So I did my first mystery shop. I heard of mystery shopping a few years ago for the first time, but never really tried it. It just so happened that I've been looking for a mechanic, because my last one tried to rip me off. I was up for an oil change and was planning on going to Oil Changers or Mr. Lube. I put my oil change off because I didn't want to pay $50 for an oil change, when private mechanics charge between $20 - $30. I hate the idea of paying more for something than I have too. I called a few friends to ask if they knew of any good mechanics that they would refer me to, but I had no luck.
A few days later I received an email to do a mystery shop. I had signed up with a mystery shop company weeks ago and totally forgot about it. They wanted me to do a mystery shop at a mechanic and get an Oil and Filter change. I was all over it! It paid $18 and I got a refund for my oil change. Whoo hoo!
I also needed to get my breaks done, which I already knew, but I was procrastinating because I couldn't find a mechanic. The same company that I did a mystery shop with, quoted me a price of $429 for front break pads and roters. I negotiated it down to $400 and got it done. I forgot to mention that I called one other company to get a quote and they were more expensive. So I thought I was getting a good deal, until I spoke to another friend the following day and he gave me his mechanics number.
Can you guess what happened? My friends mechanic quoted me a price of $224. Ouch! Yeah I paid almost double! I hate when that happens. I felt like going back to my mystery shop mechanic and asking him to put my old break pads and roters back on my car, and to give me back my money. I wouldn't do that! That would be wrong on so many levels, but the thought did cross my mind.
Lesson learned! I will get more quotes the next time.
3 comments:
Wow, that's a pretty wide range for brake pad work.
Glad you enjoyed your first mystery shop, though. It's habit-forming. You may find yourself doing all kinds of things, like going to a bar and surreptitiously watching the bartender to see if he's pocketing money instead of putting it in the cash register.
Yeah, I know I got ripped off big time!
I don't know if I'll do another Mystery shop. I only signed up for this one because I knew they were looking for mystery shoppers to do an oil change and I happened to need one.
Ouch. That was one painful experience. Hopefully, that won't discourage you from taking more mystery shopping projects.
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