Sad but true, there are shops that sell a lot of parts and labor to customers that are not needed. It makes me very angry as unfortunatly when people talk about getting ripped off they also end up lumping those of us who run honest shops in with the rest.

Two examples come to mind for me. I had a customer who had just bought a 57 Chevy. He brought it into the shop to get some things straightened out that the previous owner had screwed up and a general check over. Among other things, I checked out the front end. The only thing I could find wrong with the suspension was an idler arm that was starting to get a little loose (not bad yet). I told the customer about it and suggested when he had the time and money we should likely replace it and have the front end aligned. He went into one of the local brake shops for their oil change special and was conned into a $1200 front end rebuild! The main thing that really upset me was that it called MY ability into question.

A few years ago, I had a friend refered a customer to me (a snow bird who was here visiting in his restored 65 Imperial). The car wandered a little and he felt he needed a front end rebuild, he even had all the new parts needed to do it. Now December is a slow month for me, and although I don't necessarly like doing front end work, it pays to good for me to pass up on it. When I got the car in and checked the suspension, all it needed was a new set of wheel bearings and the steering gear adjusted. I explained all this to the customer (even though I could have just gone ahead and rebuilt the front end... he never would have known the difference and I never would have seen him again once he left the area). The labor for the rebuild would have been nice and he could have afforded it, but I WOULD HAVE BEEN STEALING FROM HIM (there is no other way to put it) and I'm not a theif!!!!!!

Decon I'd hunt for a new shop.

(Sorry about that I just had to get it off my chest)