Please explain why someone would pay so much for a air filter

[MaverRick]

I got my Cabin Air filter back when Advance Auto had the Purolator’s on sale for $5. I will probably get my Engine Air filter there as well when the time comes?

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[MaverickDragon]

... many "service centers" will try to tack on easy extras like your cabin air filter, fuel system service, wipers, etc. that are high margin services to bring up the transaction value.

In this case a "service center" is a "service" in the animal husbandry sense...

 

[CNJFF]

About 10 years ago I had the front bearings replaced on my old truck at Midas. Quite a bit of $$$ in the end but "that's what these things costs".

Out of curiosity I looked up the part numbers from the work order and found them for a third of the price on Rock Auto. Started my journey of looking at repair videos on YT and browsing automotive forums. I never went back to a shop for smaller repairs. Even the money spent on tools I didn't have is nowhere near the money saved.

 

[James K]

The cabin filter is even worse! I was sitting in the waiting room (back when my truck was under warranty) and heard them tell a lady $120 to change it out. When she sat down I told her the filter is $14 and you can easily do it yourself, she said well, maybe next time I just need it done now.

I stopped going to the dealer when they didn't tighten my oil drain plug enough and it was leaking and I found they lost 3 of my skid plate bolts. Happened right as powertrain warranty expired so I told them to give me new bolts (which they did) and I've never been back. They charge $129 for a synthetic oil change. I can do it for $50.

6 oil changes later I've saved $474.

I've been to 3 different dealers with my Maverick. 2 were good, one I'll never go back to. My truck was full of grease, smelled of BO and my seatbelt wouldn't retrack. My wife had her Escape oil change there and a month later she went to add wiper fluid and found her radiator overflow cap on the fire wall (down a quart and a half). When they're bad, they're really bad.

 

[Deleted User 24227]

I'm at the service center and they recommended changing my air filter for 84.85. I had to laughed at them. Asked them how they justify the 84.95 for an airfilter that sells for 21.00 and event at that price the auto parts store is making profit. I can see them charging 31.00 for a filter. I understand that parts are marked up as thats how they make money. But damn $85 not including labor. Maybe they are trying recoup the money on my complimentary oil change. Also, the cabin air filter was quoted $50.

unreal smh I just bought a cabin filter for my 2025 for $13.99 on Amazon. There's a legitimate reason why people refer to them as stealerships!

 

[kevinmccune]

I took my 2023 Silverado, before I traded it for the Maverick, to the Chevy dealer for a "free" state inspection. After waiting 1.5 hours for it to be finished I was informed it failed because the wiper blade on the passenger side had a tear in the rubber. I had heard 2 other customers being told the same thing and they both told the service writer to replace the blades. So when it was my turn I asked how much to replace the blades. $225.00 for the blades, $85 for labor for a total of $310! I said give me the keys and I will be back. Of course he pointed out that it failed inspection and I could get ticketed. I explained the law was I had 10 days to repair the vehicle and have it reinspected by them at no charge. I drove to Walmart bought blades for under $25, installed them and went back to the dealer. It was the last time I went there and I emailed them to explain why I was going back to a Ford after this short lapse in judgement.

did they offer Vaseline? I am totally fed up with the dealer bullshit,when they started charging a 3.5% writeup fee,I went elsewhere.

 

[zorki1c]

Cabin filters were inverted to suck money out of customers.

 

[pigsareus]

The cabin filter is even worse! I was sitting in the waiting room (back when my truck was under warranty) and heard them tell a lady $120 to change it out. When she sat down I told her the filter is $14 and you can easily do it yourself, she said well, maybe next time I just need it done now.

I stopped going to the dealer when they didn't tighten my oil drain plug enough and it was leaking and I found they lost 3 of my skid plate bolts. Happened right as powertrain warranty expired so I told them to give me new bolts (which they did) and I've never been back. They charge $129 for a synthetic oil change. I can do it for $50.

6 oil changes later I've saved $474.

They absolutely prey on the ladies and use the 'well we just want to make sure you're safe and your car doesn't break down' line. If you object they'll tell you well yeah you don't have to do it today but you darn well will want to get it done VERY SOON for your own safety. I hear that same things you do when hanging around a 'fix it ' place. Once they told a lady she needed to get her ignition wire (for a 4 cylinder) replaced as well they were 4 years old and could definitely be problematic in the future....they quoted here $300 and 3 hours labor she said that well the didn't have 3 hours...the write up guy comes back in a few minutes and say well we can put a couple guys on it and get it done in under an hour and she says 'ok go ahead and do it'. Which of course begs the ? - gee if it takes 1 guy 3 hours to do that work how is it now that 2 guys can get it done in less than 2 hours total? Not to mention yeah it doesn't take even 1 hour to swap out 4 wires that you didn't need anyways....

 

[ToyoFord70]

Or the 295 dollar nitrogen for the tires, or the 10 dollar can of scotch guard treatment that costs 300 dollars

 

[Geo8866]

The last time I bought a Ford air filter from Rock Auto it was less than $14. Even $21 would be a 50% markup...

Yep! I get my Motorcraft parts on Rock Auto whenever possible.

 

[ToyoFord70]

I know that back in the day there was a so called break in period of about a 1000 miles, about not driving at a constant speed for too long--just vary your speed. I have asked many a dealer about new cars and some will say there is no break in period, because of the tighter tolerances of the new engines and the like. But it seems like everyone has a varying opinion anymore. Used to work with a guy who had been a mechanic and he just said to drive the hell out of them and that is what he did.

 

[Geo8866]

They absolutely prey on the ladies and use the 'well we just want to make sure you're safe and your car doesn't break down' line. If you object they'll tell you well yeah you don't have to do it today but you darn well will want to get it done VERY SOON for your own safety. I hear that same things you do when hanging around a 'fix it ' place. Once they told a lady she needed to get her ignition wire (for a 4 cylinder) replaced as well they were 4 years old and could definitely be problematic in the future....they quoted here $300 and 3 hours labor she said that well the didn't have 3 hours...the write up guy comes back in a few minutes and say well we can put a couple guys on it and get it done in under an hour and she says 'ok go ahead and do it'. Which of course begs the ? - gee if it takes 1 guy 3 hours to do that work how is it now that 2 guys can get it done in less than 2 hours total? Not to mention yeah it doesn't take even 1 hour to swap out 4 wires that you didn't need anyways....

They absolutely prey on women. My daughter is an officer in the Army so not your average push over. But she isn't a car expert. She was taught from age 17 to say "NO" whenever someone recommended work and to call me later to see if it is something she actually needs.

 

[Carlitos_92]

I know that back in the day there was a so called break in period of about a 1000 miles, about not driving at a constant speed for too long--just vary your speed. I have asked many a dealer about new cars and some will say there is no break in period, because of the tighter tolerances of the new engines and the like. But it seems like everyone has a varying opinion anymore. Used to work with a guy who had been a mechanic and he just said to drive the hell out of them and that is what he did.

If only there was some sort of official document or other instruction from the manufacturer on this subject that we could rely on...

 

[ToyoFord70]

Yeah, there should be something from the manufacturer instead of a podunk sales person. Though I can say here of late when I have bought a car, the salesperson was a little less pushy. When I bought my wife's Maverick (yes, it was for her) the sales lady went way out of her way to get us this vehicle.

 

[zen_]

Or the 295 dollar nitrogen for the tires, or the 10 dollar can of scotch guard treatment that costs 300 dollars

When I was car shopping last, one of the reasons I ended up with a Maverick is because a Toyota dealer would absolutely not let me buy the Corolla hybrid I wanted without an "interior protection package" and Zaktek paint protection for nearly $800. Great, you maybe sprayed some scotch guard on the fabric, and washed the car with a one step that has synthetic wax so the water beads for a few weeks. I sat there in the little hot box for an hour before finally leaving, and their callback offer was HALF OFF. I wouldn't pay $20 for that garbage.

What are you going to do. I was actually glad when I picked up the pickup from Granger and they didn't even bother to wash it the day of purchase or finish taking the plastic off the seats. I don't care, I can wash it, put sealant on, and take the plastic off for thousands saved and not fighting someone over it.

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