Was I overcharged?

ninty9er

For a clutch??

blue42

makes no real difference if its a clutch,timing belt, or head gasket..ect, it all charged at the same hourly rate...or at least should be!

JHMEG

ninty9er wrote: »

For a clutch??

No, hourly labour rate in a main dealer.

Baggio...

ninty9er wrote: »

And you're not familiar with it either. I suggest untwisting your knickers adn ringing around a few Toyota dealers to get the cost.

Well, to I've already said I'd do that. So there's not really any point in making that point again. And I think it's obvious that I don't really know much about cars as thats why I'm here. However, I won't take the op points on board, as he seems to be going against the grain - the majority rules and all that.

Plus, I like having my knickers in a knot.:D

Baggio...

Baggio... wrote: »

Well, to I've already said I'd do that. So there's not really any point in making that point again. And I think it's obvious that I don't really know much about cars as thats why I'm here. However, I won't take the op points on board, as he seems to be going against the grain - the majority rules and all that.

Plus, I like having my knickers in a knot.:D

The 90 euro (the top end of the scale as was suggested by op) for an hour seems ludicrous. 720 euro a day!! I think not... unless your're maybe Walter Mitty.

maidhc

Baggio... wrote: »

The 90 euro (the top end of the scale as was suggested by op) for an hour seems ludicrous. 720 euro a day!! I think not... unless your're maybe Walter Mitty.

720 a day is a lot, but if you are going to assume we are talking about a one man operation he will have to pay

a) rent or a mortgage
b) insurance
c) L & H (3 phase in most cases)
d) VAT
e) a substantial outlay on equipment
f) phone, etc etc.

I am also assuming a person who charges €90 a hour is good. I.e. can actually fix a problem and do it quicker than a mechanic 1 year qualified. He may also be a specialist who knows more about a particular marque than most.

I'm not going to say any more on this matter, but some mechanics charge far more than others. It isn't necessarily a rip off. If a mechanic is skilled, just like a tax advisor, or an accountant, then why should he not be entitled to charge as he sees fit. It is up to the general public to decide if he is worth it or not.

(alternatively you can go to a main dealer and still spend upwards of €80 a hour and get an apprentice with a Lenovo thinkpad playing with your car for the day!)

Mr.Diagnostic

The better the garage the higher the overheads. The higher the overheads the higher the labour charges have to be. It really is that simple.

Often a talented tech who charges, for example, €70 per hour could fix a car in an hour by diagnosing and replacing one faulty part. A lesser tech, working for €40 per hour might fit three or four parts and take three hours to reach the same conclusion. Which one is cheaper then?

I suspect that very few people posting about labour prices have any knowledge of the level of overheads incurred in running a modern workshop.
Something that strikes me as being strange, a plumber who arrives with a bag of rusty tools is worth €100 call out but a mechanic with maybe €100k worth of equipment is only worth €40 to €60 per hour!

Voodoomelon

In regards the service, if he did oil, oil filter, air filter and plugs, you should have been charged 120-150. He may have done something to up the bill though, ask him what he did.

The clutch price is a little on the high side, but nothing astronomical, not all mechanics charge the same. I wouldn't be too worried.

kakee

There is a simple solution to all this overcharging talk. Next time just pick up the phone and contact different garages and ask for a rough guide of what they charge for a service, changing timing belt, or whatever. You could just go to a garage and pay to find out what needs to be done and then shop around for the best price.Talk to people you know and ask if they could recommend a mechanic in your area.

Baggio...

maidhc wrote: »

720 a day is a lot, but if you are going to assume we are talking about a one man operation he will have to pay

a) rent or a mortgage
b) insurance
c) L & H (3 phase in most cases)
d) VAT
e) a substantial outlay on equipment
f) phone, etc etc.

Well, I'm self-employed and I have similar overheads (computer software can run into thousands of pounds). I don't know all that many people who can charge 90 euro an hour (regardless the industry). Again, I ask where are you getting these figures from? Are you basing them of any facts at all, or are you just pulling them out of the air?

Voodoomelon wrote: »

In regards the service, if he did oil, oil filter, air filter and plugs, you should have been charged 120-150. He may have done something to up the bill though, ask him what he did.

The clutch price is a little on the high side, but nothing astronomical, not all mechanics charge the same. I wouldn't be too worried.

I'll definitely shop around in the future and see what's on offer. 150 was what I was paying up in dublin as opposed to (230-250) down here.

Thanks!

Mr.Diagnostic

Baggio... wrote: »

Well, I'm self-employed and I have similar overheads (computer software can run into thousands of pounds). I don't know all that many people who can charge 90 euro an hour (regardless the industry).

You say you have similar overheads. Before you can say that you would have to know what the cost of overheads is to a workshop. Do you, and if so, how do you know this?

Baggio... wrote: »

Again, I ask where are you getting these figures from? Are you basing them of any facts at all, or are you just pulling them out of the air?

I think the same question applies to yourself.

BTW I have an in depth first hand knowledge of workshop overheads and would be happy to debate them with you if you care to post facts and figures to back up what you are saying……

Baggio...

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

You say you have similar overheads. Before you can say that you would have to know what the cost of overheads is to a workshop. Do you, and if so, how do you know this?

I take your point... Perhaps I wasn't too clear. I'm referring to a person who works as a mechanic for a workshop, or something similar. Sorry, I should have clarified that.

Still, even if you have major overheads, as a shop owner there's seems to be big disparity between prices (just from what is mentioned here) - can you explain why this is?

Again, I have no problem with paying a skilled mechanic a fair industry wage. But I would just like to know what I should be paying. As I was saying, I don't know that many people who can charge 90 euro an hour for their skills.

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

BTW I have an in depth first hand knowledge of workshop overheads and would be happy to debate them with you if you care to post facts and figures to back up what you are saying……

I'm sure you have... And I have to admit I couldn't argue this with you, as I don't possess the knowledge. However, I'm not really here for a debate on overheads. I'm just looking for what people should charge for their services.

Mr.Diagnostic

Baggio... wrote: »

Still, even if you have major overheads, as a shop owner there's seems to be big disparity between prices (just from what is mentioned here) - can you explain why this is?

Every garage will have different levels of overheads and run at different efficiencies. There is also a great variety of quality as well. This will have a direct bearing on what they charge.

Baggio... wrote: »

Again, I have no problem with paying a skilled mechanic a fair industry wage. But I would just like to know what I should be paying. As I was saying, I don't know that many people who can charge 90 euro an hour for their skills.

But a mechanic must work in a garage and with tools, equipment etc. Labour charges based on an industry standard wage for a mechanic would be great but could only work if overheads were free.

Baggio... wrote: »

I'm sure you have... And I have to admit I couldn't argue this with you, as I don't possess the knowledge. However, I'm not really here for a debate on overheads. I'm just looking for what people should charge for their services.

There is no such thing as a standard charge.
As a businessman I am sure you must appreciate that cost of sales has a direct bearing on the sale price.

Look at it this way. A garage is in the business of selling. The subject here in this thread is how much they should sell their time for. That would depend on the cost of it.
Also, like any business that sells anything, they can overprice it if they like. Its up to the customer to check out the value same as they would when buying anything else.

Baggio...

Mr.Diagnostic wrote: »

Look at it this way. A garage is in the business of selling. The subject here in this thread is how much they should sell their time for. That would depend on the cost of it. Also, like any business that sells anything, they can overprice it if they like. Its up to the customer to check out the value same as they would when buying anything else.

Yes, you're right of course... It's very hard to get a set "standard price" in any industry, as you correctly pointed out. Thanks for the reply.



Well, thanks to everyone for their help. Seems I have been overcharged somewhat according to the general consensus of replies. So I'll shop around and see if I can get a better deal.

Thanks,

Robert.

ninty9er

blue42 wrote: »

makes no real difference if its a clutch,timing belt, or head gasket..ect, it all charged at the same hourly rate...or at least should be!

I wouldn't be too happy being charged the same rate for an apprentice as a 10 year qualified mechanic. There is, or at least should be a massive disparity in the rate.

For example a trainee accountant will cost a client between €25-€35 an hour, their manager €80-€100 an hour, the director between €150 and €200 and the partner €300+ per hour charged out. None of those people see anywhere near that amount in their pay packet, but that's what it costs the client, due to the expertise provided.

Gurgle

maidhc wrote: »

A new decent clutch is going to be the bones of €300.

~€160 from www.irishautoparts.ie

maidhc wrote: »

That leaves €270 to split the car and install.

~2 hour job, €70 per hour (to cover rates and VAT) that would be €140 labour.

Total: €300

Yes, OP you were absolutely ridden.

blue42

ninty9er wrote: »

I wouldn't be too happy being charged the same rate for an apprentice as a 10 year qualified mechanic. There is, or at least should be a massive disparity in the rate.

For example a trainee accountant will cost a client between €25-€35 an hour, their manager €80-€100 an hour, the director between €150 and €200 and the partner €300+ per hour charged out. None of those people see anywhere near that amount in their pay packet, but that's what it costs the client, due to the expertise provided.

i take your point but sadly thats how it works in main dealerships garages,the apprentice dose a considerable amount of the the work,but its all charged out at full rate to the customer! my advice is steer clear of main dealers...no pun intented!:)

rockmax

do any body knows where to get the good servise for my 05 passat new shape i am realy confused abt that and my air bag light is also flashing on driver side. i spend 140 euro on sweeneys gaurage in dublin 8 the man there don':mad:t have clue and light is still on he is telling me to beypass it by cutting the wire i said to him are u mad to do that :eek:

TheUsual

maidhc wrote: »

People should try and build a relationship with their mechanic rather than getting excited about whether they were charged 30-40 too much. It works out better in the long run.

Bull****, I have a mechanic I don't kiss his ass and he doesn't want his ass kissed. A rare find. I will keep going back.
Don't accept stupid prices. And don't try and be friends with someone you meet once a year.

cock robin

maidhc wrote: »

Something small like a rounded bolt in an awkward place could cost you 2 hours of your time.

If your mechanic is taking two hours to remove a rounded bolt that he obviously rounded and then charging you the labour cost to remove it then you should have him killed slowly.

cock robin

rockmax wrote: »

do any body knows where to get the good servise for my 05 passat new shape i am realy confused abt that and my air bag light is also flashing on driver side. i spend 140 euro on sweeneys gaurage in dublin 8 the man there don':mad:t have clue and light is still on he is telling me to beypass it by cutting the wire i said to him are u mad to do that :eek:

If you attempt to cut the wire connecting your air bag you should have priest handy. They are designed to deploy under such circumstances and they are explosive. The fault warning for the passat air bag is a common fault. Check out a VW passat forum for shed loads of info.