For home appliance repairs, vehicle inspections, and renovations: ask for a quote first, then stay on site throughout the process

There is no upfront cost. Before starting any work, ask for the full fee schedule and a list of parts to be replaced; take a photo of the quote or request it in writing. After completion, obtain a repair receipt and invoice, and keep the old parts. You must also stay on site for at least an hour or two to supervise. The main challenge is staying present and attentive the entire time.

Appliance repair businesses must disclose all service items, parts pricing, quality standards, warranty periods, and complaint hotlines. They must issue customers a written receipt and invoice that accurately detail all work performed. Fabricating, exaggerating, or falsifying repair items, inventing faulty components, or deliberately swapping out functional parts is strictly prohibited; serious violations incur fines up to 30,000 yuan. All operators must post all prices openly, cannot add hidden fees, and cannot charge for any unlisted services. Offering low initial quotes then charging far more, or advertising fake discounts, constitutes price fraud. Service details, pricing, and calculation methods must be displayed in a highly visible manner, and no misleading or deceptive advertising is allowed nationwide.

商务部 (2012). 家电维修服务业管理办法（商务部令 2012 年第 7 号，第五、七、九、十四条）. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2012/content_2231695.htm；市场监管总局 (2022). 明码标价和禁止价格欺诈规定（市场监管总局令第 56 号，第五、八、十九条）. http://www.gov.cn/gongbao/content/2022/content_5699926.htm；国务院 (2024). 消费者权益保护法实施条例（国务院令第 778 号，第九、十条）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202403/content_6940159.htm；全国人大常委会 (2013 修正). 消费者权益保护法（第八、十条）：「消费者有权根据商品或者服务的不同情况，要求经营者提供……服务的内容、规格、费用等有关情况」「有权拒绝经营者的强制交易行为」. https://flk.npc.gov.cn/detail?id=2c909fdd678bf17901678bf7670606ef（国家法律法规数据库）

If you are overcharged, call 12315 first; the penalties are handled by the commerce and market regulation departments, so you do not need to file a lawsuit yourself. The reason for the Grade B rating is that while the rules are official, there is no specific figure for 'how much can be saved by watching from the sidelines,' so it relies mainly on experience. Asking for prices, keeping vouchers, and retaining old parts are practices that should be applied to everyone equally, regardless of appearance. The method for home appliances only applies to appliance repairs; for vehicle inspections and renovations, refer to the regulations on clearly marked pricing and their implementation ordinances. The higher-level Law on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests also stipulates these two rights. Article 8 states you have the right to request that operators explain the content, specifications, and costs of services. Article 10 states you have the right to refuse forced transactions.