500 Euros sounds like a reasonable price, but it's worth checking with a Geneva main-dealer as they are often surprisingly reasonable, depending on the type of car.  The problem with bringing your own parts is that there's nothing in it for the fitter other than the labour charge, which would probably be 1.5 to 2 hours per side for brake calipers.

I don't think I'd want to trust my brakes to someone who would do the job for 100 Euros.

STG racing in Meyrin ...

This should be a 90 minute job.  At most.  A mechanic with an organized workspace could do both in 60.  I don't understand these high quotes.

Not sure about Geneva but in France, it is unlikely that a garage/mechanic would be willing to do the job when parts aren't bought at their place. One reason is that they cannot give any guarantee, even if the part is brand new... :(

And of course, they make money on parts they sell (price doubled at its minimum)

Get in touch with Emmanuel at Pitstop. I'm sure there will be no problem to have your parts installed (unless they see a serious problem with them) but you will pay the normal price for the labor. Don't expect to negotiate how much you will pay (but you can ask for an estimation). As the others said, brakes are a serious thing, you want a professional job there. Your life may depend on it.

Thanks for the help guys!

I googled PItstop garage and their labor per hour is 125 franks, this should be enough to change 2 calipers for a professional team with lots of awards :)

Today visited car parts shop in meyrin (Ec Pieces Auto) and they wanted to sell me 2 calipers with pads for 797 franks :D Strange folk.

Then i went to a nice spanish mechanic in the garage nearby, he understood finally what i want, smiled and said - "No! What if all guys will buy stuff off ebay then i will have no job next month", then i told him - "Wait i am going to pay you for the labor", "Nono" - said he and smiled without even asking me how much i will pay him :D He did not want to know.

I've been through this before in various countries with both cars and bikes and the end result is always pretty much the same.

Although, as RichardM points out, the job could be done in an hour, most workshops will have a standard amount of time charged for specific jobs, which is typically much longer.

Parts sourced online are a good deal if you can fit them yourself, but often not much of a saving otherwise.

Tried it, Pitstop won't fit your parts. Have to be theirs. 

I also agree with other's, most garages will not take your parts for fitting. Only buy online if your able to fit yourself is my advice. 

These large garage chains have policies and rules.  I'd look for a small independent guy somewhere in France...

Emanuel replied today to me over the email but it was unclear if he will do it, now i am waiting second email. Lets see, maybe they will do it. Otherwise search for a decent car mechanic continues :) 100 Euro per hour is not such a bad rate i dont get it why the turn it down.

Just a little bit on the same thing : I bought a nice car radio - and the plugs are slightly different than the radio (so much for European standards) - can anybody suggest a good shop who will install the stereo? Prefereably in Vaud but Geneva would work as well.

Hi Alex, I notice you work at CERN. If you really want to save money you should join the CERN car club, they have a garage space with all the tools you would need, and some experienced people who might help you for the price of a crate of beer.

Otherwise I second Richard, look for an independent garage in France, but be aware that they will probably increase their hourly rate by 50% or even 100% if you provide the parts. I've never done it but have seen notices behind the counter which warn you of this.

Not many garages in France will do it, for guarantee and safety reasons.  In case anything happen, they cannot provide guarantee as the parts are not under warranty nor certified. 

If they provide the parts themselves and if anything happens to you car or to yourself due to the parts failing then they are liable for it, if the parts aren't coming from them, then they are not liable for it...

And second reason is that reselling items is the second source of outcome after labor.  Some small garages apparently cannot survive without that.

Guys! Thanks for the help, i investigated this question further.

Indeed, garages dont want to do that, Emanuel charges 30 precent surgarge (on installing your parts) and rates 2 calipers change as a 2.5 hour work for 115 F per hour.

To Adam Jeff: Thanks! Yes, i registered at CERN garage yesterday :) A great road to do everything yourself :)

One thing i dont get why garage can not simply charge more money for the work but buy your parts with normal prices :) Today I visited Roady in St-Genis, their offer is 240 Euros per 1 caliper, real price of BOSCH caliper is about 130 -- noname is even cheaper. They way they do it feels like "We will cheat on you but our labor costs are really cheap! So welcome!"

Really good market opportunity to open fair garage or  mechanic insurance. 40 people pay 50 euro per month and it becomes a normal 2000 Euro salary for a humble  mechanic which can sit at home and do nothing until he is need to put your parts or to change tires  :)

There is a car radio specialist in Geneva next to Eaux-Vives Area: C.Goyon SA, 69 Rue du 31 Décembre. Close to tramway 12, stop 'Roches'.

It's simply the economics of their business; if they don't operate this way they don't survive, just as Starbucks wouldn't if they sold coffee at cost price, or pubs if they let you bring your own beer.

For the convenience of having well trained technicians available locally, we all have to join in and pay the money.

I know of garages in developing countries who will charge a small amount to fit parts that you have supplied, but when if breaks because they used the wrong torque settings or it falls off because they used zip-ties instead of bolts (I've actually seen this), they'll shrug and say "well, what do you expect for that price?".

“The labourer is worthy of his hire” –

which applies to all of us.

I guess you were wrong.

Autodecibels in Geneva.