Quotes excluding GST?

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alex91, Oct 19, 4:53pm
When a mechanic gives you a quote, do they always exclude GST! Cause I've had many repairs done, and the quotes I've been given have always been GST inclusive. Needed some repairs done on my car, called around a few places and was told around $300 by all places. So the place we decide on checks up on the exact cost of the parts, and quote remains at $300. Car gets fixed, and suddenly the quote is $407. Why! Because they added GST onto the $300, but didn't bother to tell us the quote excluded GST, knowing damn well we would have assumed it did. So extra $66 for GST and then I guess they chucked on another extra $41 for good measure. We've never had a place do this to us so just wondering if that's normal! And yes in future will always ask now.
intrade, Oct 19, 4:56pm
well parts places often do this i sometimes get caught out especially wrecker seem to do this like rear shock for a corolla 125$ i sent the client to get it new one was 163 and his recipt was 148$ or something . i told him that shock is going to fail within 6 month but hey he wanted it fitted to save 30 minutes labour and the extra 15$ for a new shock. you do what clients want .wont be fitting secoundhand waterpumps however then i tell em to get lost.
smac, Oct 19, 4:58pm
I believe the general rule is that if inclusive/exclusive is not stated, then it's deemed to be inclusive (otherwise the amount is just wrong). However they may argue they told you and you didn't hear.
alex91, Oct 19, 5:05pm
Well it wasn't just the parts they added GST onto, the labour too. I'm sure they knew what they were doing and that of course we would assume GST is included, I've never had to ask before. But of course, no way to prove it now is there, they can get away with it & we can't do anything about it. They originally even tried to charge us $500 by saying they did 2 CV joints when it was just one.
andrea_w, Oct 19, 5:08pm
I think that's law (however, I could be wrong).
A mate had transmission work done to his car, he was quoted a price with no mention if it was including or excluding gst. and when he got the bill he realised the quoted price was excluding gst. He refused to pay it and of course, they refused to release the car. he went away, did some homework and came back to them armed with some information (iirc). The transmission shop backed down quickly and the quoted price was paid.
loud_37, Oct 19, 5:08pm
$300.00 plus gst is $345.00 where did the extra $62.00 come from
magicmat, Oct 19, 5:13pm
Was just wondering that myself.
alex91, Oct 19, 5:18pm
Ok well apparently they charged us $335, then added the GST on and $10 freight so $396, and then they overcharged by $11 cause they're dumbasses.
Andrea, did your friend have a written quote or was it verbal!
andrea_w, Oct 19, 5:21pm
Almost certain it was verbal.
thewomble1, Oct 19, 7:33pm
Unless stated GST inclusive.
unbeatabull, Oct 19, 7:51pm
We've always quoted prices as being Plus GST. (GST Exclusive)
clark20, Oct 19, 8:03pm
Business to Business, ex GST, business to civilian Inc GST. If not stated then with.
alex91, Oct 21, 7:02am
But do you tell them that, or do you give them an amount knowing they will assume it's GST inclusive! I didn't know with everything in life I buy/pay for I had to enquire if it's GST inclusive.
unbeatabull, Oct 21, 8:43am
Every part we quote we will say it is $x amount + gst.
supernova2, Oct 21, 9:18am
So you visit a petrol station and have to ask if the pump price, or the price on the sign, is inclusive or exclusive!

If someone off the street fronts up anywhere and says how much for this! then surely that person wants to know how much in total he will be paying and common sense would be for the supplier to be up front and tell him the whole price.After all he didnt ask for part of the price.
elect70, Oct 21, 10:49am
A quote isnt always an exact amount so gst goes on topUp to you to askif want a fixed price
supernova2, Oct 21, 11:53am
A quote should be an exact price otherwise you are talking about an estimate.
unbeatabull, Oct 21, 2:04pm
Hmm. Quotes can be a grey area. We always quote but make sure we let customers know if the job doesn't go well or if something breaks/seized/damaged etc as example that it may cost more.
tool_shop173, Oct 21, 5:23pm
The thing some people havent mentioned is the word "Estimate" which is quite a bit different than the word "Quote" An estimate is exactly that, just an estimated price and generally a "Quote" is the exact price and if you have been quoted a particular price and get charged extra then you need to dispute it.
tool_shop173, Oct 21, 5:23pm
The thing some people havent mentioned is the word "Estimate" which is quite a bit different than the word "Quote" An estimate is exactly that, just an estimated price and generally a "Quote" is the exact price you have been quoted and if you have been quoted a particular price and get charged extra then you need to dispute it.
shuddupowh, Oct 21, 6:58pm
As # 20 said. A Quote means thats what its gonna cost, if any extras then its not a qoute and they ripped you off so you can deny paying. An estimate is when someone says "I'd say around $300-400", to do that but then if its $550 all up then too bad, they estimated it and it was more but it wasnt a quote so you have to pay - but they should still keep you in then know if price keeps going up or ask you for a limit eg "$300-$400, but whats your limit so I know to ring you if its more!" Also, you should get Quotes written on paper, like the door sales people do. We had 2 home insulation guys come thru, and their quotes were written down on proper forms and the word "GST included" is stated on the form above each price.
alex91, Oct 21, 7:00pm
Honestly, I wouldn't have even cared if it was sort of an 'estimate' and it took a bit longer to do than they thought, and maybe overcharged by $20 or something. But to blatantly not tell us GST wasn't included I find really disgusting. We were not told GST + $300, that would have also been fine. As I said, I don't think we have to go around asking everywhere if GST is included, you just assume it is unless it's specifically stated it's not.

I'm just wondering how we would go about disputing this as we have no actual proof, as it was a verbal quote!
alex91, Oct 21, 7:03pm
Will definitely get written quotes from now on, but honestly I've never had this problem before so didn't feel the need to, espcially cause they looked up the specific prices of the parts. Of course they also neglected to tell us we'd pay $10 shipping for the parts on top of that. My husband also used this place before and never had a problem, but will never go there again.
elect70, Oct 22, 2:00pm
I think the commerce commission have ruled a quote cantvary by more than 10 %
mechnificent, Oct 22, 2:44pm
Prices can be inc or ex Gst. It is up to you to find out which.
A quote is a firm price and should be within ten percent I believe.
My quotes always explain that if the car is in neglected condition, and anything comes to light AFTER it's been pulled apart, that NEEDS to be fixed to reassemble it, that they will be charged for that extra work.