Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

They don't "do it because they can", Nathan. The overhead of my particular
service department, before paying the tech, is about $42 an hour. This
isn't a gas station, this is a 23 bay repair facility, with every special
tool and piece of equipment necessary to fix anything on the cars we work
on. We don't have the luxury of telling an owner "you will have to take it
somewhere else, we don't do that here."

Refrigerant recovery machines are about $5000. A brake lathe that is
capable of turning out rotors with less that .001 lateral runout while
turning 50 rotors per day is about $10,000. A handheld scan tool with which
to diagnose and reprogram your car is about $3000. These are just three
examples of shop equipment. We need two recovery machines, four brake
lathes, and five scan tools. You do the math. This is just the tip of the
iceberg.

Factory training isn't free. It also isn't voluntary. If you want to work
at the dealership level, you have to attend training, as the manufacturers
make changes every year to major components and electrical/electronic
systems. We can't be five years behind the curve like the gas station guys,
then learn it as we go.

For all of the complaining about the cost of dealership labor, there are
still cars lined up out to the street, waiting to be serviced. It defies
logic. You would think that a shop that supposedly gouges customers
"because we can" wouldn't be in business for 50+ years.

Seems there was a thread on this topic just a month or so ago. Perhaps Lon
can refresh our memories.

Jerry



"Nathan Collier" <JeepMail@7SlotGrille.com> wrote in message
news:dfWMb.221803$Vu5.16486442@twister.southeast.r r.com...
> a typical dealership mechanic averages around $15-$17 an hour. the
> dealership has to pay for all the shop expenses including insurance and
> match the mechanics ss deductions but its still a rip to charge $75 an
hour.
> they do it because they can.
>
> --
> Nathan W. Collier
> http://7SlotGrille.com
> http://UtilityOffRoad.com
>
>
>

Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

There has been talk for years about how the automakers should "give" the
diagnostic information and schematics to anyone that asks for them.

In fact, they are currently available (and have been for some time) through
aftermarket sources, such as Mitchell and Alldata. There is a fee involved,
of course. I don't know about Mitchell's product, but I know that a
subscription to AlldataPro is $200 a month.

Alldata is simply factory service manual information, copied into a web
format and indexed. If you pull up a schematic for a 2000 Cadillac Deville
on Alldata, it will match exactly the factory schematic. They do the same
for all manufacturers.

Jerry
P.S. I am always glad to help someone in need of factory service
information. Anytime that anyone in the group needs a schematic, I am
pretty quick about fetching it up.


"Ed J." <ej_000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:hn8900laj87aj1dsf4c363cesgk62ensm1@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 Jeepster wrote:
>
> >This is why you see lots of small shops run by father and son
> >mechanics.
>
> Not as many as you used to, unfortunately. That's why whenever I pick
> one of my vehicles up at the local garage, I make sure the shop fridge
> is full :-)
>
> I just heard a story on the radio this week that some organization
> representing independent shops is lobbying congress to require auto
> makers to provide diagnostic information, schematics, etc to
> independent shops. That would be a good thing, so it'll probably never
> happen.
>
> -Ed

Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

There has been talk for years about how the automakers should "give" the
diagnostic information and schematics to anyone that asks for them.

In fact, they are currently available (and have been for some time) through
aftermarket sources, such as Mitchell and Alldata. There is a fee involved,
of course. I don't know about Mitchell's product, but I know that a
subscription to AlldataPro is $200 a month.

Alldata is simply factory service manual information, copied into a web
format and indexed. If you pull up a schematic for a 2000 Cadillac Deville
on Alldata, it will match exactly the factory schematic. They do the same
for all manufacturers.

Jerry
P.S. I am always glad to help someone in need of factory service
information. Anytime that anyone in the group needs a schematic, I am
pretty quick about fetching it up.


"Ed J." <ej_000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:hn8900laj87aj1dsf4c363cesgk62ensm1@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 Jeepster wrote:
>
> >This is why you see lots of small shops run by father and son
> >mechanics.
>
> Not as many as you used to, unfortunately. That's why whenever I pick
> one of my vehicles up at the local garage, I make sure the shop fridge
> is full :-)
>
> I just heard a story on the radio this week that some organization
> representing independent shops is lobbying congress to require auto
> makers to provide diagnostic information, schematics, etc to
> independent shops. That would be a good thing, so it'll probably never
> happen.
>
> -Ed

Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

There has been talk for years about how the automakers should "give" the
diagnostic information and schematics to anyone that asks for them.

In fact, they are currently available (and have been for some time) through
aftermarket sources, such as Mitchell and Alldata. There is a fee involved,
of course. I don't know about Mitchell's product, but I know that a
subscription to AlldataPro is $200 a month.

Alldata is simply factory service manual information, copied into a web
format and indexed. If you pull up a schematic for a 2000 Cadillac Deville
on Alldata, it will match exactly the factory schematic. They do the same
for all manufacturers.

Jerry
P.S. I am always glad to help someone in need of factory service
information. Anytime that anyone in the group needs a schematic, I am
pretty quick about fetching it up.


"Ed J." <ej_000@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:hn8900laj87aj1dsf4c363cesgk62ensm1@4ax.com...
> On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 Jeepster wrote:
>
> >This is why you see lots of small shops run by father and son
> >mechanics.
>
> Not as many as you used to, unfortunately. That's why whenever I pick
> one of my vehicles up at the local garage, I make sure the shop fridge
> is full :-)
>
> I just heard a story on the radio this week that some organization
> representing independent shops is lobbying congress to require auto
> makers to provide diagnostic information, schematics, etc to
> independent shops. That would be a good thing, so it'll probably never
> happen.
>
> -Ed

Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 17:31:21 UTC "William Oliveri"
<wuji@bigvalley.net> wrote:

> Hi all,
> I've recently been wondering, I've taken my jeep to a business where they
> charge 75.00 per hour for the mechanic's labor. I'm curious what take does
> the mechanic get from that charge? I guess the business owner probably has
> to pay various things to have the mechanic work there so I'm sure he's not
> getting the full 75.00. Anyone who's a mechanic or anyone who knows please
> feel free to respond.

My oldest son just got his first taste of a regular auto shop after a
few years in a small engine/cycle shop. After 6 months, he decided to
go back to school for his teaching credentials to make a living.
First, his cut of the flat rate was considerably less than 50% - I
don't remember exactly what he said it was but it was in the 30-35%
range. Second, he was expected to produce a large amount of upsales
(on which he also earned commission). I think his target was that his
upsales gross equaled his wrenching output. He said the hell with
that and left. Having run my father-in-law's service station while he
was sick, that sounds about right since our TBA sales represented most
of the profit. Even in the 60s gas sales barely kept the lights on
and overhead ate the profit on the service bays. With current
workmans comp rates the way they are i would expect that that alone
eats close to as much as the wrench bender clears.

--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 17:31:21 UTC "William Oliveri"
<wuji@bigvalley.net> wrote:

> Hi all,
> I've recently been wondering, I've taken my jeep to a business where they
> charge 75.00 per hour for the mechanic's labor. I'm curious what take does
> the mechanic get from that charge? I guess the business owner probably has
> to pay various things to have the mechanic work there so I'm sure he's not
> getting the full 75.00. Anyone who's a mechanic or anyone who knows please
> feel free to respond.

My oldest son just got his first taste of a regular auto shop after a
few years in a small engine/cycle shop. After 6 months, he decided to
go back to school for his teaching credentials to make a living.
First, his cut of the flat rate was considerably less than 50% - I
don't remember exactly what he said it was but it was in the 30-35%
range. Second, he was expected to produce a large amount of upsales
(on which he also earned commission). I think his target was that his
upsales gross equaled his wrenching output. He said the hell with
that and left. Having run my father-in-law's service station while he
was sick, that sounds about right since our TBA sales represented most
of the profit. Even in the 60s gas sales barely kept the lights on
and overhead ate the profit on the service bays. With current
workmans comp rates the way they are i would expect that that alone
eats close to as much as the wrench bender clears.

--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

On Tue, 13 Jan 2004 17:31:21 UTC "William Oliveri"
<wuji@bigvalley.net> wrote:

> Hi all,
> I've recently been wondering, I've taken my jeep to a business where they
> charge 75.00 per hour for the mechanic's labor. I'm curious what take does
> the mechanic get from that charge? I guess the business owner probably has
> to pay various things to have the mechanic work there so I'm sure he's not
> getting the full 75.00. Anyone who's a mechanic or anyone who knows please
> feel free to respond.

My oldest son just got his first taste of a regular auto shop after a
few years in a small engine/cycle shop. After 6 months, he decided to
go back to school for his teaching credentials to make a living.
First, his cut of the flat rate was considerably less than 50% - I
don't remember exactly what he said it was but it was in the 30-35%
range. Second, he was expected to produce a large amount of upsales
(on which he also earned commission). I think his target was that his
upsales gross equaled his wrenching output. He said the hell with
that and left. Having run my father-in-law's service station while he
was sick, that sounds about right since our TBA sales represented most
of the profit. Even in the 60s gas sales barely kept the lights on
and overhead ate the profit on the service bays. With current
workmans comp rates the way they are i would expect that that alone
eats close to as much as the wrench bender clears.

--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

> Not as many as you used to, unfortunately. That's why whenever I pick
> one of my vehicles up at the local garage, I make sure the shop fridge
> is full :-)


Good point, Ed.
If you are happy with your mechanic, a plate of cookies or a 12 pack helps
them to remember you when they write the next bill. No one ever tips a
mechanic, but a pizza at noon is greatly appreciated .
Conversely, here in this small town area there are some people who have to
travel to the next county to find a mechanic who will work on their cars.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California

Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

> Not as many as you used to, unfortunately. That's why whenever I pick
> one of my vehicles up at the local garage, I make sure the shop fridge
> is full :-)


Good point, Ed.
If you are happy with your mechanic, a plate of cookies or a 12 pack helps
them to remember you when they write the next bill. No one ever tips a
mechanic, but a pizza at noon is greatly appreciated .
Conversely, here in this small town area there are some people who have to
travel to the next county to find a mechanic who will work on their cars.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California

Re: What does the Mechanic get
 

> Not as many as you used to, unfortunately. That's why whenever I pick
> one of my vehicles up at the local garage, I make sure the shop fridge
> is full :-)


Good point, Ed.
If you are happy with your mechanic, a plate of cookies or a 12 pack helps
them to remember you when they write the next bill. No one ever tips a
mechanic, but a pizza at noon is greatly appreciated .
Conversely, here in this small town area there are some people who have to
travel to the next county to find a mechanic who will work on their cars.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California