ARC Panel Beaters Alberton quoted more than double the price of a competitor

I am extremely disappointed by the pricing I received from ARC Panel Beaters in Alberton. ARC quoted me R51,426.91 including VAT for repairs to my GWM Steed 5 bakkie. I then obtained another quote from a competitor for R24,212.50 for what appears to be broadly comparable repair work. That means ARC’s quote was R27,214.41 more — in other words, more than double the competitor’s price. I fully understand that panel beating and paintwork are not cheap, and I also understand that different shops may price differently. But this is not a minor variation. This is an extreme gap that, in my view, cannot simply be brushed off as “quality costs more.” At that point, it starts to look like excessive pricing. As a customer, this experience left me with the impression that ARC’s estimate was completely out of touch with reality. No ordinary vehicle owner should be expected to accept a quote of over R51,000 without questioning how another repairer can come in at just over R24,000. My advice to anyone considering ARC Panel Beaters Alberton is simple: always get a second and third quote before committing. Had I not compared prices, I could have ended up paying an astronomical amount unnecessarily. Very disappointing.