oil change $125????

[JustJason]

Re: oil change $125????

Man o man... if i had only caught this 1 earlier

 

[bamadave]

Re: oil change $125????

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[TonyJ124]

Re: oil change $125????

I'm actually suprised that you didn't ask the specific labor and parts rate before ok-ing the work. Parts + labor is what everything costs, ever. They couldn't have been any more vague with you.

YES, you were swindled by someone that gave you no information, and NO you didn't pay too much, I would not complain.

The fact is that you paid face value and you're upset. It happens.

IF you CAN do it yourself, then you better do it yourself- or be content with paying what everybody else pays. Hell, I paid $200+tx for a spring 'tune' on a boat that I just bought. Service included changing engine oil and out drive lube, general check-over of the boat and its systems and a general check of the trailer. I thought it was a deal since it would have taken me a few hours to do and I had just bought the boat.


GARY H- send me your contact info if you cover Lake Norman. I'd rather pay you to come service the boat then pay the local major "boatland".

 

[slongholio]

Re: oil change $125????

GARY H- send me your contact info if you cover Lake Norman. I'd rather pay you to come service the boat then pay the local major "boatland".

Actually Gary sounds about right, he's not a ripoff because he's including other parts of his time to do the job, travel to/from parts etc.

I'm coming from the perspective for $125 to change the oil in my boat. They take my boat out of dry storage an move it 100 feet to a service rack. They didn't travel to work on my boat, they didn't travel to get parts, and the cost of the forklift to move my boat a few feet was covered in the annual storage fee.

Gary, come on down to Lake Wylie and let me buy you a beer to smooth things over. Maybe I can work on your computer and you can work on my boat An even trade. If it has Windows on it I guarantee it is slower and slower over time, and I can make it run like new, and undo their design flaws so the slowness does not come back. Not kidding.

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: oil change $125????

I quess they don't want repeat business imagine taken your Chevy truck for a oil change and paying $125-$150 non diesel ,more car places would be closing !

I hope for that price when they say clean the boat it includes wax.

 

[dontask]

Re: oil change $125????

As a mechanic for almost 35 years, I just hope the experienced mechanics at these shops mentioned are making 1/3 of those labor rates---period! The master mechanic making more.
Otherwise the first person getting "ripped off" is the mechanic working on the boat. The owner of the business makes his money on the labor rate AND the parts sold (mark up $$$$) so I hope I don't hear any crying shop owners.
In the mean time learn to do the work yourself and see whats involved. I would like to tell how "ripped off" I feel after paying my dentist, doctor, lawyer, my tax bill and grocery bill, my kids college tuition------ on my mechanics wages.

 

[boatguya1]

Re: oil change $125????

So to sum it up, most people who work on boats for a living think it's fair and most people who pay to have it done think it's not fair. Hard to believe.

James

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: oil change $125????

Actually Gary sounds about right, he's not a ripoff because he's including other parts of his time to do the job, travel to/from parts ect..

Gary, come on down to Lake Wylie and let me buy you a beer to smooth things over. Maybe I can work on your computer and you can work on my boat An even trade. If it has Windows on it I guarantee it is slower and slower over time, and I can make it run like new, and undo their design flaws so the slowness does not come back. Not kidding.

I don't take things personal......no problem..

I can see where the OP may have felt cheated..Many people just don't understand that working on a boat is way different than a car engine..you can't get a 29 dollar oil change unless you do it yourself.
And,i would not want some kid that sweeps floors in the shop and does the crap work being the one to work on my boat like someone mentioned..

As far as my deal,i'm not getting rich working on boats..I spend a lot of time helping people over the phone or by email if its something simple they can do themselves..not making a dime off of that but if it helped someone out thats great.


Soooo...back to regular programming....

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: oil change $125????

So to sum it up, most people who work on boats for a living think it's fair and most people who pay to have it done think it's not fair. Hard to believe.

James

Yep! looks like it huh?...

But those perfect sunsets on the lake,Priceless...
I bet what they paid for service is not on their mind on those days...
Most people only get serviced once a year so whats the big deal.
They spend way more on the cars over a year for oil changes but they don't think about that..
Any "Recreation" vehicle costs money to play...

 

[Don S]

Re: oil change $125????

If I posted my true feelings on some of these replies, I would have to ban ME.

If you don't like the prices offered by those that have to do the work, do it yourself. If you can't do it yourself, then you can't afford a boat.
Changing the oil on a car is one 'elll of a lot different than changing it on a boat.

Besides, who would take their boat to a certified dealer for only an oil change. With any kind of knowing the maintenance schedule, an owner should know that the oil chance should have happend during winterization along with a lot of other items. If in a climate that doesn't have winter, then you get ALL the maintenance items done on hourly or yearly schedules. That always includes more than just an oil and filter.

 

[rbh]

Re: oil change $125????

material is material and labour is labour you have to watch the shop rates or ask for a total quote and then hold them to it unless they notify you with some other issue which is usually the case.
I have gotten to the point if I do not put the hours on the boat I dont change anything unless its milky, a little condinsation in the oil in the spring will evaporate quickly, but I do watch the legs for moisture.
rob

 

[cooter2506]

Re: oil change $125????

I agree with DON if you complain about the prices do it yourself if you cant sell the boat. I get the same complaints in my business too. I do HVAC as self employed contractor. They call me because they cant do it and are not certified but still complain. And im cheap at 50/hr. I also do all my own work on the boat no matter what it is. I understand that some people are not mechanically inclined but dont complain to those of us that are and are doing the work for you.

 

[slasmith1]

Re: oil change $125????

If I posted my true feelings on some of these replies, I would have to ban ME.

If you don't like the prices offered by those that have to do the work, do it yourself. If you can't do it yourself, then you can't afford a boat.
Changing the oil on a car is one 'elll of a lot different than changing it on a boat.

Besides, who would take their boat to a certified dealer for only an oil change. With any kind of knowing the maintenance schedule, an owner should know that the oil chance should have happend during winterization along with a lot of other items. If in a climate that doesn't have winter, then you get ALL the maintenance items done on hourly or yearly schedules. That always includes more than just an oil and filter.

Right on Don you are truly the oracle.
Good thing he doesn't have my boat where you need to pay $9-$11 per ft just to get it out of the water to service the drives plus the regular maint fees (parts and labor). My average annual haul out and service is between $2500 and $4000 depending on the condition of the bottom paint and I don't bat an eye because I enjoy boating that much and the mechanics need to make a living just as much as I do.
Now give yourself a swift kick right between the cheeks don.

 

[slongholio]

Re: oil change $125????

If I posted my true feelings on some of these replies, I would have to ban ME.

If you don't like the prices offered by those that have to do the work, do it yourself. If you can't do it yourself, then you can't afford a boat.
Changing the oil on a car is one 'elll of a lot different than changing it on a boat.

Right on Don, I'm with you. If one doesn't like the prices, they should take it somewhere else or do it themselves.

Just the original question I think the person was trying to find out if he paid too much out of line for what the service was, and I accidently turned the whole thread into something else. He didn't ask how much it would cost, so he shouldn't expect that it was too much. They didn't offer a cost, so he was suprised to find out it was so much.

Then as it's been going back in forth, we (or you) can't really even answer that question without knowing the details of the situation. What would be one price on our lake here in SC would be totally different for a person in Lake Tahoe for example. Or in the case where my boat is serviced, the economies of scale should come into play and get me a lower price since they do so many and they could just crank through them like an assembly line, compared to a one man shop, but it doesn't, so I feel taken advantage of.

All he had to do was ask how much, and all the mechanic had to do was tell him how much, and all this would have been avoided.

I agree too about doing a boat is a lot different from a car. If I did my boat, it would take me half the day, so even though 85 and hour is too high in principle, it saves me enough of my own time that I pay it anyway. Any other non-routine repair or maintenance, absolutely 85 is reasonable, just not oil change.

Cheers.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: oil change $125????

I have done oil changes where they bring the boat to me.
They supply the oil,filter and gear lube and i charge 50 bucks...
It may take an hour and a half but just not having the expense of fuel,wear and tear on the truck and the drive time i am glad to do it for 50..

I feel thats very fair...

When i figure expenses on the mobile service,time driving,cell phone usage,fuel,getting parts and all i'm actually only making 25 to 35 an hour.

 

[Don S]

Re: oil change $125????

I have too many people call in and ask "HOW MUCH to do a service?". To tell you the truth, I never give an "QUOTE" over the phone. To many different boats, to many different engines and manufacturers. Then put water into the mix, lack of maintenance, some boat that has sat for 10 or 15 years, yada, yada, yada.
No way will I quote anything over the phone. And I never believe a customer when he says access to the engine is good. Usually that means they can see the valve cover.
You also have to realize that in most of the country, a marine mechanic is a part time job. Nothing to do in the winter. But the bosses have to keep the good ones working to keep them at all. Even if I do put my cheaper help on the job, he is learning, who do you think has to check his work to make sure it's right? How often should I look to see if things are going alright. I could be making money doing another job.
So someone gets charged one hour of labor and materials. When the job actually takes 3 man hours because it takes a qualified person to supervise some one learning.
THere is no such thing as a cheap laborer that does oil changes and "EASY" jobs on boats. They don't exist, or they can be done wrong very easily.
One other thing people fail to understand.
We have to get into this clean, shiny white boat. Change the dirty oil, run the engine a couple of time. Remove and reinstall canvas, move all the "TOYS" out of the way of the engine compartment and reach things that can't be seen. And NOT leave any fingerprints or dirt.
It all takes time.
When you pull into a Jiffy lube, your engine is warm and ready to drain. No pumps needed, no figuring out what kind of filter it need, how to get the oil out etc.

Basically, the ones that think they get ripped off at 125 bucks, just flat don't have a clue what it takes to change the oil on a boat.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: oil change $125????

Well said as usual Don!

I had a guy the other day call.Needed a new starter on a mid 80's OMC 4.3
I told him i would have to see the boat in order to even try to give an estimate.
He pretty much told me off...
A guy like that can go to the marina.I want no part of it.

You get all kinds..

 

[Robj]

Re: oil change $125????

My wife pays about $100 for an oil change in her Audi. So at $125 for your boat, you are getting a deal. Oh yea and the engine is warm when she takes it in. Not the case with a boat.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[JustJason]

Re: oil change $125????

Okay now I'll chime in...

so even though 85 and hour is too high in principle, it saves me enough of my own time that I pay it anyway. Any other non-routine repair or maintenance

This is where you are wrong. And adding on to what Don has sort of said already. Changing the oil on a boat is not a routine job.
There have been more boat MFG's over the years than automakers. A honda civic is a honda civic. Every one is the same in a given model year, alot of them are similar over different model years unless there is a major change. Every boat is different. A 99 Bayliner is different from a 98 bayliner which is different from a 97 stingray. A 350 in a Wellcraft is completely different from a 350 in a Hatteras.
I was told years ago in school that at 1 point there were over 500 boat MFG's in the us alone. Start the list and name me 500 auto makers.

I took a job at a "Precision tune" when I was 18. A midas/jiffy lube type place. I did have a good head on my shoulders but was hardly a tech at that point. I sat in that pit for about 3 hours then I quit. Owner yelled up and down at me but I didn't care. That's why toolboxes have wheels. That was 13 years ago. Now I am a tech. I'm not a master, but even though things take me some time, nothing has ever beaten me. On top of that, never in my life have I had take care of something because of damage. Never. I cross my T's and CYA's... Always.
So for 85 bucks an hour you can get someone who absolutely knows what they are doing, they know what that white and red wire hanging off the side of the block is for.... or you can gamble and pay for the kid whose about to quit in 2 hours. (and for a reason)
There is a reason why broom pushers make 7 bucks and hour... We don't trust them with tools.
If you don't know how to how to look up a filter number, how to remove a stuck filter, how to write up an invoice, how to engage a customer. Then believe me... your not qualified for something as "routine" as an oil change.

 

[cannonford57]

Re: oil change $125????

here in the sunny south my rate is only 65.00 an hr.lets say i'm the "chief mechanic" and i do oil changes only allday.oh but wait,i own the business too,not the property,just the business///...hmmm lets see,power,equipment,supplies,phones,trucks...(well 1) insurance,and lets not forget uncle sams part......which is bigger than mine...lets say you only made 25.00 an hr.....thats yours...ya dont worry about the paper you use somebody will pay for it...a small shop like i have,not a dealership,with certified mechanics though...today especially has a time making it chargin g125.00 an hr .oh and lets not forget DEHEC.....the last time i tried to take 2 55 gal. drums of used motor oil to autozone to dump,they tell me s.w.a.t was called....just my opinion..