Thanks for the warning on this dealer.

pewter99

surprised they allowed you to supply parts and also that you didn't ask how much before hand

Bald Guy

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+1. Always ask for an estimate before proceeding and agreeing for the dealer to perform the work. In fact, try to get multiple estimates from other competitors. That way you can make the most sound decision before moving forward.

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EVL-C8

Sounds like he did in a way get an estimate ... he asked how long it would take and was told maybe 2 hours.
Then got the shock for 2-3/4 hours at $899.00

He stated that he thought the estimated 2 hours would have been covered by the 2 vettes he has purchased with the GM points?
I totally understand his frustration and would probably be contacting some tv station to question the dealers hourly rate?

hyprsprt

I feel for the OP but honestly he is really at fault I mean who will hand the keys of his car to a dealer to work on a car before getting an estimate, I mean will you let a company replace your roof before knowing how much it’s going to cost you? Really?

Gary barnes 1098

I hate dealers!!!
im sorry 90% of them are waaay overpriced and are most of the time incompetent of doing good trusted work.
on my c7 I did all my own maintenance on it myself with no issues 50k miles.
the c8 scares me to think I need to find a good dealer,hopefully I’ll be as lucky with c8.

AORoads

I agree w. EVL-C8 above. Seems to me the OP DID get an estimate by asking the question, how long will it take? And an approx. 2 hours CAN be 2 3/4 hours but my calc is $899 / 2.75 = $327/hour. Now maybe there's some shop supplies, hazmat, cookies and donuts in there, but still $327/hr labor charge is easily $100 over what I've heard of in recent months.

Anyone else see $300/hr for Labor on a C8 at a Chev dealer? I'm not asking sarcastically--I'd really like to know because the last "tall" number I heard was in the Bay Area and it was around $250. And that was the only one, so far.

AVCBM

Wow, I live in that area, well used to live in GCS now I'm in Orange Park. I gave up on both Garber and Gorden in that area. I tried buying Camaros the last few years from them and they always wanted over sticker which I refused to pay. So now I have a Z06 on order and went with one of the big national dealers. I had work done at Garber and thought they were kind of high. Was about to get work done on my ZL1 at Gorden, who wanted to charge me 800 to replace my suspension control module, which I knew probably didn't need replacing so I decided to go elsewhere. I figured I would try a dealer in the area that services lots of Corvettes and Camaros so I went with coggin. So far not too bad, only $198 to repair my Suspension Control Module, which needed to be reprogrammed. I have to go back to get more work done so hopefully the wait won't be too bad.