need to vent

[RichM96067]

I went to the Dodge dealer and bought my Ram with the Cummins deisel.
I went to the BMW dealer and bought my motorcycle.
I went to the Yamaha dealer and bought a scooter.
I went to the Kubota dealer and bought my L3400.
The only time I ever go back to the "dealer" is in case of a recall or for warranty work.
If I am not able to do the work, I can always find someone capable other than the "dealer".

 

[jaybrad]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
About the only thing that would be complaint worthy might be the electrical work @ a higher hourly rate, most electrical work is higher because more time is spent diagnosing/troubleshooting ect without results, such as digging behind dash panels, behind access panels, underneath the shields/guards etc to repair factory installed wiring/switches/modules, while in some cases referring to factory wiring schematics for help, whereas adding some aftermarket lamps/switches even though it is electrical in nature is not really like chasing down problems in complicated, difficult to get to factory wiring.

I'm having a hard time understanding why electrical work would have a higher rate.

If you are paying an hourly rate based upon time spend doing a job (as opposed to those lovely flat rate books that some dealers use to figure out how to take advantage of your wallet), what difference does it make if they are making brackets, or running wires.

They are getting paid based upon the number of hours they work. It's not like they are entitled to a hazardous duty stipend on top of their already steep hourly rate.

Something just doesn't sound right to me. What am I missing?

Jay

 

[SnowRidge]

Mechanics who can do good electrical work get paid more, in theory, so the shop's labor rate is higher for that kind of work.

 

[jaybrad]

Mechanics who can do good electrical work get paid more, in theory, so the shop's labor rate is higher for that kind of work.

Interesting.

Following that logic, do they have a lower hourly shop rate for a newbie mechanic who isn't as experienced as one of the long timers?

I've heard that argument offered in defense of those flat rate books that those rates level the playing field so that the customer isn't penalized by an inexperienced mechanic, yet the good ones reap higher pay because they can bill for more hours of work than they actually deliver.

It still doesn't seem right to me that they would charge a higher rate to run a few 12v wires to a simple switch, or two. It's not like they are wiring a space shuttle.

Jay

 

[SnowRidge]

"It still doesn't seem right to me that they would charge a higher rate to run a few 12v wires to a simple switch, or two. It's not like they are wiring a space shuttle."

Can't say I disagree with that.

 

[WarrenF]

I really think your objections are unfounded. First of all you did not ask for an estimate. That is your fault. Second, you obviously did not feel competent to do the job yourself. Third, you want to tell a business what is a fair price when you did not ask???

I get really tired of "consumers" trying to tell me as a small service business what my price should be. Add it up, when you have costs of heating and cooling a shop....paying the demanded "benefits" package for employees.....paying the continual training for their employees....paying the insurance so consumer who slip and fall on your lot will not have to take responsibility for their stupidity....paying the electrical bill....etc.. You now have substantial money being paid, so you can get your tractor fancied up because you won't do it yourself.

I bought a washer and dryer from Sears. They charged me $50.00 to deliver the purchase less than fifty miles. I had a plumber come out and fix the sewer at my rental unit....cost me $550 dollars for less than three hours of work. But now you think that $75.00 an hour is tooooooo much when you could have done it yourself? I quite frankly think that $75.00 an hour is too little for a shop to charge.

What do you suppose the dealer made off of you when you purchased your tractor? Do you honestly think that the dealer shoiuld be there to not make anything when he sells you the tractor and then provide you with FREE SERVICE??? Some of you should actually have to operate a business. You would then see how truly expensive it is and how tough it is to make money. Then you have people like some of you who bellyache about the cost of things, and yet turn right around and vote more taxes on business because it sounds soooo good to get those greedy slobs. When will some of you learn, you pay for everything you have voted for and you pay for everything you ask for.....pull up your big boy panties and move on. You got a good deal.

 

[WarrenF]

Interesting.

Following that logic, do they have a lower hourly shop rate for a newbie mechanic who isn't as experienced as one of the long timers?

I've heard that argument offered in defense of those flat rate books that those rates level the playing field so that the customer isn't penalized by an inexperienced mechanic, yet the good ones reap higher pay because they can bill for more hours of work than they actually deliver.

It still doesn't seem right to me that they would charge a higher rate to run a few 12v wires to a simple switch, or two. It's not like they are wiring a space shuttle.

Jay

Don't you suppose that should he have asked for an estimate first of all....this might have been prevented. Where is it written that the stupidity of a consumer must be protected. The price is the price.....he did not ask....he apparently felt incompetent to do the work himself.....and now he doesn't want to pay for his incompetence. What the **** are we coming to. A consumer buys something and then after the fact ******* that he paid too much....so now we establish a cabinet department to protect consumers from themselve.

 

[89cummins174]

maybe you have the same @&%tY BISNESS practices as my dealer. i didnt incompetent to do the work. i've had a pa inseption cer and used to work on cars and trucks. left it, not enough money in it, shop onwer reps the benifits not the employess. your rite warren, i bitched out and didnt do the work. never had a warrenty would like to keep it for another year. you all know how funny dealers. they like ****ing the little guy. 5 hours of work for them, that 40 HOURS for me. kind of get why i am a little pissed?????

 

[89cummins174]

alright i didnt mean to take it out on on you. this is just a touchy subject right now for me. you guy on this site are the best source to fix my tractor and i dont want to tick you guys off. since i plan on not taking my bx back to the dealer anymore i am going to learn more the in and outs a little more. sorry if i offened any one, thanks for all your help

 

[jaybrad]

Don't you suppose that should he have asked for an estimate first of all....this might have been prevented. Where is it written that the stupidity of a consumer must be protected. The price is the price.....he did not ask....he apparently felt incompetent to do the work himself.....and now he doesn't want to pay for his incompetence. What the **** are we coming to. A consumer buys something and then after the fact ******* that he paid too much....so now we establish a cabinet department to protect consumers from themselve.

The issue of an estimate, or not, is not the issue I was questioning.

I simply don't understand why there would be 2 different hourly rates applied to a job like this. It didn't require an EE degree to do this job - and I would submit that rebuilding an engine or transmission would require higher cognitive and psychomotor skills than running a couple 12v lines.

If I understood the original post, there was a premium hourly rate for doing this "electrical" work. That is the issue I don't understand.

Jay