The "something weird" is simply free market enterprise and "whatever the market will bear" pricing strategy. IOW, like most any other business. The dealer charging $189 might inadvertently be leaving some money on the table. Or the lower pricing might be part of a bigger (and, IMO, better) strategy.

If the dealer (or even an indy) is charging $330 for oil changes and is consistently keeping all the service bays full all day long there's little motivation for them to lower the prices. After all, it's a given that some customers will complain about prices. There's no pretense that the pricing will be agreeable to every customer.

OTOH......If they have mechanics standing around twiddling their thumbs waiting for cars to work on, well, they've got a big problem and need to re-examine their business model.

Ruth's Chris Steakhouse can surely sell a fine steak for $40 rather than $55 but, if they're booking reservations and keeping all the tables occupied at the higher price, why should they? Sure, they know that some people will refuse to pay that much for a steak dinner. They also know that lots of people will pay that much. As long as enough people are willing to pay $55, they'll be in good shape. If not, they'll fail.

Cheers
DD

 

Ruth Chris is a good example of what once ways. Use to be good. Now just over priced

 

Duly noted. And further illustrating my point. As far as I know they still have throngs of customers making reservations and willing to pay $55 for that steak. And relatively few customers complaining.

So....why would they lower their prices?

Cheers
DD

 

As used to be said on Wall Street, “pigs get fat and hogs go to slaughter. “

 

In the car repair business we used to say "You can shear a sheep a hundred times but you can only skin him once"

If enough customers feel they're being skinned the [insert business name/type here] will find themselves in trouble. That's how it works. Nothing new under the sun.

Cheers
DD