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Mechanic Website My New Gal Pal
Jun 24 2008 by Courtney Messenbaugh
6/24/08
RepairPal.com Delivers Fair Service Price Estimates for Free
A few years ago, before I became a professional automotive journalist (that is a laugh line, in case you were hesitating out of feigned respect), someone rear-ended my car. I took it to an auto shop where I was quoted an absurdly exorbitant price. Lo and behold, my husband went in — same mechanic, same damaged car — and got a much lower quote. How rude!
Now I can enter a repair shop with an arsenal of information to ensure this doesn't happen again. A new website, www.RepairPal.com, is bringing transparency to what it says is a $150 billion auto repair and maintenance industry. It delivers fair service-price estimates and insights from certified mechanics to help you determine not only what you should be paying, but also what might be wrong with your car. The website also offers an extensive auto shop directory with RepairPal ratings and consumer reviews. The best part is it's all free.
RepairPal's goal is to minimize the anxiety consumers typically experience when they service their cars. As a gal who's been unfairly treated at an auto shop before, I'm all for gathering as much info as possible and tossing it at the mechanic with fervor, just in case. I tried RepairPal to see how much I should be paying for an oil and filter change on my car and quickly discovered I've been paying too much. Maybe I should learn to change my own oil, but until then I can find a spot where I can get it done cheaply.
I spoke with David Sturtz, CEO of RepairPal, to find out how they gather data and produce the copious information on the site. After a long explanation that I'm still digesting, and which included the phrase "econometric model," let me tell you that these guys are thorough. Trust me; I took an econometric class in grad school and I'm still haunted by it. David said he worked for years to get certain undisclosed companies to release their proprietary information, which is used in RepairPal's analysis. As David said at the end of his detailed explanation to me, "It�s complex." True, but as long as David and his team do the econometric work, I'm all for it. I, for one, am a gal who's glad to have this Pal on the scene.
User Comments
Have a look at http://www.FairRepair.com. Our service will generate an accurate estimate (No ranges) giving you the exact labor time with average labor rates in your area calculated from a 65K record repair facility. Our service also lists out the exact OEM Part # & Price.
While repairpal does shed some light on the expected costs of a repair, it does not, and can not factor in the unexpected. It is a guide and should be used as such.
There are good and bad shops out there. You are the one responsiable for selecting the one for you, just like you would for your doctor. Ask questions, get second opinions if needed.