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re: Mechanic wanted to replace a burned out brake light bulb for $37.19
Posted on 11/7/19 at 1:50 pm to GetCocky11
Posted on 11/7/19 at 1:50 pm to GetCocky11
I had to have a mechanic change the headlamp bulbs on my last car. I tried for like an hour, but I couldn't get my bear paw down into the tiny space they gave. I'd have had to take the radiator shroud off to take the air intake off the car to get enough space for me to access the driver's side headlight.
Before I started to disassemble shite, I stopped by my mechanic and asked if there was a trick I was missing that I could pay him to show me so I could do it myself next time. He laughed and said there definitely was a trick, then he called this concentration camp skinny guy he had working for him over and charged me $30 plus bulb cost to replace them, so that's like 15-20 minutes of shop time I paid for. Stretch Armstrong had those things swapped out in like 5 minutes.
Best 15 minutes of shop time I ever paid for.
frick a bulb, though. Sealed LED FTW!
Now, if I have a burned out headlight, it's at least $1500.
Before I started to disassemble shite, I stopped by my mechanic and asked if there was a trick I was missing that I could pay him to show me so I could do it myself next time. He laughed and said there definitely was a trick, then he called this concentration camp skinny guy he had working for him over and charged me $30 plus bulb cost to replace them, so that's like 15-20 minutes of shop time I paid for. Stretch Armstrong had those things swapped out in like 5 minutes.
Best 15 minutes of shop time I ever paid for.
frick a bulb, though. Sealed LED FTW!
Now, if I have a burned out headlight, it's at least $1500.
This post was edited on 11/7/19 at 1:53 pm
1
Posted on 11/7/19 at 1:50 pm to GetCocky11
Is that supposed to be expensive?
Gotta pay for his time baw
Gotta pay for his time baw
Posted on 11/7/19 at 1:53 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
It’s like you don’t understand the concept of labor cost and expect mechanics to work for free.
Of course I understand, but charging $34.20 for a 5 minute job is a bit much. That's like $400/hour.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 1:54 pm to tigerinthebueche
He said brake light, no brake lights on the front of vehicles. 95% of rear lights are twist in from the trunk or 2 small screws on a truck. Takes all of 5 minutes on almost every car,
People on here are correct about some front lights on vehicles. I watched three guys from Oreilly tackle a GMC headlight for about 20 minutes one day.
People on here are correct about some front lights on vehicles. I watched three guys from Oreilly tackle a GMC headlight for about 20 minutes one day.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 1:57 pm to Bedhog
quote:
2013 Silverado a while back and I'll never do that shite again. I'd pay twice what they were asking just to not have to do it myself. Damn near have to take the entire front end apart.
that ole 1 10mm bolt tucked behind the bumper cover on both sides did ya in huh?
07-14 Burbs, Hoes, Avis are the same or similar. Had a headlight go out while on the road and didn't have any tools along so took it to the dealer. I bought ALL of the bulbs, at the auto parts store, so it would be good to go for several more years. Was $150 in labor to change them.
Was a dumbass and put Silverstars in it so ended up having to change them again 6 months later. Complete pain in the arse.
eta-If I remember correctly, the hidden bolt is a 14mm.
This post was edited on 11/7/19 at 2:03 pm
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:00 pm to Slagathor
quote:
how much is 20 minutes of your time worth?
I could send like 30 emails from the waiting area in that time.
Glad I'm not in your email contacts list
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:00 pm to Pfft
quote:
He said brake light
my bad. need to work on my reading comprehension skills obviously.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:03 pm to Slagathor
quote:
how much is 20 minutes of your time worth?
I could send like 30 emails from the waiting area in that time.
I don't have to send emails during the evenings or on the weekends. So that 20 minutes replacing the bulb after work doesn't cost anything.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:03 pm to BHM
quote:
On Amazon, you can opt to have professional installation on a lot of items such as ceiling fans
I had to replace a ceiling fan this weekend. That's a major pain in the arse.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:04 pm to GetCocky11
Had a Mazda you had to take the front end apart to install bulbs. It was a few hours of labor for a $6 part.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:05 pm to GetCocky11
Some shop where I'm at has had my wife's car since Friday afternoon for a crankshaft position sensor. She ran over my daughter's bike in the garage and cut the wire to the sensor and this dude claims it needs a new wire harness and sensor and he can't find the harness anywhere. I got online and found one in about 5 minutes yesterday and gave him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he had just been busy and would call me this morning to let me know he'd found one.
I finally told him today that I had located one on Amazon and told him I'd have a tow truck there around lunch to take it elsewhere. fricking lazy bastard can't be bothered to take my money so I'm sure someone else will.
I finally told him today that I had located one on Amazon and told him I'd have a tow truck there around lunch to take it elsewhere. fricking lazy bastard can't be bothered to take my money so I'm sure someone else will.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:06 pm to Pfft
quote:i can do a whole lot of shite, but 35 bucks seems reasonable
You can't change your own bulb, jesus christ man your a weinie
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:06 pm to GetCocky11
A Tech would probably have the car for at least 15 minutes to do a simple brake light bulb. The quick jobs are where moving the vehicle, looking up and picking the part have the biggest impact on time. Sure a little local shop might do it for $10-12 bucks but he would be losing money in most scenarios.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:07 pm to GetCocky11
Does that include the cost of the bulb?
I don't know what vehicle, but some of them it could take 15 min. If the mechanic's labor rate is $100/hr, that's $25 in labor, and the bulb with markup could be $12. S
Some people don't want to deal with it. I have an HVAC client that has about 20 people that he changes the air filters for. He charges $30 per filter per month. It's a good quality filter, and he tries to schedule them when he knows he will be in the area on other calls.
I don't know what vehicle, but some of them it could take 15 min. If the mechanic's labor rate is $100/hr, that's $25 in labor, and the bulb with markup could be $12. S
Some people don't want to deal with it. I have an HVAC client that has about 20 people that he changes the air filters for. He charges $30 per filter per month. It's a good quality filter, and he tries to schedule them when he knows he will be in the area on other calls.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:07 pm to GetCocky11
quote:
Mechanic wanted to replace a burned out brake light bulb for $37.19
He does this because, for better or worse, he can get it. People don't have the time, ability or desire to do it themselves. Why are there oil changes shops on every street corner?
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:08 pm to GetCocky11
quote:
It’s like you don’t understand the concept of labor cost and expect mechanics to work for free.
Of course I understand, but charging $34.20 for a 5 minute job is a bit much. That's like $400/hour.
Ok. So you don’t understand the concept of labor cost. If you did you’d know they cannot break it down to “labor per minute”.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:09 pm to IAmNERD
quote:reputable shops don't work with online orders. It's dealership or parts houses only for warranty reasons. If a new part is bad then they will instantly send another one. You can't have it that way ordering parts online.
Some shop where I'm at has had my wife's car since Friday afternoon for a crankshaft position sensor. She ran over my daughter's bike in the garage and cut the wire to the sensor and this dude claims it needs a new wire harness and sensor and he can't find the harness anywhere. I got online and found one in about 5 minutes yesterday and gave him the benefit of the doubt that maybe he had just been busy and would call me this morning to let me know he'd found one.
I finally told him today that I had located one on Amazon and told him I'd have a tow truck there around lunch to take it elsewhere. fricking lazy bastard can't be bothered to take my money so I'm sure someone else will.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:10 pm to wheelr
quote:
So that 20 minutes replacing the bulb after work doesn't cost anything.
I don't enjoy doing stuff to my car as a hobby, so it would cost me 20 minutes of my free time. Personally, I'd rather take it somewhere and work while I wait (if it's quick). To me it's 2 birds with 1 stone, but to each their own.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:10 pm to TigerstuckinMS
I paid for my wife's Tahoe to be changed. Complete pain in the arse. Would do it again.
Posted on 11/7/19 at 2:15 pm to Darth_Vader
quote:
Ok. So you don’t understand the concept of labor cost. If you did you’d know they cannot break it down to “labor per minute”
In fairness, car repair is one service that is indeed charged for by the hour, the entire system is built around it. He just has a warped view of a tech being able to only spend 5 minutes of his time changing even a single brake bulb.
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