Was I ripped off?

I was told my PT needed FRONT lower control arm bushings. Five hours labor (2
1/2 hours each side).
I had the job done. They started on it no sooner than 8:30 a.m. and called me
at 11:40 a.m. saying it was done.
Bushings-$40 each, labor-$288.00. Hmmm, 5 hours at $57.50 an hour would be
$288. But they only had it for 2 hours and 40 minutes. This would translate to
$107.87 per hour.
I asked a friend who had worked at the garage what their labor rate was. He
didn't know, but he checked with a friend of his at a MOPAR parts counter, was
told that you CAN'T replace the front bushings, you have to replace the entire
control arm @ $160 each. I have the old parts, they are in the bag that the new
ones came in. Part # 04656012AC. When put into the parts computer at the
Chrysler garage, this number went right back to the REAR control arm bushings
which can be replaced @ $40 each which is what I paid. But the labor listed to
do this is three hours total ( 1 1/2 hours each side). I've been dealing with
the place that did the work for over 30 years. I'm trying to come up with every
imaginable way that an error was made, but I can't. I was told that FRONT
BUSHINGS were needed, the bill states PARTS-Lower FRONT Control Arm Bushings,
LABOR-Replace Lower Front Bushings.

 

Why not have a polite chat.Could be just confusion caused by a noisy shop.
Hopefully the right thing was fixed and just the service writer
mis-understood what was going on.

 

So presumably, you went down there around noon to pick it up. Why didn't
you ask them before you paid?

This is a Chrysler part number?

When put into the parts computer at the

So you've looked under the front of the car and the rear to see which
bushings look like they were just replaced?

Just a suggestion.

--Geoff

 

<< Part # 04656012AC.

This is a Chrysler part number? >>
____Reply Separator_____
Yep!


<< So you've looked under the front of the car and the rear to see which
bushings look like they were just replaced? >>
____Reply Separator_____
Nope, not yet, not in the rain we're having.
I will next week. Whether I look under it this week or next week makes no
difference. The new bushing will still be in the same location they are now!


<< > I was told my PT needed FRONT lower control arm bushings.

<< So presumably, you went down there around noon to pick it up. Why didn't
you ask them before you paid? >>
____Reply Separator_____
I had the snow treads (FRONT) removed. As a result of this procedure, it was
"discovered" that I needed FRONT bushing and brake pads (FRONT). So there's no
chance that due to a noisy ship, I misheard. And at noon, I had no reason to
question the work.

 

Sounds like the rear bushings fit the front also. If not, something strange
happened on parts. Nothing strange about the labor, though. My guess as to
how they finished it in 3 hours is either; 1. they had an unusually good
day, but charged yo the standard rate, or 2. two guys worked on it. Some
shops charge based on the hours in the book. That's a good thing. Mechanics
shouldn't get punished if a job goes really well. If it's really awful, they
still charge the flat rate and have a bad day instead of hosing some
unsuspecting customer with a bigger bill. Other garages charge by the hour
worked no matter what, and that's okay, but there's less incentive to be
efficient.

 

<< So presumably, you went down there around noon to pick it up. Why
didn't

but at noon the car was only there 2hr and 40mins, so why did you pay for 5
hrs labour?

 

Don't count on it, some of those bushings are sneaky little sob's and may
travel to the other end of the car just to piss ya off...

<BG>

Denny

 

<< Don't count on it, some of those bushings are sneaky little sob's and may
travel to the other end of the car just to piss ya off... >>

____Reply Separator_____

I did not know that.* Then 'splain this to me Lucy,** if the bushings can move
from the back to the front and visa versa, then why can't the tires "rotate"
theirselves?

*Did I sound like Johnny Carson?
**Or Desi Arnaz?

 

Two people wprked on the car?

 

sounds like they charged you flat rate

 

When they quote you the number of hours for a job, it's the "book" hours.
That's the number of hours it takes the average tech using the published
procedure. How long it *actually* takes for *your* tech to do the job is
what you're seeing. Some techs are faster than others in reality and some
have found shortcuts. Your still charged for the number of hours published
in the book.

I saw this when I repaired the heads on my old '88 3.0L. I got the timing
wrong and towed it down to the dealer so they could do it. The book said it
was about a 2 1/2 hour job or so. The tech had a short cut method and took
about an hour to do the job. I still paid for 2 1/2 hours.