Re: 3 hours @ $65 per hour?
If you have been to any car dealership in the last twenty years , they often have the labor it takes to do a particular repair posted right on the wall. How do they know how much time it takes?? They are going to pay the mechanic a specific portion of that flat rate to do the job based on that "publish'd" repair procedure. The amount it takes to do the job is from the flat rate manual. The mechanic is supposed to be able to "beat" flat rate and so can go on to another job and "hopefully", beat that time also. The mechanic knows at the start of the day how much money he is going to make, based on the number of jobs he has lined up to do. If he beats flat rate, he has more time to do additional jobs, and make more money. If it takes him longer, he still only gets paid his portion of the flat rate money. I know a mechanic at a dealership that does only brakes. He is very good at brakes and makes about $75k a year doing so. I'm not sure how good he is at anything else, but he's very happy "beating" flat rate for brakes! Some would say that they should reduce the labor for brakes so that customers don't have to pay so much, but I would say that some don't feel a hard working mechanic should get 75k for "just" doing brakes! The system is so unfair!! Isn't it??<br />Most marinas use flat rates but leave open the actual charges due because each boat is different as to accessibility, corrosion, engine systems vs. boat systems, etc..... No two jobs are the same, ever! In the marine industry, in order to cover all aspects of "MURFEY'S LAW', flat rate would have to be.... 5 hours or so. Is that fair?? I didn't think so. But remember, flat rate usually considers that there is some troubleshooting, testing, repairs, confirmation of repairs, and clean-up. You do want a good job done, correct?? If you only want to pay an hour labor (or so), some of that will have to be left out. Which would you choose??? One more thing, I know of no marine mechanics making 75,60 or even 50k. Most boat dealerships would refuse to pay a tech. that much money, even if it were earning the store that much business. A salesman, yes, but not a mechanic! Now the question is... Is a salesman worth $$$ ??? Ya know, If they lowered his commission, they could lower the costs of the boats..... Maybe, I should just open a CostCo for boats and motors. No hype, no pressure, buy what's on the shelf, no questions ask'd , none answer'd. Put it in the cart, pay the bucks!!! Service ?? We got no stinking service!!
