I needed to have my Camry inspected in order to renew my registration this month. My "check engine" dash light was on. Auto Zone (the good guys) checked the codes and found I had some evaporative leaks. I took that report to my mechanic who recommended I get a "smoke test" at Pep Boys in Tempe to pin down the leaks. I had the $89 test done and Pep Boys prepared an estimate of allegedly necessary repairs that came to just under $900. Auto Zone had already priced out the parts they expected would be implicated. The parts themselves weren't expensive at Auto Zone (I wound up spending $140 for parts there.) I took those parts to my mechanic who installed them while I watched in fewer than 20 minutes and charged me $40.00 for labor. The dash light went off, Auto Zone confirmed I had no codes and I breezed through inspection and the DMV.
I spent $140 for parts, $40 for labor and $89. for the smoke test for a total of $270. Pep Boys wanted $870. from me for the same repairs, plus one I didnt need involving the fuel pump. The point of the smoke test was to discover the source of actual leaks but Pep Boys decided my fuel pump must also be leaking (when it wasn't.)
When I confronted Joel at Pep Boys he said pricing was determined by the corporate office and defended the estimate of $530.79 in labor, the $201.37 in parts and the $109.94 for "other" in addition to the $89.00 I paid separately for the smoke test (which I would not have had to pay if I had agreed to the $870.00 in work. Gee, thanks guys.) I'm sure I'm not the only customer given a vastly inflated estimate so I would strongly suggest getting a second and third opinion before allowing Pep Boys to do any work on your car.