Is this normal? Dealership experience
#21
05-16-2019, 10:19 AM
Ultimate HDF Member
Yeah...mechanics should spend their days diagnosing other people's problems for free. Try that at a doctor's office and see how far you get. If you think the labor rate is too high you're also free to not do business with them. As a mechanic, this entitlement mentality really pisses me off. If you cant afford to pay a professional and are unable to fix it yourself I guess the next move is sell the bike
You couldn't diagnose it yourself but you know when someone else does it took them too long?
You couldn't diagnose it yourself but you know when someone else does it took them too long?
Flying is your hobby; aviation electronics is my business. Don't try to make your hobby, mine.
#22
05-16-2019, 10:20 AM
I’m a Flat Rate Ford Tech, and we have a minimum 1 hour diag fee of 95.00 for gas, diesel is a bit more
Our Labor rate is 165/hr
As a flat rate tech all I have to sell is my time, I do not get paid for just being at work
Theoretically I could go to work and not make a dime
Just to see my doctor cost me 100.00 and that’s before she even says hello, what’s the problem
Our Labor rate is 165/hr
As a flat rate tech all I have to sell is my time, I do not get paid for just being at work
Theoretically I could go to work and not make a dime
Just to see my doctor cost me 100.00 and that’s before she even says hello, what’s the problem
Last edited by Malazan; 05-16-2019 at 10:24 AM.
#23
05-16-2019, 10:45 AM
Mechanic shops generally charge by book hour not clock hour.
A diagnostic fee is generally disclosed prior to work initiation.
Was actual charge or minimum time to be charged not disclosed prior to work start?
Reason: many customers are offended when they are charged 2 hours labor and the job took 1 hour but again the industry charges by book hour.
Book hour is a way to balance system, if not a mechanic with no experience could take three times longer and customer would then pay more for inexperience.
A diagnostic fee is generally disclosed prior to work initiation.
Was actual charge or minimum time to be charged not disclosed prior to work start?
Reason: many customers are offended when they are charged 2 hours labor and the job took 1 hour but again the industry charges by book hour.
Book hour is a way to balance system, if not a mechanic with no experience could take three times longer and customer would then pay more for inexperience.
#24
05-16-2019, 10:49 AM
I’m a Flat Rate Ford Tech, and we have a minimum 1 hour diag fee of 95.00 for gas, diesel is a bit more
Our Labor rate is 165/hr
As a flat rate tech all I have to sell is my time, I do not get paid for just being at work
Theoretically I could go to work and not make a dime
Just to see my doctor cost me 100.00 and that’s before she even says hello, what’s the problem
Our Labor rate is 165/hr
As a flat rate tech all I have to sell is my time, I do not get paid for just being at work
Theoretically I could go to work and not make a dime
Just to see my doctor cost me 100.00 and that’s before she even says hello, what’s the problem
#25
05-16-2019, 10:58 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Didn't used to be. The almighty corporation dealers are forgetting how to promote goodwill among their loyal customers.
Mom & Pop dealers knew that you would come back to get it fixed, and return the next time they needed you, because they were treated well. After the bike is sold, you cease to be a provider, and become a service.
There is something fundamentally wrong with charging $121, just to leave with the same problem you came in with.
Mom & Pop dealers knew that you would come back to get it fixed, and return the next time they needed you, because they were treated well. After the bike is sold, you cease to be a provider, and become a service.
There is something fundamentally wrong with charging $121, just to leave with the same problem you came in with.
Times have changed. You pay for ALL service, including diagnosis. And that's how it should be.
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#26
05-16-2019, 11:07 AM
Road Master
#27
05-16-2019, 11:10 AM
Kind of reminds me of the old story of a boilermaker who was hired to fix a big steamship boiler system that was malfunctioning.
The boilermaker listened to the engineer’s description of the problems and asked a few questions, and then he went down to the boiler room. He looked at the large maze of twisting pipes and valves, and listened to the thump of the boiler and the hiss of the steam for several minutes, and felt some of the pipes with his hands. As he whistled softly to himself, he reached into his toolbox and took out a hammer, and tapped a red valve one time. Immediately, the boiler began working perfectly, and the boilermaker returned his hammer to the toolbox, and went home.
When the steamship owner received the boilermaker's bill for $1000, he was outraged, and immediately called the boilermaker and demanded an itemized bill. The boilermaker sent the following itemized bill:
Tapping the valve: $1.00
Knowing where to tap the valve: $999.00
TOTAL: $1,000.00
The boilermaker listened to the engineer’s description of the problems and asked a few questions, and then he went down to the boiler room. He looked at the large maze of twisting pipes and valves, and listened to the thump of the boiler and the hiss of the steam for several minutes, and felt some of the pipes with his hands. As he whistled softly to himself, he reached into his toolbox and took out a hammer, and tapped a red valve one time. Immediately, the boiler began working perfectly, and the boilermaker returned his hammer to the toolbox, and went home.
When the steamship owner received the boilermaker's bill for $1000, he was outraged, and immediately called the boilermaker and demanded an itemized bill. The boilermaker sent the following itemized bill:
Tapping the valve: $1.00
Knowing where to tap the valve: $999.00
TOTAL: $1,000.00
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#28
05-16-2019, 11:27 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
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#29
05-16-2019, 11:35 AM
Exactly. I diagnose it for free, said jerk buys parts at Auto Zone and has his hack brother-in-law do it in the driveway for a pizza and a few beers. No thanks.
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#30
05-16-2019, 11:48 AM
Do you work for free? I sure as hell don't!
When I had my shop, I charged for diagnosing problems, my customers didn't bitch about it because they knew that diagnosing a problem takes time and time is money.
Guys like you come into a shop and expect people to give you their time for free.
When more guys like you started showing up I decided to sell my successful shop and do something else.
When I had my shop, I charged for diagnosing problems, my customers didn't bitch about it because they knew that diagnosing a problem takes time and time is money.
Guys like you come into a shop and expect people to give you their time for free.
When more guys like you started showing up I decided to sell my successful shop and do something else.
OP,
Get handy or get used to paying to have things fixed; everything costs a lot these days. Think of it this way; you're not only paying someone for the amount of time they spent on your bike, you're paying them for the amount of time it took to learn how to do it. Just like a doctor, lawyer, HVAC person or anyone else who has to embark upon a rigorous course of study or go to the school of hard knocks.
The way things are going in this society, I'm hoping to live long enough to see the day guys pay somebody to bang their wives
Last edited by Campy Roadie; 05-16-2019 at 11:57 AM.