I have done my oil changes in the past, and for the recommended oil and filter on my 8 year old Toyota, $50 would cover 5 quarts of oil and a cheap filter. Add in disposal + labor, it's sometimes just easier to pay my local mechanic the $75 for the oil change.
I always get my oil at Costco at 6 quarts for less than $30. I figured mechanic shops are surely buying for less. And oil filters are usually less than $10 for the cheap ones, and maybe $15 for the high end ones. I assume auto shops probably use the cheaper ones. Actually, the reason I do my own oil change is because I can trust Costco/Autozone to sell me good quality oil and oil filter, whereas I don't know what a mechanic would put in, and it only takes me 30min.
I just looked up a local mechanic's website, and they advertise $35 for synthetic blend oil change, and $65 for full synthetic blend oil change (most non european cars). I wonder if they price it to be at cost or even a loss leader.
I have done my oil changes in the past, and for the recommended oil and filter on my 8 year old Toyota, $50 would cover 5 quarts of oil and a cheap filter. Add in disposal + labor, it's sometimes just easier to pay my local mechanic the $75 for the oil change.