I drilled my ROPS( well.....almost!)

Mansker · Dec 16, 2004

I had a rear work light burn out, I called the dealer and they wanted $ 28 dollars for the bulb, /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif the toggle switch was rusted so I asked what the whole unit would cost and they wanted $36 dollars for it /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I think its a shame the prices they charge! So I went out and bought two 55watt lights with /switch/wiring/ fuse for $19.95 and they even have light guards and covers. I drilled two 1/2'' holes in the brackets holding the old lights and mounted the switches in them and now I can see again and it didn't cost me arm and a leg!

Mansker · Dec 16, 2004

Here it is with the switch mounted!

PineRidge · Dec 16, 2004

My hats off to any man that can do a job, do it well, and save some money at the same time. Great looking job!

RockMtn1 · Dec 16, 2004

You expressed displeasure at the dealer charging $16.00 additional dollars over what it took you to do the job yourself. Did you really save $16.00 over the dealers price? I suspect not.

How much did it really cost you to go get those light bulbs besides the actual cost of the bulbs and the sales tax? Be sure to include gas, insurance, and auto depreciation. Next we need to determine how much your time is worth. Give yourself a decent wage. Don't forget to include social security taxes, health insurance, unemployment taxes, etc. It took your time to go to the store and fix the lights so total up the time for both tasks. Did you need any additional parts to make the fix? Be sure to include that cost in the calculation including the cost to stock the parts. Also include a cost for the building that you used to keep you warm and dry while you repaired the lights. Don't forget to include property taxes, building insurance, and building depreciation in the calculation. How much electricity was used to repair the lights? That goes in the mix as well.

I am certainly not against the do-it-yourself route, but as you can see there are a bunch of costs that you simply elected to absorb that the dealer can't/won't/shouldn't. While, your costs may well be cheaper than the dealers, I suspect that the margin is much more narrow than $16.00 difference.

Just a different way of looking at things.

Steve_Miller · Dec 16, 2004

Are you the dealer? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

GregMVT · Dec 16, 2004

He still saved real dollars, assuming he was going by the parts store. He would have had to pay for the building, heat, etc if he does the repairs plus he would have had to go to the tractor store, how far is that??, plus still put on the light that he bought, unless he had the tractor store pick up the tractor to do the work. What it really boils down to is he has $16 more in his wallet AND the satisfaction of doing a good job replacing the light!!

weesa20 · Dec 16, 2004

Great job! I like to stick it to the man (greedy business man and/or greedy government man) any time I can. I have saved incredible amounts of money over the years doing things/ buying aftermarket parts myself (and I often do a better job than the "experts" would have done) and I have alot of fun doing it. Keep up the good work

Andrew

Bluecheck546 · Dec 16, 2004

That way I look at it.... "money saved = money earned" Good for you. Nice job. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

GerardC · Dec 16, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( You expressed displeasure at the dealer charging $16.00 additional dollars over what it took you to do the job yourself. Did you really save $16.00 over the dealers price? I suspect not.

How much did it really cost you to go get those light bulbs besides the actual cost of the bulbs and the sales tax? Be sure to include gas, insurance, and auto depreciation. Next we need to determine how much your time is worth. Give yourself a decent wage. Don't forget to include social security taxes, health insurance, unemployment taxes, etc. It took your time to go to the store and fix the lights so total up the time for both tasks. Did you need any additional parts to make the fix? Be sure to include that cost in the calculation including the cost to stock the parts. Also include a cost for the building that you used to keep you warm and dry while you repaired the lights. Don't forget to include property taxes, building insurance, and building depreciation in the calculation. How much electricity was used to repair the lights? That goes in the mix as well.

I am certainly not against the do-it-yourself route, but as you can see there are a bunch of costs that you simply elected to absorb that the dealer can't/won't/shouldn't. While, your costs may well be cheaper than the dealers, I suspect that the margin is much more narrow than $16.00 difference.

Just a different way of looking at things. )</font>

The next time you change a spark plug, air cleaner, the oil in your vehicle(s), etcetera :MAKE SURE YOU GO TO THE DEALER OF YOUR CHOICE. G

Tinkerer · Dec 16, 2004

Next we need to determine how much your time is worth. Give yourself a decent wage.

I see this kind of quote all of the time, and it always irritates me. Maybe I'm just worth less than other people, but my time doesn't cost anything! When I am not at work, I am not getting paid. If I weren't doing a "do it yourself project" I would probably just be watching tv, or something else that I don't get paid for. So it seems to me that if my project isn't taking my time away from work I would otherwise be paid for, then my time was free.