That $75 dock leveler inspection fee stung but the quote it saved me was worse

I run a small warehouse near the Clark Street corridor and thought my loading dock was fine until a trucker pointed out a weird groan every time the plate moved. Paid $75 for a certified inspection through a Detroit commercial service company and they found cracks in the hydraulic arm plus a worn hinge pin. They quoted $4,800 to fix it on the spot, but I shopped around and got it done for $3,100 by a smaller crew out of Dearborn. Has anyone else paid for a full inspection only to bring it to a competitor for the actual work? Just wondering if that's a common play around here.

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1 Comment

haydenj901mo ago

Paying for the inspection just to use it as a bargaining chip with another crew is the smartest move, since that report gives you a strong list of what needs fixing and what it should cost. Every shop will try to upsell you once they know you're desperate, so shop around and treat that $75 like a door opener, not a commitment.