I agree.
If there's a problem with any job ever, take it back and show the dealer
why you're unhappy. But fix it yourself first then bitch and you come off
as a crank customer and it's only your word against theirs.

With A/C the $800 for R&R of the heater core seems to be about the going
rate; there's a ton of labor time involved due to having to R&R almost the
entire dash. The core itself is around $200, then there's a charge for
replacing the refrigerant. Even with the right tools and know-how I'm
finding out it's easily a 5½ to 6 hr job.

By butchering the dash they can save about an hour and a half but still
bill you for the std. flat rate charge. That way the dealership makes more
and so does the line tech because the sooner they get yours done the
sooner they can go to work on gouging someone else.

Over the years I have managed to acquire an immense distaste for
dealerships for this very reason. Once out of warranty it has to be
something very specialized and uniquely compelling for me to ever go back
to the dealer. Chryco, Ford, Chevy, Toyota, Fiat, etc., yes, even Lexus;
they're all the same. Once it's out of warranty you're like a tender young
lamb going to visit the big bad wolf. The damn service writers are all on
the take. The more unnecessary services they can sell you to embellish the
job, the greater their commission.

Sad to say but there's also no shortage of shoddy workmanship, even at
dealerships. At currently prevailing labor rates it's inexcusable. As long
as you tolerate it they will not change.

Point taken on the yelling thing :)

Why did I fix it myself? Need the truck, it's getting just a little chilly
to ride the cycle in to work. I can do the job better than their so call
"techs". Go to school 3 nights a week (to make me more skilled and valuable
in my trade), my time is valuable to me. I figure that they screwed it up
the first time around and they'll only end up making it worse.

It's truly a shame that so many take so little pride in their work these
days.