Recurring themes "am I been ripped off" and "it should only take an hour"

in_the_Cotswolds

As an ex mechanic I notice a recurring theme on some of these posts they range from "I'm been ripped off" to "it should only take an hour".

When I worked in the workshop of a Renault dealers the timing belt change on a Renault Laguna 2.2 multivalve diesel was a 5 hr job. It was changed in conjunction with an 80,000 mile service complete time just over 8 hrs.

So,

1) if you can do the timing belt change in an hour, please show me how you did it.

And

2) If you think or are convinced you're been "ripped off" as I always say if you're not happy DIYFS, Do It Your Flipping Self. Then you won't be ripped off will you and you know it will only take an hour!!!

What people forget is you are paying for someone's skill. I want electrical work done I get an electrician to do. Ask for quotes first instead of always moaning after the fact.

rodenal

There's a happy balance - I do most of the work on my car myself (I'm reasonably competent), what I can't do I get done by someone else (usually on mates rates) - I always check how much it's going to cost and make sure I'm happy with that before getting the work done. Why you would do anything else is beyond me.

I was a bit confused by the "£120 is a rip off for a cambelt" comment if that's what you're referign to, as I thought that was quite a good labour charge for what more than likely involves removing/replacing the waterpump and idlers/tensioners as well as the timing belt itself.

On the flip side there are people out there who will take advantage of a persons lack of mechanical knowledge and use this to make more money than is really fair, i.e charging £100+ for a "pre mot" check. It is these individuals/companies that have brought about such biterness

Strider590

mechanic wrote: »

As an ex mechanic I notice a recurring theme on some of these posts they range from "I'm been ripped off" to "it should only take an hour".

When I worked in the workshop of a Renault dealers the timing belt change on a Renault Laguna 2.2 multivalve diesel was a 5 hr job. It was changed in conjunction with an 80,000 mile service complete time just over 8 hrs.

So,

1) if you can do the timing belt change in an hour, please show me how you did it.

And

2) If you think or are convinced you're been "ripped off" as I always say if you're not happy DIYFS, Do It Your Flipping Self. Then you won't be ripped off will you and you know it will only take an hour!!!

What people forget is you are paying for someone's skill. I want electrical work done I get an electrician to do. Ask for quotes first instead of always moaning after the fact.

What you fail to see is that many mechanics (and I use that term loosely) are now paid commission for over selling.
Many working in dealerships are trainee's, it's thought by the pencil pushers that a 17yr old with a laptop can do the same job as a time served (real) mechanic.

I was one once JUST quick/lucky enough to walk into the service area of a main dealership as a young mechanic was about to top up my engine oil with dirty oil from another car (emptied from a dirty catch tray). The blood drained from his face when he saw me.

I think there can be a lot of unfair assumptions made about garages and mechanics themselves, but unfortunately for as long as the dodgy one's exist, this problem will never go away.

ANY profession where the customer can be easily fooled, these are a target for crooks and con artists.....

IT/computers is probably the second biggest, I know a local IT guy who convinces his more elderly customers that they need him to clear their internet history to prevent their bank details being stolen, now most of us know how to do this, it's simple.... But he charges £65 a time!! He also rigs customers PC's (using the task scheduler) to fail after a set time, so that they'll call him back for repeat custom.


I'm quite sure that in around 2002 the DTI checked a large number of garages at random across the UK (200 or so), the findings showed that 50% of them were below standard and providing a poor level of service.
We've been through recession, tough times and people are much more greedy than 10 years ago..... I wonder what the figures would say now?

vikingaero

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that:

1) Some people are terminally stupid (and that includes newbies who post on here and we can't tell them that they are stupid because we rightly have to be nice to them - but I would rather the replies were forthright and blunt rather than wishy washy nice) or

2) People last had a cambelt change 5 years ago and think it's the same price or

3) They ask a half knowledgeable relative their opinion and the relative is the mongtarded type that shouts rip off at any price

interstellaflyer

People fail to realise the amount of extra work involved in changing a timing belt, on most modern cars it's not just a case of removing a couple of pulleys and the belt covers, for example on an Audi A4 you have to get the car into Service Possition, this litteraly means dismantling the front end of the car.

moonrakerz

vikingaero wrote: »

The problem is exacerbated by the fact that:

1) Some people are terminally stupid (and that includes newbies who post on here and we can't tell them that they are stupid because we rightly have to be nice to them - but I would rather the replies were forthright and blunt rather than wishy washy nice) or

Can we have that as a "sticky" please

vikingaero

My trusted local garage owner tells me that one of the banes of his life is eBay. He does work on a car and bills them for the parts and labour. Then the next day he gets a call from the customer who sees that the Widget used has been charged at £39.99, but the guy has eBayed the Widget and found one for £19.99 and the Customer insists that that is the real price despite the fact that the Widget could be a pattern part, overstock, one off left over discounted, or in an auction with 10 days still remaining. I think I'd shoot myself if I ever had to get a job dealing with the general public.

Strider590

vikingaero wrote: »

My trusted local garage owner tells me that one of the banes of his life is eBay. He does work on a car and bills them for the parts and labour. Then the next day he gets a call from the customer who sees that the Widget used has been charged at £39.99, but the guy has eBayed the Widget and found one for £19.99 and the Customer insists that that is the real price despite the fact that the Widget could be a pattern part, overstock, one off left over discounted, or in an auction with 10 days still remaining. I think I'd shoot myself if I ever had to get a job dealing with the general public.

Lot's of "trade only" distributors or parts suppliers, have started selling genuine parts to the general public via Ebay.... They're effectively cutting out the garages profit margins.

mikey72

vikingaero wrote: »

My trusted local garage owner tells me that one of the banes of his life is eBay. He does work on a car and bills them for the parts and labour. Then the next day he gets a call from the customer who sees that the Widget used has been charged at £39.99, but the guy has eBayed the Widget and found one for £19.99 and the Customer insists that that is the real price despite the fact that the Widget could be a pattern part, overstock, one off left over discounted, or in an auction with 10 days still remaining. I think I'd shoot myself if I ever had to get a job dealing with the general public.

I tend to supply at near trade because of this, but I'll supply decent quality, and warrant the replacement and re-fitting if I need to. If my customer doesn't like this, I will fit their part, (unless it's actually so poor it's dangerous) but if it goes wrong they're paying to have it replaced again.

Strider590 wrote: »

Lot's of "trade only" distributors or parts suppliers, have started selling genuine parts to the general public via Ebay.... They're effectively cutting out the garages profit margins.

Lots of chinese parts are boxed as genuine parts.
There's no way I would buy anything off ebay if I was supplying and fitting it.
I wouldn't touch any car parts at all, with the exception of a couple of washer pumps.

Strider590

mikey72 wrote: »

Lots of chinese parts are boxed as genuine parts.
There's no way I would buy anything off ebay if I was supplying and fitting it.
I wouldn't touch any car parts at all, with the exception of a couple of washer pumps.

Admittedly I have a very sharp instinct when it comes fake goods, I have purchased 2 fake items out of more than 900 purchases.
"Too good to be true" usually is, but most folk don't seem to realise this... So I guess it's unfair to expect everyone to be even half as aware as myself.
My recent purchase of genuine Bosch wiper blades for the Vec was pretty good at £14 for a complete set of front/rear blades.... But there were some blatant fakes going for not a great deal less.

skiddlydiddly

I think some of it can be down to a form of snobbery as in thinking some oily chap, in mucky overalls and no degree wants to charge me £50+ an hour for his time!!!I don't earn that so why should he?Failing to see the bigger picture of the running costs of a garage.