Are muffler shops legit?

Submitted by schludy t3_zwirwl in philadelphia

Our catalytic converter got stolen. (Let me just say a big FUCK YOU to the guy who thinks it's ok to do that to our 2004 pickup truck on Christmas Eve)

Repair in the muffler shop is actually not that expensive, less than $300, cash only. Is this legit or are they in on it with the CAT thieves?

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napsdufroid t1_j1uxj0g wrote

This the repair on top of the cost of the cat, right? The cash-only part makes me skeptical. Any decent mechanic an put in a new cat.

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Aromat_Junkie t1_j1v0eov wrote

I paid around 300 a few years ago to have a cat cut out and new one welded in.

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WeNeedElon t1_j1vcfor wrote

Cat values can vary extremely widely. Your car may just have a cheap end cat on it purely due to the metal used inside.

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mistersausage t1_j1vprj9 wrote

If it's not the cat all they are doing is welding, so it's legit

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Trafficsigntruther t1_j1w0jp7 wrote

It’s legit. Joel muffler zone is another good option. Paid like $100 for reasonator and pipe.

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beeps-n-boops t1_j1wbe9a wrote

"cash only" makes me immediately suspicious.

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abfazi0 t1_j1wlg18 wrote

Their work is legit. I went to Julio’s mufflers in Kensington and got my (2) cats replaced on my 2004 Jeep Liberty (they also got stolen)* for $500 and it took 45 minutes. Cash only. They didn’t put a missing oxygen sensor on so I had to get that taken elsewhere but it was a quick thing.

I’ve also heard Joel muffler zone is good, got recommended to me by the cashier at the pep boys where I get my oil changed. They’re also cash only

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katecrime t1_j1wz27y wrote

Replying to napsdufroid (#1,094,583)

My totally legit mechanic (who I’ve been going to for like 20+ years) recently began imposing a 4% surcharge on card payments (and no longer take checks). This is pretty exorbitant for car repairs, and is clearly meant to encourage cash payments (or it could be interpreted as a total “fuck you” to their customers, but that doesn’t seem very smart for that to be their intention).

I’m wondering if other businesses are doing the same, to cut costs.

I found it obnoxious but at least… now I know. There is a large sign in the shop stating this, but my partner, who dropped off the car, doesn’t pay attention to his surroundings. So I only learned about it when I arrived to pick up and pay for it.

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CathedralEngine t1_j1xw18c wrote

I wouldn’t be to sketched out by cash only. It’s annoying to have to take out cash, sure. But is it any less suspicious than a restaurant or bar that only takes cash? I’m probably rationalizing though.

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MacKelvey t1_j1xysd7 wrote

New catalytic converters go for like $1,000. Finding a place that installs them for $300 is highly suspicious to me

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