Porsche ownership penalty

Drop my oil tank off last week at radiator shop to be cleaned out. This was a small dank family owned business in downtown Denver. The
old boy owner seemed nice and honest.
So today, when I called about its status
and cost. The owner said $55! Geez, my
tank was totally cleaned out just two
years ago. I can not fathom how this price
is justifiable for a simple couple hours soak in a tank.
Porsche --> deep pockets.
No way out of it either.

Bill
72T

Doesn't seem all that bad to me. He had to buy the soaking tank and cleaning medium, after all...it's called overhead.

Stephan

Bill,

This would only be a *SWAG*, but the last radiator I had done was $40 about 3 years ago ... and the place wasn't very busy in July, so me thinks the current use of composite plastic/aluminum radiators, which the small shops can't work on, has really put a crimp on their business, so prices have to go up for them to stay afloat.

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

that does seem a little steep to me. I had mine cleaned AND powdercoated for less than that.

Doesn't sound that bad to me. Maybe a little high, but not much.

What did you expect to pay, $5?

As a business owner I am amazed at how many people think I should be providing services at cost. People try to figure out what my out-of-pocket costs are, then try to negotiate down to that price.

"Hey, it was only $4 worth of chemical. Why should I pay more than $5?"

Don't forget about the overhead this guy has - building, insurance, equipment, maintenance, utilities, labor, on and on. He is not turning 100,000 of these things through, it is a one off. Give the guy a chance to stay in business, then when you need the next job done he'll still be around.

Figure out how much it would have cost you to do this yourself to the level of cleanliness this guy delivered, in time and materials. Then you decide if $55 was a bad deal.

Sorry for the rant.

In situations like this, I always avoid disclosing that it is for a Porsche. Thereby avoiding any potential surcharge.

You shold also have gotten a quote before you told him to do it.

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'86 Cab, '77 Targa, Family Truckster

I learned long ago to never identify what car it came off of. I remember I was driving through SC once and came up on a hard down pour and my wipers were not up to snuff. I pulled into a auto parts store to buy some wiper inserts. I didn't know the size and the wipers where behind the counter so I asked for inserts to fit my Mercedes. The guy wanted $21 each. For Bosch inserts that is very steep. I noticed the size and then I sent my wife in and had her ask for that size insert. This time they were $7 each.

Live and learn but never tell them what car you are dealing with unless it is absolutley needed.

osidak
78 911sc Targa

Crimmeny! You buy an air-cooled car and get reamed by a radiator shop!
Hey Z-man, doesn't Jon E. have that industrial dish washer thing any more? Guess it doesn't do tanks. Works dandy on everthing else though...

Come on Bill,

Tell the board why you're really upset!

I think that the 55 bucks wouldn't have been that big a deal by itself (although Bill is the self-admitted cheapest guy in our region). He's venting about it due to another P-car problem he encountered a couple of nights ago.

I'd bring it up but I've been sworn to secracy.

Come clean, you'll feel better!

Jess

Had some guys over yesterday to give me an estimate on some construction work at the house (building a deck, fencing, etc). Made sure to leave the garage doors closed to hide my 911 and my MB. The first estimate I got was through the roof. . .I'd left the garage doors opened.

Word to the wise!