What's your local dealership's hourly rate?

[Rahkmalla]

I feel like I had only just mentally adjusted to $150/hr. Then i called asking about pricing for differential fluid changes because Jeep decided to ditch the differential drain only to be told that a differential fluid change is in the book at 1.0 hours for each diff and their labor rate is 210/hr. Guy tried to pass it off as the "industry standard" to which i replied "you'd use the exact same words if you told me $300" and said i'd do the fluids myself and save the $420+tax and fees thank you.

But it got me thinking, what is the dealership "industry standard" these days? ( i know normal shop rates vary by region, but my experience dealerships follow regional trends less so)

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[Labswine]

Last time I was in my stealership, they were charging $180/hr. That was last year when I had to have my door seal replaced.

 

[PsyRN]

whatever it is, it's too much given the level of skill and knowledge at my local dealership.

 

[Hootbro]

$180/hr is about standard around me. I would imagine as you get to more larger metro areas like NYC and the like, rate is going to be higher because of their higher tax and other costs.

Of course it is always cheaper to do it yourself. They cannot compete with your no overhead costs.

 

[CrazyCooter]

The last time I inquired:
Jeep/Chrysler $200hr last year
GMC/Cadillac $225hr last year
Ford $187hr 2 years ago
My Own Shop $190.34hr

This is in CA where things cost more than at least 45 other states. Rent increased 10% last year and most certainly will this year. 3 approved utility increases in the past 8 months. If my shop insurance triples at renewal like my home insurance did earlier this year, you can count on another rate increase to cover it.

I think it's crazy where we are, but the costs of doing business just keep increasing. Trust me.....NOBODY is getting rich by passing off the costs! If I got to keep $190hr, I'd would have been retired years ago.......

 

[outdoor.adventures]

"you'd use the exact same words if you told me $300"

it's so easy to call dealers out on their BS and I'm still impressed with this comeback

 

[Silverator]

$190 to $200 here. $190 for the local 4x4 shop and $200 for the dealer. Getting pretty dam expensive. And honestly, the dealerships work is only so so. The local 4x4 shop is good, but you still need to keep an eye open....

 

[Banned]

 

[LostWoods]

If they're charging 1.0 per for a diff fluid change they had better be pulling the cover for a visual. We charged 0.6 years ago for a D&F and while the rate has gone up, I don't think tech skill has fallen off that hard. If it comes in hot you can do both in 15 minutes on a lift.

Either way we float around $200 at most dealerships around here... makes me glad it was a prior career and I can do it all myself.

 

[Jefe1018]

Too damn high.

 

[yoda13]

$235 in Houston.

 

[Maximus Gladius]

You all US’ns just need to travel north to Canada. Your $180-200 US equals $250 -275 cad. Are you freaking kidding me ?!

I’ll tell you right now we ain’t paying $250-275/hour up here.
My dealership charges $180cad/hour! Just looked it up. Thats $131US/hour right now.

 

[Scott0700]

Friend of mine had service bays about 20 years ago. When his rate was $50/hour everyone questioned it. When he raised it to $58.76/hr no one questioned it. He said the psychology was that $50 is a random number, but $58.76 must have involved a lot of calculation.

 

[CrazyCooter]

If they're charging 1.0 per for a diff fluid change they had better be pulling the cover for a visual. We charged 0.6 years ago for a D&F and while the rate has gone up, I don't think tech skill has fallen off that hard. If it comes in hot you can do both in 15 minutes on a lift.

Either way we float around $200 at most dealerships around here... makes me glad it was a prior career and I can do it all myself.

Exactly!

My estimator shows .5 per. I would get the .5 for one, but probably do .8 for both at the same time just to be more fair since it's already on the rack? Even then it's still works out to A LOT of money for a low skill job!

 

[Rahkmalla]

Exactly!

My estimator shows .5 per. I would get the .5 for one, but probably do .8 for both at the same time just to be more fair since it's already on the rack? Even then it's still works out to A LOT of money for a low skill job!

back when i was a low skill wrench monkey, they paid/charged .3 for an oil change. draining and refilling the transmission on these is even easier as there's no filter to change and it's all done from under the car instead of under/over like an oil change. Dealer says the book for a trans fluid change is 1.0. Insane.

Honestly, i really only wanted the dealership to do the diffs because mine doesn't have the drain plugs (something jeep changed in 2022, and from what i've heard later 2021s as well) but i figured 'how much more expensive can an easy job be? Well, the answer is $630 is labor for trans and both diffs, plus marked up fluids.

That's what prompted this whole thing.

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