Los Angeles Ranks 19th in Best and Worst US Cities for Auto Repair / AutoMD.com Report Measures Affordability, Price Disparity Range and Shop Integrity

CARSON, Calif., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Los Angeles, California ranked 19th overall in AutoMD.com's Advocacy for Repair Shop Fairness Report, the first study ever to analyze how the top-50 most populated US cities stack up when it comes to providing consumers with fair quotes for auto repair. Los Angeles ranked just ahead of New York City (#20) and well ahead of other California cities such as San Jose (#39), San Francisco (#41), Oakland (#42) and San Diego (#45) -- but far behind Long Beach, which ranked 6th. Overall in the report, Memphis ranked #1, while Chicago ranked 50th at the bottom of the list.

For the report, AutoMD.com mystery shoppers conducted a fairness check of over 600 shops in the top-50 DMAs* (including a range of dealers, independent shops, and franchises like Pep Boys) by requesting quotes on a typical auto repair job: a front brake pad replacement job for a Ford Focus. To measure pricing integrity, the mystery shoppers called back two weeks later with an industry standard price estimate. The best and worst list was then calculated based on each city's rankings for three critical factors, Repair Affordability, Price Disparity and Shop Integrity, weighted equally:

1. Repair Affordability: Los Angeles ranked 20th among the top 50 US markets for the average price/cost-per-job - with an average quote of $161 for the repair. Miami ranked #1 for affordability with an average quote of $127 for the job. 2. Price Disparity Range: Los Angeles ranked #19 when it came to the market's variance in quotes for the same job. For Los Angeles, quotes ranged from $95 to $240, representing a 153% variance. Long Beach, California ranked #1, with the lowest Price Disparity Range of the 50 cities tested. 3. Shop Integrity Factor: Los Angeles ranked 26th for Shop Integrity, a measure of the percentage of shops that shifted their original quoted price by more than 5% when presented with an industry standard price estimate. The top ranked city, Memphis, had the highest ranking for Shop Integrity.

Even though Los Angeles ranked near the top third of cities, AutoMD.com recommends that Los Angeles residents compare shops to make sure they receive the best possible quote before setting foot into the repair shop.

"Doing your research is critical to getting a fair shake at the repair shop," said AutoMD President Shane Evangelist. "Fortunately, car owners now have access to online tools so they can compare local repair shops, establish a local market repair invoice price and make sure that they get a fair deal."

For the complete AutoMD.com Advocacy for Repair Shop Fairness Report rankings, click here.

To read the National Best and Worst Cities for Auto Repair release, click here.

*Designated Market Area About AutoMD.com

AutoMD.com(TM) (http://www.automd.com/), a wholly-owned subsidiary of U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc., , is the most comprehensive and unbiased free online automotive repair resource designed to empower car owners with the best way to repair their vehicles. Backed by a team of automotive data specialists and certified auto mechanics who are advocates for the car owner, AutoMD.com allows both car owners and DIYers to 1. Diagnose car problems, 2. Know how much auto repairs should cost, 3. Understand the steps needed and the time it should take with How-to Auto Repair guides, and 4. Find the right local auto repair shop at the right price for their issue.

Unlike other repair sites, AutoMD.com does not rely on revenue from repair shops or dealerships, so car owners can rest assured that AutoMD.com repair shop listings are completely unbiased and designed to help car owners choose the best, most affordable shop for their vehicle issue.

Contact: Media Relations Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, [phone], [e-mail] Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, [phone], [e-mail]

U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc.

CONTACT: Melanie Webber, [phone], [e-mail], or
Angela Jacobson, [phone], [e-mail], both of mWEBB
Communications, for U.S. Auto Parts Network, Inc.

Web Site: http://www.automd.com/