A Vermont mechanic took to social media to share how another repair shop tried to scam a customer out of nearly $1,300 for a repair the car didn't even need.
Here's what to know
Posting to TikTok under the handle Mainly Mechanics (@mainly_mechanics), the mechanic explained how the other repair shop had tried to rip the customer off by both overcharging them for the parts and labor quoted and recommending an unnecessary repair, Motor1 reported.
Showing the estimate that the customer had received without revealing the company's name, the mechanic pointed out that it recommended a muffler replacement, which the quote said would require 0.8 hours of labor at $199.99 an hour. The parts were listed at $1,082 for the muffler assembly, $17 for a gasket, and $4.24 for nuts and bolts.
The estimate also contained a written warning that the "rear muffler is rusted and leaks will fail VSI," referring to Vermont's vehicle safety inspections, according to Motor1.
Calling out the other shop for shady practices, the mechanic questioned both the replacement price and whether the muffler needed replacing at all.
"This is how SHOPS RIP YOU OFF," read a text overlay on Mainly Mechanics' video, per Motor1. "Literally STEALING your money!"
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A scam at every level
The mechanic then broke down, step by step, how the other shop was trying to rip the customer off. First, the estimate charged $284 for a replacement muffler box, which the mechanic pointed out was the suggested retail price for the part. However, the mechanic could purchase one for $157, and even the customer could buy one retail for $167, according to Motor1.
Next, the mechanic critiqued the estimate's labor charge, saying that the job would take less than half an hour. To prove his point, he showed how simple it was to remove the muffler by removing two nuts and three hangers. He further explained that, once the fasteners were undone and the old muffler released, the replacement could be mounted and bolted into place just as easily.
While Motor1 noted that a leak alone can cause a vehicle to fail Vermont's inspection requirements, the mechanic showed in the video that the muffler was not rusted or leaking, as the estimate had stated. Instead, only a leaky gasket needed replacing.
"It's leaking right there at the gasket," he said, per Motor1. "But look at the rest of it. No rust through, no holes, no noise, no nothing."
In the end, everything worked out for this fortunate customer, with the mechanic writing in the caption that the customer "paid a quarter of the amount at my shop compared to what the other place quoted him," according to Motor1.
Where can I learn more?
A steep repair quote can leave drivers wondering what needs fixing and whether they can afford it.
• A GMC Canyon owner faced an engine replacement quote matching the truck's purchase price.
• A Honda Accord owner faced a $5,000 head-gasket quote after years of denied claims.
• A mechanic said battery swaps require scan tools now, adding to car repair bills.
• A $5,500 transmission repair bill might still have cost less than replacing the car.
• In Louisville, Kentucky, women learned how to do oil changes themselves at a DIY garage.
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