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What was supposed to be a simple flat tire fix, typically costing around RM50 or less, ended up costing a Malaysian driver RM4,420 after a series of unexpected repair recommendations at a local workshop
In a Xiaohongshu post on Monday, 12 May, the man asked netizens if he had been cheated by a mechanic, as all he needed was a simple tyre repair after running over a nail.
"The story begins like this. A nail punctured my car's rear tyre, so I drove to a nearby repair shop to have it repaired.
"During the repair, the shop owner said that the tread of one of the tyres appeared to be worn out, and he could help me check it. After some inspection, he told me that the lower arm (part of a car's suspension system) was damaged, and the absorber also needed to be replaced because it was damaged," he said.
He agreed to replace the front shock absorbers, lower arms, absorber covers, and two tyres, totalling the bill to RM2,150.
Additionally, for safety, he also approved the replacement of the rear absorbers, bringing the total to RM2,500.
According to the bill, the man's car, a Nissan Almera, was sent to the workshop on Sunday, 11 May.
Image via 搬砖筑梦难啊 (Xiaohongshu)
But the charges did not stop there
The man agreed to let the shop owner send him home as the repair would take at least three hours.
"About 15 minutes after I got home, the boss called and said the absorber mountings also needed to be changed. It was another RM600," he said.
"After another 10 minutes, he called again, saying the brake pads and brake discs were worn out and should also be replaced. That added RM960," he recounted.
With the car already in the shop and concerned about its roadworthiness, the man felt pressured to approve each additional repair.
By the end of the day, what should have been a minor tyre patch had ballooned into a RM4,420 expense, roughly equivalent to his entire monthly salary.
"Did I just get treated like a lamb to the slaughter, or did I meet a mechanic with a kind heart?" he asked, concluding the post.
At the time of writing, the post has received over 130 comments, with netizens offering advice on how to deal with costly repair jobs at workshops
"Usually, when the tyre shop boss says something like that, I'll go to another workshop to ask for a second opinion," wrote a Xiaohongshu user.
Another added, "Actually, you could have told him that you don't have the money to do it for now, but ask him to provide a quotation first. Then you can compare prices elsewhere. If he's not willing to give a quotation, just fix the tire and that's it."
Image via Xiaohongshu
