"Shop fees"

That’s OK, everyone hates Truckers already. Lol. I personally have the utmost respect for good Mechanics. Always have, always planned on being one myself. Driving just came along much easier, compared to paying for School, $3500 for Mo Tech in 1980, to get certifications. The cost along with the idea of constantly having to learn new computer based technologies, as everything was changing fast, was the main deterrent. Back then, most Dealerships paid less than $7.00 an hr. to start. The old model of making 50-60% of Labor, and a % of the marked up parts prices, working for a Full Service Gas Station, was disappearing quickly. A good honest mechanic was highly respected, by most, and could make a good honest living, especially if he was fast. I worked for a year at one of the last full service gas stations in Detroit, I was 17 yrs old in 1981. The poor old Owner never got rich, just barely survived. The savings he once had from better days, went for medical bills from his wife’s cancer. He taught me everything about doing a proper brake job, let me do small jobs, like water pumps. alternators, belts etc. The old man knew a lot. A wealth of knowledge, that only a few appreciated. I’d get to work on my car at nights, actually did an engine/trans swap, it was great at that age. Having access to all the tools, hoist, extending the boom and using the tow truck, as a cherry picker. His Customers were dying off, like him. He was forced to charge more, just to survive, to support his family and to afford the dying franchise fees. He couldn’t compete with Self Service stations. He ended up running just his Tow Truck after the Gas Station finally fell to changing times, working till he died. I always wanted a full service station like that, small 2 bay shop. I still miss them. They were part of every neighborhood. Mechanics had to be honest, to survive. A few yrs later, a very good friend of mine who had gotten me my driving job at the time, showed up at my house, (summer of 86), offering to sell me his car, for any price I thought was fair. He wanted to avoid giving it away for $200, to a certain fellow in the neighborhood that always seemed to profit from others misfortunes. $100-$200 was plenty, since it needed a transmission. It was a 7 yr old Chrysler Córdoba he’d bought from our Boss’s sister, 56k miles on a 360. Very nice well maintained old lady driven car. He’d paid $600 as is, took it to a new Shop in the neighborhood. A franchised tune up shop, designed to fill the need left by Full Service Gas Stations. Their angle was computerized diagnosis tune ups for $29.95 Lol. Precision Tune was the name. They advertised computerized expertise, Lol. The bill was over $150. For that he got a computer diagnosis, 8 spark plugs cleaned, 1 air filter, 1 pcv valve, 1 rotor, and 1 new spark plug wire, and they set the timing. He went in with a rough idle, and a small miss. Left out with no power, transmission hesitated and wouldn’t shift right, they said he needed a new transmission.Just looking at the invoice made me furious. A complete tune up with all new plugs, cap, rotor, wires, etc. costs less than $40 back then. One trip around the block, I realized the timing was off. I first set both air screws on the carb to 1.5-2.0 turns out for starters, I loosened the distributor, played with it, timing it by ear, making it idle smooth, adjusting the idle a bit. A couple more times around the block, playing with the timing, ran like a top!!! He decided he still never wanted to ever see the car again!! So I bought it for $600, later sold it for $800. There’s good and bad Shops and Mechanics. Some are downright crooks. No doubt about it. They give the whole Industry a bad rap. That holds true for any Industry. Plumbers, Electricians , Roofers, Remodelers. You name it. Heavy Duty Equipment Repair is a tough Job. Mechanics earn every penny. Their knowledge is akin to that of a Doctor. I’ll gladly pay plenty for good work. I also despise to get overcharged for anything, and especially for shoddy work. Particularly despise those who take advantage of the elderly.

 

The shop rate is only $130 a hour?
Most reputable shops now are over $200 a hour.

 

I remember Precision Tune - never went there. Dad showed me how to tune up my old Chevys. Never really enjoyed doing it, but knew how.

 

I’ll pay what ever a shop wants if I need them on the road and even tip (in cash) if worked on quickly without a bunch of texting and snack / nap time.
But I’m disappointed more times than not when getting repairs done in the road. Had a low tire a couple weeks ago while fueling. Not flat but clearly had a different tone while walking the truck while fueling.

shop got me right in and had me aired up and bill paid in an hour. $20 bill to the tech and I was gone.


Sunday I was sticking my tires. No cap on the valve stem and one hole off from being opposite the other stem…….


Wa wa waaaaa.

a few years ago I needed a wheel seal in minot ND. Called a shop the day before. I could see immediately that they clearly didn’t know what they were doing. I tried to help and was told to stay in my truck or outside. Didn’t make it 50 miles and leaking worse than it was before. Replaced it when I got home myself and it lasted at least 200k miles more. No tip but cost me $500 to waste my time.

I have more loses than wins when it comes to shops charging $150 or more in hourly charges. Local KW dealer is $185 (American) an hour plus shop supplies. And sometimes $10 can for wd 40 also.

I’ll pay what ever it cost (don’t even ask) on the road to get repairs done but when it gets serious I’ll just have it towed home to fix it myself.

 

I think the point here is that the shop should say the price is 235 instead of 210 since they'll expect the 235 on the total invoice due not 210.

 

Next job I'll quote $500 high just to be safe. But then I'll probably get some BS line about book times or a thread on here about being a ripoff.

Guy just can't win.

 

It's hard to find a good shop. A very large percentage of them are a joke and then they have the audacity to charge and arm and a leg for lousy service. They're pretty scummy IMO. I've only ran into a handful of decent places over the years and my favorite shop just closed up.

I appreciate a good mechanic and will treat them like gold when they take care of me. Too bad they're practically nonexistent anymore. Too many losers that think a giant box full of overpriced tools makes them good at their job. Meanwhile they don't even know to keep valve stems opposite of each other or how to properly torque down a wheel bearing.

 

Do the work right and I’ll gladly pay double. No questions asked!!

However the rub is… if I’m in shooting distance of home I’ll do it myself.

 

What is so hard to understand. Shops need be upfront about the price of the job.
No point in hiding shop fees. It's def a switch and bait deal.
If it's reasonable state the full price with every shop fee and lunch money if ya want.
Upfront

 

And here endeth the Story....!!!

@Kenworth6969 stop being a perpetual Victim, & move on & start helping yourself instead of being a whiny little...well never mind..