Service Invoice Sense Check!

Service Invoice Sense Check!

Author
Discussion

Sheepshanks

34,782 posts

125 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
JD82 said:
Looks fine to me… my last one at indie.

The "full service" line is cheaper than the OPs cost before the garage reduced it.

ecs0set

2,479 posts

290 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
42 Carat Plonker said:
I suspect the labour is 2.5hrs at £65.00/hr, which seems a reasonable labour rate, but way OTT in terms of hours, unless one of the filters is particularly difficult to access.
Bear in mind that this is allegedly a full manufacturer's service, which you would hope would include at least some of checking the battery, alternator output voltage, brake pads and disks, suspension, tyres, lights, ECU code read, road test... Just because the haven't listed parts doesn't mean they aren't doing the checks.

And the maintenance costs includes the mechanic, the receptionist, the buildings, the equipment, the training, the administrative overhead, marketing...

Seems reasonable value to me.



Edited by ecs0set on Tuesday 21st November 13:33

Old Merc

3,546 posts

173 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
I ran my own car repair business for over 20 years. Now long retired and take my own and my wife`s car to a garage and pay, so I see this from both sides. If you want your car maintained properly at a good quality business that you trust, it will be expensive, but worth it.

Firstly the OP`s invoice was pretty much average ( now that the labour charge was corrected ). It all depends on what type of service is carried out. To me a FULL service is car up in the air, all wheels off, brake drums off ( if it has them ) a full check over including fault code scan, and change brake fluid. Change oil, all filters, ( spark plugs and fuel filter if it has them). Road test and report. I would expect a labour charge for all that to be £100-£120. plus parts and VAT for the average family car.

I`m in Reading Berks were the average fully equipped small independent charges £60 an hour + VAT labour. Rent, rates, wages, insurance etc etc on a decent size workshop is very high in this area. It costs a small fortune to kit it out with all the heavy workshop equipment, special tools and technology needed to work on modern cars. Also many of them provide a free loan car or a collection and delivery service.

As with any trade its about how they operate and the quality of their work. I used to rely on repeat business and word of mouth. I was in business to make money, so look after the customer who gives it to you, simple. It can take a few years to build up a good reputation, and you could loose it over night if you start upsetting people.



_Hoppers

Original Poster:

1,349 posts

71 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
ecs0set said:
And the maintenance costs includes the mechanic, the receptionist, the buildings, the equipment, the training, the administrative overhead, marketing...
Plus the holidays to Dubai, overseas trips to see the F1, the new electric Audi SUV and the Type R race car

_Hoppers

Original Poster:

1,349 posts

71 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
JD82 said:
Looks fine to me… my last one at indie.

Not too bad for a Ferrari wink

vikingaero

11,119 posts

175 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
_Hoppers said:
ecs0set said:
And the maintenance costs includes the mechanic, the receptionist, the buildings, the equipment, the training, the administrative overhead, marketing...
Plus the holidays to Dubai, overseas trips to see the F1, the new electric Audi SUV and the Type R race car
But why can the widget supplier have holidays to Dubai, overseas trips to see the F1, the new electric Audi SUV and the Type R race car, and the garage owner cannot?

Shirley we pay what we are comfortable with and whom we trust?

JD82

367 posts

141 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
_Hoppers said:
Not too bad for a Ferrari wink
If only! Blame spark plugs on a transverse engine…

_Hoppers

Original Poster:

1,349 posts

71 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
Old Merc said:
Firstly the OP`s invoice was pretty much average ( now that the labour charge was corrected ).
I'm reasonably happy with the revised invoice, but I can't be sure if it was a genuine mistake? There's another garage near us which has a good reputation, their standard prices seem to reflect my local garage but it doesn't look like they strip the brakes?



Old Merc said:
It can take a few years to build up a good reputation, and you could loose it over night if you start upsetting people.
I've mentioned this to my mate who takes his car to the LG on my recommendation and he's contemplating trying somewhere more convenient for his location now!

_Hoppers

Original Poster:

1,349 posts

71 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
vikingaero said:
_Hoppers said:
ecs0set said:
And the maintenance costs includes the mechanic, the receptionist, the buildings, the equipment, the training, the administrative overhead, marketing...
Plus the holidays to Dubai, overseas trips to see the F1, the new electric Audi SUV and the Type R race car
But why can the widget supplier have holidays to Dubai, overseas trips to see the F1, the new electric Audi SUV and the Type R race car, and the garage owner cannot?

Shirley we pay what we are comfortable with and whom we trust?
Yeah I agree. I don't have any problems with people making a good living from working hard. If the living was from making a 'mistake' when invoicing, well, that's a different matter I think.

Sheepshanks

34,782 posts

125 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
_Hoppers said:
Plus the holidays to Dubai, ...
119 day "half around the world" Cunard cruise for our village garage owner....

RayDonovan

4,865 posts

221 months

Tuesday 21st November 2023
quotequote all
_Hoppers said:
Old Merc said:
Firstly the OP`s invoice was pretty much average ( now that the labour charge was corrected ).
I'm reasonably happy with the revised invoice, but I can't be sure if it was a genuine mistake? There's another garage near us which has a good reputation, their standard prices seem to reflect my local garage but it doesn't look like they strip the brakes?



Old Merc said:
It can take a few years to build up a good reputation, and you could loose it over night if you start upsetting people.
I've mentioned this to my mate who takes his car to the LG on my recommendation and he's contemplating trying somewhere more convenient for his location now!
My old lease car went to Dunnington and they completely failed to fix the rear brakes (sticky calipers not sweeping the disc correctly). Told the lease company and requested that they were avoided for future bookings..

speedking31

3,635 posts

142 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
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Hyundai main dealer 6 year / 60,000 mile service. Oil seems cheap, but I'm not complaining.


Rob 131 Sport

3,078 posts

58 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
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Sheepshanks said:
_Hoppers said:
Plus the holidays to Dubai, ...
119 day "half around the world" Cunard cruise for our village garage owner....
The last time I looked holidays to Dubai were very competitively priced.

If village garages were such a great business then why do we see so many unfortunately close.

911Spanker

1,812 posts

22 months

Wednesday 22nd November 2023
quotequote all
Max of £50 per hour is what I pay. Have a great local man who does the lot. A few beers and the odd Xmas present and everyone's happy.