Quote:
Originally Posted by rwthomas1
I am guessing it would take me 4-6hrs to change out the LCA bushings on a 123 chassis. I know because I have done mine already.
Being self-employed in a trade it irks me a bit to see someone chipping away at a shop owner that quotes them a price. If you don't like it then do it yourself. I get the same kinda crap from Harry Homeowner when they don't like my labor rates. $500 seems fair to me. What happens when something breaks and the shop spends twice the quoted time on it? Chances are they eat some of it. Ask them if they will do the job straight-time. This may work for you or it may bite you when something breaks and they have 12 hours into it. You pays yo money and takes yo chances....
RT
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What he said, almost exactly.
I am an indie tech and an MB fanatic. Book time is book time, and my quote is exactly what it is. If I quote you $500, that is what you'll pay. I may have to eat it and spend $700 worth of time, you'll still pay $500 because that was my word. Maybe things will go extra smoothly and it would really be $400 worth of time. Well, sorry, you're still getting charged the $500. It's the way it is, not the way you wish it was. I have a strong sense of altruism- I spent 2 hours today checking out a car for a forum member from another state, at no charge, because that's how I do things, but I won't cut the price of the job just because that's what you can afford to pay.
If you think anyone is netting anywhere near $60/hr working on MBs or any other car, you're in for a rude awakening once you finish college. The shop I'm at charges $65/hr.
That has to cover all expenses of the shop. Every nickel of expenditure has to come out of that revenue stream. Every insurance premium, every utility bill, every database subscription, all advertising, EVERYTHING.
By all means, buy tools, do your research, become *proficient* as an MB mechanic, able to handle anything your W123 can throw at you, even make a career out of it and turn pro if you like (that's akin to how I ended up doing this for a living, actually), but don't ever call me dishonest because I know that my skills can earn me more than subsistence-level wages.
It's not true.