Re: [MV] Free estimates

From: Sonny Heath (sonny@defuniak.com)
Date: Thu Sep 22 2005 - 18:19:49 PDT


Thats right, it happened to me recently. I went in to a Dodge dealership to
get a two fer a nickel transmission fifth gear put in and they charged me
about a hundred and seventy five dollars an hour for labor. I went to the
service manager about his sign saying fifty bucks an hour but he himhawed
around so I told him what I thought of him and Diamler Chrysler and that
they had ripped me off on two trucks but they'll never do it again, plus
when I got home I sent a letter to the editor of their town mulletwrapper.

Sonny

----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick v100" <rickv100@yahoo.com>
To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List" <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2005 8:18 AM
Subject: Re: [MV] Free estimates

> Not to start a flame war but how is flat rate fair?
>
> Of the few mechanics I have spoekn with they are under
> pressure from management to come in under the flat
> rate those that don't are fired. This pumps the shops
> profit as they are billing for more hours then they
> are actually working.
>
> Rick
>
>
> --- santoken@bright.net wrote:
>
>> Flat rate..it's how every shop that's worth having
>> work done at does it. If a job pays/costs 4 hours
>> and the shops rate is $50, the job is gonna cost
>> $200 in labor...no matter if one guy takes 20
>> minutes to do the job or 10 hours. It's a fair way
>> of doing/quoting work.
>>
>> Kent
>>
>>
>> >
>> > From: Rick v100 <rickv100@yahoo.com>
>> > Date: Thu Sep 22, 8:49 AM
>> > To: "Military Vehicles Mailing List"
>> <mil-veh@mil-veh.org>
>> > Subject: Re: [MV] Free estimates
>> >
>> > They should have clearly stated on the service
>> sheet
>> > how they calculate service time and base rate.
>> >
>> > Most shops use the book rate not man hours unless
>> > specifed on the sheet.
>> >
>> > Rick
>> >
>> >
>> > --- Sonny Heath <sonny@defuniak.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > > 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.
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
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>> > > >
>> > > >
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>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > >
>> > >
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>>
>
>
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