Shop Labor - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

aklim · #16 01-11-2005, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fishslayer

What kills me is the price of the shocks not the labor!! they are nothing special. I also came out of the Army in '81 as a spec 4 (67N) aircraft mechanic also. And went to work at the very dealer Alkim bought his car from and believe me it was more than $15 an hour back then. I bit my tongue for 5 years before I couldn't take the constant "sell more than what they came in for" pitch. It came to an end as I threw a tri-star shop stool through the service writers window, with a customer in the office, I was immediately shown the door. I have since worked for a few indy's and currently run a successful remodeling biz, I do on occasion get the urge to go back to wrenching, I just picture that service writers face and get over it

You talking about the Westmont IL dealership or the Zimbrick European one?

Westmont was funny one. They changed my shutoff valve but didn't change the O-ring or the hoses going to it. Guess what, it leaked like a sieve. They had to change all the hoses, I made sure of it and the O-ring and the shutoff valve.

Fishslayer · #17 01-11-2005, 10:45 PM

yup, Laurel. I tried running my own shop in Glen Ellyn)for three years and went back to my second love---- making sawdust and bending nails

aklim · #18 01-11-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tirebiter

Our shop labor rate is $100/hour for most jobs. I get half. Time for front shocks is one hour. One and half hours for rear shocks. This includes any rusted or broken parts. Sometimes you get the bear, sometimes the bear gets you. It all works out. We use warranty times for a standard where most shops charge double warranty time for customer pay.

Interesting, never heard of a tech making half of what the shop makes.

Fishslayer · #19 01-11-2005, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Interesting, never heard of a tech making half of what the shop makes.

Not unussual for a slow shop. I always ran my place 30/10, labor/parts. I think it worked out fair, it gave the mechanic an incentive(however small) to sell parts with the service

FarmerDrew · #20 01-20-2005, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aklim

Me, I can't see buying a tool to do a DIY if I don't have use for it. Why would I buy a spring compressor if I have only needed one 2 times in the last 10 years. Now, if it is a common tool that has many applications, sure, I'll get it. Once in a lifetime use, no. I'll need to build a shed to store all the unused tools.

I like the idea of buying new tools and having to build a shop for them. Its a win-win both ways!

aklim · #21 01-21-2005, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FarmerDrew

I like the idea of buying new tools and having to build a shop for them. Its a win-win both ways!

In my area, we have a covenent which tells us what we can have and cannot have. I already have a shed and it is full. If I built another one, the neighbours will want to know why. Once they do, they will be over to my place to either borrow tools or ask me to help with their demon projects.