Labor Charge Inconsistency
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 287
Likes: 14
From: Georgia
Labor Charge Inconsistency
Had a quick install of some parts this past weekend. Saw when the tech took my bike back and when he brought it back up front. Exactly 1 hour 4 minutes. I was charged 1.5 hrs labor. Am I making a big deal out of nothing to question this? At $99 / hr, that's $1.65 / min. What did that extra $42.90 buy me?
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 69
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From: Sc
It's book time I am a auto tech and it works the same way. You pay for the job to be performed regardless of actual time it took like this everywhere. When I put a rear main in a Silverado and it pays 8.5 hours and only took me 4 hours I still make 8.5 regardless.
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From:
Had a quick install of some parts this past weekend. Saw when the tech took my bike back and when he brought it back up front. Exactly 1 hour 4 minutes. I was charged 1.5 hrs labor. Am I making a big deal out of nothing to question this? At $99 / hr, that's $1.65 / min. What did that extra $42.90 buy me?
Correct, that's how things work here also. There is a certain amount of time that is set aside for any repair. I've seen many times where they had gotten done with my bike/car early but I still got charged the going rate, whether it was from the dealership or an indy.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 387
Likes: 173
From: Big Lake in the Middle
Depends - when I ran a shop, there were minimum charges for certain jobs.
1.5 hours for a LOF - regardless. Now it wasn't full door rate but it's 1.5 hours.
All else, we quoted book time as a general rule. If it was 4 hours and my guy got it done in 2.75 - we charged 2.75. If it took 6 and there wasn't anything major as far as an extenuating circumstance? We charged 4.
My techs were paid by the hour, not the job. That is to say - punch in at 7am, go home at 4pm. Paid your time off the time clock, not the work order.
1.5 hours for a LOF - regardless. Now it wasn't full door rate but it's 1.5 hours.
All else, we quoted book time as a general rule. If it was 4 hours and my guy got it done in 2.75 - we charged 2.75. If it took 6 and there wasn't anything major as far as an extenuating circumstance? We charged 4.
My techs were paid by the hour, not the job. That is to say - punch in at 7am, go home at 4pm. Paid your time off the time clock, not the work order.
Last edited by teal379; Apr 4, 2017 at 12:52 PM.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 4,214
Likes: 661
From: Prior Lake, MN
Flat rate manual- they charge labor hours based on the manual. Probably all a wash in the end. If they charge only for hour actually worked, they'd probably take their time to milk more hours. If it'd taken two hours they'd still probably only charged you for the 1.5. Kinda works both ways, I guess.
Next time ask for estimated charges before you give them your bike- fewer surprises.
Next time ask for estimated charges before you give them your bike- fewer surprises.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: Wayne County, PA
Hahaha I'm just joking. But really I always just think wtf when I see threads like these. Learning about your bike and turning wrenches is almost as fun as riding, almost...
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Georgia
Whether deemed "acceptable" by the masses or not, it's still a matter of being charged for something you're not receiving. A service is no different than tangible goods in that regard.
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Joined: Jun 2014
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From: Tulsa
The tech's expertise is what you paid the extra for.
