Highway Robbery!

So as always, my car is broken. I brought it into the shop on Wednesday to have the transmission checked out as a few helpful people had encouraged me that it was probably that I needed a new transmission filter. So the place I brought my car is this random little shop that I have a deal with (coupla oil changes and other discounts and free stuff for like $60 they were selling in Hendrix.) And so I'm thinking that I'm gonna build a relationship with these guys UNTIL THIS HAPPENS:

This morning I got a call that said that I didn't need a new transmission filter BUT that they had gone to the service of checking out the real problem and found out it was two speed sensors (one on the transmission and one on the rear differential.) The new total cost would be $290!!!! WHOA I thought this sounds a little bit ridiculous. . . I'm gonna go sleuthing. SO I check online and find out that the rear dif costs $35 and anyone can replace it in about 20 minutes. WHOA! and I can't find as much information about the transmission speed sensor so I decided to call the dealer. He's working on an official quote for all the work, but the transmission speed sensor only costs $19 and he predicts that all the labor will prbably be $82 so both parts and labor would cost about $140. THAT'S $150 less at a DEALER (normally known for their high prices. . . which $82 is but still at least it's guaranteed and way less than 290!!!)

So I called back my friendly service station and try to come to an understanding with them. They explain to me that we only have a discrepancy in the cost of the transmission speed sensor which they list as $40. . . BUT that means they're charging me like $210 for labor! and online I found out that the parts don't take long to fix at all even for just joe-schmoe car guy. ARGH. I asked the man to explain the $210 for labor and he said it was 2 hours of diagnostic work to figure out what the problem was. . . ARE YOU KIDDING ME? If I had the brains beforehand, I would have checked online and figured out the problem for myself in less than 15 minutes. sigh sigh sigh.

So in all honesty, how do I deal with this and keep Christ in mind? How do you love someone who's trying to rip you off, but also discourage them from trying to rip people off? I dunno. . . but I would like my car to work again.