Date: Fri, 21 Dec 2012 21:46:14 -0500
Reply-To: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Automotive Shop Rate Question
In-Reply-To: <CAB2RwfjQ1w+EFKE3pgG4qjPHU8rhKYQXmpm7u9Y98NaYB8eCXQ@mail.gmail.com>
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Here in NY the shop rate has to be clearly posted. Also any variations such
as different rates for different vehicles, types of work, and if the hours
are based on flat rate manual or actual time. Once past the diagnostics
stage and course of action is decided a quote, estimate, or some other
agreement should be made before work is started. In major areas shop rates
are generally $90 to $135 per hour. In addition regardless of how parts are
obtained "list" prices are common. The ALLDATA do it yourself (ALLDATADIY)
does a fairly good job of providing labor estimates and part prices that you
can use as shopping guide. In addition to normal business regulations most
states also regulate auto repairs through the department of motor vehicles.
Many shops have raised rates recently simply due to increasing costs that
are crippling. Also as they are beaten up on parts prices they have to seek
some profit elsewhere. Keep in mind that as much profit that you may think
is being made a huge portion of that will disappear in the income taxes
alone.
Dennis
-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
neil n
Sent: Friday, December 21, 2012 6:10 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Automotive Shop Rate Question
Hi all.
I don't use a pro mechanic that often so could be totally off base on this.
But.....
My first visit to a new shop in Sept., hourly rate: $75. The rate then went
up to $85 in Nov, and $90 in Dec.
The shop location is relatively new, but the business has been around for at
least 2 years. Likely it's been around longer than that.
Initially the shop rate seemed a little low. Like too good to be true.
Has anyone experienced a situation similar to this?
I hope I'm wrong, as the shop has shown attention to detail, done good work
AFAIK, and been good to work with, but I feel like they got me "in the door"
with a lower rate then bumped it up hoping I wouldn't notice. In fact this
worked to some degree as I didn't notice the increase to $85/hour.
Yes it's the owners prerogative to raise shop rates, but this seems
suspicious. Also, when I asked about the rate increase, the answer of "well,
people were saying we were the lowest price in town" seemed like a load of
horse pucky.
Neil.
--
Neil n
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