Well I thought going to a shop wouldn't be too costly for a small job (requiring air tools which I don't own) - NOPE. 3 local shops are at or above $100/hour. One of them said it was due to the rate increase. RUFKM? A 0.25% increase in interest rates justifies a +/- 25% increase in labor? What planet are these people on? Anybody else seeing this?
LABOR RATES?!?!
- Thread starter 98SF19
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most shops I know of are in the $95-135 / hour range, so you experience sounds about what the going rate is. keep in mind the cost of overhead is stupid high nowadays - building, electricity, equipment, insurance, etc. etc.
Crazyeights
SHO Owner
Something else to consider are the wages for quality mechanics. If you want to keep the good ones that know what they are doing, can trouble shoot, diagnose, and repair and are not parts changers, you have to pay them more per hour. More than likely they can do the repairs in less time than a less qualified tech at a lower rate and in the long run cost you less. Just my opinion.
luigisho
SHO Member
I've seen +- $100/hr around here for years. It will eventually trickle to every corner to pay for labor and all the associated expenses. I used to think it was excessive when it first happened but now I just factor it in as to whether or not I do it myself or find a shadetree guy or pro working on the side to save a few shekels. Just feel good you had a cheaper rate than most of us over a good while now.
stephen newberg
SHO Member
And another vote in on that being the normal. Its been at or above $100 an hour about here for years now, so at this point I suspect we are covering enough territory to just say this is now the standard sort of rates one should expect to get work done by competent licensed auto mechanics. You can get lower by looking about for back yard shop sorts but you also are not going to have any idea what you are getting unless you have a lot of info on the particular shop ahead of time, and even then, its less certain than in a licensed shop.
Times change, and prices with them.
pax, smn
PS: Oh yes, and best to everyone in 2017!
Times change, and prices with them.
pax, smn
PS: Oh yes, and best to everyone in 2017!
sperold
Last to Know
It really depends on how much that $100.00 is a multiple of your own wage. If it is 5 X your rate, then it really hurts. Especially when you remember you don't get to keep all the hourly wage you earn.
When todays reality hits me, I usually price the tools I will need to do the job myself, to see if I can make it work financially. I have ended up with a lot of tools, some of which are really odd, and were only used once.
Usually, you can get a fixed price on the labour from the rate books that are available, and that helps take the sting out of the price (sometimes).
When todays reality hits me, I usually price the tools I will need to do the job myself, to see if I can make it work financially. I have ended up with a lot of tools, some of which are really odd, and were only used once.
Usually, you can get a fixed price on the labour from the rate books that are available, and that helps take the sting out of the price (sometimes).
Thanks for all the input
Times do change, and as much as we might like to fantasize about labor rates coming down as a result of a top-down *easing up* on what businesses have to pay to stay open, I think it's fair to say that with this industry, it'll be money in the business-owner's pocket, not the customers', and maybe not even the employees'! EG: the removal or rescinding of a regulation or tax which allows a shop to lower labor by $10/hour might result in a $2 or 3/hour rate reduction. It's not about just keeping your doors open anymore, it's about raking it in and taking advantage of opportunities. The old-school salties from a by-gone era seem to be the best bet nowadays, but not even they are immune to the temptation to raise rates when everybody else in town has. When they're gone, my kids and nieces and nephews will be at the mercy of mechanics who have grown up being indoctrinated by a get-rich-quick culture bereft of the reward of honest work. I think it's incumbent on us to educate the next generation on the value of self-sufficiency in this area, and perhaps try to remove the stigma that is attached to the choice of a career in automotive repair.
I thought about this even earlier today while waiting for work to be done. I found a shop whose labor was under $90, but somehow they booked the job a bit longer than the previous shop and after charging me a can of brake parts cleaner to clean oil off of timing cover, sub frame, and other accessible oily parts, price came out to about the same as the one this morning . . . anyway . . .
Times do change, and as much as we might like to fantasize about labor rates coming down as a result of a top-down *easing up* on what businesses have to pay to stay open, I think it's fair to say that with this industry, it'll be money in the business-owner's pocket, not the customers', and maybe not even the employees'! EG: the removal or rescinding of a regulation or tax which allows a shop to lower labor by $10/hour might result in a $2 or 3/hour rate reduction. It's not about just keeping your doors open anymore, it's about raking it in and taking advantage of opportunities. The old-school salties from a by-gone era seem to be the best bet nowadays, but not even they are immune to the temptation to raise rates when everybody else in town has. When they're gone, my kids and nieces and nephews will be at the mercy of mechanics who have grown up being indoctrinated by a get-rich-quick culture bereft of the reward of honest work. I think it's incumbent on us to educate the next generation on the value of self-sufficiency in this area, and perhaps try to remove the stigma that is attached to the choice of a career in automotive repair.
After learning that my neighbor did NOT in fact have air tools, I'd thought of investing in a decent compressor and impact wrench, but I don't currently have the $$ for this (less so now LOL), and I'd have no room to store it. As much as I'd like to continue the learning process of auto repair (a direct result of owning a SHO), my need to have the work done sooner than later took priority.
The battery driven impact wrenches have gotten pretty good, can probably take on anything except a crankshaft damper bolt.
Besides, being in Florida very few bolts should require an impact wrench . . .
Besides, being in Florida very few bolts should require an impact wrench . . .
sperold
Last to Know
I have found most of the things that give me trouble are not accessible if using an impact driver, either pneumatic or electric.
If you are in familiar territory (not moved in awhile), you can draw on people who buck the trends of the time. I once had a car painted at a small, used car lot that did their own work, with good results. Same with changing a steering rack.
The guys who buy at the auction, then repair them to sell, learn a lot of good methods in repair, and usually have good diagnostic abilities, as they pay a heavy price when they are wrong. Unlike a mechanic, or his apprentice on salary.
And yes, the guy with the lowest labor rate is not always the lowest price when the job is done. When I get something done on a fixed price job, I ask for the number to put on the cheque, with all the taxes and sundries in; if you don't, then every job is a cost plus affair.
If you are in familiar territory (not moved in awhile), you can draw on people who buck the trends of the time. I once had a car painted at a small, used car lot that did their own work, with good results. Same with changing a steering rack.
The guys who buy at the auction, then repair them to sell, learn a lot of good methods in repair, and usually have good diagnostic abilities, as they pay a heavy price when they are wrong. Unlike a mechanic, or his apprentice on salary.
And yes, the guy with the lowest labor rate is not always the lowest price when the job is done. When I get something done on a fixed price job, I ask for the number to put on the cheque, with all the taxes and sundries in; if you don't, then every job is a cost plus affair.
Seems like I should change subject to "Vaseline or KY"
I had a **** of a time getting the AC compressor shim out without an impact wrench a couple years ago, and of course there's always those hurried moments where you get car up on stands before realizing you forgot to break the lugs loose.
Did you already know that was the job in question?
I had a **** of a time getting the AC compressor shim out without an impact wrench a couple years ago, and of course there's always those hurried moments where you get car up on stands before realizing you forgot to break the lugs loose.Similar threads
