Re: [MV] Free estimates

From: Sonny Heath (sonny@defuniak.com)
Date: Thu Sep 22 2005 - 05:14:10 PDT


There is no law against them putting more than one mechanic on the job,
thats probably what they will say when you tell them about the time. They
were talking "man hours" I'm sure.

Sonny

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ron" <rojoha@adelphia.net>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 21, 2005 10:48 PM
Subject: Re: [MV] Free estimates

> OK.... Their labor rate is $75/hour. They opened at 0700, call me at 0740
> with an estimate of $2100, I say no to the repairs, get charged $145.90.
> It took them 30 minutes, plus or minus to bring the vehicle into the bay,
> pull the wheels, inspect the shoes and pucks, look at the exhaust system,
> look at the rusted brake lines and generate an estimate and call me. The
> photocopied charge sheet they wrote the 'numbers' on had 2 time punches on
> it, 0711 and 0757. The itemized bill I received had two 0.5 hour charges
> (brake line inspection and exhaust inspection) and one 1.0 hour charge
> (brake inspection). Told me if I give the OK, I could get the truck
> 'around 3' (PM). The 'estimate' was for 11.5 hours of labor + the 2 hours
> charged to the 'inspection'. 0700 to 1500 looks like 8 hours to me
> without stopping for lunch or counting the two roach coach stops. They
> were going to charge me 13.5 hours 'book' labor for 7.x hours of actual
> labor. Sweeeetttt.....
> This after I was told when I made the appointment that it would be
> around $800 to $1K. But the service advisor who quoted me on Thursday
> couldn't be found yesterday when I dropped it off at 1700 or when I got
> there today.
> I expect a business I deal with to make a profit. I don't expect them
> to make the quarters profit off me, all by myself.
> As we left, my wife remarked she thought that the Service Department of
> a Volvo dealer we had bought a couple of cars from before was crooked, but
> he was a pansies compared to the shake down artists we just paid to bail
> out the truck.
> They must be doing something right, it just won't involve me.
> If this is the way you charge your customers, good luck. May the rubes
> continue to fall through your door.
>
> Off to Gilbert, will probably be off line until Sunday. You guys play
> nice in the mean time.
> And a sincere wish for good luck to you folks on the Texas Gulf Coast.
> Rita sounds like she's gonna be a real female dog.
> Regards, Ronzo
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: <MYDEUCEANDWILLYS@aol.com>
> To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
> Sent: 21 September, 2005 22:39
> Subject: [MV] Free estimates
>
>
>> If you ask for an estimate that is that extensive, they are definitely
>> entitled to be paid for there time, Being self employed since 1976 I
>> find it hard
>> to believe what people ask for and expect it to be free.
>
>
>
> ===Mil-Veh is a member-supported mailing list===
> To unsubscribe, send e-mail to: <mil-veh-off@mil-veh.org>
> To switch to the DIGEST mode, send e-mail to <mil-veh-digest@mil-veh.org>
> To reach a human, contact <ack@mil-veh.org>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.3/107 - Release Date: 9/20/2005
>
>



This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Fri Oct 28 2005 - 23:27:10 PDT