Do mechanics significantly over charge for the time to change a part?

[rScotty]

One of the jobs I had working my way through college was for an independent mechanic. He typically had 3 to 5 mechanics in his shop. He is a good guy and charges fair prices. He is not cheap but much better than a dealer. I always prefer to use independent mechanics over auto and tractor dealers. Their overhead is less and I can speak directly to the one doing the work not a service manager. I have a friend who is a former JD technician he has a service truck and will come to my house. His prices are more than fair and he knows his stuff. There are still good mechanics out there who charge fair prices.

It's really a treat to find a good independent shop. The good ones will never lack for work. And they find it easy to make a good living.
rScotty

 

[atsah]

I don't mind paying the local Ford dealer for my repairs, $82.00 an hour and use OEM parts that are warranted, I never have to go back, they bring me home and bring the vehicle to me if it's a major repair.. The service guys are smart and are kept up to date..

 

[Industrial Toys]

Don't forget all the warranty work. Also all the crap you can get yourself into in that profession. And everyone thinks your lying to them. Hey, it drove in here alright and now your telling me it's broken?

If service people, JUST charged enough for any given repair, they would go broke for all the issues that come up. I swear, there have been many days where I should have stayed in bed and written someone a five hundred dollar cheque. It would have been cheaper and I wouldn't have had to go anywhere and deal with the STRESS!

 

[metalbender]

Another good one was the "You scratched my car" Customer comes to pick up, zeros in on a spot where there is damage, tries to blame the shop. Dealerships have people to deal with this, small independents sometimes get stung. Almost to the point of doing a video walk-around at check in. I've done that when returning rental cars, just for my own protection.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Who pays if the new part is defective? I once drove to get original ball joints for my Dakota, and noticed that the new joints were worse than the ones my mechanic was replacing. We ended up getting Moog joints, but if I didn't say anything they would have put in the Chryco ones, because that's what Chryco was selling. Must have passed QC somewhere.

My mechanic does give me great flexibility. They recently removed all my lock mechanisims, and I replaced the motors in them using their shop and benches, then they reinstalled them.

 

[Jstpssng]

Which part? I致e never bid a job by the hour and billed more hours than it actually took. Now quoting based on estimated hours, I do that all the time. I refrain from doing jobs but the hour for this exact reason. I never said he was trying to rip me off at $120. I said changing a clutch master cylinder won稚 take a professional 1.5 hours.

Did they look at the job before giving you a price, or did you just go in and ask them what it would cost? Was it a quote or an estimate?
The first should have been written down and would have been given allowances for things which could go wrong; if things go well they make money, if they wreck a brake line, that's on their dime. If an estimate and it takes less than they expect, your bill is less and you walk away happy.

I've done that with road building. The contractor gave me a price, not realizing there was ledge just below the surface. We tore up the contract and paid him by the hour to gravel it. I could have held him to the contract, but on the next job he would have bid accordingly.

 

[goeduck]

Auto mechanics is not the only trade or profession where the tradesman or professional furnishes their own tools. But the average mechanic does make a substantial investment compared to the return.

And they take their tools with them when they leave the company. :thumbsup: There is another group of scum in other industries that take comany tools home before they leave and then dare the company to go get them, which the company is usually not going to do.

 

[goeduck]

I don't mind paying the local Ford dealer for my repairs, $82.00 an hour and use OEM parts that are warranted, I never have to go back, they bring me home and bring the vehicle to me if it's a major repair.. The service guys are smart and are kept up to date..

Sounds like you have a great Ford dealer :thumbsup:

 

[PILOON]

I am a lucky one.
Found a small shop that lets me supply parts (from internet) and charges me their rates.
I insist on them adding a bit for my parts supply as they don't get that markup profit.
So far so good.
I walked away with a total front brake job @ (more or less) $200, that including new rotors, pads etc. can't complain here.
Wife had same work at the dealer an she paid close to $700.
Long live the small repair shop. (If U are lucky enough to find one) Hint, he is greasy, dirty coveralled !
Possibly only one is certified and others are apprentices, but who cares.
I always leave the mechanics a tip so now they even address me by name.
He is so busy that forget an appointment sooner than 10 days or so later.

Good luck on finding such a dedicated 'back yard' good ole fashioned repair shop.

Oh. yes I always pay them in cash! (no receipts)

 

[Industrial Toys]

Front brakes on my GMC 2500 truck were $600 and would have been double that except the calipers were under warranty.