F105 wrote: Well maybe not - but I do hear occasionally that this place or that place went out of business because their prices were too high. It does happen.
A gas station that is 20% higher than the rest will go out of business but a shop that I might use every 3-4 years will still get my business IF they do great work and are 20% higher than others.
Good access to drop the RV off and for it to be safe while there is a value that I will pay extra to receive vs. when it is left on the side of the street. The best shops locally do not have the lowest hourly price but the work may still cost less. Straight hourly billing was $64 per hour. Even then if they the guy doing the work clearly makes some bad choices on how to do the job the shop has reduced the billable hours in my favor.
Well of course there are many other factors that come into play here, but my point is (and once again I know there are variables here)one of the things people do, especially in todays economy, is to compare prices for similar services and/or products. With price sometime being the sole detedmining factor, then why should a shop or any business raise their prices/rates simply because their competion raises theirs?
It seems to me that if a shop is doing quality work and has a good repuation, then that shop would get more business than a similar shop(s) with higher prices/rates.
As I stated before, I admire the small business owner for having the courage to give up a steady income to strike out on his/her own.
I say that because I was a federal employee for almost all of my working life and never worried about where my next paycheck was coming from.
weasel4 wrote: These mechanics have a pretty high opinion of their worth. Our shop rates are around $110. here is Alberta, one mechanic is advertising his services for $60./ hour out of shop. They must think they are plumbers.
I've never seen an RV place for $60 an hour in my area of Alberta (near Calgary), most are as you say, $110-$115 an hour. Mobile guys are the same, but at least they come to you. If you don't need a major repair, that's who I prefer to use.
Mike & Melynda joined by rugrats Alexandra, Zoe, and Georgia
2010 Yukon XL 3/4 ton V8
2011 North Trail 32QBSS, Reese Dual Cam Our trailer and camping pics
Hi, the last place that I visited had a sign saying $120.00 per hour shop labor. I have always said that the price doesn't matter very much if the job is done right. And the price was never cheap enough for a bad job.
Bob
2005 Airstream Safari 25-B
2000 Lincoln Navigator
Equal-i-zer
Yamaha 2400
Complaining of shop labor rates being too high but doing good work, should be replaced by going to the local bar and finding that guy that says he will repair your trailer for $10.00 per hour, or less, if you can bargain him down and then leave your equipment with him. His name is usually Norm or Cliff. Maybe you could just leave the trailer on the street in front of the bar. All work should be completed one hour before you thought of dropping it off and of course be covered by a full warranty and they will have it washed and polished when you want it back. Actually, maybe they should buy you a beer and sandwich while you wait. It shouldn't take over an hour. Seems only fair. People should be in business to help people, never to make a profit. What a silly system.
Bob Landry wrote: I'm the sole-proprietor of a marine air conditioning business and I recently raised my labor rate to $95 after being told by other marine mechanics that for a specialized field, I was too low.
This kind of thing is something I have never understood. If your rate was enabling you to stay in business and make a profit, then what more could you expect?
I am not a business owner, but I have seen this before around here. And also I respect a person who starts his/her own business - that is the backbone of America.
What happened to the competion factor?
Don't misunderstand what I am saying here, but I can see a business owner lowering his shop rates/prices if and when his competors (sp) do it, but going the other way just because his competiondoes it is something I don't understand. Doesn't this border on a form of Price fixing that large corportations are not suppose to do.
FLAME AWAY!
Only reason I can think of to go into business is to make money. If people are willing to pay why should you leave any money on the table? We have enough welfare already..Not many businesses go under because they charged too much..
B.O.
And everyone wonders what’s wrong with our country any more!!! And how did we get here???
Love my mass produced, entry level, built by Lazy American Workers, Hornet
Bob Landry wrote: I'm the sole-proprietor of a marine air conditioning business and I recently raised my labor rate to $95 after being told by other marine mechanics that for a specialized field, I was too low.
This kind of thing is something I have never understood. If your rate was enabling you to stay in business and make a profit, then what more could you expect?
I am not a business owner, but I have seen this before around here. And also I respect a person who starts his/her own business - that is the backbone of America.
What happened to the competion factor?
Don't misunderstand what I am saying here, but I can see a business owner lowering his shop rates/prices if and when his competors (sp) do it, but going the other way just because his competiondoes it is something I don't understand. Doesn't this border on a form of Price fixing that large corportations are not suppose to do.
FLAME AWAY!
First... The competition factor is alive and well. I don't have any. I'm the only servicing Dometic Marine dealer within a 100 mile radius of where I'm located. So by that, I should be priced far above the dealerships and boat yards. I am not. I'm $10-20 and hour below them. I raise my prices when I determine that it is necessary because of my increased costs for vehicle fuel and maintainance, tools, liability insurance premiums and everything else that goes into the cost of running a small business. I need to be compensated for my time and I need to make a certain profit margin on parts and equipment to stay in business. Since I do not have a Union making sure that I keep my job regardless of performance nor do I have a taxpayer funded retirement, I also have to somehow manage for that because as much as I love capitalism, I won't be able to work forever. And I don't care what Obama says, I'm not going to work just to break even and give the rest of it away. For me, the time for making a profit IS NOW...I'm also not going to apologize or show remorse for making money. Anyone who thinks that I should and expects it so that somebody else can benefit better grab a cup of coffee and hunker down because it's going to be a long haul.
Although the posted rate on the shop is $110 per hour, and I just checked the last receipt from my mobile mechanic and he posts $120 per hour this is seldom the case. I normally find that the shop gives a price estimate based on the job. A pre-set price has been determined for brakes, engine service, etc. When I needed my jacks serviced, and one jack motor needed replacement the job was estimated, sent to my warranty provider, approved, and completed based on estimate.
I assume the posted per hour rate would only apply if the shop were asked to go on a hunting/fishing trip to find a problem, and/or the posted price is used to justify insurance billing rates.
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Hi, the last place that I visited had a sign saying $120.00 per hour shop labor. I have always said that the price doesn't matter very much if the job is done right. And the price was never cheap enough for a bad job.
