How much to replace car key? Am I being taken for a ride?
skrepka
17 years ago
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Comments (47)
bill_h
17 years agojahmmy
17 years agoRelated Discussions
I'm back ...am I being ripped off?
Comments (20)Apparently, the mineral oil used with R12 doesn't mix with R134a and additionally provides a sealing effect on non-barrier type hoses so that the R134a doesn't leak through them. On some cars the clutch cycling pressure switch may need to be adjusted for R134a. I had my 1988 Ford Mustang 5.0 converted to R134a. Besides changing the fittings and installing a Smart VOV (which was my idea, my mechanic had never used them before), everything else is all original. The Smart VOV is a replacement orifice tube that self-adjusts for operating pressures and provides performance similar to a TXV system. It's supposed to provide colder air at idle with and reduce the load on the compressor. It was $20 at NAPA so it wasn't a big expense. I have no idea how much it helped compared to a standard orifice, but my mechanic was impressed. Anyway, all of that was about 4 years ago and the AC still works fine....See MoreSalesman spiffs; am I crazy to feel taken advantage of???
Comments (35)I have not had relationships with Medallion, Dynasty, Kemper, Decora to know their price. I am a straight shooter and find it so interesting to read this message board. I am here to learn the mind of perspective buyers and what is happening to them around the country to learn of ways to improve. I find it amazing that so many people state that an itemized estimate is rare find. Also that cabinet shopping is worse than buying a car. I have only bought a few in my life I keep them till they die.. I hated my expierence buying autos! That is a disgrace to the industry I chose to be in. I personally love the kitchen remodel process becasue it is a mini design build expierence where you can be proud of your kitchen when you are done. I have stated many times that people from this site need to compare discounts from MSRP to find the average per brand and then you can see if you are being given a good price. I am begining to think that most people on this site go to retail locations based on show room appearance and equate the quality of displays with the quality of the business. The computer design software I use is Pro kitchen. It is less expensive then the more popular 20/20 that many of the stores use. The program has a data base of symbols for the cabinets organized by cabinet maker. A material list is generated from the symbols placed on the drawing that references MSRP of all the items placed on the drawing with relevant options. It is so easy to have the material list print out as a line by line estimate which is how I do it. Stores do not want to take the 2-4 hours it takes to produce a design that you can send to countless places to see who has the best deal. I can understand that to a certain extent. To me what does it matter the individual cost per item or the total as the items create the total. I had a customer in Orlando who I worked with for weeks providing quotes using different cabinet companies to get a price lower then the first go round. All my estimates were itemized line by line including all options to the custom cabinets. The husband got upset with me to the point of being almost rude that the other cabinet companies would not itemize the quotes so they could compare them to mine. I was amazed at his disdain towards me when I was the only company that gave him the info he wanted. I was told to make the kitchen fully loaded on exterior look and interior function which I did. They had 30 lineal feet of cabinetry 39" wall cabinets with crown and light rail soft close drawers and doors factory built intergal side panels on all exposed cabinets. 1 piece wainscott panels on the backs of the island and so on. Their price varied between approx $9,500 and $12,000 depending on door style chosen. The competition had a similar door style for 10,000 no crown no light rail and no upgrades. They went with the competition instead of asking me prepare a quote with out all the options. They asumed that I would not be able to match the competition because my detailed estimate gave them the ability to subtract out the options costs to see where the price would be without the extras. I would have made approx $3,000 on the $12,000 estimate. If they had asked me what was my price instead of assuming and said to me the competition is at $10,000 and been willing to show the paperwork I could have easily made another estimate with out the bells and whistles and seen my cost and decided what I was willing to negotiate to. I could have beat the competition easily. They assumed things they did not know or ask. We both lost. I could have given them a better price and we both would have been better off. Do not assume things wether you have a written total cost or a lump sum. Go to smaller stores that are more family owned get your quotes from each company and then share them with the competition and say can you beat this. You will be taken much more seriously if you have a honest written quote than a verbal story of your prices to compare. I am actually to the point where I am going to offer instead of free quotes as I do now to charging $150 for quote and measurement that is refundable if you do not purchase with me and you show me what the quote is you are going to buy and if I can not get the business for any reason and I then see a signed agreement I will refund the money. That way I will atleast see how I am losing to my competition and have a chance to learn and improve. Many dealers do not get the sales they want after working for them. Honesty is the best policy for all involved. Treat your perspective dealers and contractors as you want to be treated and you might be surprised what will happen. We have consumers playing games with us all the time. It sounds as though the dealers are doing it in kind. You have to be the adult to end the games and go with a straight face. The beauty of a free market is you are able to compare as many prices as possible. Take your written quotes and use them to your advantage and quit worrying about if I say the budget they sales person will set the price to the budget. So what if they do. Take the quote to the next guy and ask if they can beat and repeat the process until you reach the bottom price. Then size the company up and see if expierence and reputation are adequate if so you found a good deal....See MoreReplacement Car Keys
Comments (24)My Mazda 323 with standard tranny was 24 years old when it bit the dust last summer ('88 to '12 is 24, isn't it?) ... garage told me that the $65. for a replacement water pump ... and the $300. or so needed to install it wasn't worth it. The electrical connection to the thermostat-controlled fan at the radiator had gone bad, so the superheated coolant (if you'll pardon the expression: I claim to know whether I'm coming or going) had blown the seals in the water pump. What was that about, " ... for the want of a nail ... the shoe was lost ... for a want of a shoe the horse was lost ... and for the want of a horse ... the king was lost ... and for the want of a king, the nation was lost"? The '05 Cobalt that replaced it (for a modest price, paid in cash without strain: a financial cushion causes less stress, on occasion) ... ... doesn't have a light inside the ignition lock that "tells you where to put it", so to speak. And doesn't have two little lights over the front seats, that one can push one side of to turn on a light concentrated on one's lap, then push the other side of it to turn off. Gotta reach around behind one's right shoulder ... using the arthritic right shoulder that doesn't like to push the arm up high, to push the switch on the light that lights up the interior. Glucosamine sulphate started a few months ago is causing some improvement, there - less onerous to reach breakfast cereal on the top shelf, recently. As the kid replied when the oldsters, after church, were complaining about this and that regarding the service, "What do you want for a nickel - chimes?" Hope you're enjoying your wheels. ole joyfuelled ... who also needs a bit o' gas, at times...See MoreAre you selective about whose car you'll ride in?
Comments (36)Since I got my license I've often been the person who drives. I got to the point I was very uncomfortable when I wasn't driving. Much was just that I was fidgety and didn't know what to do with myself while riding. Riding is boring to me. I'm better now and can ride with a good driver but there's so many bad ones out there. I got stuck 20 miles from my car one time when I rode with someone (they left without me) and since then I've always wanted to have my own vehicle. Plus, often, when I "caravan" with others, I've had to help them out when they have car trouble. They wouldn't even carry tools with them or extra oil, antifreeze or wash fluid. I've saved the day countless times by being prepared. I have even been driving myself to the ER when needed. And I know I won't be asking my sister for a ride there if it happens again. Middle of the night, nobody around and she's sitting waiting for the light to change to get onto the freeway entrance ramp! (SMH) I just yelled GO! "Well the light is red!" I told her there's nobody around, it's the middle of the night and we're not going to the mall, we're going to the emergency room so either go, or move and I'll drive. There were also some choice words going through my mind at the time. As I get more crippled in my old age, I will say I've been fortunate with (most of) my friends being very considerate about offering to drop me off at the door or something to accommodate needs when we're out, whether necessary or not. If I'm hurting real bad sometimes I'll take my cripple card so we can park closer. However, I'm about to the point where I'm considering refusing to ride with anyone who has a smartphone unless they've proven themself to be responsible....See MoreJonesy
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