Rant: Over the phone quoting... is it dead?

[Astron_Boy]

So I want to get the rear muffler in my RVR replaced.
I rang 5 shops today within my works area, all of which were still 10mins away from my location.

Not one of them could give me a rough quote, all wanted me to 'drop in' to tell me how much a generic 3" straight thru muffler would cost, and 2 of them seemed barely interested and didnt even say for me to swing by...

Is it really THAT difficult?

I then rang up later thinking this would be a much easier answer.
"How much to cut out the Catalytic on the car that is welded on, weld on some flanges, and fit a hfc that I already have"
Again, ohh, gee, I dunno, you'd have to come in for me to quote you.

Are they expecting the exhaust to be tucked up inside the boot, or right next to the passenger side in the cabin.
Is it really sooo hard to quote on a generic job over the phone?

needless to say I'm now stuck with my car the way it is
Don't have time to waste driving to a place to find they want to rip me off and then go back, and waste the petrol in the mean time.

/rant

[I8A4RE]

Yeah its bs they should definitly be able to tell you over the phone

[Astron_Boy]

Might just buy a welder, and teach myself, I have plenty of scrap metal around the place to learn on.
Cost of the welder and gear is probably what a 'decent' workshop would charge me just to do the job anyway...

[bduffman]

How r u going to learn u just said u don't have time lol , as for qoutes they say that with every thing mufflers car seats u name it other then like tint where they charge by the size and style of the car

[Kustom]

They shouldn't have to if he is describing exactly what he wants.

[Lawso]

"i have this car. i want this put on it. give me a quote"

"oh sure, one second...*taka taka taka taka* that will be about $$$$"

"oh thank you"

not that hard is it

[Lawso]

then again, it is for an rvr....

wouldn't be surprised if many shops knew what an rvr was to be honest

[Kustom]

then again, it is for an rvr....

wouldn't be surprised if many shops knew what an rvr was to be honest

True. But still..

[bduffman]

I think its more the fact they don't want to say yep sure $200 then get the car and go f**k im gona have to put 6 bends and weld this and do that but if they look at it then they no what they need to do and can charge the correct cost cause every car will need more or less work same job but diff costs

[vipfto]

load of crap. Do you know how easy it is to replace a cat on almost any car? RVR will use simi;ar floor pan as lancer or same as EVO esp when supplying own parts its only very little labour and a couple of brackets they need to quote on. They just cant be interested enough in getting business

[I8A4RE]

load of crap. Do you know how easy it is to replace a cat on almost any car? RVR will use simi;ar floor pan as lancer or same as EVO esp when supplying own parts its only very little labour and a couple of brackets they need to quote on. They just cant be interested enough in getting business

Totaly agree. Especially the last sentence.

[Bennoz]

Also agree.

I did however, the other day come across the complete opposite. The best bit of service I've ever had with a tyre change.
They hand undid the wheel nuts, then torque wrenched them back on. 2 thumbs up to Jax Blacktown!

[Astron_Boy]

I did however, the other day come across the complete opposite. The best bit of service I've ever had with a tyre change.
They hand undid the wheel nuts, then torque wrenched them back on. 2 thumbs up to Jax Blacktown!

Nice!

Wel, just to humor myself, I went to Midas in Ryde that is along the way to my work anyway.
Was one of the places I rang.
Waited an hour, cause the guy wasn't there, was told, 10 mins, every 10mins.
Got it up on the hoist.


oh sh*t...


The entire thing, from turbo to tip is welded up. worse so, it is right against the centre axle, and at one point, it is even bolted against the end of the transfer case wtf...

because of this, it wasnt a matter of him cutting, welding, etc.... though I could probably debate.

end quote came at a total of $350.

Just to fit a cat, that I had in my passenger foot well spare.

So, I guess I'm getting a whole new stainless exhaust from my fabricator friend and get it done right!

[SG]

Well you said it wasn't a straight forward job!

Exhaust blokes are very visual chaps and i can imagine they also get lots of kids wanting 3" + exhausts on their cars ringing them up and taking up a lot of their time, and if he doesnt know what a RVR is then he doesnt know what a stock system is and recommend a 'slight' upgrade which is what they're probably used to giving.

Everytime i take my car to an exhaust shop even if im in the shop they'll say "ok let me see.. oh you have this and that fitted... so you want this and that? ok too easy."

[Astron_Boy]

Hmmm, never the less.
you can't expect to draw business based on, "hmm, dunno, come in"
And especially when they say, dont know, and that's it.
It's simply pathetic business skills.

Meanwhile, I ring up Meek today as I found my transfer case is leaking, they were able to give me a range of prices dependant on the problem, how long it would take. etc.

It might not be correct, but it gives me Some insight, and due to that, they get my car tomorrow.
since they have the T case out, may as well get them to do the cat.
They get more business from me. lol