Oil Change Rip-Off

My oil change was way past due.  In the past, I had always gone to the dealer, but it seemed last time they were so expensive and they also seemed to want to rip me off with a tire price.  We had briefly discussed me going to the instant oil change place in Oswego.  So I decided to just go there this morning, wanting to get it taken care of before the baby gets here and just having Abbey with me while Abbey is in school.  I used to go there all the time.  Before I met Todd.

A lot has changed.  I used to spend about $25 there for the basic service.  Today, I spent nearly $50.  Not only was the "cheapest" oil change nearly $35 before tax, my "model" of filter cost $2 and they charge me $5 for a skid plate that needed to be removed to do the change.  If I had not been SO over when it needed to be done and I wasn't about to have a baby any day, I would have left.  But I was sitting in the car with Abbey, having calmed her down (because of course she freaked out) and just wanting it done.  I used money from my personal checking account, ashamed I had waited SO long to do it and not having the heart for my MECHANIC husband to pay for the fact that this HAD to be done RIGHT NOW.

The Dealer cost about $30.  Of course, I have to drive to Cicero.  But the $5 skid plate removal fee disgusted me.  Had I not been 9 months pregnant, I would have made them show me this "plate".  

Upon further reflection, I suppose it had been FIVE years since I had gone there.  Somehow, it had seemed just a couple of years ago.