Charge out rates for cage mechanics?

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.

Quite right; you can't spell.