[quote=Bonnar_Bloke]Sadly it's the repair industry that's simply outpriced itself. Everyone wants to become a millionaire over night at some else's expense.

I've yet to see a mower shop that doesn't constantly do the dirty on it's customers and ream their pockets out.

I'm sure if there were more folk like your good self Norm the world would be a much better place and certainly less wasteful.

Cheers,
BB.[/quote]
Well Bonner yes there is a lot out there but there is still a few of us small shops still here.

Now take the following with a grain of salt from someone that has been in repair business for 40 yrs and need to point this out. There is a lot of hidden costs that customers never sees or care to see.

Here I charge $40 per for labor and I am having to raise it to $45 this year due to inflation. Constantly needing new specialized tools. Fighting with vendors trying to cheat the repair shops. And still try to squeak out a living from what repairs I do. Most of the shops around here are charging the customers $75 plus per for labor and yes do take advantage of most of their customers but I have never operated that way nor I plan to.

One dealer here went to $100 minimum charge for repairs even on handhelds. They are a Stihl dealer but now even Stihl corporate got involved by forcing us independent shops into having to pay all our Stihl parts from the dealer. Carburetor kits that I was paying $6-$7 apiece for from Zama are now from $17-$24 from Stihl. What worst is that dealer don't stock these kits and wants a $20 shipping charge too. About the only way a customer can get their low end Stihl chainsaws and trimmers repaired is to do it themselves or just purchase a new unit.

Mentioning vendors trying cheat. I just got in to it with one of my vendors yesterday. I ordered an OEM Zama carburetor and they tried sneaking in a clone at the same OEM price. I had too many problems with clones to accept this beside if I wanted a clone I could have gotten for a third of what I was charged.

There are many times I forgo full labor charges that could and should be charge as simply the equipment replacement simply can not justify the charges. Just yesterday I spent 1-1/2 hours just changing a clutch cable on a Honda self propelled walk behind mower. I had to fully unbolt the transmission just to get to a clip to remove the cable. Since I also have welded the deck back to where it not trying to fold up, done preventative maintenance I will charging about 2 hours labor but that is because I have over 4 hours of time in the actual repairs. Even most handhelds are under charged based on the time actually put into them vs what I actually charge.

The only time I come close to actual times is on larger ZTRs and ATVs. Even then if it a new procedure I still allow time for my learning curve.

Tools are expensive even with buying a lot cheaper Chinese tools but if wasn't for them I would need to be charging more. I just look at a required tester that is just use to set the TPS on a Polaris ATV and it is over $1100. No way I can buy it just to do one job.

Then there is the insurance for the shop and shop parts inventory that I must have on hand just to operate. This is just the tip of the iceberg. This why many DIYers never get anywhere when they start out as they try to do their too cheap. My brother was one that wanted to charge only $10 per hour plus a couple extra dollars on the parts cost. He lost $6K the very first and claimed I stole his money as I was his bookkeeper. Since he quit the business and I knew how to operate the business at a profit I continue it even though he quit and claimed I stole the business from him. You can't steal a business that some else quits.

On top of this is the customers that try to cheat even shops like mine so the back stabbing can go both ways. Most tried the partial payments and get their equipment then don't even finish paying the bill. This has stop here I will not let the equipment leave without being fully paid.

Just think of the $20K I billed years I got to keep $5K before income taxes and reinvestment in the company. No way that is a living. If wasn't for second hand clothing stores I would be in rags for clothes. I be so glad to finally get to draw a retirement check in a few years so I can just quit this nightmare or at least stop begging for work.

I done ranting...I think..
:crazy:

Last edited by AVB; 04/01/19 07:50 PM.