JIMSS Moto Sucks!!!

[92yellowveefer]

Thorough in scope - perhaps. However, that does not in any way change the fact that $1200 is overly inflated. If you or I were to go online and purchase all of those parts, we would only spend in the neighborhood of $500 for ALL of those parts. I actually just went online and ran the numbers. Not OEM parts - but I'm quite certain the shop isn't using Honda wheel bearings either. Once the front wheel is off to change the tire, the bearings and brake work are a no-brainer. So he can't have more than 4 or 5 hours labor in this. And yes I do take issue with people like this getting $75 per hour - which at a full-time rate amounts to $156,000 a year.
But again, we tend to rationalize and excuse exploitation such as this because "it's what everyone charges" or "that's the going rate. This is a free-market, capitalist market - albeit a broken one right now. But we have every right, and obligation to leverage the laws of supply and demand to just say "no". That is exactly why you will find honorable shops charging $40 or $50 per hour, and not marking up parts 100%.
This is exactly why this thread is anything but bogus or irrelevant.
I just laid out the numbers in black and white - there are the facts.

[whenindoubt01]

Thorough in scope - perhaps. However, that does not in any way change the fact that $1200 is overly inflated. If you or I were to go online and purchase all of those parts, we would only spend in the neighborhood of $500 for ALL of those parts. I actually just went online and ran the numbers. Not OEM parts - but I'm quite certain the shop isn't using Honda wheel bearings either. Once the front wheel is off to change the tire, the bearings and brake work are a no-brainer. So he can't have more than 4 or 5 hours labor in this. And yes I do take issue with people like this getting $75 per hour - which at a full-time rate amounts to $156,000 a year.
But again, we tend to rationalize and excuse exploitation such as this because "it's what everyone charges" or "that's the going rate. This is a free-market, capitalist market - albeit a broken one right now. But we have every right, and obligation to leverage the laws of supply and demand to just say "no". That is exactly why you will find honorable shops charging $40 or $50 per hour, and not marking up parts 100%.
This is exactly why this thread is anything but bogus or irrelevant.
I just laid out the numbers in black and white - there are the facts.

Is the front tire and the back tire included in that $500.00 parts price?

If people are willing to pay $75.00 per hour, than good for who ever can get it. Supply VS Demand.
If you don't want to pay $75.00 per hour, that's OK. Just don't go out and bad mouth anyone for their hourly rates.

[92yellowveefer]

Yes - anyone can get both a 180 rear and 120 front Road Attack for around $300 with free shipping. I just paid $315 for my set of Pirelli Diablos. Rotors and pads up front (EBCs) $175. Wheel bearings will run less than $20. Brake fluid a couple of bucks.

You are absolutely correct that if people want to pay $75 per hour, then they should be allowed to. But that's missing the point completely - when an industry, meaning the organized dealer service providers, conspire to monopolize the market place and set labor rates at artificially outrageous levels, then they SHOULD be bad-mouthed.
How can anyone in their right mind justify paying a salary that is commensurate to what doctors make ($156,000) to some kid who studies part time to get ASE certified. Yes - they're not necessarily working a full 40 hours each week, and the shop does keep most of that. But it's still ludicrous. Just because that's what they charge does not justify it.
But your point of not wanting to pay that $75 is well taken - and I think really what this whole thread is about - alerting members to a vendor who is overcharging and providing poor service. I for one appreciate that, and think in general it serves the greater good.

[Joey_Dude]

I told myself I was gonna give this thread a rest but I'll add some things to clear up some possible confusions.

With my expectations of a good mechanic I want them to be upfront with the diagnosis and solution. I do not want any hidden repairs and/or unrelated repairs. It's nice to provide some preventative maintenance but it should be left as an option.

When I receive the bill I want to see exactly what the mechanic told me. With this JIMSS Moto example, I wanted him to say that the front brake rotors need to be replaced but also noted some other items that could be repaired for an extra fee. I don't want to have to interrogate a mechanic on why the cost is so high. With the wheel bearings, brake fluid, front tire, etc... I want the mechanic to list those as optional items to repair instead of mandatory to fix the problem.

I have no problem with mechanics checking for extra items to fix since it's their living and it won't hurt in drumming up more business. My only issue is if it was not asked for then state those repairs as optional not as part of the fix.

Plus I want the mechanic to at least note any specific requirements like what tire model I want. I don't want to have to tell him twice what I want and find out he didn't know what I want. It's not that hard to write down notes. When I talked to the guy what I wanted I noticed he didn't write it down. I assumed he must have good memory plus the fact I just want the same tire that was already on should have been a no-brainer on what tire to get.

And I know those expectations are not unheard of since just about everyone I know has those same expectations as well. The good mechanics I have dealt with met all those expectations. Some even went beyond the call of duty and even showed me the faulty part that has to be replaced and some even boldly stated that they are unsure what exactly the problem is.

I hope that clears up some of my expectations and we can finally give this thread a rest. If any of you know of any good service centers feel free to post a thread in this Service Centers Reviews section!

[whenindoubt01]

I told myself I was gonna give this thread a rest but I'll add some things to clear up some possible confusions.

With my expectations of a good mechanic I want them to be upfront with the diagnosis and solution. I do not want any hidden repairs and/or unrelated repairs. It's nice to provide some preventative maintenance but it should be left as an option.

When I receive the bill I want to see exactly what the mechanic told me. With this JIMSS Moto example, I wanted him to say that the front brake rotors need to be replaced but also noted some other items that could be repaired for an extra fee. I don't want to have to interrogate a mechanic on why the cost is so high. With the wheel bearings, brake fluid, front tire, etc... I want the mechanic to list those as optional items to repair instead of mandatory to fix the problem.

I have no problem with mechanics checking for extra items to fix since it's their living and it won't hurt in drumming up more business. My only issue is if it was not asked for then state those repairs as optional not as part of the fix.

Plus I want the mechanic to at least note any specific requirements like what tire model I want. I don't want to have to tell him twice what I want and find out he didn't know what I want. It's not that hard to write down notes. When I talked to the guy what I wanted I noticed he didn't write it down. I assumed he must have good memory plus the fact I just want the same tire that was already on should have been a no-brainer on what tire to get.

And I know those expectations are not unheard of since just about everyone I know has those same expectations as well. The good mechanics I have dealt with met all those expectations. Some even went beyond the call of duty and even showed me the faulty part that has to be replaced and some even boldly stated that they are unsure what exactly the problem is.

I hope that clears up some of my expectations and we can finally give this thread a rest. If any of you know of any good service centers feel free to post a thread in this Service Centers Reviews section!

Fair enough, now we are communicating.

[whenindoubt01]

Yes - anyone can get both a 180 rear and 120 front Road Attack for around $300 with free shipping. I just paid $315 for my set of Pirelli Diablos. Rotors and pads up front (EBCs) $175. Wheel bearings will run less than $20. Brake fluid a couple of bucks.

You are absolutely correct that if people want to pay $75 per hour, then they should be allowed to. But that's missing the point completely - when an industry, meaning the organized dealer service providers, conspire to monopolize the market place and set labor rates at artificially outrageous levels, then they SHOULD be bad-mouthed.
Come join their meetings, they are held every Monday Night at 7PM, bring some money for the poker game after the meeting.

How can anyone in their right mind justify paying a salary that is commensurate to what doctors make ($156,000) to some kid who studies part time to get ASE certified. Yes - they're not necessarily working a full 40 hours each week, and the shop does keep most of that. But it's still ludicrous.

I know some mechanics that know their chit better than the Latest CEO's do! Your $156,000 is that net or gros?
They are a doctor too.


Just because that's what they charge does not justify it.
But your point of not wanting to pay that $75 is well taken - and I think really what this whole thread is about - alerting members to a vendor who is overcharging and providing poor service. I for one appreciate that, and think in general it serves the greater good.

Are you over paid for what you do?

[whenindoubt01]

Just for grins I checked the cost of the front rotors and they are $300 apiece
full list but if you get them from Service Honda you can get up to a 30% discount. From them the cost is still about $200. I have not found any place so far that is any cheaper for parts. Brake jobs are pretty easy if you have basic tools. Have not had anybody do a brake job on any vehicle of mine in
30 plus years. Shops make tons of money on these types of jobs. I have a
boss pay $800 to do a brake job on his car.

Is this $200.00 a piece for the rotors, so $400.00 for the 2 front rotors?