I need to open a shop. Labor rates and parts mark up is crazy.

braxx

braxx

Club Member
Now before anyone bashes me, I know that shops have a lot of overhead. I understand that there is a lot of costs involved in owning/running a shop. I am just supprised by the hourly rate and the parts markup.
My neighbor needs a fuel pump in his 2001 Chevy Blazer. I called a couple of dealerships and they want to charge:
0.6hr to diagnose
3.1hr to replace
$650 plus tax for the pump
Over $1,100 to replace a fuel pump

I found the pump for $205 (AC Delco on Amazon) or $161 (AC Delco on eBay) and OEM book time to replace a FP is 1.9hr.
I already told them I have no fuel presure, FP relay works and I have power to within a foot of the module (I can't test any closer on my back in my neighbors driveway).

I'm so swamped with my own work and one other side job other wise I would do this one too but he needs it right away.
I haven't paid for an auto repair in 20 years I am so glad my dad tought me how to work on my own cars.
How do people afford to pay to have there cars worked on.
 
Pretty easy to just get another estimate. Our shop rate is $89/hr and we go by Mitchell for labour, so if it says 1.9-it'll be 1.9 UNLESS we run in to problems-rotted straps, etc.....We wouldn't charge extra if you already diagnosed it, but wouldn't give any warranty or anything if the new pump didn't fix it. You could also supply your own pump but if you did and something went wrong with it it would be your problem to replace the part and you'd be paying for labour again.
Why are you calling dealers though? do they have some kind of special skill working on cars that independant shops lack? You're complaining about the price-but you're clearly calling the wrong places.
Also, with regards to the part, the dealer has to buy the part from GM, they likely pay half the retail price, GM is NOT an internet store-they have higher prices due to many different factors.
 
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Why go to the dealership if you're concerned with cost but stuck having a shop do it? I'm not saying it has to be a Belle Tire, but there are plenty of choices. Our labor rate is $70 an hour and we go by book time for replacement, so it's as fair as you get. I know there are a lot of other shops out there that are just as good or better than the dealership, and cost quite a bit less. You usually get the same or better warranty as well.

Just my $.02
 
Ponyryd said:
Pretty easy to just get another estimate. Our shop rate is $89/hr and we go by Mitchell for labour, so if it says 1.9-it'll be 1.9 UNLESS we run in to problems-rotted straps, etc.....We wouldn't charge extra if you already diagnosed it, but wouldn't give any warranty or anything if the new pump didn't fix it. You could also supply your own pump but if you did and something went wrong with it it would be your problem to replace the part and you'd be paying for labour again.
Why are you calling dealers though? do they have some kind of special skill working on cars that independant shops lack? You're complaining about the price-but you're clearly calling the wrong places.
Also, with regards to the part, the dealer has to buy the part from GM, they likely pay half the retail price, GM is NOT an internet store-they have higher prices due to many different factors.
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Mitchell time is 3.1hr OEM time is 1.9hr
I only called the dealship because that was his preference and I usually don't call anyone but the parts store because I do my own work. I know there are other options I was just calling out the fact that this perticular direction (Dealership) is crazy expensive. Also, I'm posting more because I was a shocked at the cost.

RyeLou said:
Why go to the dealership if you're concerned with cost but stuck having a shop do it? I'm not saying it has to be a Belle Tire, but there are plenty of choices. Our labor rate is $70 an hour and we go by book time for replacement, so it's as fair as you get. I know there are a lot of other shops out there that are just as good or better than the dealership, and cost quite a bit less. You usually get the same or better warranty as well.
Just my $.02
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I just called my neighbor and told him to call around tomorrow and give me a call when he gets some quotes.
One of my concerns is if he goes with an independant shop, I don't want them putting in some crap brand. I've seen some pump assemblies for $50 (Herko brand)
$(KGrHqNHJCUE9rDJQrfhBPhH5Sf(Y!~~60_12.JPG
 
2dr or 4dr Blazer? I could hook you up on price, you get the part, but that will be my personal warrenty, as the shop is closed
 
dave89iroc said:
2dr or 4dr Blazer? I could hook you up on price, you get the part, but that will be my personal warrenty, as the shop is closed
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I noticed that the part AND labor is different between the 2dr and 4dr, why is that?
His is a 2dr.
PM sent.
 
braxx said:
I noticed that the part AND labor is different between the 2dr and 4dr, why is that?
His is a 2dr.
PM sent.
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Fuel tanks are in different locations, 4dr is in the pickup location, drivers side forward of the axle, 2dr is behind the axle
 
braxx said:
Mitchell time is 3.1hr OEM time is 1.9hr
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In that case "OEM" time is actually warranty time. Warranty time is meaningless, that's what the dealer woulda been paid by GM if the pump failed while the car was under warranty, so figure a brand-new car without rusted parts and a tech doing it that has done a few already. 3.1 seems high to me, but if it's substantially less to do the job, we usually split it with the customer.....unless he brings his own parts.
You're posting dealer prices for a 12 year-old car, how are you surprised? In this case the dealer would be about the worst place to go, your best bet is to find a good local shop where the techs are hourly and NOT flat-rate like the dealer.
 
Ponyryd said:
In that case "OEM" time is actually warranty time. Warranty time is meaningless, that's what the dealer woulda been paid by GM if the pump failed while the car was under warranty, so figure a brand-new car without rusted parts and a tech doing it that has done a few already. 3.1 seems high to me, but if it's substantially less to do the job, we usually split it with the customer.....unless he brings his own parts.
You're posting dealer prices for a 12 year-old car, how are you surprised? In this case the dealer would be about the worst place to go, your best bet is to find a good local shop where the techs are hourly and NOT flat-rate like the dealer.
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Which that whole warranty/cp pay stuff also ticks me off. A dealership will accept 1.9hrs while the vehicle is under warranty but if joe blow want's the same job done and is paying out of pocket the job now pays 3.1hrs.
 
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braxx said:
We usually call it OEM pay and non-warranty work customer pay. Which that whole warranty/cp pay stuff also ticks me off. A dealership will accept 1.9hrs while the vehicle is under warranty but if joe blow want's the same job done and is paying out of pocket the job now pays 3.1hrs.

BTW: FYI I am an OEM , SLTS (Service Labor Time Standard) editor/reviewer and a WSM (Work Shop Manual) technical author.
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I'm pretty sure the dealer doesn't have a choice and must "accept" the lesser pay, not as if they really care as most dealers run flat rate shops, so the tech gets screwed-as usual.
Like I said though it depends on the shop-some old-schoolers don't even use the book and just say "eh, gimme $100", depends on the shop. Goes both ways though, I did a 2.7 in a Sebring the other day and went a bit over on the CP time, customer paid the extra but got the job done right the 1st time.
 
braxx said:
I noticed that the part AND labor is different between the 2dr and 4dr, why is that?
His is a 2dr.
PM sent.
Click to expand...

I can do a 4 door fuel pump in under an hour. Dont even half to pull the tank. Just lower it down and slide it back roughly a foot.
2 door on the other hand is a BITCH to get to the fuel lines and the last time took me 3-4 hours to do.

If you do it be very careful the fuel lines are very short and usually brittle to if you move the tank to much before disconnecting them they may snap. I had one do it before and the tank hadn't moved but a few inchs.
 
The dealer tried to charge my aunt $900 for a multifucntion switch on her buick + $300 for the actual switch im going to a scrap yard and look for one and do it myself.
 
Can't blame them for trying. I recently paid north of $700 for a shop to install a hard-bar, race seat, and PCV catch can.
The seat was so poorly installed the car wasn't really even drivable, and I wouldn't have even fit in the car had I put my helmet on.
As soon as I got home I pulled out the seat and found the seat position bolts on the outward side didn't even match the inward side. THE SEAT WASN'T LEVEL!
Wasn't even close. To get the seat to fit right the position bolts needed to be in the most stretched position, and one side was slightly too close to fit without either the seat or mounting bracket being clearanced (typical bullshit aftermarket QC issues with the bracket). It didn't take me long with a dremel to get everything to fit the right way.
The whole thing pissed me off beyond belief as I took it to a shop as I really didn't have time to f* with it and still ended up having to pull the seat multiple times to get it adjusted/fit just right. Live and learn I guess. Next time I'll just wait until I'm not quite so busy at work and have a few buds over to help me.
 
try being the parts store getting beat up on prices. shop bitching its too expensive and, selling at 40% to make a sale. just to have the shop mark it up 100% to sell to their customer.
 
Siegel1719 said:
I can do a 4 door fuel pump in under an hour. Dont even half to pull the tank. Just lower it down and slide it back roughly a foot.
2 door on the other hand is a BITCH to get to the fuel lines and the last time took me 3-4 hours to do.

If you do it be very careful the fuel lines are very short and usually brittle to if you move the tank to much before disconnecting them they may snap. I had one do it before and the tank hadn't moved but a few inchs.
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^ Yup! Been there and done that with the lines on a 2 door shitter truck. Owner was pissed it happened, but their truck was a POS.
 
Man, I'm done doing favors. I'm gonna start charging 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 an hour depending on who it is...and what I have to do. I under charge way too often, or don't charge at all sometimes.

And yeah, shops mark up parts like CRAZY!!!!!!!!! I sold a motor for an Escort for $450 to a shop...which is all I wanted...and IMO was top of the market on that motor. He puts the phone down, prices the customer $950 on the motor and $450 to install it. Got the okay and ordered it. He made more off the engine than I did. :lol:
 
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That is why I lease my daily driver then have the play car to work on when I want. Never lease outside the factory warranty either!

-Geoff
 
SVT32VDOHC said:
Man, I'm done doing favors. I'm gonna start charging 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 an hour depending on who it is to do what I do. I under charge way too often, or don't charge at all sometimes.

And yeah, shops mark up parts like CRAZY!!!!!!!!! I sold a motor for an Escort for $450 to a shop...which is all I wanted...and IMO was top of the market on that motor. He puts the phone down, prices the customer $950 on the motor and $450 to install it. Got the okay and ordered it. He made more off the engine than I did. :lol:
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Same here, for along time I've helped people out and done shit dirt cheap, mostly for friends and people friends introduced me to. This is all done with some expectation that if i needed help on something that these people would offer up without me needing to ask or beg them to do so. Ya know the old school saying I scratch your back you scratch mine, well people always seem to forget, be busy, have something come up or some other excuse when you need some help. Earlier this year I decided fuck it and I'm not giving hand outs anymore. My college auto instructor told me to never be a nice guy when it comes to cars because it will bite you in the ass every time. He preached to always charge $50 bucks a hour for advice $100.00 bucks a hour if you get dirt on your hands.

People seem to forget that you doing a side job for them and only charging $100 bucks to do brakes on all four corners and change a oil pan is cutting them a f'in deal. A shop would charge thousands for similar work, then when you ask them to come help ya move some rocks in your yard they're not feeling well or busy...

I do a lil wiring stuff on the side, small jobs here an there. I considered wiring cars for people but quoted a couple guys prices and got replies saying its too expensive. The quotes I gave these guys is a third to a quarter what a wiring shop charges, i don't get it shit wire is not cheap and to do a nice clean job wiring something is time consuming an tedious as all hell.


blah rant off.
 
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