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Is this the biggest Portugal mark-up ever ?
Is this the biggest Portugal mark-up ever ?
The LCD display showing time, fuel, radio frequency etc. for my Mitsubishi Spacestar failed and on enquiring the cost of a replacement was quoted (in writing) € 896 + IVA plus an unspecified fitting charge " because it would need reprogramming using the Mitsubishi computer".
Because this particular model was manufactured in Holland, I asked one of my Dutch friends if he could source a replacement at a better price in Holland.
He came back to me saying it would cost € 85 + € 18 delivery charge !! At this price I was concerned it must be a fake or some sort of cheap alternative - but no - the part numbers tallied so I ordered it.
When it arrived I took it to my usual Portuguese mechanic and he too was concerned that it might need reprogramming but when he plugged it in it worked perfectly !!
His labour charge was € 10 for this and another small job.
Quoted Mitsubishi Portugal price € 1102 plus fitting ~~ direct price € 113 including fitting !!
Moral of my story - do a bit of work and get quotes not only here but from other countries as well.
Because this particular model was manufactured in Holland, I asked one of my Dutch friends if he could source a replacement at a better price in Holland.
He came back to me saying it would cost € 85 + € 18 delivery charge !! At this price I was concerned it must be a fake or some sort of cheap alternative - but no - the part numbers tallied so I ordered it.
When it arrived I took it to my usual Portuguese mechanic and he too was concerned that it might need reprogramming but when he plugged it in it worked perfectly !!
His labour charge was € 10 for this and another small job.
Quoted Mitsubishi Portugal price € 1102 plus fitting ~~ direct price € 113 including fitting !!
Moral of my story - do a bit of work and get quotes not only here but from other countries as well.
Re: Is this the biggest Portugal mark-up ever ?
amazing roy ! i had a similar experience with audi in portimao.my audi tt broke down so i ahd it recovered to audi & they diagnosed the fuel pump which is located in the fuel tank&charged me 1,100 euros for the job.i was on my way back to the uk so told them to do the job.i then priced up the fuel pump&it was £180 ! fitting it was a simple 30 minute job.
Re: Is this the biggest Portugal mark-up ever ?
I'd go back to the €1102 guy with his written quote & ask him what the hell's going on Roy, it's outrageous; even with all the absurd car related taxes in Portugal there's no way they get to that sort of level,
there's lots of unsuspecting little old ladies out there who'd fall for this sort of thing & when given the opportunity I do my best to try to stop it
there's lots of unsuspecting little old ladies out there who'd fall for this sort of thing & when given the opportunity I do my best to try to stop it
Re: Is this the biggest Portugal mark-up ever ?
There are a lot of unsuspecting little old ladies out there who've fallen for me as well.sunman wrote:I'd go back to the €1102 guy with his written quote & ask him what the hell's going on Roy, it's outrageous; even with all the absurd car related taxes in Portugal there's no way they get to that sort of level,
there's lots of unsuspecting little old ladies out there who'd fall for this sort of thing & when given the opportunity I do my best to try to stop it


