diesel mechanics

Ok, look, just because the guy worked on the truck for exactly 10min doesn't mean that is all you get charged. This is how it works... Your truck is outside, tech gets workorder and punches on the job, now goes and see what bay is available and gets his coat, goes out and gets your truck, brings it inside, easy 10 mins right there. Whatever the repair time is, you will also pay for the tech to clean and put his tools away, that is only fair, the tools were ready to go at the start of your job, not fair to make the next guy pay for that. Every dealer tech must write a detailed report of the work done, there is another few minutes, plus the tech probably had time looking into stock of a remain drier. All this takes time. Not to mention that if you came in and the job was started during a regular scheduled break. Sorry, but you do pay for the techs break time, that is everywhere and an industrial standard. This shop is probably $100 per hour. So $60 is about 1/2 hour with taxes and what-not. Sorry to say, $60 is peanuts and if you have a problem with that you're really going to have a problem almost anywhere you go!

 

I brought the truck in no time there, look up a drier he didn't service desk did if this takes more than a minute you must be a meat-head. Tools cleaned from what the few fittings he turned how long does it take to clean 3 wrenched again if this takes more than a minute you are a meat-head. By-pass all they had to do was pull one fitting off drier put it in the check valve and re- hook the line 5 min most I watched the guy do it. I pulled truck out of the shop. I was in and out payed bill all in 20 min and I did half the work you can try to justify this all you want but when I told them where to look pulled truck in and out they even had a open bay so no need to make room. I mean really I know how it works Cleaning tools ect he was not in grease,and had 3 wrenches seriously this was a rip off. Period. Had he drop my pup pulled truck in and out got his tools greasy or even muddy but nun of this is true in this case. This is a case of I didn't put my tools back in my truck and got screwed. Happens everyday all over. Why is it so hard for you to believe ?? Heavyd you may not pull this but other shops do. That's a fact.

 

Our version is a little different, it goes like this: Tech gets handed repair order, checks bay space, directs driver to door #14, don't need no dam coat, opens door and pulls truck in, clocks on repair order, checks and repairs truck, clocks off repair order, writes his story, picks up his tools and puts them away on own time, lets driver out, don't get no dam breaks, flat rate pay, no we are no premadonnas!

 

Sounds like most of the shops I worked at bender. Then always had do job on book rate too, rusted bolts who cares there goes your rate no raise this yr. I'm making meager wage shop is making 70 plus an hr off my labor customer is getting ripped off the owner is making big bucks. the free market

 

My day started I clocked in on WO got a bay, found truck, inspected it for oil level, coolant level, fan belts, Fan hub, alt belts and mounting, exhaust leaks and broken bolts, twist the steering and inspect linkage. reach in and check transmission is in neutral, start truck and look for any problems, flat tires, loose rims, broken springs, damaged brake components, especially if I am going to do a road test, or damage not on the WO. Do a walk around the truck noting any damage. If damage is found or if the interior is full of grease or damaged, note that and take that report to the service writer. Then wash truck area that I was working on, diagnosed problem and figured repair, told customer and also service writer. If I was going to go on a road test I checked the truck from the bottom from the front to the back. About 10% I check over I will not take on the road, bob-tailing let alone loaded.
The service writer had to be told because the driver may not be the owner and even if he is he would demand the Cadillac in the shop but when he was paying the bill he swears he wanted the cheapest way posible. The WO may need to be modified. Once the repair is OK'd then I clock off the first condition and onto the second order the parts, and be sure parts has them, dismantle the truck, get the parts, assemble the unit and test it. Wash the truck area I worked on. Take my soap spray bottle, and park the truck, clean the interior, remove the seat cover and floor mat, write report, give key and WO to the service writer, clean the bay, punch onto new WO and off his.
The reason I did all this is because truck owners will lie, and swear the truck was perfect. I have had trucks come in one there was no oil on the dip stick, no oil in the jockey box, got WO modified to add oil got 4 liter jug and funnel, added it, still nothing, walk to parts get 4 more, still nothing, I added 19 quarts to bring it to the full mark.
I have had a truck come in with no coolant so I got a little bucket and a drained some out to see what he had and if it needed antifreeze. I added 5 jugs of antifreeze and 3 water. When the customer was asked about it he said he shock it and heard it slosh around. I am half deaf but I have never been able to slosh the coolant around.
Both these driver wanted a long road test done to check a problem out, and were upset when the oil, and coolant was added.
All it takes is one, and everyone pays extra after that!

 

tthen worse yet guy you work with makes 3 bucks an hr more cause he is buddy-buddy with the owner and you gotta fix his stuff that comes back all the time while your repairs do not come back and you don't get a raise because your rates are low because the owners buddy used up all the job time not fixing the machine. I worked at a Polaris dealer and this happened to me I hate dealers/owners. there all about the same I've found.

 

Some shops are run very efficient which benefits the bottom line to the customer and some are more forgiving to the people who work there.

 

Your probably right bender. If you can find a good shop or just even a good mechanic now days your lucky and reasonable rates too. Lot of parts changers out there claiming to be a mechanic.

 

It's always been that way and I suspect always will be. Some people are consumers and readily use shops for every need and some that have the skills can't ever justify labor. The dealer shops best customer is warranty and that's what sets the rate and the cash customer gets caught up in that trap.

 

Ok, man, I can't speak for the other shop. I was just trying to explain how it is possible. If you were right there and watched everything and the guy was only on it for that short of a time I hope they explained why the bill was that high. I certainly agree with you that something isn't right. Does it say how much labour in time they charged? Some shops do have minimums, which is what kinda sounds like. What is their labour rate? How much did they charge you for the fitting? Some shops also charge outrageous extras like "shop supplies" and what not. Did you try to call or go back to talk about your bill?

This thread has turned into a mechanic and dealership bashing topic which I take offense to. I am not here to make enemies. I find myself defending the actions of others sometimes when I have no business doing so and siding with other dealers when I shouldn't be. Your story initially just struck a nerve with me and I jumped to conclusions, so I apologize. I take pride in doing what I do, and I try to be up front and honest with customers. Rarely do I see any benefit in going the with cheap and quick fix route, I like to do the job right and do it once. Dealers aren't cheap, we have a lot of overhead to cover. A lot of dealers are over managed and mis-managed, I will agree to that. I will be the first to admit, if you need something simple and quick then maybe a dealer isn't the best place. In your case I would have liked to have just fixed your problem right off the bat instead of the patch fix. Cheap or temporary fixes just really annoy me, but I have no problem with someone who wants to actually fix their own truck. I do see your point and it sounds like you have a valid complaint. Just realize that just because the dealers have the same name on the building out front doesn't mean they are all the same on the inside. There are good shops out there too!