I had a bit of a shock today when I took my 1998 Cutlass in to have the water pump changed. I expected to pay for parts (around 30.00), labor (50 per hour) and coolant. I did not expect to be charged an extra $12.00 per item (totaling 24.00) because the power steering and the air conditioner (as listed separately on the bill) made the job difficult. Is this a new thing? I pay a total labor charge of $66.00 and then I pay even more because the job is challenging?
2007-10-22 10:20:41 · 10 answers · asked by earthshoes38 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
depending on the vehicle, having the waterpump replaced can be quite an ordeal. i think what he charged you is a really good bargain. the same job on my '95 mystique cost over $500...
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2007-10-22 10:31:44 · answer #1 · answered by G 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would think that if it was challenging, then he would end up spending more time working on it. If labor is charged on a per hour basis, then technically, the labor charges would cover the additional time spent dealing with the challenges.
I doubt he would only charge you for an hour's worth of labor if he had spent more than an hour on it.
I think it's a deceptive and a way to look like they are only charging $50/hr when in fact they are charging $66
2007-10-22 10:33:28 · answer #2 · answered by H B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did you ask him, or just pay the bill? Did you ask for something as an estimate in advance, or just take it to him and say "Fix it."
The best source of answers for charges on your bill is not Yahoo! answers, it's the shop that put the charges there in the first place.
And you are only being charged $50 an hour labor, that's cheap by current average standards. $60 to $125 is more common.
2007-10-22 10:28:38 · answer #3 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most shops charge by 'the book'. The book lists all tasks on specific vehicles and states a fair amount of time to do the job. This will include any 'difficult' parts. So, if you were charged by the book, then it is fair. If he just decided AFTER beginning the work that it is more difficult than he quoted you, I would complain.
2007-10-22 10:26:05 · answer #4 · answered by Mike 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most billing is a flat rate hour ( what that means it is charged by a certain job ) example lets say that water-pump job in the flat rate hour takes 3 hrs labor.........and the mechanic does it in 2 your still gonna be charged for the 3 cause thats the falt rate hour..............and if they charge you by actual time....it takes all factors are factored in to that Job.....whether it has Power steering and Air.....cause they in some vehicles have to be removed to get to the pump...........you have to take into consideration the mechanics time and effort and tools and place of repair...............Some places are fair some are not.....but to charge more for items in thier way is a fair thing seing how it caused greater the work load to be done...........So long story short.........Sounds fair to me !!!
2007-10-22 10:30:15 · answer #5 · answered by hghostinme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Never heard of that but most mechanics will have a separate charge of labor on cars that have a lot of parts that need to be taken off before the repairs are done. But I have never seen them listed separately.
The thing that bugs me is where I get charged for cleaning rags, disposing of oil and hazmat for chemicals. You can dispose of oil free at any Checker car parts store, and the cleaning rags should be part of the overhead of running the store. How about if our grocery store started to charge us for janitor work every time we bought groceries. It would be the same thing.
2007-10-22 10:29:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those are called "interferences" and yes, if they are in the way and have to be moved or otherwise manipulated in order to get the job done then the shop is going to charge you for the extra time and effort.
Do you work for free? Then why should you expect your mechanic to do free work just because you don't understand what the job entails?
2007-10-22 12:15:34 · answer #7 · answered by Naughtums 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look under the hood and you'll understand that many things must be removed or loosened to even get to the water pump. My answer is no, I think he's being fair and is a pretty straight shooter.
2007-10-22 10:26:09 · answer #8 · answered by Country Boy 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
he gave you a good deal
2007-10-22 10:27:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it should have been included in the estimate?
2007-10-22 10:29:06 · answer #10 · answered by John St.Louis 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋