Lets Be Serious About Instal Times

spolebitski · **Posted:** Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:20 pm

So I am having the following installed on my 09 Liberty Limited:
Side Steps 2.2 Hours Install
Mud Flaps 0.8 Hours Install

These are the recommended times for the install at the parts and this what I am going to be billed for by the salesmen.

So lets get serious at $100 per hour for the install. Is it really going to take 2 hours 12 minutes to install the side steps? Is it really going to take 48 minutes to install mud flaps?

I get the sense that unless I am at the dealership in the waiting room these are the times I will be charged but lets get real they are drastically over inflated. If I try to say "seriously it will take that long" will i just piss of the salesmen?

spolebitski · **Posted:** Wed Feb 18, 2009 8:23 pm

On top of this the salesmen gave me 15% off parts and labor but when he figured his numbers he got selective amnesia and charged me the discounted price on the parts (because it was listed in an email he had in front of him) but the labor was full price.

What he did was list the part + labor = total (thus forgetting to discount the labor).

To_The_Max · **Posted:** Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:35 pm

As was explained to me one time for a timing chain to be replaced:

Quote:

" This time reflects the average time it takes an average / trained mechanic to replace the timing belt and this is the time we will charge for labor. Now, if the mechanic is able to perform the procedure quicker, we still will charge the average time for labor. This benefits the mechanic who performs his job in a quick and efficient manner. This will allow the mechanic to perform more jobs than the average mechanic thus getting more pay for his efficiency. The reverse is also true for the consumer. If the mechanic takes longer than the average time, the consumer is still only charged for the average time and the mechanic will not be getting paid commission for the amount of time over the average time. This saves the consumer from a mechanic milking the job."

I questioned the dealership about the same thing since the belt replacement took 45 minutes instead of 1.5 hours. This is one of the reasons I perfer to perform my own maintenance whenever possible.

I feel, as a general rule, these times are inflated for the average / trained mechanic but there is not much you can do at the dealership unless you can negotiate a flat rate price. You are either stuck paying labor for the quoted times, negotiating a flat rate (probably not likely), find another mechanic shop to perform your maintenance (usually a lot cheaper), or do the job by self.

Hopes this helps and good luck.

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Wed Feb 18, 2009 9:35 pm

There's a book - it lists the times for everything - that's what they charge
good mechanics can beat the book
some by a lot.

the new guy in the shop can take 2x as long as the book.

they still charge the book times.

good luck changing that.

Lets Be Serious About Instal Times

Who is online