Opinions on actual labor vs. charged labor for a service at a shop.

[TheDerb]

I'd like to get some opinions here-
I had something done at a shop, and the shop up-sold me to bring my truck back a different day and get some parts put on that I was going to need anyways.

They invoiced me for 6 hours of labor.
I dropped the truck off, and 3 hours later they messaged me and said it was done.

I already agreed to pay the invoice. Yes, they are doing me a service, because I was unwilling to do this myself.

I have 2 possible reactions here, and I'm suspending my judgement until I read the opinions of you fine folks.

Should I be a little miffed to be donating 3 hours to them, or is this just common practice and if I don't like it I can go to the next place, which will do the same damn thing?

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[PW45]

2 guys working on it

 

[TheDerb]

2 guys working on it

OHHHHHH good point.

 

[GoolsbyMD77]

That’s typical in a lot of work that I’m in as well. Some jobs have a set number of hours I get paid. If it’s a 10 hour job and I finish it in 7 I still get the 10 hours. Your paying for the skill in some aspects.

 

[bleda2002]

That’s typical in a lot of work that I’m in as well. Some jobs have a set number of hours I get paid. If it’s a 10 hour job and I finish it in 7 I still get the 10 hours. Your paying for the skill in some aspects.

This...although most likely it was 2 guys working on it if they finished in half the quoted time.

 

[Minty JL]

That’s typical in a lot of work that I’m in as well. Some jobs have a set number of hours I get paid. If it’s a 10 hour job and I finish it in 7 I still get the 10 hours. Your paying for the skill in some aspects.

Yes, working on a Flat rate schedule/pay scale.

Flat rate is great for techs that know what their doing. Just remember for every job the make time on, they have others they lose time on.

 

[Green_Gladiator]

Should I be a little miffed to be donating 3 hours to them, or is this just common practice and if I don't like it I can go to the next place, which will do the same damn thing?

I feel your frustration. I have been in this scenario myself as a contractor. And my reply for all to consider is ... If the job takes longer than expected would it be ok to ask for more money then originally proposed for the same agreed upon project ? Most likely the answer is NO.

Its a double edge sword my friend ... win some lose some ... National average flat rate price is usually a win for professionals, with a little buffer built in for those less experienced. I have won and lost with hopes of at least breaking even in the end without losing my sanity.

 

[cranbiz]

Book rate.

Like others said, you probably had 2 techs working on it or one good tech that knows how to do the job faster than the allotted time. I know a couple of good mechanics and both of them can beat book 99% of the time and still not cut quality.

Remember that if you were a come back because of poor workmanship, that tech and the shop eats the labor.

 

[Stetson]

Another way to look at it is if you agreed to the original price (parts and labor) and you felt like it was a fair deal, then you can be happy with just paying what you originally agreed to.

The other way to pay is parts plus however long it takes. That could be a riskier approach if the tech is slow.

Either way, if the work is done and you feel like the original quote was fair for the work being completed then I would be happy.

My 2 cents.

Stetson

 

[Caspien]

Honestly, without knowing their rate, I'd be more upset at the fact that the techs, likely, are only getting paid for their actual time, and the shop is charging you for the current hourly rate.

Example: one of my local dealerships charges $175/hr, and pays the techs $65/hr. If they do a 4 hour job, in 2 hours, they get $130.. and the dealership gets $700.

Even if I WANTED to give them the work, there really is no financial way I justify it, when the rate is already sky high and the techs aren't even getting a pittance of it.

I guess the upside, is that I'm learning to do a lot more stuff, myself, this way.



~ Casp

 

[drewcnit]

As others have mentioned it's a flat rate/book rate thing. I used to get upset but now days I just look at it as yay I got it early, which is always preferable to the oh crap it's going to take another day...

 

[ShadowsPapa]

I've worked in shops- and it could be either two people working on it or flat rate or a combination.
I had a broken body bolt removed. I was told it would likely take a couple of hours - instead it turned major and took a good half day. Seeing what they did and how, there's no way in #!$% 1 guy did it.
The service advisor felt bad about the number of man-hours taken and cut the bill down ..... but...... hey, if it took that it took that and I wasn't going to fight it. (it was my bad anyway)

But I can see it being flat rate - and/or two people, or a combination.

 

[JarHeadLV]

Honestly, without knowing their rate, I'd be more upset at the fact that the techs, likely, are only getting paid for their actual time, and the shop is charging you for the current hourly rate.

Example: one of my local dealerships charges $175/hr, and pays the techs $65/hr. If they do a 4 hour job, in 2 hours, they get $130.. and the dealership gets $700.

Even if I WANTED to give them the work, there really is no financial way I justify it, when the rate is already sky high and the techs aren't even getting a pittance of it.

I guess the upside, is that I'm learning to do a lot more stuff, myself, this way.



~ Casp

This IS WHY I never go to my local dealership unless oil change, etc... that's covered. They charge ridiculous prices to do anything. And they wonder when I stop by and ask why I didnt have them do my upgrades - told them point blank, "I'm all for capitalism, but when you're clearly overcharging me and putting excessive money in your pockets it's a big no go for me."

My local Jeep offroad shop guys in Las Vegas are honest, they only charge me for what they do on my JT. I'm "there" at their shop when they are doing stuff, they never "round up" - last time I was there the job took 1.5 hrs, they charged me for 1.5 hrs. I gotta say I'm pretty happy with them.

I always discuss the work being done and cost before they (or anyone) touches anything of mine. Just easier to have everything known upfront.

 

[SPED1]

I ask you this; What is your job? How long have you worked at it? Do you find that having done said job for any length of time you complete it quicker? Welcome to flat rate! You are paying for the experience not the time. The fleet shop I work at has Ford Econoline vans. The 4 ball joints are listed in Mitchel for 3.8 hours. One of my techs can bang all 4 out in 45 minutes. Another in 33 minutes! They were comparing manhood at the time lol! Now we are an hourly shop but billed each van 3.8 hours for the job. On the other hand we just had a transmission range sensor job that should be done in an hour take a week because a bolt broke removing the valve body...... After 12 years working on the same vehicles day in day out I hardly have to look up parts to hand out. I know the part #s locations or enough of the part # to grab what the tech needs as they ask for it. My counterpart has to look everything up and is slow because he has not done this as long. For training he looks it up while I throw the tech the parts he needs to keep working.

 

[Bbannongmu]

I'd like to get some opinions here-
I had something done at a shop, and the shop up-sold me to bring my truck back a different day and get some parts put on that I was going to need anyways.

They invoiced me for 6 hours of labor.
I dropped the truck off, and 3 hours later they messaged me and said it was done.

I already agreed to pay the invoice. Yes, they are doing me a service, because I was unwilling to do this myself.

I have 2 possible reactions here, and I'm suspending my judgement until I read the opinions of you fine folks.

Should I be a little miffed to be donating 3 hours to them, or is this just common practice and if I don't like it I can go to the next place, which will do the same damn thing?

My $0.02 - keep the change
If they put 2 guys on this to get the work done faster - great! I want my toys back as fast as possible.
Time is a stupid metric for the customer - all you care about is results. As long as you are satisfied with the results and the price - you are fine. Also, I try to think of my relationship with my shop as just that - a relationship. I don’t want to beat them up over minor things as long as they are being fair and reasonable because I know a day will come when they’ll eat some extra time or cost or go the extra mile for me - basically golden rule… it has never failed me.

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