Why Price Shopping Can Set You Up for Dissatisfaction
We all want a good deal but there are times when price shopping can hurt you more than it helps. Transmission repair is one of those cases. Not all transmission repairs are created equal (see the next article). Calling around and asking for the price of a transmission rebuild is like calling 3 butchers and asking for the price of a pound of beef. One tells you $4.00, another is $8.00 and one is $1.50. The first quoted roast, the second a steak and the last one gave you the price for dog food. That is exactly the results you get if you price shop a transmission rebuild.
It is more important to find a shop that has the expertise when it comes to transmissions, performs complete diagnostics and is open and honest with you. That is how you are going to get the lowest real cost of repair – only fix what is needed, do it right and stand behind it. A cheap job that wasn’t needed or one that fails again, just past warranty, is not the least expensive solution.
You should also realize that unscrupulous shops will bring you in based on a lowball price. Some will only quote part of the job, others will cut corners to give you the cheap price while some will even charge you for the cheap rebuild when no rebuild was even needed.