Charge out rates for cage mechanics?

[p.dath]

We had a cage serviced at work this week and I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the labour rate - $108+GST per hour. This was from a major well known workshop in the area. All the parts seemed done at a reason rate.

Now I'm wondering if I'm out of touch with the world. What do cage mechanics typically charge out labour at?

[scissorhands]

I know mechanics charge top labour rates above plumbers and sparkies but that makes me want to start my own workshop. Was it a dealership?

[Smifffy]

We had a cage serviced at work this week and I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the labour rate - $108+GST per hour. This was from a major well known workshop in the area. All the parts seemed done at a reason rate.

Now I'm wondering if I'm out of touch with the world. What do cage mechanics typically charge out labour at?

Are you happy with the standard of work?

Do you think a $75/h mechanic could have provided the same service?

Do you think you could find a $75/h mechanic to take the work on?

Are you locked into the dealership thru lease/warranty agreements?

Hint: Don't tell DOL/ACC that you nearly fell out of your chair, you will be doing risk assessments for days.

[98tls]

We had a cage serviced at work this week and I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the labour rate - $108+GST per hour. This was from a major well known workshop in the area. All the parts seemed done at a reason rate.

Now I'm wondering if I'm out of touch with the world. What do cage mechanics typically charge out labour at?

One has to wonder eh,20 years ago there was at least a degree of mechanical ability needed to service a car properly,these days the things are so good that a typical service could easily be done by a novice at home,actually they are probably done by a novice at the dealership but still your charged a qualified mechanics rate.

[Motu]

Now I'm wondering if I'm out of touch with the world. What do cage mechanics typically charge out labour at?

What do you do for a living? What do your customers get charged per hour for your time? Just to get a bit of perspective.

[Ixion]

Yeah, it's hard to see how businesses stay afloat charging such uneconomic rates. Ought to be at least $150.

[marty]

I charge close to that.

[sidecar bob]

If the only thing you have to complain about is the price, then id say the garage did a pretty good job.
As for cars being easy to service now, some cars i service, need to be plugged into a $9000 machine (and thats a cheap one) to reset the service interval indicator.
Also, its not just the hourly rate, but the length of time you were charged for that matters.

[sidecar bob]

I know mechanics charge top labour rates above plumbers and sparkies but that makes me want to start my own workshop. Was it a dealership?

Go on, do it, its so easy its almost a licence to print money.

[98tls]

If the only thing you have to complain about is the price, then id say the garage did a pretty good job.
As for cars being easy to service now, some cars i service, need to be plugged into a $9000 machine (and thats a cheap one) to reset the service interval indicator.
Also, its not just the hourly rate, but the length of time you were charged for that matters.

A $9000 service interval indicator,not to mention a service interval indicator kind of says it all really.A simple sticker just doesnt cut the mustard these days.Not a crack at you at all SB.

[p.dath]

I know mechanics charge top labour rates above plumbers and sparkies but that makes me want to start my own workshop. Was it a dealership?

Yes, it was a dealership.


Are you happy with the standard of work?

Do you think a $75/h mechanic could have provided the same service?

Do you think you could find a $75/h mechanic to take the work on?

Are you locked into the dealership thru lease/warranty agreements?

Hint: Don't tell DOL/ACC that you nearly fell out of your chair, you will be doing risk assessments for days.

Happy with the standard of work. We have used them for many years. It was a general service (oil and oil filter change), plus brake pads, plus replacement of one set of rotors (other set of rotors were machine by an external contractor). I don't think a high degree of skill or training would be required to do this. No lock in.

Was just curious. It seemed a high rate.

[p.dath]

What do you do for a living? What do your customers get charged per hour for your time? Just to get a bit of perspective.

I work in IT, and we are specislist network engineers. We charge $150+GST per hour for the work I do, and $100+GST per work for simpler jobs. This was a standard vehicle service - nothing particularly specislalised about it. I would hope an apprentice with 3 months of experience could do it.

[p.dath]

If the only thing you have to complain about is the price, then id say the garage did a pretty good job.

They always do a good job, I was just surprised. Seems I am out of touch with labour rates for mechanics.

[AllanB]

$65 to $100 plus depending where you go. Name brand dealers will usually charge the higher rate.

If it is just a regular oil/filter I'd seriously look at a smaller workshop. Oil out, filter off, new filter on, oil in. It will take the same time.

[AllanB]

It does put the low charge out rate of most motorcycle shops into perspective doesn't it!

[davereid]

I work in IT, and we are specislist network engineers. We charge $150+GST per hour for the work I do, and $100+GST per work for simpler jobs. This was a standard vehicle service - nothing particularly specislalised about it. I would hope an apprentice with 3 months of experience could do it.

There are some very average mechanics and auto electricians out there, and some very average IT "specialists", who often actually don't know much about IT or electronics, they just know a lot about Microsoft, or the particular product they support.

I've experienced both sides of the fence, as while I'm now a electronics engineer, I'm also a qualified auto electrician.

My Auto Trade was every bit as difficult as any degree, or IT qualification.

Indeed, I am sure that I could train a good auto electrician all he needs to do IT work in a month.

I'm equally as sure that none of the IT people I know will ever be allowed near my car unless I am running them over !.

[98tls]

It does put the low charge out rate of most motorcycle shops into perspective doesn't it!

A little off topic but it brings into perspective how bloody useless many have become,that or "motorcycling" and what it is has just changed somewhat from what i and many as doddery as me enjoy.Mucking about with bikes is a major part of the whole deal to me,i love it yet it seems many cant perform the simple task of changing there oil these days though i guess with new bikes/cars the companys have voided any of that by the inclusion of warrantys being voided if maintainence isnt carried out by blah blah blah,catch 22 i guess.

[Virago]

We had a cage serviced at work this week and I nearly fell off my chair when I saw the labour rate - $108+GST per hour...


I work in IT, and we are specislist network engineers. We charge $150+GST per hour for the work I do, and $100+GST per work for simpler jobs...

It's a shame you can't see your own hypocrisy. Why is your labour more valued than theirs?

A while back I met with a client at one of his commercial properties. A lawyer whose own charge-out rate would be around $250.00 an hour, he wasted a huge chunk of my day, moaning about the $50 an hour I was charging for the installation of a Fire Protection System. His outrage vented, he left in his late model Merc, while I left in a ratty old Mazda 626.

Elitist whiners are usually incapable of seeing the true value of the services of others.

[98tls]

It's a shame you can't see your own hypocrisy. Why is your labour more valued than theirs?

A while back I met with a client at one of his commercial properties. A lawyer whose own charge-out rate would be around $250.00 an hour, he wasted a huge chunk of my day, moaning about the $50 an hour I was charging for the installation of a Fire Protection System. His outrage vented, he left in his late model Merc, while I left in a ratty old Mazda 626.

Elitist whiners are usually incapable of seeing the true value of the services of others.
Is this a case of "auto envy" V?:shifty:

[Smifffy]

Yes, it was a dealership.



Happy with the standard of work. We have used them for many years. It was a general service (oil and oil filter change), plus brake pads, plus replacement of one set of rotors (other set of rotors were machine by an external contractor). I don't think a high degree of skill or training would be required to do this. No lock in.

Was just curious. It seemed a high rate.

If you have used them for many years, it could be worth mentioning to them quietly that for the first time in a long time you have looked twice at their charge out rate and may consider other options for your servicing needs.

They may not care, and have enough lock in business that they can afford to price themselves out of the servicing market.

[sidecar bob]

A $9000 service interval indicator,not to mention a service interval indicator kind of says it all really.A simple sticker just doesnt cut the mustard these days.Not a crack at you at all SB.

To be fair the machine does considerably more than reset service indicators.
Try giving someone back their freshly serviced euro with the service indicator light still flashing, you may as well leave a pile of cold sick on the drivers seat.

[Motu]

I work in IT,

That explains it - a total nerd who knows nothing about everything.

[peasea]

If you have a problem with a mechanic's charge-out rate...........go see a lawyer!

Then make a comparison.

[98tls]

To be fair the machine does considerably more than reset service indicators.
Try giving someone back their freshly serviced euro with the service indicator light still flashing, you may as well leave a pile of cold sick on the drivers seat. Yea well,when you put it like that fair call.BMWs?If so i can only imagine my old mans frustration in paying,hes well clever mechanically as many older buggers are and probably has to hold himself back from taking his Beemer to bits and putting it back together again just for the hell of it,hes done it with every bike hes ever owned.:mellow:

[p.dath]

It's a shame you can't see your own hypocrisy. Why is your labour more valued than theirs?

I worked in a specialised field, network engineering. A fair comparison would be to someone who works in a specialised field of engineering, maybe a suspension specialist, for example.

Our charge our rate for the less specialised work is already cheaper than the mechancis - so where is the hypocrisy?

[98tls]

If you have a problem with a mechanic's charge-out rate...........go see a lawyer!

Then make a comparison.
Then again spend an hour with a good quality takeaway,that to puts things into comparison,well serviced.Not to mention the personal touch.

[peasea]

Then again spend an hour with a good quality takeaway,that to puts things into comparison,well serviced.Not to mention the personal touch.

Meh, over-rated I reckon.

Ya put ya cock in one hand and your cash in the other, when ya cum ya still got ya cash.

(So you can afford the oil, the filter, the pads and the beer to drink while you service your own god-damned machine!!!)

[98tls]

Meh, over-rated I reckon.

Ya put ya cock in one hand and your cash in the other, when ya cum ya still got ya cash.

(So you can afford the oil, the filter, the pads and the beer to drink while you service your own god-damned machine!!!) Well,thats another thread basterdized.:laugh:

[huff3r]

I worked in a specialised field, network engineering. A fair comparison would be to someone who works in a specialised field of engineering, maybe a suspension specialist, for example.

Our charge our rate for the less specialised work is already cheaper than the mechancis - so where is the hypocrisy?

Have you tried being a mechanic? Its bloody hard work i tell ya. Sure, doing a service may be easy but diagnosing a strange noise the customer cant even begin to describe requires quite a bit of intelligence and experience. They are specialists in their field, regardless of how you view them, especially with the massive range of vehicles, all with different technologies which they must work on these days. It just so happens their charge out rate stays the same, so that even if its a simple time-consuming job they will charge the same as a complicated, quick job, but also they will have a consistent charge based upon time for the customer. Otherwise they could do what your company does and charge $50 an hour for servicing, and $250 an hour for any kind of diagnostic work.

That would be great, wouldnt it?

Oh and an IT degree is 3 years at Uni, to be a mechanic is a 3-year apprenticeship on the job. Dont even kid yourself that IT is harder. Ive tried both, and its not.

[peasea]

Well,thats another thread basterdized.:laugh:

Quite right; you can't spell.

[p.dath]

Oh and an IT degree is 3 years at Uni, to be a mechanic is a 3-year apprenticeship on the job. Dont even kid yourself that IT is harder. Ive tried both, and its not.

Your IT quals must be easier to maintain. So most of my network egineering certifications last 24 months (and my degree program was 4 years - granted there are shorter 3 year programs). I have to constantly keep re-training and re-sitting those exams. On average, I have to re-sit an exam about every 3 months to keep everything current.

A general mechanic is not a specialist. Specialists have a vertical focus, usually working in a single area.

But not I'm into arguing that point. Say what you want. All I wanted to know was what current cage mechanic rates were to re-establish my own expectations.

[98tls]

Quite right; you can't spell.

Nor do i wave.

[yachtie10]

What a pack of pricks
took till post 14 to get an answer to his question (which was a question not a statement)
the rest is just a lot of shit

all this thread now needs is Robert Taylor, Sidecar Bob and Katman to have a rant

My answer is I would not use a major dealer for servicing if i had a choice IMHO I think they charge too much for too little
Find a local small shop who is honest and you get better service
Like I used too with Spectrum in the old days (not saying they are not good now. I wouldn't know)

[peasea]

Have you tried being a mechanic? Its bloody hard work i tell ya. Sure, doing a service may be easy but diagnosing a strange noise the customer cant even begin to describe requires quite a bit of intelligence and experience. They are specialists in their field, regardless of how you view them, especially with the massive range of vehicles, all with different technologies which they must work on these days. It just so happens their charge out rate stays the same, so that even if its a simple time-consuming job they will charge the same as a complicated, quick job, but also they will have a consistent charge based upon time for the customer. Otherwise they could do what your company does and charge $50 an hour for servicing, and $250 an hour for any kind of diagnostic work.

That would be great, wouldnt it?

Oh and an IT degree is 3 years at Uni, to be a mechanic is a 3-year apprenticeship on the job. Dont even kid yourself that IT is harder. Ive tried both, and its not.

Bravo that man! :clap::clap::clap:

My apprenticeship (which involved far more accuracy than a mechanic) in Automotive Machining was four and a half years. I then got into mechanical repairs and had both ends covered. I then did specific courses; auto trans, power steer, electronic componentry, EFI, air conditioning and got into some fairly intense fault finding. I've done everything from oil changes on mundane shopping trolleys to building blown, alcohol-burning race motors. It isn't easy work; since giving it away my back has gradually got back to normal and my stress levels (from running my own shop) have tapered off to nearly nothing. I don't get covered in shit, I don't have to deal with moaning fuckwits who can't understand why the high performance engine they ordered doesn't idle smoothly and I also don't have to deal with the likes of ACC and IRD.

Try running your own shop before bagging mechanics you lot.

Cheers huff3r.

[peasea]

all this thread now needs is Robert Taylor, Sidecar Bob and Katman to have a rant



I beat them to it.

[98tls]

What a pack of pricks
took till post 14 to get an answer to his question (which was a question not a statement)
the rest is just a lot of shit

all this thread now needs is Robert Taylor, Sidecar Bob and Katman to have a rant

My answer is I would not use a major dealer for servicing if i had a choice IMHO I think they charge too much for too little
Find a local small shop who is honest and you get better service
Like I used too with Spectrum in the old days (not saying they are not good now. I wouldn't know)

Actually it was said in post 4.

[Little Miss Trouble]

Your IT quals must be easier to maintain. So most of my network egineering certifications last 24 months (and my degree program was 4 years - granted there are shorter 3 year programs). I have to constantly keep re-training and re-sitting those exams. On average, I have to re-sit an exam about every 3 months to keep everything current.

A general mechanic is not a specialist. Specialists have a vertical focus, usually working in a single area.

But not I'm into arguing that point. Say what you want. All I wanted to know was what current cage mechanic rates were to re-establish my own expectations.

Gee I'd almost forgotten what over inflated self images Cisco geeks have...

Thanks for reminding me why I got out if IT

[huff3r]

Gee I'd almost forgotten what over inflated self images Cisco geeks have...

Thanks for reminding me why I got out if IT

I almost ended up in IT. Glad i quit before i started. I personally dont feel im worth more per hour than any mechanic, i respect them for the work they do, and I only use them when its a matter of convenience (when im too lazy to do it myself), so i expect to pay for it.

But knowing a good local helps, especially since they quite often will ring around for prices on parts, as opposed to dealers who use dealer parts at dealer prices. Oh and $75 worth of oil if they happen to use Fuchs. Grrr

[Gubb]

Your IT quals must be easier to maintain. So most of my network egineering certifications last 24 months (and my degree program was 4 years - granted there are shorter 3 year programs). I have to constantly keep re-training and re-sitting those exams. On average, I have to re-sit an exam about every 3 months to keep everything current.

A general mechanic is not a specialist. Specialists have a vertical focus, usually working in a single area.

But not I'm into arguing that point. Say what you want. All I wanted to know was what current cage mechanic rates were to re-establish my own expectations.

As long as your cock is bigger than theirs, you've got nothing to worry about.

Right?

[Little Miss Trouble]

When I lived in Auckland I had my local mechanics who I used religiously (bikes were under warranty) but now that I live elsewhere & have a bike I'm allowed to work on myself I shall be trading beer/bourbon for the time it takes a mate to show me how to do the basics myself.

[JimO]

My hilux gets serviced at the local toyota dealer and my hondas get serviced at the honda dealership, never had a over the top bill, what i like about them is that the guy working on your car is working on your car...not answering the phone or talking to walk ins about whatever their problems are which used to happen at the small garage i used to go to

[Woodman]

I work in IT, and we are specislist network engineers. We charge $150+GST per hour for the work I do, and $100+GST per work for simpler jobs. This was a standard vehicle service - nothing particularly specislalised about it. I would hope an apprentice with 3 months of experience could do it.

So you think $108 per hour may be a bit high when the guys are fixing your brakes. If they don't work you could die, but if $150 per hour for an IT service goes pear shaped someone may miss analysing a spreadsheet.
Cars are getting bloody complex nowadays, and yea you may get a cheaper rate at a smaller place, but do they have the expensive analysis gear to actually fix it properly. If not their is a lot of guesswork that takes up a chunk of time.
So yeah $108 is about normal, you haven't been ripped

[Ooky]

Your IT quals must be easier to maintain. So most of my network egineering certifications last 24 months (and my degree program was 4 years - granted there are shorter 3 year programs). I have to constantly keep re-training and re-sitting those exams. On average, I have to re-sit an exam about every 3 months to keep everything current.

A general mechanic is not a specialist. Specialists have a vertical focus, usually working in a single area.

But not I'm into arguing that point. Say what you want. All I wanted to know was what current cage mechanic rates were to re-establish my own expectations.

so cars never change you are saying? once we have out ticket we don't need to constantly re train on new engine management systems, syspention systems, sterio systems, abs systems, traction control systems, emision control systems, gearboxs and drive trains, body construction, electric seat motors, airbag systems and all the other things on the car that a evolving with every model released or updated constantly.
and if your car is in for a service at a dealer it isnt just a oil and filter change, the mechanic does go over the whole car i wish our job was as easy as most people think but it isn't just throw on a filter and put in some oil.

[Filterer]

So you think $108 per hour may be a bit high when the guys are fixing your brakes. If they don't work you could die, but if $150 per hour for an IT service goes pear shaped someone may miss analysing a spreadsheet.

That is a ridiculous argument - equally why doesn't a bus mechanic get paid more as he could kill a whole bus load of people.... not to mention the consequences of something going wrong in IT can be much more dire than a spreadsheet not working - one of those IT guys is writing the software to control the abs software in your car....

To me the more interesting thing is the convergence of the mechanic, auto electricians and software developer - soon your IT geek will be the one changing the oil with the click of a button....

[peasea]

Cars are getting bloody complex nowadays,

....and a lot of it is because the IT freaks make it so, they don't need to be. There are way too many gubbins and geegaws that aren't necessary in today's cars, many of them a complete waste of copper.

[Smifffy]

....and a lot of it is because the IT freaks make it so, they don't need to be. There are way too many gubbins and geegaws that aren't necessary in today's cars, many of them a complete waste of copper.

Man tell me about it! The last time I had to change out a geegaw they said the gubbins was on the way out too. ;)

[nodrog]

what is it with fucken aucklanders complaining about service prices at the moment?

for fucksakes you cunts pay $10 for a fluffy coffee, theres your perspective.

[Owl]

I don't think an hourly rate is a true reflection of value.

My old man once took his Accord to a transmission specialist because it was taking too long to select top gear. They serviced it, replaced fluid, adjusted etc and supplied him with a fairly high bill. The trans performed exactly the same as it did before it was serviced, so I told him to take it back. He however refused to go back to "those idiots" and instead chose to take it to the local Honda dealer.:brick:

Well they did fix the trans and I nearly fell over (like p.dath) when I saw the bill. They replaced a $7 electrical part and charged 1/2 an hours labour:gob:

I guess they knew what they were doing?

[sidecar bob]

What a pack of pricks
took till post 14 to get an answer to his question (which was a question not a statement)
the rest is just a lot of shit

all this thread now needs is Robert Taylor, Sidecar Bob and Katman to have a rant

My answer is I would not use a major dealer for servicing if i had a choice IMHO I think they charge too much for too little
Find a local small shop who is honest and you get better service
Like I used too with Spectrum in the old days (not saying they are not good now. I wouldn't know)

Youre half asleep, i did have a rant, even before post 14.
Thankyou for the compliment, I had'nt imagined i was anywhere near the rarified air that Tamaki Taylor & Katman occupy.

[pete376403]

That is a ridiculous argument - equally why doesn't a bus mechanic get paid more as he could kill a whole bus load of people.... not to mention the consequences of something going wrong in IT can be much more dire than a spreadsheet not working - one of those IT guys is writing the software to control the abs software in your car....

Like the IT guy(s) who did the software for Toyota Prius accelerator controls...