Quote:
Originally Posted by szyzygy
I always thought I got charged whatever time the mech actually worked.
Just saying this system lends itself to abuse/padding.
Nothing against mechs, all professions tend to do this whenever they can get away with it. Human nature I guess. I strive to overcome this everyday.
And this is why I attempt to work on my own car, with the help of those on this board.
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Okay, I feel that a little life lesson is in order here...
If a mechanic could charge you however much time it took him to do something, there would be precious little incentive for him to get it done expeditiously. The longer he took, the more he'd make on the job. Want that scenario instead? Think you'd come out ahead in the long run? End of lesson.
Flat rate times aren't generated by a poll from a bunch of lazy mechanics sitting around and guessing what they think they can get past the customers. They start with the manufacturers, who have their own flat rate times for warranty work. They are not very generous. I've run shops where a VERY competent lead technician might have to do a particular job a half dozen times before he could do it in the time they allowed. And that doesn't take into account the time they waste pulling cars in and out of the shop, waiting for parts at the parts counter, filling out the peperwork, etc. That part's something they don't get paid for.
Other flat rate systems like those quoted above are a little more generous than those of the manufacturers but nobody's getting rich in that business. There's a lot of unpaid time diagnosing a problem, or dealing with unexpected occurences that have nothing to do with the repair at hand. Cars aren't so easy to repair once they have some time and miles on them. They are usually pretty filthy, things break when you remove them, etc. The guy working in a shop doesn't always have a couple days to soak something in rust penetrant, while the customer waits in the waiting room. It's not like working on a car in your garage.
And, who knows if the dealership was even using a flate rate system. Maybe they adjust the times, like some of them adjust the retail prices on parts? It's a business, not a goverment service. If they can't make a profit, they won't continue to exist. If they don't exist, that's not a good thing for Porsche ownership in your area.
Lastly, you may be able to do a simple repair pretty quickly, maybe even almost as quickly as a mechanic. When it comes to the really hard jobs, they'll knock something out in a day that might take you a week in your garage, if you could complete it at all. And, they get up the next day and do it again. Some of the stuff they do isn't for the casual tinkerer. I wouldn't change places with them for all the money in China.
Have fun,
JR