A report shared on TikTok reignited the debate about unequal treatment of women in workshops and dealerships. Ashlee, a resident of Texas, shared her experience of receiving a quote of US$ 7,500, equivalent to about R$ 38,400, for a part replacement in her 2013 Range Rover.
Price Discrepancy
Suspecting the presented value, Ashlee asked her father to contact the same dealership to get an identical quote, but speaking with a different attendant. The price provided to her father was significantly lower, totaling US$ 2,500, or approximately R$ 12,800, representing a 66% disparity. Upon presenting this discrepancy at the counter, the dealership agreed to apply the lower price.
Incident Details
According to Ashlee, this episode occurred about two years ago at a Land Rover dealership located in Austin, Texas. At the time, the vehicle had approximately 160 thousand kilometers on it and had been taken to the workshop due to a small oil leak; the initial quote was for the replacement of a pump.
Ashlee emphasized that she has technical knowledge, mentioning that her father owned dealerships for 52 years and that she herself rebuilt the engine of her first car, a 1973 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, when she was only 12 years old. She reported that the situation worsened when the general manager said: 'Sweetheart, why don't you call your daddy? He can explain to you how cars work.'
Complaint and Consequences
Because of this, Ashlee filed a complaint with Jaguar Land Rover North America, which acts as the manufacturer's arm in the United States. As compensation, she received a credit of US$ 1,000 (approximately R$ 5,100) to be used at the dealership itself, choosing to purchase a set of four new tires. However, shortly after, the Range Rover began to shake while driving, and one of the wheels started losing pressure repeatedly.
Tire Issues
An inspection conducted at the Discount Tire network revealed that two of the tires were unsafe: one had a sidewall bubble, while the other had tread wear so severe that it exposed the internal metal belts. Furthermore, checking the DOT code indicated that one of the tires had been manufactured four years before the sale date. The dealership did not issue a public statement regarding the allegations, and none of the claims were confirmed through independent verification. Despite this, the post generated other consumer reports describing different charges for the same service depending on who approached customer service.
