What's with mechanics?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
What's with mechanics?
Maybe this is just a regional thing but....
At some point, the previous owner of my Vette had work done on the tranny. When they put it back, they didn't adjust the linkage correctly, so that when you shift in to second and fourth the stick hits the console. Sometimes, this can cause it to not fully engage in second, and can cause some embarassing grinding when it pops back out.
I just don't have the time right now to do it myself and I need to get it done right away. The problem is, everyone wants $60 to do it. A guy I talked to this weekend said, $65 and double if he has to take the exhaust out. I told him it was a brand new exhaust that was clamped in and not welded. That didn't phase him. Is this that difficult to do that it warrants $60-$120? I just can't see this taking up that much time.
Am I wrong or are they trying to take me for a ride in my Vette?
At some point, the previous owner of my Vette had work done on the tranny. When they put it back, they didn't adjust the linkage correctly, so that when you shift in to second and fourth the stick hits the console. Sometimes, this can cause it to not fully engage in second, and can cause some embarassing grinding when it pops back out.
I just don't have the time right now to do it myself and I need to get it done right away. The problem is, everyone wants $60 to do it. A guy I talked to this weekend said, $65 and double if he has to take the exhaust out. I told him it was a brand new exhaust that was clamped in and not welded. That didn't phase him. Is this that difficult to do that it warrants $60-$120? I just can't see this taking up that much time.
Am I wrong or are they trying to take me for a ride in my Vette?
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Time is $$, I bill out at $100/hr for the stuff I do, move one little cable or move a bunch of equipment around, it all pays the same. Having said that, I agree with you, I wouldn't want to pay for me either, especially if the work is not right
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Not really. You need to figure it like a plumber or electrician's service call. They need a minimum amount to make the job worth-while. It takes time to set it up on the lift, adjust and road test. Put yourself in his position. I think anything around $70 to $90 is fair, more if the exhaust has to come out. 
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
I wouldn't think twice about paying someone $60, or even $120 for a repair like that. I paid a garage $100 to replace the front differential bushing because I was in the midst of moving and didn't have the time. It's a pretty easy job, but eliminating the thud when I shifted was worth way more than that to me. I'd just bite the bullet and get it done.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
Time is $$, I bill out at $100/hr for the stuff I do, move one little cable or move a bunch of equipment around, it all pays the same. Having said that, I agree with you, I wouldn't want to pay for me either, especially if the work is not right
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Pasadena Maryland
That's not really a bad price. It's a real PIA to work on that area without a lift. To do it yourself would be aggrevating. I once had a mechanic put in my ingition switch for $60.00 after I tried to do it myself. Best money I ever spent on the 78.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
Originally Posted by 79MakoL82
Boca's a little higher rent than Pinellas County, FL. Does it take an hour to adjust the linkage or is he charging me book time? It definately would not take an hour to drop the exhaust. It's all brand new including the manifolds. I put it in myself. Up on a lift, it shouldn't add more than 10-15 minutes to the job, but he wants to double the price. I don't mind paying for time, but I want the time a pay for. Book time is more worst case scenario time, and so you end up with a mechanic that makes 16 hours of pay in 8 hours. If you say it REALLY takes and hour to do the job then fine, I'll pony up the cash and be thankful, but if it doesn't take an hour, I don't want to pay for an hour just because a book says.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by 79MakoL82
, I'll pony up the cash and be thankful, but if it doesn't take an hour, I don't want to pay for an hour just because a book says.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Once the exhaust is clamped down, it can be a real bear to remove. The clamps compress both pipes which produces a rib all the way around, and the pipes do not usually come apart unless you use a torch. They go together a lot easier than they come apart. Flanged/gasketed joints are a different story. This is why he put the exhaust into the equation. I would have done the same.
Having said that, now you know why I closed down my own repair/machine shop in 1996. Moved to the sun-belt, found a new profession.... now I can enjoy life more and can pay my bills like everybody else. My fingers are still greasy though.
Having said that, now you know why I closed down my own repair/machine shop in 1996. Moved to the sun-belt, found a new profession.... now I can enjoy life more and can pay my bills like everybody else. My fingers are still greasy though.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 1
From: mesa,az
man has to make a living, there is ALWAYS something that slows a job down. if i wasn't going to do it myself I would think that was a fair price. it is never easy pulling of exhaust and putting it back on.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
OK, OK. I'll pay it. I guess it's just that I had a friend that was a mechanic up north. He used to regularly do 50-60+ hours of quality work in 40. I guess he was a good mechanic.
In my defense though, when you post an hourly rate sign, people just expect that you're charging by the time worked. The issue here is, I'm bringing in a freshly re-built, no rust car, and I'm going to help subsidize the guy who comes in with a rusty piece of crap because he's raising the average time. So, the guy who dosen't take care of his car is getting more value for his money than I.
Oh well. I'll pay the money and
. At least it will be done.
P.S. I meant no disrespect to the mechanics out there.
In my defense though, when you post an hourly rate sign, people just expect that you're charging by the time worked. The issue here is, I'm bringing in a freshly re-built, no rust car, and I'm going to help subsidize the guy who comes in with a rusty piece of crap because he's raising the average time. So, the guy who dosen't take care of his car is getting more value for his money than I.
Oh well. I'll pay the money and
. At least it will be done.P.S. I meant no disrespect to the mechanics out there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 3,268
Likes: 2
From: Minnesota in the summer, Las Vegas in the winter
I maintain seven assorted vehicles. I have learned that, when it comes to cars, you will either make payments or pay the mechanic or, sometimes, both. I try to guess what the mechanic's bill will be and I am always low. Every year I try to do more and more myself. The trick there is not to break anything so you make it more expensive than if you had brought it in originally. One of the benefits of working on my corvettes is that they are not neede for daily transportation. If I get frustrated I can walk away from them for a while.
If he is a pro his price is in line in 2006. Is it fair? That depends on several things. His expenses keep climbing (rent, utilities, insurance, etc.). He is there on demand for his customers and (I assume) guarantees his work.
I would pay the price and learn as much as I could about the job.
If he is a pro his price is in line in 2006. Is it fair? That depends on several things. His expenses keep climbing (rent, utilities, insurance, etc.). He is there on demand for his customers and (I assume) guarantees his work.
I would pay the price and learn as much as I could about the job.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 4
St. Jude Donor '03,'11
Originally Posted by 79MakoL82
. The issue here is, I'm bringing in a freshly re-built, no rust car, and I'm going to help subsidize the guy who comes in with a rusty piece of crap because he's raising the average time. So, the guy who dosen't take care of his car is getting more value for his money than I.
.
.
Thank you.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,663
Likes: 3
From: Palm Harbor FL
Originally Posted by turtlevette
Thank you.
brdd: I just rebuilt the front and rear end and installed the new exhaust. I was going to do this myself, but I am swamped at work and my nephew is coming home from Iraq for a 2 week leave. I wanted to give him and his wife the keys to the Vette to tool around here in Florida while he's here (I know, I know. It's dangerous, but in relation to the danger he puts himself in every day, he deserves it. The car can be fixed or replaced). Anyway, that's why I need to get it done quickly, and I'm not just doing this myself.
I'll go pay the money and consider it a donation to the turtlevette rusty nut repair fund.
And sixfooter, I'm not telling him how to do his job, I just thought $60-$120 was a little high, but clearly, I am wrong. As a banker, I certainly have heard my share of complaints that our fees are too high. You've probably complained once or twice yourself. It's all good.
Last edited by 79MakoL82; Mar 20, 2006 at 04:11 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Originally Posted by 79MakoL82
OK, OK. I'll pay it. I guess it's just that I had a friend that was a mechanic up north. He used to regularly do 50-60+ hours of quality work in 40. I guess he was a good mechanic.
In my defense though, when you post an hourly rate sign, people just expect that you're charging by the time worked. The issue here is, I'm bringing in a freshly re-built, no rust car, and I'm going to help subsidize the guy who comes in with a rusty piece of crap because he's raising the average time. So, the guy who dosen't take care of his car is getting more value for his money than I.
Oh well. I'll pay the money and . At least it will be done.
P.S. I meant no disrespect to the mechanics out there.
In my defense though, when you post an hourly rate sign, people just expect that you're charging by the time worked. The issue here is, I'm bringing in a freshly re-built, no rust car, and I'm going to help subsidize the guy who comes in with a rusty piece of crap because he's raising the average time. So, the guy who dosen't take care of his car is getting more value for his money than I.
Oh well. I'll pay the money and
. At least it will be done.P.S. I meant no disrespect to the mechanics out there.
Last edited by 63mako; Mar 20, 2006 at 05:48 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 4,176
Likes: 7
From: Jennings LA
Originally Posted by 71redskin
i'm a plumber, when i go into a house to do a job a charge a flat rate... if i'm there for 15 min. i have to charge an hours worth...thats not ripping you off, thats bizness
I am a mechanic by trade and can do pumbing and have many times. but when I don't feel like it I pay $70.00 per hour for one, but that is my choice. I could do it myself and save the money. if you want a professional you have to pay their rates
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
79Mako, very cool thing your doing for the nephew, I agree those guys and gals deserve something extra. I was mostly funnin bout the extra charge thing, its more of a Brother In Law fix thing, I fix what he broke before dealing with the original problem. LOL
I complain about payin guys too specially whan I can do it myself, IMO they are almost always too expensive, but thats what they say about me too.
I complain about payin guys too specially whan I can do it myself, IMO they are almost always too expensive, but thats what they say about me too.