The "shop charge" or "shop supplies" as it is sometimes referred to is a last minute line item that has been showing up on automotive service and repair invoices for years. Recently, however, at least one consumer advocate group is questioning the authenticity of these costs, which many garages and dealerships have difficulty in explaining.
The shop supplies charge is a catch-all figure often calculated on a percentage basis to take into account all of the "incidentals" such as grease, lubrications, and other repair/maintenance-related items that may not be worthy of their own invoice designations. The problem in consumer confidence arises, however, when inquiries about these charges are insufficiently explained, which is often the case as many service personnel don't fully understand them. Customers receiving a simple oil and filter change, for example, don't see why all of their true expenses can't be summarized within the single cost of the service & parts. While on a large job where there is a significant amount of work done on several systems and components, it is feasible that a miscellaneous category could arise, yet charging a separate line item for them doesn't often get taken on good faith.
While most consumers accept the fact that every business needs to make a profit to justify their existence, they don't seem to like it when phantom charges are applied to their bills without any service or value rendered. To see an article on the issue of the shop charge, click here.
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