The Mechanic Racket
In Cannery Row, Steinbeck commented that the automobile has created "Two generations of Americans knew more about the Ford coil than the clitoris, about the planetary system of gears than the solar system of stars." In addition it seems to have created two classes of businesses almost as universally loathed as politicians: used car salesman and auto mechanics. While Akerlof discussed used car markets, I would like to focus on mechanics using a public choice framework.
What would say to a proposed law that requires you to bring your car to a grease monkey, who will inspect the car and hold it ransom until you pay whatever he requests for any "safety defects" that he finds? Well whatever you think about such a law, please be aware that it already exists in Virginia and many other states. Every year your vehicle must be presented for inspection at a service station that has been approved to carry out the proper inspections. Any defects found must be repaired on the spot and you must pay whatever this "market" bears. There is also a charge even if no violations are found.
I will admit that I have not researched the background of Virginia's laws enough to know when safety inspections were implemented or who the relevant pressure groups were, but the public choice economist in me would be unsurprised if the service-station lobby helped push the legislation through. Put this under future research.
Of course, rants like this rarely come out of thin air, so here is my abbreviated tale of woe. Last Friday I finished up a workshop in Charlottesville (about 2 hours away) and noticed one of those evil noises from my car. I brought the car into the local Merchant's Tire and Auto Center, and it was determined that the front brakes needed to be fixed. In addition, they offered to complete my annual safety inspection which would need to be done in July anyway. After about 4 hours of pre- and post-inspection waiting, the car was ready. The only safety violation was a light on the license plate. I paid the safety fee and the parts and labor for both the license plate light and the brake work, and finally we were on our way back to Arlington.
However, on the way back I noticed that the sticker in the window had not been changed to indicate my car had passed inspection. A phone call was then placed to shop (this morning) and they said to just bring it back in. I explained that it made little sense to drive over 100 miles for something I can get redone for $16 here, but since the would not mail me the sticker, the only option seemed to be going to a Merchant's location in Arlington. After a few hours of waiting, the manager in Charlottesville said he had spoken to the Arlington (Lee Highway location) manager and to just bring it in there. They would have to reinspect the vehicle, but I needn't be charged for it.
You might guess that the story didn't end there. The clerks at the Arlington shop were clueless as to what to do. They would need to reinspect the vehicle while deciding whether to charge me again. Another two hours of waiting. I am told that they are almost done, but two items failed the test: the same light on the license plates and the wiper blades. It was going to cost me another $60+ ransom to recover my vehicle. Luckily a competent manager showed up and waived the inspection fee and the cost of the light bulb. Parts and labor for the wiper blades came to around $35 (plus the 2 hour wait). I'm pretty sure the wiper blades were changed at my last oil change at Wal-Mart two weeks ago, but like I said, they are required by law to repair this "defect" and charge me for it.
The story ends there for now, but I still have to pass the emissions inspection hurdle this month (Merchant's apparently isn't licensed to carry out this racket). What a way to spend your birthday.
