Labor estimate

[SadRobot]

@Roky got me hooked up with a shop. $650 for install. I think that sounds fair to me.

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[tomk62]

Maybe it's me. Am I asking the question incorrectly? Is there a better way I can phrase my questions to shops to get a better response?

When I get quotes to compare shops, I want to know the labor rate and how many hours estimated, not just how much they will charge me.

 

[Nokones]

Total Off-Road & More in Glendale AZ gave me a labor quote of 4 hours at $165/hour to install the Metalcloak Baller Joints on my 23 Wrangler Rubi 2 Dr.

 

[oceanblue2019]

That’s scary…..

If it starts with a R and ends with a L avoid like the plague. Don't confuse paid influencers for happy customers....

 

[mwilk012]

When I get quotes to compare shops, I want to know the labor rate and how many hours estimated, not just how much they will charge me.

It doesn’t matter at all.

 

[Terrymo]

It doesn’t matter at all.

I am interested in why you say this.

 

[autotragic]

I am interested in why you say this.

Because he's a service advisor and doesn't want you to ask those kinds of questions. Understand service advisors usually get commission on top of salary/hourly.

And just to clear the air "service advisors" are some of the most useless eaters on the planet almost without exception. Their job can and should be taken over by AI and it would benefit society as a whole.

 

[mwilk012]

I am interested in why you say this.

If I charge you 600/hr for 1 hour or 100/hr for 6 hours, who cares? The cost to install the ball joints is all that matters.

 

[mwilk012]

Because he's a service advisor and doesn't want you to ask those kinds of questions.

They’re not relevant questions. It’s the “I can do it cheaper myself” type of morons that ask questions like that anyway.

Charging labor for both uppers and lowers is wrong. The parts aren’t even sold individually, they’re done as pairs.

Our labor rate is 156/hr. It just doesn’t matter, because you’re not paying anything other than the total.

 

[OminousSkitter]

If I charge you 600/hr for 1 hour or 100/hr for 6 hours, who cares? The cost to install the ball joints is all that matters.

The former means I get my Jeep back same day, the latter means a day or two. But I agree, the end price is all that matters to the end price. I don’t care about the hourly rate, just the time estimate and the final cost.

Edit: It especially doesn’t matter with mechanics. Normally, for standard work, whatever system they use has billable hours programmed in. If the mechanic can do a 10 hour job in 6, it’s still the same price. Time and materials is normally for non-standard work often including diagnostics for an unknown problem. At least, that’s how it works at my buddies’ shops’ in various states (indie shops and national franchises).

 

[mwilk012]

The former means I get my Jeep back same day, the latter means a day or two. But I agree, the end price is all that matters to the end price. I don’t care about the hourly rate, just the time estimate and the final cost.

Book time and actual work time are not even close to being accurate anymore. There are plenty of 1hr plus jobs that take 5 minutes or less. 6 hour jobs that take multiple days. Ball joints are a single afternoon without breaking a sweat.

 

[OminousSkitter]

Book time and actual work time are not even close to being accurate anymore. There are plenty of 1hr plus jobs that take 5 minutes or less. 6 hour jobs that take multiple days. Ball joints are a single afternoon without breaking a sweat.

Yeah I just edited my post reflecting that. Some work is T&M, then it matters, but that’s not normal.

 

[mwilk012]

Here you go. Negotiate to your hearts content.

 

[Terrymo]

If I charge you 600/hr for 1 hour or 100/hr for 6 hours, who cares? The cost to install the ball joints is all that matters.

Ok thanks

 

[Roky]

If it starts with a R and ends with a L avoid like the plague. Don't confuse paid influencers for happy customers....

Agreed

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