Doing things yourself has many benefits. You learn something new, have a sense of accomplishment, and avoid paying someone else to do it.
But somewhere along the way, some genius came up with a way to standardize the entire industry according to generalized guide on how long things should take; then add an hour or so "just in case."
Enter "Flat-Rate Time".
We all know shops over-estimate on time (sometimes grossly) and it would appear to anybody with a brain that they are taking advantage of people by doing it.
Most repair and body shops use a "flat-rate" manual. This can be from different sources but most commonly, Chiltons. Well, if the Chilton's book says it takes a half-hour to remove the front bumper light from a 93 Accord, should I be gouged for it? (We all know its one screw and a turn of the light bulb socket... 3 minutes if you count walking to the tool box to find a philips)
Shop owners often blame the blatent "flat rate" deception on the fact that they must pay for overhead costs, tools and if the job takes longer than the "flat rate" time, they must eat it. Most places "eat it" by calling you on the phone and informing you of the "new estimate" they have prepared because they found some "new problems" they seemed to miss on their initial inspection. Car manufactures have their own set of books for labor times when dealers work on warranty claims. They are MUCH closer to the REAL amount of time it takes to perform a specific operation...but not for use by the general public.
Why not just charge a higher per-hour rate to cover your overhead costs and tools and be honest about repair times? Instead you play off the general population's ignorance to auto repair?
The most annoying part is the anger you ignite in an estimator or technician when you question his "flat-rate" quote. I mean, we all know it really CAN take a half-hour to remove a front bumper light from our cars.... if you move slow enough
K I'M DONE VENTING.
But somewhere along the way, some genius came up with a way to standardize the entire industry according to generalized guide on how long things should take; then add an hour or so "just in case."
Enter "Flat-Rate Time".
We all know shops over-estimate on time (sometimes grossly) and it would appear to anybody with a brain that they are taking advantage of people by doing it.
Most repair and body shops use a "flat-rate" manual. This can be from different sources but most commonly, Chiltons. Well, if the Chilton's book says it takes a half-hour to remove the front bumper light from a 93 Accord, should I be gouged for it? (We all know its one screw and a turn of the light bulb socket... 3 minutes if you count walking to the tool box to find a philips)
Shop owners often blame the blatent "flat rate" deception on the fact that they must pay for overhead costs, tools and if the job takes longer than the "flat rate" time, they must eat it. Most places "eat it" by calling you on the phone and informing you of the "new estimate" they have prepared because they found some "new problems" they seemed to miss on their initial inspection. Car manufactures have their own set of books for labor times when dealers work on warranty claims. They are MUCH closer to the REAL amount of time it takes to perform a specific operation...but not for use by the general public.
Why not just charge a higher per-hour rate to cover your overhead costs and tools and be honest about repair times? Instead you play off the general population's ignorance to auto repair?
The most annoying part is the anger you ignite in an estimator or technician when you question his "flat-rate" quote. I mean, we all know it really CAN take a half-hour to remove a front bumper light from our cars.... if you move slow enough
K I'M DONE VENTING.
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