A bitchy thread about a mechanic...

**Kittyhawk** · 11th December 2007, 15:08

For years I've been going to the one mechanic. Last Monday night I took a friend's zzr250 for a bit of a test ride...I came to the conclusion that her bike needed new fork oil, as well as rear brake pads...

I suggested to her to see my mechanic as I have never had any problems with him and always found he did good work at a reasonable price.

We rocked on up, and I explained to him that the bike needed

A - rear brake pads
B - new front fork oil

She suggested that he bring the bike up to WOF standard including a service which I thought was acceptable...

When she rang to go pick up the bike, he said he is charging her $220 for all the work done...this included the following..

A - rear brake pads
B - new front fork oil
C - a look over the bike mechanically

The total time it took for all this was about 2 hours. There was nothing done mechanically apart from what I just specified.
The bike does have trouble starting due to a carbi issue but we did not specify we wanted the carbs looked at and we are aware there is an issue there...I suggested I'd have a tinkle around with her bike to see what was wrong with them to save on the costs of labour etc.

Should she pay $220 for a look over, new brake pads and fork oil?

I've never been in a situation like this, how can it be delt to...or more to the point how to get the bike back as its still in the possesion of the mechanic and coming up to christmas, financial situations get a bit harder.

Help!!

**montsta56** · 11th December 2007, 15:16

$220 Does'ne seem over the top to me???

**The Stranger:Me** · 11th December 2007, 15:19

May I ask what were you expecting to pay?
Doesn't sound unreasonable at first glance.

**imdying** · 11th December 2007, 15:22

Labour, $130 ($65 an hour)
Pads, $70 ($35 a set)
Fork oil, $30 (at a guess)
+gst

Sounds like she did alright.

**fergie** · 11th December 2007, 15:23

i would ask mech for a breakdown of the price and their charge out rate, it does sound about right to me though

**crashe** · 11th December 2007, 15:25

Mechanics charge any where around $60 to $70 per hour.

So there goes $120 to $140 in labour.

Brake pads - Depending on how much they were - do a ring around for costs
Fork oil - what type was used and oil weight? Plus how much was needed?
A check over of the bike also takes time...... maybe they tweaked a few things for you and added that into the charge.

**Squiggles** · 11th December 2007, 15:25

Agree with imdying, sounds about right...

**jrandom** · 11th December 2007, 15:27

Sounds fine to me, a perfectly reasonable charge for the work and parts involved.

What did you expect to pay?

**Katman** · 11th December 2007, 15:27

Originally Posted by imdying

Labour, $130 ($65 an hour)
Pads, $70 ($35 a set)
Fork oil, $30 (at a guess)
+gst

Sounds like she did alright.

Actually, only one set of pads.

But if the job was done properly, i.e. forks stripped, cleaned and reassembled with new oil, then the bill sounds reasonable to me.

**onearmedbandit** · 11th December 2007, 15:29

+1.

Sounds about right to me.

**kiwifruit** · 11th December 2007, 15:31

heh .

**McDuck** · 11th December 2007, 15:31

I agree. Mechanical workshops set ups are not cheep, and do not pay for themselfs.

**klyong82** · 11th December 2007, 15:38

That sounds about right for that price. Would have been cheaper if you just gave the mechanic the forks so that he would not have charged to take the forks off.