It happens every time money come's in from the IRS. It's like, "Oh boy, the new phone book's here, I'm somebody". Then some nut empties his
gun at you.
A couple of week's ago my stimulus check was deposited into my account. Just this last Friday my TV puked and I can't replace it so I run it down
state to a repair shop near my old neighbor hood, there goes $397.00. On the way down and back my truck's front end starts making a dry
metallic sound like the bearings are starting to go. Dropped that off this morning and got the call and quote. The right front is going so I said do
both sides and use OEM parts, with labor, $936.00. Now there goes the stimulus check to someone else. Yes it kept me from digging in to the bottom
of my pockets, for now. They might want that money back.
I guess the big question is, do I feel stimulated? To which I must answer,
"HOW ABOUT NOOOOO".
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I learned the hard way to not ask for OEM parts unless you know their cost and know they are the true OEM parts.
Why is this...?
It seems the fellow who took over a shop when a friend retired and moved screwed me royally.
I requested OEM parts. He knew damn well what I wanted. He took it upon himself to order and install parts that are branded OEM. That's right.... OEM brand. I never knew such a thing even existed. OEM brand lets the shop buy them dirt cheap and put whatever price they want on them. In my case as an example, part of the front end work included tie rod ends that could be bought for $10 each that he charged me $170 each for. He charged us $900 for what amounted to front brake pads and tie rod ends and this was near 20 years ago. He refused to adjust the bill. I bought an identical tie rod end from ebay for $10 including postage, took it down there, tossed it on his desk with the ebay receipt and let him know I would be sure to spread the word on what a thief he was. He did not seem to care so spread the word I did. I told only the truth.
Lesson learned.... If I ask for OEM parts, I qualify it with words like Mopar only in the case of a Durango.
That said I have found that Wagner has brake pads that are very close to OEM specs and their trade name for them is OEX. They are a very fair deal and are of excellent quality and provide great performance.
Gil
mines safely in the bank still
, I do most of my own Mechanic work (because I just don't trust mechanic shops, especially stealerships)
mines safely in the bank still , I do most of my own Mechanic work (because I just don't trust mechanic shops, especially stealerships)
I am with you on that, Bruce. I do however let a shop do front suspension work and alignment. Back in 2002, the whole job should have cost 300 or a little more and that is what my friend who sold the business would have charged me.
I see no reason to complain about being paid to do nothing.
I see no reason to complain about being paid to do nothing.
I hope your not thinking I'm complaining about getting the stimulus check. I intended to leave it in the bank like Bruce is doing. There's already
talk about we may have to pay it back.
I'm just saying every time it seems like you get to take a step forward, crap happens and you get knocked back one or two.
So do I feel stimulated, no more then I did before.
Well, you stimulated the economy, so you did your part
I drive beaters and get my wheel bearings off ebay ($50/pair), they last longer than the junk NAPA sells me
There's already
talk about we may have to pay it back.
[/quote]
I don't see that happening, even with threat of jail , the Gov' couldn't get it back from 80% of the people....for them ,its done gone & cry'in aint gonna bring it back
I learned the hard way to not ask for OEM parts unless you know their cost and know they are the true OEM parts.
Why is this...?
It seems the fellow who took over a shop when a friend retired and moved screwed me royally.
I requested OEM parts. He knew damn well what I wanted. He took it upon himself to order and install parts that are branded OEM. That's right.... OEM brand. I never knew such a thing even existed. OEM brand lets the shop buy them dirt cheap and put whatever price they want on them. In my case as an example, part of the front end work included tie rod ends that could be bought for $10 each that he charged me $170 each for. He charged us $900 for what amounted to front brake pads and tie rod ends and this was near 20 years ago. He refused to adjust the bill. I bought an identical tie rod end from ebay for $10 including postage, took it down there, tossed it on his desk with the ebay receipt and let him know I would be sure to spread the word on what a thief he was. He did not seem to care so spread the word I did. I told only the truth.
Lesson learned.... If I ask for OEM parts, I qualify it with words like Mopar only in the case of a Durango.
That said I have found that Wagner has brake pads that are very close to OEM specs and their trade name for them is OEX. They are a very fair deal and are of excellent quality and provide great performance.
Gil
Ha Ha, this is quite common in the appliance parts business as well. A brand of generic parts from O.E.M.. I quit selling parts over the counter years ago because people did not know the difference between a factory part and a generic part. All they saw was what ebay was selling the parts for and it made me look like a thief to people too ignorant to understand the difference.
crazydoug
We filed through the mail and not online. We have not received our stimulus check, so haven't spent it yet! Our Amish neighbor received his, but the Amish send the check back, as they do not accept handouts from the government. There is probably a lot of wisdom in that.
crazydoug
I didn't take my truck to "Billy Bob's auto repair", I took it to a GM dealer. Bearing's for newer truck's don't come in a box with a seal, inner
and outer roller bearings, and the race. It's the whole hub assembly with the ABS sensor. The truck is a 2009 GMC. Imagine what newer cars
and trucks cost.
I wish I had a beater, those I grew up with and when you lift the hood, you know what's what. You didn't need any specialty tools except
maybe a couple of pickling forks, a long strong pry bar, and a chain fall.
$$$$$ go quickly, don't they!
No sign of the stimulus check - the online system
told me I was getting it, but, bupkiss.
I did get my NYS tax refund. That was nice but,
I want my FED stimulus check. And, they are already
taking about giving out another. There are recipients
who, when all is added together, are making out better
now than when working, yet still feel entitled to stiff
whomever they owe money to (could be YOU). And they
want more. Something is wrong here, but, I do live
in NYS, one of the welfare capitals of the good old USA.
Still full of spit and vinegar,
Wayne
I didn't receive, or request, a stimulus check. The less government participation in my finances the better. But somehow, I just know that It will be repaid by increasing the taxes I already pay for services I don't and likely won't ever qualify for.(except SS, and who says that will even be around in 10 years?)
Our first stimulus payment from the govt in April was $1500.00 and there's another $1500.00 coming in July.
We haven't spent ours yet.