Question about independent shops - Did I get ripped off?

[drewman75]

Sorry for the tardy reply to my own topic. Was out of town for a couple days. I'm not really comfortable scanning in the itemized bill where it could be identified. Like I mentioned, my point wasn't to flame the shop or owner. Especially if I'm in the wrong. I was just wondering if the labor charging methodology was common practice these days for indy shops and to give a heads up other newer owners to prevent them from making the same mistake and to ask the right questions. To address something that keeps coming up. No, there was no additional work done for that second adjusted estimate and final price. It was not a case of them pulling things apart and discovering additional things needing work. What he quoted me for initially is all that he did. A major service and a water pump/ therm replacement. The reason he gave me (even in response to my questions after I came home and reached back out) was that the parts were more expensive than he expected. Which again, parts total was $1700 and total bill was $1300 more than originally quoted. So unless he expected the parts to basically cost him nothing, I can't see how that holds weight. But I digress. I have chalked it up to an expensive lesson. Also, I can afford the car and this bill. It's not a case of it sinking me financially and my being irresponsible as some seem to be suggesting. It's just it puts me over what I planned to spend on the care initially. Basically like adding it to the tab of the price of the car since it is so soon after I bought it. Which is annoying. Again, I more than expected to shell out over the course of having it. But no one expects a $3500 bill for a car they literally just bought unless its a fixer up project car. Which this was not. Anyway. For those curious, he is the breakdown of the bill.

Labor-

80K service - 8.0 hours @ $120 - $960
Replace water pump, thermostat and fill with coolant and bleed system - 6.0 hours @ $120 - $720

Total $1680

Parts-

Air filter -- $52.57
cabin filter -- $76.12
plugs (6 @ 20.02) -- 120.12
oil filter -- 28.62
motul 8100 5/40 (9 @ 10.75) -- $96.75
brake fluid (2 @ 10.00) -- $20.00
decarbonizer 44k -- $24.95
seals -- $1.42
coils (6 @ 79.64) -- $477.84
water pump -- $454.88
gasket -- $13.57
thermostat -- $172.95
gasket -- $7.60
coolant -- $125.00
brake-kleen -- $5.99
cap -- $28.83

Total $1707.21

Total (parts and labor) with tax and shop fee $3510.84