Did I Get Ripped Off?

Even at $80 an hour, that's over 3 hours labor - to do a job I am sure I
could do in 1.5 hours. You got hosed.

doug


"chudwuh" wrote in message

 > I had the thermostat and gasket and valve cover (short 4-bolt
 > aluminum) gaskets replaced on the Chevy 350 in my street rod - they
 > also tightened a power steering hose. The bill was $300 of which $43
 > was parts and taxes - the rest was labor. To be fair, they said (and
 > I have no reason to disbelieve) they had to clean off a lot of oil the
 > leaking gaskets had sprayed on the engine. On the other hand, there
 > is no alternator, A/C compressor, etc in the way of the covers - just
 > a few wires.
 >
 > This is very reputable shop I have used for 20+ years - I know the
 > owner and the service manager pretty well. They've never been cheap
 > but not exorbitant either and their work is always high quality
 > (although lately the quality seems to be slipping while the price goes
 > up). I don't think they would intentionally shaft me but this seems
 > pretty high for a simple job. Opinions? What's the job worth? If it
 > makes any difference, I'm in east central IL.
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

chudwuh wrote in article
...
 > I had the thermostat and gasket and valve cover (short 4-bolt
 > aluminum) gaskets replaced on the Chevy 350 in my street rod - they
 > also tightened a power steering hose. The bill was $300 of which $43
 > was parts and taxes - the rest was labor. To be fair, they said (and
 > I have no reason to disbelieve) they had to clean off a lot of oil the
 > leaking gaskets had sprayed on the engine. On the other hand, there
 > is no alternator, A/C compressor, etc in the way of the covers - just
 > a few wires.
 >
 > This is very reputable shop I have used for 20+ years - I know the
 > owner and the service manager pretty well. They've never been cheap
 > but not exorbitant either and their work is always high quality
 > (although lately the quality seems to be slipping while the price goes
 > up). I don't think they would intentionally shaft me but this seems
 > pretty high for a simple job.

If it was so simple, why didn't you do it yourself?

That's half the fun of street rodding....the sense of accomplishment that
comes from building and working on your own car.


 > Opinions?

Yeah!

Next time you go there, button up your shirt so your gold chains don't
show.

--
Bob Paulin - R.A.C.E.
Race Car Chassis Analysis & Setup Services
Chassis Blueprinting Services (as in engine blueprinting)
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

chudwuh wrote:
 > I had the thermostat and gasket and valve cover (short 4-bolt
 > aluminum) gaskets replaced on the Chevy 350 in my street rod - they
 > also tightened a power steering hose. The bill was $300 of which
$43
 > was parts and taxes - the rest was labor. To be fair, they said
(and
 > I have no reason to disbelieve) they had to clean off a lot of oil
the
 > leaking gaskets had sprayed on the engine. On the other hand, there
 > is no alternator, A/C compressor, etc in the way of the covers -
just
 > a few wires.
 >
 > This is very reputable shop I have used for 20+ years - I know the
 > owner and the service manager pretty well. They've never been cheap
 > but not exorbitant either and their work is always high quality
 > (although lately the quality seems to be slipping while the price
goes
 > up). I don't think they would intentionally shaft me but this seems
 > pretty high for a simple job. Opinions? What's the job worth? If
it
 > makes any difference, I'm in east central IL.

Here in west central Cer, this amount would buy five hours of labor
in a prestige brand workshop. HTH.

Huw


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 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

Thanks for the reality check. About what I figured - the bill was at
least double what it should have been. Too bad - this is the first
time these guys have given me reason to be dissatisfied. Good shops
are hard to find but I guess I'll be looking for one.

As to gold chains - nope. The only gold I wear is in my teeth - and
not in the front either! Course the implication is I'm so rich I can
buy a mega-buck, high-tech trailer queen and feed my ego by winning
trophies - and that I never get my hands dirty on it like "real"
street rodders do. Nope again. I'm far from wealthy and my car is a
pretty basic driver (daily when the roads are dry) complete with
chips, dings and rust. I take it to local shows because I enjoy
checking out other cars and socializing with folks - but it's seldom
good enough to win anything. So why didn't I do the job myself? I
agree half the fun is working on the car and I do what I can with my
limited tools and talent. Yes, I could have handled this simple job -
and now wish I had! But, due to other obligations at the time, I
couldn't spare even a couple hours to do it and the leaks had gotten
to the point they could no longer be neglected.

Anyway, thanks again for the input.
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

"chudwuh" wrote in message

 > I had the thermostat and gasket and valve cover (short 4-bolt
 > aluminum) gaskets replaced on the Chevy 350 in my street rod - they
 > also tightened a power steering hose. The bill was $300 of which $43
 > was parts and taxes - the rest was labor. To be fair, they said (and
 > I have no reason to disbelieve) they had to clean off a lot of oil the
 > leaking gaskets had sprayed on the engine. On the other hand, there
 > is no alternator, A/C compressor, etc in the way of the covers - just
 > a few wires.
 >
 > This is very reputable shop I have used for 20+ years - I know the
 > owner and the service manager pretty well. They've never been cheap
 > but not exorbitant either and their work is always high quality
 > (although lately the quality seems to be slipping while the price goes
 > up). I don't think they would intentionally shaft me but this seems
 > pretty high for a simple job. Opinions? What's the job worth? If it
 > makes any difference, I'm in east central IL.

Did you get ripped off? Maybe, Maybe Not. What is their billed
labor rate (IE:$80 per hour). If they had to spend an hour cleaning oil off
of your car, they may still charge you $80 for it. Some places do it for
free, some charge for that sort of service.

If you like the service there, and they have yet to do you wrong, I
say keep going back.
Charles
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

On Mon, 02 Aug 2004 08:12:53 GMT, "Charles Bendig"
wrote:

||
||"chudwuh" wrote in message
||
||> I had the thermostat and gasket and valve cover (short 4-bolt
||> aluminum) gaskets replaced on the Chevy 350 in my street rod - they
||> also tightened a power steering hose. The bill was $300 of which $43
||> was parts and taxes - the rest was labor. To be fair, they said (and
||> I have no reason to disbelieve) they had to clean off a lot of oil the
||> leaking gaskets had sprayed on the engine. On the other hand, there
||> is no alternator, A/C compressor, etc in the way of the covers - just
||> a few wires.
||>
||> This is very reputable shop I have used for 20+ years - I know the
||> owner and the service manager pretty well. They've never been cheap
||> but not exorbitant either and their work is always high quality
||> (although lately the quality seems to be slipping while the price goes
||> up). I don't think they would intentionally shaft me but this seems
||> pretty high for a simple job. Opinions? What's the job worth? If it
||> makes any difference, I'm in east central IL.
||
|| Did you get ripped off? Maybe, Maybe Not. What is their billed
||labor rate (IE:$80 per hour). If they had to spend an hour cleaning oil off
||of your car, they may still charge you $80 for it. Some places do it for
||free, some charge for that sort of service.
||
|| If you like the service there, and they have yet to do you wrong, I
||say keep going back.
||Charles

I agree, but I'd have an informal chat with the owner. If he wants to keep you
for a customer he will offer some concession on future work, or at least a
better explanation of the charges. If he isn't interested in keeping you, you
will know that also, and react accordingly.

Texas Parts Guy
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

"Rex B" wrote in message

 > || If you like the service there, and they have yet to do you wrong,
I
 > ||say keep going back.
 > ||Charles
 >
 > I agree, but I'd have an informal chat with the owner. If he wants to keep
you
 > for a customer he will offer some concession on future work, or at least a
 > better explanation of the charges. If he isn't interested in keeping you,
you
 > will know that also, and react accordingly.
 >
 > Texas Parts Guy

That's good advice Rex
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

wow you guys have cheap labor rates for "top shops". around here..$60 to
$100 per hr. but as was mentioned...most street rodders i run with never
take a rod to a shop for repairs..alignments maybe or dx that is past
our pinot of knowledge but nothing else...each there own i guess...but
no estimate and no approval from you??

Huw wrote:
 > chudwuh wrote:
 >
  >>I had the thermostat and gasket and valve cover (short 4-bolt
  >>aluminum) gaskets replaced on the Chevy 350 in my street rod - they
  >>also tightened a power steering hose. The bill was $300 of which
 >
 > $43
 >
  >>was parts and taxes - the rest was labor. To be fair, they said
 >
 > (and
 >
  >>I have no reason to disbelieve) they had to clean off a lot of oil
 >
 > the
 >
  >>leaking gaskets had sprayed on the engine. On the other hand, there
  >>is no alternator, A/C compressor, etc in the way of the covers -
 >
 > just
 >
  >>a few wires.
  >>
  >>This is very reputable shop I have used for 20+ years - I know the
  >>owner and the service manager pretty well. They've never been cheap
  >>but not exorbitant either and their work is always high quality
  >>(although lately the quality seems to be slipping while the price
 >
 > goes
 >
  >>up). I don't think they would intentionally shaft me but this seems
  >>pretty high for a simple job. Opinions? What's the job worth? If
 >
 > it
 >
  >>makes any difference, I'm in east central IL.
 >
 >
 > Here in west central Cer, this amount would buy five hours of labor
 > in a prestige brand workshop. HTH.
 >
 > Huw
 >
 >
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 > Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
 > Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
 > Version: 6.0.698 / Virus Database: 455 - Release Date: 02/06/04
 >
 >
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

(chudwuh) wrote in message ...
 > I had the thermostat and gasket and valve cover (short 4-bolt
 > aluminum) gaskets replaced on the Chevy 350 in my street rod - they
 > also tightened a power steering hose. The bill was $300 of which $43
 > was parts and taxes - the rest was labor. To be fair, they said (and
 > I have no reason to disbelieve) they had to clean off a lot of oil the
 > leaking gaskets had sprayed on the engine. On the other hand, there
 > is no alternator, A/C compressor, etc in the way of the covers - just
 > a few wires.
 >
 > This is I have used for 20+ years - I know the
 > owner and the service manager pretty well. They've never been cheap
 > but not exorbitant either and their work is always high quality
 > (although lately the quality seems to be slipping while the price goes
 > up). I don't think they would intentionally shaft me but this seems
 > pretty high for a simple job. Opinions? What's the job worth? If it
 > makes any difference, I'm in east central IL.

You've not given enough information for anyone to tell you if you've
been ripped off.. what kind of street rod, what kind of repair shop,
what's the labor rate, exposed or enclosed engine, how bad were the
leaks, how hard was the work, how much clean up time?

You multi-posted your question to 5 groups, but you answered in only
one..

"Thanks for the reality check. About what I figured - the bill was at
least double what it should have been. Too bad - this is the first
time these guys have given me reason to be dissatisfied. Good shops
are hard to find but I guess I'll be looking for one.

As to gold chains - nope. The only gold I wear is in my teeth - and
not in the front either! Course the implication is I'm so rich I can
buy a mega-buck, high-tech trailer queen and feed my ego by winning
trophies - and that I never get my hands dirty on it like "real"
street rodders do. Nope again. I'm far from wealthy and my car is a
pretty basic driver (daily when the roads are dry) complete with
chips, dings and rust. I take it to local shows because I enjoy
checking out other cars and socializing with folks - but it's seldom
good enough to win anything. So why didn't I do the job myself? I
agree half the fun is working on the car and I do what I can with my
limited tools and talent. Yes, I could have handled this simple job -
and now wish I had! But, due to other obligations at the time, I
couldn't spare even a couple hours to do it and the leaks had gotten
to the point they could no longer be neglected.

Anyway, thanks again for the input."

You've been going to this shop for 20+ years; your complaint is about
$250 in labor, you feel that you've been overcharged $125. You're
leaving the shop because of this.

How much money have you spent there in 20+ years?.. Have you talked
to the owner/manager about this? Do you really want to leave a "very
reputable shop" over $125?

Regards,

Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

I retract my comment about only posting a response in one group..
Usenet is not cooperating at the moment.. but there was a multi-post
response.

Regards,

Jim
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

Depends on how many hours it took to clean everything up. Changing the
gaskets takes about an hour.

chudwuh wrote:

 > I had the thermostat and gasket and valve cover (short 4-bolt
 > aluminum) gaskets replaced on the Chevy 350 in my street rod - they
 > also tightened a power steering hose. The bill was $300 of which $43
 > was parts and taxes - the rest was labor. To be fair, they said (and
 > I have no reason to disbelieve) they had to clean off a lot of oil the
 > leaking gaskets had sprayed on the engine. On the other hand, there
 > is no alternator, A/C compressor, etc in the way of the covers - just
 > a few wires.
 >
 > This is very reputable shop I have used for 20+ years - I know the
 > owner and the service manager pretty well. They've never been cheap
 > but not exorbitant either and their work is always high quality
 > (although lately the quality seems to be slipping while the price goes
 > up). I don't think they would intentionally shaft me but this seems
 > pretty high for a simple job. Opinions? What's the job worth? If it
 > makes any difference, I'm in east central IL.
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

 >I don't think they would intentionally shaft me but this seems
  >> pretty high for a simple job. Opinions? What's the job worth? If it

You got screwed
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off? 

"Rex B" wrote in message
 > I agree, but I'd have an informal chat with the owner. If he wants to keep
you
 > for a customer he will offer some concession on future work, or at least a
 > better explanation of the charges. If he isn't interested in keeping you,
you
 > will know that also, and react accordingly.
 >
 > Texas Parts Guy

Rex, that is a nice way to say that he got screwed but he should smile
because it felt good ;>)

Seriously, there may have been mitigating circumstances. But, sounds like a
simple mathematical error is out of the question, huh?

You need to address your mild displeasure with the owner and see what he has
to say.
 >> Stay informed about: Did I Get Ripped Off?