It depends a lot on what you drive and how extensive the repair was. When I did my brakes last it cost well over $400 for parts alone (I did all of the work). Granted, that was Slotted/Dimpled rotors (Read more expensive) for all 4 wheels and upgraded pads (Read more expensive). In your case, Bri, you also have to figure in part markup for the mechanic, labor (probably between $75 and $150). For part markup, even if you're usuing run of the mill stock american break pads and shoes on a fairly common model, they will mark up some profit for them in the part cost. Euro/Japaense parts tend to be more expensive.
Labor, yeah. Highway robbery. It would be the same no matter where you go.
Ways they can gouge you is telling you that you need new rotors or drums when you can either get them resuraced again, and telling you that you need new calipers when you really don't. However, unless you know exactly what you're doing, the brakes are one part of a car you never chance with, so, unless you know how to tell if a caliper is bad, and if the Rotor/drum needs resurfacing (turning), it's best to just suck up the extra cost since brake failure always ends up badly.
P.S. for the record, plain old rotors for my car would have cost me about $130 rather than $200 Cquence rotors, and plain bargain basement organic pads would have cost me $45, Ceramic OEM pads would have cost me about $75, which again are much less than the near $200 for the EBC pads. And since about 2001, I've always done my own brakes so I don't know how much a shop will charge.
P.P.S. The dealer, as opposed to, hypothetically, Midas, would leave you bleeding from the anus in price even more so, so if you went there, I can see why you're worried about being screwed.
