If you decide to use Big-O, you do so at your own unjustified expense. I would not under any circumstances choose to use Big-O for anything. Here's why.
My mom took her car into get serviced recently for rear rotors and pads. Cost: $448. When learning of the cost, I decided to look into the details of the invoice.
Parts charges were $90 for pads; rotors: 2x $96.99 ($193.98). Total Parts charge: $283.97. They also performed a brake fluid flush (rear axle only I assume, though the invoice does not specify) which she cannot recall authorizing.
I called to get an explanation of charges and to obtain specific part numbers. Oddly, the invoice does not specify this information and gives only generic internal coding for parts.
I was told that they purchased the parts from AutoZone. Doing my research on this I found that they installed ceramic pads and rotors made by Duralast (2nd rate brand at best). These would have cost me $36 for the pads and $92 for BOTH rotors from AutoZone. Total AZ cost for parts $128+tax (recall they charged $283!!!). One would hardly be surprised to learn that Big-O receives a wholesale price on parts, but I did not confirm this, which would only make this more egregious.
Keep in mind one could buy premium brand rotors and pads of MUCH higher quality for what AutoZone sells these for equal value or slightly more, let alone incurring a 120%+ markup from Big-O. I find this practice of reselling an inferior product to ultra premium prices to be absolutely unethical and in bad faith to the customer.
https://www.mechanicadvisor.com/articles/how-much-does-a-mechanic-mark-up-parts
"Some mechanics may charge a higher markup for parts, with a lower labor rate, while some may charge a lower markup for parts, with higher labor rates, but nearly all mechanics will mark up parts to one degree or another. This markup will vary depending on the type of shop it is, and the job, but an average markup for parts by a mechanic is between 25% to 50%. "
I have reached out to Big-O corporate and they really could not care less about this type of pricing structure their franchisees engage in. Apparently, it's all about the bottoms line, not doing right by the customer.
While I did find the in store representatives polite and forthcoming with information, they repeatedly tried to convince me that their prices were comparable to that of other shops in the area. In my mind, they did not satisfactorily address the logic of reselling products beyond 120% markup.
For the record, I did check with my mechanic what their price for the same job, and it did come in higher than the $448 mark ($513- but also a higher cost area relative to Chico), but also used both ASE certified mechanics as well as Akebono rotors and pads. Further, my mechanic stated that their resale on these parts is actually LESS than the list price, meaning they pass along the discount they receive onto their customers.
If you decide to use Big-O, you do so at your own unjustified expense. read more