Re: 4kq ac repairs

[Robert Myers <rmyers@inetone.net>]

Nathan,

Shop hours charged are based on the flat rate "book hours" stated in their
shop manual.  These are usually very high side estimates but that is the
basis for their charges.  The book says 8 hours for a job.  The mechanic
gets the job done in 5 hours.  You pay for 8 hours.  Tough Sh*t.  I'm not
saying it's right, but that's the way it is.  BTW, assuming that the
mechanic starts work on another car immediately after finishing yours, the
3 hours are also charged to the next customer.  Can you say "double
billing"?  Can you also say "Screwed"?


At 09:42 AM 7/23/98 -0700, you wrote:
>I just got done paying for the repairs on my 1985 4kq ac-
>total:  about $1100.
>
>Now, they charged me exactly what they estimated- which is good.
>
>However, they only had the car for about 8 hours, some of which
>no doubt wasn't working time, but they
>charged me over $700 in labor.  I have little problem paying a lot
>for good wrench work...but they told me they charge $67/hr in labor...
>If I were generous and said that really worked on it all 8 hours, that
>only comes out to about $550 in labor.  What they charged came out to
>almost $90/hr!  And of course, it would really be worse if I only counted
>hours that they were actually working on it.
>
>The work was really top notch though, and actually cost me less than the
>dealer wanted, because the dealer wanted to replace the compressor, but
>these guys were able to simply repair it (bad seal- they also did a lot of
>other things I needed done to the  car, which explains the high total).
>
>
>So, my question is, what should I do about it?  I'm sure that if the
>estimate had erred on the side of being to little they
>would have changed the final price...but because it was too much
>they just went with it.  I know that what they billed me would be 
>acceptable at a flat rate shop...but they purport to be an hourly
>shop...and that is what doesn't mesh.
>
>nate
>-- 
>Nathan B. Thomas
>nathan@baz.com
>
>
___
   Bob
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