I pulled the fridge in my Vanagon once - it took all of about 15 minutes. non-Westfalia but still they couldn't have made it that hard to get out. So assuming 1 hour labor for r&r of the fridge another hour (and I'm being generous) to test for leaks everywhere, what did they do the remaining 6 hours? Bill you for the time it takes to get cold?

Unfortunately mechanic's estimates are at the state level. WA state, for example, has you sign a statement allowing the mechanic to spend XXX amount of $, and requiring them to contact you before doing any more. I don't know what it is in PA.

On a related note, when I first got the Vanagon I took it in to have all that stuff cleaned up and checked out at a local RV shop (I didn't know much about working propane then.) They managed to get the old furnace out, hot-tank the combustion chamber, reassemble it, and check the entire system for leaks. They charged approx $60. Oh, and they let me watch (and help in a few instances) so I got to see how to do it myself.

> >I asked for a dometic estimate and (naturally) could not be told one >until it was pulled out and looked at. They test and soaped it up and >found no leak. They did lubricate a reset button just outside of the >fill valvue. Good work, no problem here. > > >Well a _good_ and _thorough_ cleaning was what it took to fix the >propane dometic and I picked up the unit today and I was presented with a >bill for $380! No parts were included. > >This represents 8 hours at $45 per hour. They never called me with an >estimate and never in my wildest dreams did I think it would get this >high without any phone call or any parts. Seems like he put on the >blinders, fixed it and billed me without any regard for my wallet. I >would not have had him go beyond $200 though I did not tell him that. I >cannot imagine ever valuing this refrigerator on propane to the tune of >over $300. I was told that $380 was typical for this work after it was >done but never beforehand. > >I would like some list opinions on this mechanics bill and lack of any >estimate (as a matter of fact he never, ever called me in the four days >he had my daily driver). > >What do you think? > >Does this seem exhorbitant? > >Does it seem like business as usual in the RV repair business not to get >an estimate? > >Anyone have any idea how many hours were spent on the leak check? If 1-2 >of the 8 were spent, it would leave 6-7 for the stove? > >

Rick Gordon Bainbridge Island, WA, USA ------------------------------------- rickgo@halcyon.com http://www.halcyon.com/rickgo/ KC7QEG finger for PGP public key fingerprint -------------------------------------