Automotive Question regarding fairness-Honesty?

I would confirm the IBM study of years ago, which found that one unfairly treated customer told 10 people of his treatment while each of them told ten more and so on resulting in an avalanche of negative publicity. That is, I'd tell my ten after I made sure that the oil change and alternator were all that were involved.

Is the car fixed? if it is then you got what you wanted. You're the one that approved the repairs.

Just because you found an alternator at a discount auto part place for $150 doesn't mean he overcharged you. Do you know what brand of parts he put in that car? That alternator can cost anywhere from $150 for a no name cheapo alternator to $500 for a quality alternator with a lifetime warranty. The cost on that alternator from the dealer is $420! then he has to mark up the price and charge labor ( because he is running a business, not a charity)

I must say that $700 does sound like a lot, but instead of running to him with a bunch of print outs from complete strangers (who don't know the entire story) saying he ripped you off, why don't you just try to talk to him about it? It could of been an honest mistake in pricing from him or his supplier.

Let him know what you found and see if there is anything he can do about it. We all want to make money and need to turn a profit to stay in business but we are also much more likely to take care of a good customer, or make less money than usual on a job to keep that customer loyal.

Running in with a bunch of printouts off the internet and screaming "you ripped me off!" is going to get you sent out the door with nothing.

look at the receipt. he should have listed the cost of each part plus the amount of labor hours it took to install the alternator.

at most the oil change would of only been $70, and thats with synthetic. An alternator can cost upwards of $400 from the dealer, but $230 for labor doesnt sound right. Even if he was to charge $100/labor hour, it would take 2.3 hours to replace an alternator. Sounds like you got jipped somewhere

I would take the the bill to him and ask if he priced it right

if he says yes, that's how much he charges, then tell him that you don't appreciate the way he does business and that you'll take your cars some where else.

you were trying to help the guy out and he took to take advantage of you