Was I Overcharged For Repairs?

You got robbed!!!!!!!!

I think you can get a rebuilt alternator, with a core trade-in, for something like $60. Labor might be 2.5 hours. I'm a simple shade-tree mechanic and I could do it in less than that. Still, if the alternator was $190 (which it shouldn't be)...then the labor was $85/hour...which is more than my dentist charges! That's insane.

Call your local auto parts store and price an alternator. Then go back to the shop and state your case. If this guy wants your business, he'll work with you. The last alternator I had a shop replace for me cost $140...5 years ago.

Barry

My alternator blew out and I found a bulletin that it was a flaw with my 96 SL1,I only paid for the installation.

I wish I had the service bulletin number handy to give you.

Yes, it's an overcharge. I called Saturn and they said $350 with a rebuilt alternator from Saturn with a 3 year warrenty..

I called an auto parts store and they said the alternator was $118 with the core turned in to them.

As far as labour I called AAMCO who told me that labour is $83 an hour and the time involved is 1.1 hours. They have a book which states the labour time for repairs. Even if it takes 11/2 hrs. they charge the book time which is 1.1 hours. So the alternator should have been about $120 and labour $83x1.1=$92 Total=$212. which is 1/2 what I was charged. I haven't paid for this yet so I'll certainly object to the price.

I forget what the job " pays" . I think warranty time was about 0.8 hr ( 8 tenths) . They could be done in about 15-20 minutes on a lift .

I replaced an alternator on my '96 SL2 almost exactly a year ago, work done by my Saturn dealer. The damage was $291 CDN for the alternator and $90 CDN for installation. Seeing as your quote was in US dollars I think it was high. Did you try the dealer?

That's $285 US but remember that the dealer always charges more, a place like Midas Muffler would probably charge under $200.

Yes, I said in my original post that the Saturn dealer wanted $350. I called a few places and the labour was about $90. Most places were at least $100 less for the whole job and gave a 2 year warranty. So I was overcharged. I even called some part stores and got a price of $120 for the alternator and anothe place sold it for $99 with a 3 year warranty.

They probably would charge less. I know I don't like places like Midas, they're always trolling for business, telling you the shocks need replacing or something like that.

I don't know, maybe a local mechanic has different suppliers so the economics are different for him and if he's never done a Saturn alternator he throws in a "fudge factor" for labour? I guess we'll never know.

Sorry, so you did.