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

Cost: There is no upfront cost. Before any work begins, ask for a detailed price list and a list of parts to be replaced; take photos of the quote or request it in writing. After the work is done, make sure to obtain a repair receipt and an invoice, and keep the old parts. You must also stay on site for at least an hour or two to supervise the work. The main challenge is staying present and attentive the entire time.
In plain terms: Appliance repair services must clearly display their pricing, provide customers with a receipt and invoice, and must not falsely claim that a problem exists or deliberately replace parts that are still in good working condition. In serious cases, fines of up to 30,000 yuan can be imposed. All service providers must post their prices openly and cannot charge any amount beyond those listed. Therefore, always ask for a detailed quote and a list of parts to be replaced before work starts; after completion, request a receipt and invoice, and keep the old parts. If you are overcharged, contact 12315 immediately.
Benefit: Appliance repair businesses must clearly list their service offerings, pricing for parts, quality standards, warranty periods, and customer complaint hotlines. They must provide customers with a written receipt and invoice detailing exactly what work was done. They are prohibited from inventing or exaggerating repair needs, falsely reporting faulty parts, or deliberately replacing functional components. Serious violations result in fines up to 30,000 yuan. All operators must display prices openly, cannot add any extra charges, and cannot demand payment for services not listed. Offering a low initial price and then charging more, or advertising false discounts, constitutes price fraud. Service pricing, scope, and calculation methods must be displayed prominently, and no misleading or false advertising is permitted nationwide.
Evidence grade: B
Sources: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）
Notes: If you are overcharged, contact 12315; penalties are enforced by commerce and market regulation authorities, so you do not need to pursue legal action yourself. This item is rated B because although the regulations are official, there are no specific figures indicating exactly how much money you can save by staying on site — the benefit is largely based on general experience. Asking for a quote, keeping receipts and old parts applies to everyone, regardless of appearance. The specific appliance repair rules also apply to vehicle inspections and renovations under general price disclosure laws and regulations. The broader Consumer Rights Protection Law also guarantees these rights: Article 8 states you have the right to know the service details, specifications, and costs, while Article 10 guarantees your right to refuse any mandatory transaction.