This story has nothing to do with Real Estate and everything to do with not throwing away our "hard earned" money! Have you been going to the same service station for years because the guys there are so "nice" and you "trust" them? Me too. My "guys' even drove me back and forth to my house when needed. Well, read this.Yesterday, my car started to sound like a motor boat so I brought it to "my favorite guys". I'll call them "J" and "C". After putting the car on the lift for 1/2 hour and discovering I needed an engine pipe they proceeded to make numerous phone calls to find those special Volkswagon parts that are "so hard to come by" etc. Phew! It wasn't easy but they finally located a place that could probably ship it in a day or two. Thank god, because you know how I need my car for business! Soooooo,"J" comes over and tells me $383 for the engine pipe while my unhappy husband is listening on the speaker phone. My husband said "no way, we'll see if Midas can do it cheaper and I ask "J" who I've always trusted"-what do you think? "He said "you may get it cheaper but you don't know the quality of what they're actually using." So I leave the service station at 3:25 but tell "J", well," let me make my husband happy checking around (ha,ha) but you know I'll probably be back!"(because in my eyes, "J" and "C" could do no wrong!) Well, I get back to my house at 3:27 (I live nearby) and the phone rings at 3:29!
Guess who,? Yep, that's right pardner, good ole' "J" has "good news" for me! He just happen' to make a few phone calls to some "local guys" and found the ACTUAL part I needed instead of the entire engine pipe!!! AND IT WOULD ONLY COST ME $50! How do you like that? The original estimate went from $383 to $50! because now we're replacing what I "actually" need rather than the whole "kitten kaboodle"! And I guess the local guy is his partner in the same service station! Good ole "J" and "C" came through for me again!
So, the valuable money saving lesson learned here (especially in these times) is NEVER SAY YES TO THAT QUOTE. ASK FOR A WRITTEN ESTIMATE TO TAKE ELSEWHERE (AND BE SURE TO TELL THEM YOUR INTENTIONS)AND SEE HOW THAT PRICE GOES DOWN!
Now, I know why they took me back and forth so freely-I was on "Special Payment Plan" that included transportation. God knows how much I've overpayed them so far through the years.
P.S. My husband never liked or trusted them from Day 1 but fell into the trap with me because they're so close to our home.
I HOPE I HELP SOMEONE TO SAVE MONEY. WE WORK SO HARD FOR IT.
Comments (0)Subscribe to CommentsComment