So I believe like most on these forums I do nearly all my own work on vehicles. So I don't have a good frame of reference what certain repairs etc cost when going to a shop. Unfortunately I had an accident that rendered my left hand incapacitated at the moment. We are leaving for a trip in less than a week and the lower control arm ball joints have some play in them that I wanted to get done before this 5500 mile trip. So not being able to do it myself at the moment I went to a local well respected shop to get the lower control arms replaced. 5 hours @ $215/hr plus $964 for parts (both front lower control arms). Total over $2k! bit of sticker shock like I said as I don't use shops hardly at all. Unfortunately the parts are likely to be cheap replacements instead of OEM. they warranty whatever parts they get from their supplier (including labor to replace) but if they have to get parts elsewhere (OE or aftermarket improvements) the warranty would be whatever the mfg provided but they wouldn't warranty the labor to replace if they had issues. so I took a chance with their supplier parts to have the full warranty. The estimate references Moog RK620888 and RK620889 which are the cheap line not the problem solver line that I would prefer. Kinda stuck in place where I need it done but not able to do it myself. I feel for people that have to pay these prices on a regular basis. Glad I can (usually) do all my own work.
Repair Shop Costs!
- Thread starter BigDogYJ
- Start date
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Length of warranty and is it warrantied anywhere else in the USA? You said local shop well respected shop earns that respect if they have quality techs that they pay more to keep there. The labor fee seems high but you said local and "Earth" I heard is pricey. Does the total price include an alignment? Prices for labor and mark up on parts cover, wages, electrical, gas, haz mat fees, insurance, equipment, medical coverage, rent, taxes....etc.
Yes, it is expensive. No doubt.
Yes, it is expensive. No doubt.
Yeah local in California. I know I know....
They are local and well respected, but warranty would be local only. Alignment is additional $165. I know things cost money, just crazy how it adds up for what seems pretty basic. I'm also not sure what I think about marking up a part 250% to cover cost of running a business. I can understand if the labor rate is higher to cover that. but I would assume a moderate markup on parts to "provide warranty coverage" to be acceptable. but I don't know. I'm old school and usually do a lot of things myself. Just something I'm gonna have to get used to as I get older and busier. haha. hopefully it's still cheaper than paying $$$$ for a new rig.
Now I have to convince my wife how valuable I am with my newfound insight. Heck I just realized I was a lot more valuable. Hmmmm....
They are local and well respected, but warranty would be local only. Alignment is additional $165. I know things cost money, just crazy how it adds up for what seems pretty basic. I'm also not sure what I think about marking up a part 250% to cover cost of running a business. I can understand if the labor rate is higher to cover that. but I would assume a moderate markup on parts to "provide warranty coverage" to be acceptable. but I don't know. I'm old school and usually do a lot of things myself. Just something I'm gonna have to get used to as I get older and busier. haha. hopefully it's still cheaper than paying $$$$ for a new rig.
Now I have to convince my wife how valuable I am with my newfound insight. Heck I just realized I was a lot more valuable. Hmmmm....
Linda thanks me at least once a week for taking care of her 2002 Trailblazer. She loves it and at 78k miles, it is a great vehicle for her. I was in the shops for 45+ years. 10 as a tech and the rest, running them. I have seen labor rates and parts prices rise and rise. I have also had to see the shop expenses rise and accumulate because of city and state ordinances, taxes, fees....you name it. I was almost a partner in a shop in KC, Mo. area and then I did find out that the highest monthly expense was insurance.
May be different now but that was scary.
I do my work at home but I am not set up for some things. My age and no lift and other things can limit me. I have found a couple shops I can trust, to send my customers to and even use myself. They let my customers supply parts that I get for them, with no parts warranty. They get a discount on labor because I negotiated it. I also can supply my own parts and they give me a military discount.
If you say they make a 250% markup on parts, does that mean you know what the part costs them?
My 250% number was based on prices from summit racing. So I assume a shop gets better pricing via wholesale suppliers than what I would get from summit. But I used that as a basis instead of Amazon or rock auto which likely have better pricing.
Most parts stores show list prices on their web sites and that is higher than what you can buy it for when you walk in. Shops get a bigger discount.
For instance:
I am doing an oil change on a 2017 Jeep Cherokee 3.2 engine, tomorrow. I use O'Reilly for most all my parts on a quick notice for work. If have time and the shipping is not outrageous, I use RA.
Anyway: Oil filter list price is $16.93, price on the shelf at store is $9.99 and my shop discount is down to $7.65.
Engine air filter list price is $42.36, shelf price is $24.99 and my shop price is $16.54
Cabin air filter list price is $40.66, shelf price is $23.99 and my shop price is $10.32
I get a better discount on the 5 quart jug of Valvoline full synthetic 5w-20 oil. The advertised list price is $41.99 and the shelf price is the same but my shop discount is only $250 off but my military discount is 10% off at $37.79.
Some larger hard parts have bigger discounts.
In case other members read this:
Now, somewhere in this post of mine, there is an "on purpose" slip up/mistake. Who can find it?
For instance:
I am doing an oil change on a 2017 Jeep Cherokee 3.2 engine, tomorrow. I use O'Reilly for most all my parts on a quick notice for work. If have time and the shipping is not outrageous, I use RA.
Anyway: Oil filter list price is $16.93, price on the shelf at store is $9.99 and my shop discount is down to $7.65.
Engine air filter list price is $42.36, shelf price is $24.99 and my shop price is $16.54
Cabin air filter list price is $40.66, shelf price is $23.99 and my shop price is $10.32
I get a better discount on the 5 quart jug of Valvoline full synthetic 5w-20 oil. The advertised list price is $41.99 and the shelf price is the same but my shop discount is only $250 off but my military discount is 10% off at $37.79.
Some larger hard parts have bigger discounts.
In case other members read this:
Now, somewhere in this post of mine, there is an "on purpose" slip up/mistake. Who can find it?
Last edited:
Ha ha $250 off of oil. They giving you a big refund? Or are you just saving decimal points?
Jus Cruisin
Member
I look at car and truck maintenance as cheap labor compared to my boat. BOAT Bust Out Another Thousand. My marina hourly rate is $259/hr. The hot rod shop I use is $95/hr.
At 75, I have no desire to crawl under my vehicles anymore. I can just bump into something and I'm bleeding. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford it (the hot rod and boat) and wouldn't own them if they put a strain on the budget.
At 75, I have no desire to crawl under my vehicles anymore. I can just bump into something and I'm bleeding. I'm lucky enough to be able to afford it (the hot rod and boat) and wouldn't own them if they put a strain on the budget.
mikez71
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For what they are charging for the Moog lower arms, I would order GM Genuine. (if you have time)
My wife and kids have no idea the amount of money ive saved them over the years… thats not just car crap, home stuff as well. Its ok tho, because i usually buy myself some new tool when i work on something so theres that….i justify it to my head and my head agrees….
They really like me there. When I am there and standing in a line. If someone comes in and wants a CEL code read, I plug in and tell the customer and the counter people the codes.Ha ha $250 off of oil. They giving you a big refund? Or are you just saving decimal points?
I can't accept the new labor prices. I did my roof 3 years ago spread out over two summers, 31 squares.... All by myself to avoid paying the $33,000 they wanted. Just finished up 3 weekends in the crawl space replumbing the whole house.... They quoted $24,000. 2 years from retirement now and there's nothing major left to fix.... No way in hell I would sell at this point. I don't know how anyone affords labor costs these days. I make good money.... I just can't stand the thought of throwing it away.
Considered it but it would have to be a Tahoe or burb for 2.5 weeks would be about the same as the labor cost. Haha. I figured I’d risk them failing in the next 2 years and have them replace them under warranty then it helps me justify it a little more and I but talk them into using my preferred parts if they cover the labor. One can hope…
Unfortunately not enough time.
