car repair shop owners?

car repair shop owners?
I have a Chevy Lumina 1995, and the Blue Book value of the car is about $2850. The car is in good condition and still runs fine but due to a recent accident needs replacement of: - right and left front headlights - hood (it got bent) - bumper (it got dented) - air conditioner (A/C condenser + radiator) One repair shop owner declared the car a "total loss" and said the repair cost would be $3000, including parts replacement + labor + painting costs. However, another shop owner managed to put forth a repair cost of $2300! A difference of $700! I hate to stereotype/generalize, so pardon me, but the latter shop owner happened to be Indian. I am not sure if its just me, but my family and some of my friends tell me that Indian/Pakistani car repair shop owners tend to offer cheaper rates, as far as labor is concerned, than others. If this has been so with others, perhaps others looking for lower rates on car repairs may be helped! Maybe this just happens where I live, though???? I seriously do not mean for this to be a racist question in any way (though I will admit that I am an Indian, so go ahead and shoot me verbally). I was just curious as to whether others have had similar experiences with Indian/Pakistani car repair shop owners, or others in particular. I hope that such people do not show preference to people of their own ethnicity because that would not be fair; its my parents that work out the details with them, not me, so I don't know if thats the case. I live in a small town next to Berkeley, CA, btw, in case anyone was wondering. About the particular car I was mentioning, another possibility seems to just buy the replacement parts for the make and model, reducing the overall cost of repairs. I have visited http://www.thepartsbin.com, http://www.bestdealcarparts.com, http://www.autopartsfair.com, and http://www.collisionpartsexpress.com...these links may come in handy for those considering doing the same. I guess I need to clarify my question. I was just wondering whether others have had similar experiences with Indian/Pakistani car repair shop owners, or others in particular. I seriously do not mean for this to be a racist question in any way (though I will admit that I am an Indian, so go ahead and shoot me verbally). I hope that such people do not show preference to people of their own ethnicity because that would not be fair; its my parents that work out the details with them, not me, so I don't know if thats the case. I live in a small town next to Berkeley, CA, btw, in case anyone was wondering. About the particular car I was mentioning, another possibility seems to just buy the replacement parts for the make and model, reducing the overall cost of repairs. I have visited http://www.thepartsbin.com, http://www.bestdealcarparts.com, http://www.autopartsfair.com, and http://www.collisionpartsexpress.com...these links may come in handy for those considering doing the same ARRGGH...SORRY...ENDED UP POSTING THE SAME ADDITIONAL DETAILS TWICE...HAHA MY BAD...WISH I COULD HAVE DELETED ONE OF THEM


Answers:

Chosen Answer
aholmes12003:  what's the question???
2006-11-13 20:17:10
Dr. Evil:  That's ridiculous. You could get all that stuff at a salvage yard for about $200 and put it on yourself.
2006-11-13 20:19:49
gasbag:  Believe it or not there could be a dfference of that much it totaly depends on the place the parts are comming from. either you get these mechanic owners to work for you or you should just say You need to shop around. I would also check with the (B.A.R.) burrel of Atomotive Repair on this bussiness. you might want to write that number down in front of the owners the number should be posted in the shop.
2006-11-13 20:29:15
G_MAN:  I doubt it has anything at all to do with Pakistani / Indian / Egyptian / Martian..whatever. I know a shop that does very good work for much less than the other repair shops, but the main reason is they were doing most of their work and getting paid under the table, not declaring the income for tax purposes.
2006-11-13 20:40:22
psstthok:  Also bear in mind that if these guys are "migrants", they may be desperately trying to get a business up and running. This does not AUTOMATICALLY mean that they'll do bad work (but doesn't eliminate that possibility either). What would you do - a crap job then cut and run, or a good job for little profit but years of good references?
2006-11-13 20:45:32
JOHN R:  Its known as good business to undercut the opposition
2006-11-14 00:25:48