So I went with my Dad yesterday to this "fix-it-up place" for cars. The reason being was that some lady had hit the left part of the rear bumper and scratched it a bit. My father didn't see this but she was nice enough to leave a note with her number and the damage and everything (as most of us would do, I hope). My dad said, if she hadn't left the note, he would have never even noticed anything, especially since there are other scratches on the car.

Anyways, this place (which, in the past, is on the low-end of pricing) wants to charge more than $500. They want to take of the bumper and inspect the 'absorbing material' or whatever underneath and then of course, repaint the bumper (5 hours labor?!).

Well, I got to thinking that this really sucks. Even if this woman doesn't have to pay it, she really does because that means her premium will go up. Obviously she shouldn't have hit the car in the first place, but it is so minor it makes me feel bad (because, I think in part, she was so nice (and even if this isn't true and someone watched her do this or something, she still did... ) Actually, I guess I just feel bad for her) and secondly, my Dad wouldn't have even noticed it (by which I just mean it is relatively minor).

The second part of this is that my Dad says he is going to resale the car (which I think unlikely, but whatever). The scratch would lower the value of the car and thus should be fixed.
I just wanted to share this little experience (which I am sure many of you have had similar) because I feel like it just sucks for everyone involved (except the fix-it place).

--Kys"Do repair shops keep their interiors purposely crude to look like they aren't doing well?"le