Lexus Dealer in Pennsylvania raises repair price 50%
02-17-20, 06:10 PM
#1
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
Lexus Dealer in Pennsylvania raises repair price 50%
Last year I took my 2015 RX350 in to the Pennsylvania dealership that I purchased the car from new.
The new front brakes were pulsating and they machined the rotors and charged me $248
Exactly a year and 12,000 miles later I brought the same car in with the same problem.
This time they wanted $360 for the exact same job, just machine the front rotors no parts.
They also quoted me $434 for a rear brake job
and $547 to replace the rear shocks that they claimed were leaking.
I am the original owner and the car has 72,000 miles
I asked the customer service rep why the 50 % increase and to machine the rotors and he had no answer. Had they quoted me a reasonable price for the machining they would I have gotten all the work. Since they price gouge so blatantly, I took the car back and they got none of the work. They lost me as a service customer and when I purchase a new Lexus in 2021 I will not return to this dealer
The new front brakes were pulsating and they machined the rotors and charged me $248
Exactly a year and 12,000 miles later I brought the same car in with the same problem.
This time they wanted $360 for the exact same job, just machine the front rotors no parts.
They also quoted me $434 for a rear brake job
and $547 to replace the rear shocks that they claimed were leaking.
I am the original owner and the car has 72,000 miles
I asked the customer service rep why the 50 % increase and to machine the rotors and he had no answer. Had they quoted me a reasonable price for the machining they would I have gotten all the work. Since they price gouge so blatantly, I took the car back and they got none of the work. They lost me as a service customer and when I purchase a new Lexus in 2021 I will not return to this dealer
02-17-20, 10:24 PM
#3
Last year I took my 2015 RX350 in to the Pennsylvania dealership that I purchased the car from new.
The new front brakes were pulsating and they machined the rotors and charged me $248
Exactly a year and 12,000 miles later I brought the same car in with the same problem.
This time they wanted $360 for the exact same job, just machine the front rotors no parts.
They also quoted me $434 for a rear brake job
and $547 to replace the rear shocks that they claimed were leaking.
I am the original owner and the car has 72,000 miles
I asked the customer service rep why the 50 % increase and to machine the rotors and he had no answer. Had they quoted me a reasonable price for the machining they would I have gotten all the work. Since they price gouge so blatantly, I took the car back and they got none of the work. They lost me as a service customer and when I purchase a new Lexus in 2021 I will not return to this dealer
The new front brakes were pulsating and they machined the rotors and charged me $248
Exactly a year and 12,000 miles later I brought the same car in with the same problem.
This time they wanted $360 for the exact same job, just machine the front rotors no parts.
They also quoted me $434 for a rear brake job
and $547 to replace the rear shocks that they claimed were leaking.
I am the original owner and the car has 72,000 miles
I asked the customer service rep why the 50 % increase and to machine the rotors and he had no answer. Had they quoted me a reasonable price for the machining they would I have gotten all the work. Since they price gouge so blatantly, I took the car back and they got none of the work. They lost me as a service customer and when I purchase a new Lexus in 2021 I will not return to this dealer
02-18-20, 06:24 AM
#5
Super Moderator
A full set of NEW coated rotors and ceramic pads costs just $116. A kit with more basic components can be had for as little as $64. An independent mechanic would certainly charge less than $120 for installation (likely quite a bit less), or you could do it yourself in around an hour.
Even your initial visit of $248 was a ripoff, and it just got worse from there.
Your shocks are likely not leaking (the new mechanic you're about to find can tell you if they are), and run $50-65 each if they do need to be replaced. Swapping them takes <20 minutes per side, so again labor shouldn't be much.
Even your initial visit of $248 was a ripoff, and it just got worse from there.
Your shocks are likely not leaking (the new mechanic you're about to find can tell you if they are), and run $50-65 each if they do need to be replaced. Swapping them takes <20 minutes per side, so again labor shouldn't be much.
Last edited by geko29; 02-18-20 at 06:27 AM.
02-18-20, 09:14 AM
#7
Unless that dealer is the only one for 100 miles around, what difference does it make? They could charge $11,700 for a brake job if they wanted. You have the option of going there (and getting all the free doughnuts and coffee you want) or going somewhere else.
The Lexus dealer here in Portland is a lovely place, with lots of marble and comfy leather chairs in the waiting room, but I probably won't be back there very often now that the warranty period is over.
The Lexus dealer here in Portland is a lovely place, with lots of marble and comfy leather chairs in the waiting room, but I probably won't be back there very often now that the warranty period is over.
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02-18-20, 10:14 AM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
A full set of NEW coated rotors and ceramic pads costs just $116. A kit with more basic components can be had for as little as $64. An independent mechanic would certainly charge less than $120 for installation (likely quite a bit less), or you could do it yourself in around an hour.
Even your initial visit of $248 was a ripoff, and it just got worse from there.
Your shocks are likely not leaking (the new mechanic you're about to find can tell you if they are), and run $50-65 each if they do need to be replaced. Swapping them takes <20 minutes per side, so again labor shouldn't be much.
Even your initial visit of $248 was a ripoff, and it just got worse from there.
Your shocks are likely not leaking (the new mechanic you're about to find can tell you if they are), and run $50-65 each if they do need to be replaced. Swapping them takes <20 minutes per side, so again labor shouldn't be much.
02-18-20, 10:33 AM
#10
Lexus Test Driver
Sewell Lexus in Dallas charged $400 to resurface all 4 rotors on my wife's 16 LX570 so the original charge of $248 isn't too outrageous.
Places like Meineke or BrakesPlus do charge $99 to resurface rotors as an alternative.
Places like Meineke or BrakesPlus do charge $99 to resurface rotors as an alternative.
02-18-20, 07:12 PM
#11
Driver School Candidate
Thread Starter
I did not know if that was allowable on this forum . It is Lexus of Lehigh Valley Allentown PA
I went to a local repair shop today and had new rotors on the front and full brake job on the rear for $376 less then 1/2 of the dealer price with brand new front rotors.
I went to a local repair shop today and had new rotors on the front and full brake job on the rear for $376 less then 1/2 of the dealer price with brand new front rotors.
02-18-20, 07:15 PM
#12
Lead Lap
I guess folks in allentown are fine with it, so a business got business eh?
Good thinking on going to indy for the repair. It just makes more sense, since RXs are basically part sharing with the highlander as is the case with most Lexus units.
Good thinking on going to indy for the repair. It just makes more sense, since RXs are basically part sharing with the highlander as is the case with most Lexus units.
02-18-20, 09:56 PM
#13
Aftermarket rotors @ Rockauto ~$25/each, brake pads ~ $25..... Yup, I can see how an indy shop could do the job for less than half what the dealer would charge you AND still make decent $$$.
02-19-20, 06:31 AM
#14
Super Moderator
02-19-20, 08:53 AM
#15
The real kicker may have to do with the minimum hourly rates for someone working on it. These pricing are posted by state law. Look at the labor, parts, and tax break down on the invoice. Maybe there is a jump in labor costs compared to a year or two ago.
No one really complains about this unless they're unhappy. Same thing with gas. It ran up big time in the $3-4 range and creeped back down. Guess what, many states snuck in tax increases when it was low. It will be near impossible see gas touch $1.50 or $2.00 unless gas taxes are corrected to % of price than a fixed price per gallon. We all have to settle and be content with $2-3/per gal gas. It is what it is until you have the unhappy moment thinking you're paying too much.
No one really complains about this unless they're unhappy. Same thing with gas. It ran up big time in the $3-4 range and creeped back down. Guess what, many states snuck in tax increases when it was low. It will be near impossible see gas touch $1.50 or $2.00 unless gas taxes are corrected to % of price than a fixed price per gallon. We all have to settle and be content with $2-3/per gal gas. It is what it is until you have the unhappy moment thinking you're paying too much.