| HQ Automotive...Making a Difference |
The price you pay for a service can easily be disguised as very reasonable or even
low priced by cutting corners during the service or using inferior parts.
An example of this would be a brake job. Lets say you need front brakes. An auto
repair shop performs a brake service for $99. During the repair they purchase a set
of brake pads at a cost of $19 (this can easily be done more often then not). The
technician is paid on a system that rewards nothing but how fast he can get the job
done. This is very common, and has many variations however it's usually called the
'flat rate' system. Lets say the technician gets paid $15/hr (on the flat rate system)
and the shop will be paying the tech for 1 hours work regardless of how long it
actually takes him, although if for some reason the tech requires more then an hour to
perform the job a service advisor will be calling you to sell the additional labor for the
troubles (whether they be real or not) they ran into.
With a little practice the tech can replace the brake pads in 1/2 hour or even less,
however to achieve this he must ignore removing the old brake fluid from the calipers,
he can't spend any time cleaning or lubricating any related components, etc. But he
can effectively DOUBLE HIS INCOME by getting the job done in half the time he's
paid.
To say this is common would be a gross understatement. This is the way it is almost
everywhere!
If you recall we said the shop was going to bill you $99 for this service (and it sounds
like a bargain). With a little quick math we find the Shop will have a net profit of
($99-$19(parts)- $15(labor)=$65. The shop made $65 in a half hour or $130/hr.
This is an example however it is pretty close to the real world way of doing it. Most
shops would consider $130/hr the bare minimum. They would prefer for it to be much
higher. This can be done also, they just have to up-sell you. They will most likely
strongly encourage you to purchase additional components starting with an inflated
price for a premium set of brake pads (which you do need because the $19 set is
barely better then using the cardboard box they used to box them.) The overall
philosophy of the business and the personality of the person helping you will
determine how aggressively they attempt to up-sell services. Some shops will be
happy with simply getting the $99 from you knowing they will wear out fairly quick or
the inferior parts and workmanship will create other problems or wear quickly and you
will be back soon for another "bargain".
low priced by cutting corners during the service or using inferior parts.
An example of this would be a brake job. Lets say you need front brakes. An auto
repair shop performs a brake service for $99. During the repair they purchase a set
of brake pads at a cost of $19 (this can easily be done more often then not). The
technician is paid on a system that rewards nothing but how fast he can get the job
done. This is very common, and has many variations however it's usually called the
'flat rate' system. Lets say the technician gets paid $15/hr (on the flat rate system)
and the shop will be paying the tech for 1 hours work regardless of how long it
actually takes him, although if for some reason the tech requires more then an hour to
perform the job a service advisor will be calling you to sell the additional labor for the
troubles (whether they be real or not) they ran into.
With a little practice the tech can replace the brake pads in 1/2 hour or even less,
however to achieve this he must ignore removing the old brake fluid from the calipers,
he can't spend any time cleaning or lubricating any related components, etc. But he
can effectively DOUBLE HIS INCOME by getting the job done in half the time he's
paid.
To say this is common would be a gross understatement. This is the way it is almost
everywhere!
If you recall we said the shop was going to bill you $99 for this service (and it sounds
like a bargain). With a little quick math we find the Shop will have a net profit of
($99-$19(parts)- $15(labor)=$65. The shop made $65 in a half hour or $130/hr.
This is an example however it is pretty close to the real world way of doing it. Most
shops would consider $130/hr the bare minimum. They would prefer for it to be much
higher. This can be done also, they just have to up-sell you. They will most likely
strongly encourage you to purchase additional components starting with an inflated
price for a premium set of brake pads (which you do need because the $19 set is
barely better then using the cardboard box they used to box them.) The overall
philosophy of the business and the personality of the person helping you will
determine how aggressively they attempt to up-sell services. Some shops will be
happy with simply getting the $99 from you knowing they will wear out fairly quick or
the inferior parts and workmanship will create other problems or wear quickly and you
will be back soon for another "bargain".
At HQ Automotive there is
another way. For your sake
and our own the inferior parts
will simply not be one of your
choices. We will put on a
premium set of pads that we
are confident will perform and
last as intended. We also
recognize the importance in the
details, the little things along
the way of doing the job that do
require a little more time but in
the end make the job vastly
superior.....AND WE DO THEM.
another way. For your sake
and our own the inferior parts
will simply not be one of your
choices. We will put on a
premium set of pads that we
are confident will perform and
last as intended. We also
recognize the importance in the
details, the little things along
the way of doing the job that do
require a little more time but in
the end make the job vastly
superior.....AND WE DO THEM.
Be Careful of the "Bargain"
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
