How much should i charge?

Topic: How much should i charge? (Read 1274 times) previous topic - next topic

How much should i charge?

February 15, 2007, 09:21:58 PM

I was working on a 94grand prix and i performed the following labor. I will give the customer my write up as you see it below along with the schematic that thunderchicken gave me.

here is what i did,,,,,,, how much is all this labor worth? At this point, the customer is picking up the car until he can get my suggested parts.

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To: xxxxxxxx
From : James Cassity
Subj: Wipers inoperable on your 1994 Pontiac Grand Prix. (electrical troubleshooting)
***someone had already R/R'd associated parts required to get at wiper/washer motor/linkage assembly****
Date: 15feb07

Labor Detail
14 February 2007
-Functional test of customer supplied wiper motor assembly (pass, motor spins)

15 February 2007
-Supply customer with “Mitchell On Demand” Repair information wiring diagram illustrating the layout of this car specific wiper schematic.
-Remove and replace diagonal braces to access both fuse boxes(driver side missing hardware)
-Inspect and test all fuses, all pass
-Remove wiper arms and mark each with DR and P(driver and passenger)
-R/R cal panel wiper motor covers ,qty 2, and lower windshield trim(missing a lot of hardware)
-Test for power getting to existing wiper motor wiring harness (fail, there is no power getting the pink wire of the large 6 pin connector or small 3 wire connector)
-Attempt to connect existing wiring harness up to existing motor (fail, the existing motor assembly is not correct or compatible with this car, wiring is cut off with a 3’’ pigtail)(there is no place to hook up the two required 3 and 6 pin connectors).
-wire up test jumpers to existing wiper motor and test for operation (pass, motor works)
-Inspect and straighten bent wiper linkages that were in a bind, bent or broken (FAIL, linkages are bent and motor output drive square head broken off)
-Inspect wiper lever at steering column and attempt to troubleshoot (fail, wire insulation along handle was torn and wiring leading to wiper switch is loose internally.

Total hours 4

Suspected fault
Previous owner must have had trouble with the wipers and as a result, a whole new washer / wiper linkage and motor assembly was installed. This would explain why there was missing hardware such as screws and bolts.
I suspect that this whole washer/wiper linkage and motor assembly was taken from an incorrect year grand prix or other like car. As a result, this system was installed and the wiper motor output bracket jammed into the body of the car. This would explain why the two factory connectors can not be plugged in to the existing motor. This would also explain why the wiper arms looked out of time with one another. I found several areas along the driver side where the linkages were bent or where paint on the body was sped off due to this whole assembly rubbing and binding.

Required parts, Wiper motor and linkage assembly, Wiper Switch on steering column.

How much should i charge?

Reply #1 – February 15, 2007, 09:59:16 PM

I usually charge 40-45.00 an hour.

How much should i charge?

Reply #2 – February 15, 2007, 10:22:12 PM

I would tell you to be fair to both parties. Are you a 1st rate shop that has insurance to back you up if you mess something up? $40-45/hr is shop rate. I wouldn't charge that unless you can justify it to the customer. But you should make some money but don't rob anyone. Also I know from working in a parts house that most shops also make a fair amount of money on the parts. Also another thing they do in the big time shops is go by the all knowing book to tell them how much time a job should take. You could qoute that rate then only make them pay for real time worked that should prove your efficent work also why you still charge them more than shade tree shop work.

How much should i charge?

Reply #3 – February 15, 2007, 11:03:56 PM

Quote from: ipsd;129837

I would tell you to be fair to both parties. Are you a 1st rate shop that has insurance to back you up if you mess something up? $40-45/hr is shop rate. I wouldn't charge that unless you can justify it to the customer. .

i dont consider myself to shabby,, unemployed at the moment,, (again) yes,,, Worth the money,,Yes again.

Did any shop (total of 9) in 35miles of radius want to touch this "hacked up job",,,NO. 3 dealershipsa and the rest are local shops. Need i mention that this mans name can be mentioned at all of these shops and they all know him (from not paying his bill) See, i have the keys to his car, i hope they dont turn up missing , stranger things have happened.

The main issue i have here, he does have a problem with paying,, but,, he also does not yet have a working wiper system. I would rather he comes to get his car and pay his current bill, it sux to pay for something that is still broke but i look at it this way, i have given him information , time and labor that got him miles ahead of where he was early today.

humm,,im getting very close to my 5000th post:D how shall i waste that moment,,lol.

How much should i charge?

Reply #4 – February 15, 2007, 11:17:11 PM

Quote from: ipsd;129837

I would tell you to be fair to both parties. Are you a 1st rate shop that has insurance to back you up if you mess something up? $40-45/hr is shop rate. I wouldn't charge that unless you can justify it to the customer. But you should make some money but don't rob anyone. Also I know from working in a parts house that most shops also make a fair amount of money on the parts. Also another thing they do in the big time shops is go by the all knowing book to tell them how much time a job should take. You could qoute that rate then only make them pay for real time worked that should prove your efficent work also why you still charge them more than shade tree shop work.

I dunno what shops around you charge $40-$45 and hour, but 'round here if you can find one for under $65 you're doing good. Or, rather, you're doing bad, because it would be a shady shop that charged that little. Myself, I usually swap labour for other labour or other stuff. F'rinstance, I've done much mechanical work for my brother over the years and he supplied me with $2000 worth of engineered hardwood flooring and installed a garden door for me for free (I supplied the door). This weekend I'll be putting a transmission in his van, and while I'm doing that he'll be installing ceramic tile in my laundry room and bathroom.

How much should i charge?

Reply #5 – February 15, 2007, 11:49:38 PM

Around here even $65 is a bargain. We charge $92 per actual hour (no longer the stat rate according to Mitchel...too many complaints). According to the Manitoba auto dealers website, the highest rate in the province is $115 per rated hour by a VW dealer in Winnipeg. But who the hell else understands the numerous VW electrical problems.

On my own jobs, I charge $30 per hour plus expenses for mechanical, welding, electrical type stuff. And yes, I do have my own tools and liability insurance. All work for friends is usually on a similar basis as Sam's, that way both parties win and the government looses the tax revenue.

Jcassity:

I'd probably charge about $100 - $150 to this guy. I'm sure your a very knowledgeable and educated guy, based on your posts in the "greatest hits" section alone. Just make sure he clearly understands the amount of work you did. Your letter is quite clear, however this guy may be a mechanical iddiot, and not understand the trouble you went to.

From what I have seen, alot of animosity toward repair shops comes from customers because of misconceptions about the work performed. For example to read codes and "scope" a newer car ( EFI engine, ABS, Traction control, ect...) is charged a flat rate of $85. What your average customers doesn't understand is that this process takes an $11,000 machine and a tech making ~$25 an hour about 45 minutes to do. They usually expect the car back in 10 minutes, fixed, with a bill for $20 or something like that. And that's just the beginning, wait until you have to convince them that the problem is a faulty, non serviceable, body control module only available from GM, for $780!! Or in your case, a wiper motor assembly that is probably a royal pain in the, you know what, to find in a junkyard.

How much should i charge?

Reply #6 – February 15, 2007, 11:59:50 PM

Well here in the ozarks prices on most things aren't to bad. Best I can say as for the shop rate you pay up there is: One of my American dollars makes how much of your money? But I wouldn't want to pay $60-65/hr no matter who's money it is. Besides I don't pay for work I do it myself. That is unless I just don't have the time to work on it.

How much should i charge?

Reply #7 – February 16, 2007, 12:09:34 AM

ISPD,,,i understand your point,, everyone does as well. I do want to be fair but all i really thought i would ask is what was the worth of the work ive already done/provided,
having said that ,, if you had performed the listed labor to a local town memeber, what would you yourself charge>????
This person is not a friend,, or close relative. Nevertheless,, i dont mix friends/family with the value of a dollar. Friends and family get work for free.

so what would you charge ISPD?

How much should i charge?

Reply #8 – February 16, 2007, 12:33:54 AM

Quote from: ipsd;129861

Well here in the ozarks prices on most things aren't to bad. Best I can say as for the shop rate you pay up there is: One of my American dollars makes how much of your money? But I wouldn't want to pay $60-65/hr no matter who's money it is. Besides I don't pay for work I do it myself. That is unless I just don't have the time to work on it.

$1 USD is about $1.16 CAD. I know what you mean, the savings are vast when you do things your self, or do work in exchange for favors.

How much should i charge?

Reply #9 – February 16, 2007, 10:12:21 AM

jcassity Around here if it was just regular joe blow then I would charge $30-35/hr. That is here in the ozarks with the shop rate $40-45/hr. Also I live in a tourist trap area. So between working at a parts store and my area I get plenty of chances to work on other peoples stuff. I would tell you might even charge more because it was trouble shooting. Also knowing this guy has a problem with paying I would make sure he was gonna pay me before I touched anything of his. Also with what you've done it sounds like you got it figured out. So atleast you are really gonna fix it unlike those other shops.

How much should i charge?

Reply #10 – February 16, 2007, 06:54:15 PM

Way back when I was doing contract work I read a book on service shop management. It said that whatever you pay yourself you should multiply by 3. This takes into account overhead. That was so long ago though, I dont know if the multiplier is valid. It's a starting point anyway.

How much should i charge?

Reply #11 – February 16, 2007, 07:38:09 PM

Quote from: ipsd;129837

$40-45/hr is shop rate.

78-105 an hour is our shops (dealership) hourly labor rate.

How much should i charge?

Reply #12 – February 17, 2007, 12:17:37 AM

Where I work (ATV repairs) we charge $57 and When I'm doing something on my own time usually $20-$35 depending on the project, brake jobs etc are easy so $20 will do it, clutch or CV joints on the other hand are likely going to be a PITA.

Scott