Psychos in the Auto-Repair Business

[Ross 1]

Originally Posted by slowsnake

No man with a toolbox is worth $90 an hour, that's a fact, and I never failed at anything I put my hand to, but I knew when to pull the pin, not drag everyone around me down!
Work is just work, you don't have to put a value on your time, its when you think that you do, that's when you have problems, ego problems, this is where depression starts, when folk get wise to being played for mugs!


Cheers King Billy

My sincere condolences to you, that you have never tried anything outside of your comfort zone and failed at anything in life. Failure only makes you stronger the next time you try something new. Also a bit sad that you don't value your time, it's not ego but self worth to know how much you can bring to something. Never sell yourself short.

[jstanovic]

I don’t cover the shortfall, I allow for all the unbillable hours. My time spent quoting, invoicing, picking up materials etc is part of the job so I want to get paid for it. If a job takes 8 hrs and I did an extra 2hrs quoting, picking up materials, invoicing, who is going to pay for my 2hrs? The client does as it’s part of the work. I don’t charge them $100/hr for those 2hrs, I allow for it in my 8hrs of labour. That’s just basic business.

If a job gets cancelled or I’m sick that’s my bad luck and I’m out of pocket.

If you get home from your 8hrs wage paid work day, then the boss rings and says can you just do a couple hours on the computer for me, would you do it for free? What if he then said you need to do it at least 3times a week and I’m not paying you? What if he then said the client isn’t happy with the job so hes not paying me so you’re not getting paid? The list goes on, that’s the risk of being self employed.

If you’re on wages, do you think the boss charges you out at cost price?
Whatever your hourly rate it, double it and that is the cost price to have an employee when you factor in super, sick pay, annual leave, vehicle, fuel, phone, workers comp etc etc. So if you are getting paid on wages $35/hr, it costs the boss $60-70/hr to have you as an employee. Then add on top admin costs and a bit of profit (the reason you’re in business) then $90-100/hr is easily justified. Add workshop machinery/rent blah blah blah, all adds up.

If you’re charging $50/hr as a self employed person, and you’re paying for vehicle, accountant etc etc you will not make a decent wage, especially considering all the risk is on your shoulders.

Sure, if you work out of the car boot, have guaranteed 40hrs a week work, bugger all overheads, don’t have income protection etc etc you may make a good living off $50/hr.

Don’t take my word for it, plenty of info online showing business costs. I’m not telling anyone how to suck eggs, just might go a little way to showing my experience of being self employed. It’s definitely not for everyone!

[pottery beige]

dont let king billy coke bottle wind ya up guys

hes trolling hard

[Ross 1]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

dont let king billy coke bottle wind ya up guys

hes trolling hard

Unfortunately some trolls drink their own Kool-aid and believe what they type. I just wanted to clarify a point or two.

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by Ross 1

Unfortunately some trolls drink their own Kool-aid and believe what they type. I just wanted to clarify a point or two.

Clarify to who?...yourself!


Cheers King Billy

[pottery beige]

Originally Posted by slowsnake

Clarify to who?...yourself!


Cheers King Billy

Originally Posted by slowsnake

Go back on wages, not everyone can run their own business, I know plenty of home owners living on one income, no man with a toolbox is worth $90 an hour, full stop, but takes a lot of ya free time that could be spent relaxing doing paperwork!
That's business for you, the give and take, but sadly more take than give!


Cheers King Billy

Originally Posted by slowsnake

Talking about sole traders here not PAYE, no sole trader with a toolbox is worth $90 an hour, never!
Greed is a terrible thing to try and justify, but folk do it, they will always find a reason to justify the big invoice!


Cheers King Billy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAOq99LdsoY

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by pottery beige

dont let king billy coke bottle wind ya up guys

hes trolling hard

Are you sure its the VT Wagon thats on gas!!! lol,....



Cheers King Billy

[GasoLane]

It's quite obvious that some people know what they're talking about from experience and others don't, so can we put an end to the personal sniping now.

[hayseed]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

Whatever your hourly rate it, double it and that is the cost price to have an employee when you factor in super, sick pay, annual leave, vehicle, fuel, phone, workers comp etc etc. So if you are getting paid on wages $35/hr, it costs the boss $60-70/hr to have you as an employee. Then add on top admin costs and a bit of profit (the reason you’re in business) then $90-100/hr is easily justified.

^^^^^^^^Spot On ^^^^^^^^

It amazes me How some People are unable to comprehend this Concept...

I've seen countless Would be if they could Be's Come & Go. Over the years..

Without exception. Lack of Business Skills/Acumen have been their Downfall.

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by hayseed

^^^^^^^^Spot On ^^^^^^^^

It amazes me How some People are unable to comprehend this Concept...

I've seen countless Would be if they could Be's Come & Go. Over the years..

Without exception. Lack of Business Skills/Acumen have been their Downfall.

Talking about sole traders here not PAYE, no sole trader with a toolbox is worth $90 an hour, never!
Greed is a terrible thing to try and justify, but folk do it, they will always find a reason to justify the big invoice!


Cheers King Billy

[jstanovic]

It’s not just responding to old mate troll, youll be surprised what people that have never been self employed learn from these threads!!! My mates used to think the same, when I explained it and went through the figures it opened their eyes quite a bit!!!

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by jstanovic

It’s not just responding to old mate troll, youll be surprised what people that have never been self employed learn from these threads!!! My mates used to think the same, when I explained it and went through the figures it opened their eyes quite a bit!!!

You must of had quite the audience, I can see it now, the blind leading the blind, that's always had a positive outcome!
Sadly not everyone agrees with everyone else's opinion, or their mathematics, Bond, Skase they thought like you, nothing wrong about dreaming, its good for your ego!!!!


Cheers King Billy

[ratter]

jstanovic

You are doing nothing incorrect, you are doing it right.

Every cost associated with operating your business has to be accounted for to make your business viable, that includes the cost to do paperwork whether it's you or a bookkeeper doing it.
You recover this cost in your labour rate.

Good luck with it all.

[slowsnake]

This has been fun, thanks fellows!


Cheers Notorious King Billy

[zilo]

90 bucks an hour?

I can't get any car serviced for that, particularly when they are all packaged service products now....

I did point out once to the customer service adviser at Mercedes Kings Way once that there hadn't been enough hours in the day to match the invoice.

He corrected me by saying they had three men on the job at one stage.

Three men under the bonnet?....Hmmmmmm

Just pay and ride into the sunset with a jerking motion...

[slowsnake]

Maybe they were in a line, one behind the other!.lol,..the one in the middle was lucky!.lol,hahaha



Cheers King Billy

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by zilo

90 bucks an hour?

I can't get any car serviced for that, particularly when they are all packaged service products now....

I did point out once to the customer service adviser at Mercedes Kings Way once that there hadn't been enough hours in the day to match the invoice.

He corrected me by saying they had three men on the job at one stage.

Three men under the bonnet?....Hmmmmmm

Just pay and ride into the sunset with a jerking motion...

Local independent workshop across the road from work is $165/hour with minimum 1 hour diagnostic charge the moment they look at the car - which is fair enough.

I still reckon they're too cheap.

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Local independent workshop across the road from work is $165/hour with minimum 1 hour diagnostic charge the moment they look at the car - which is fair enough.

I still reckon they're too cheap.

Holly bejeepers..... i thought mine was charging me a melbourne tax, $110 + GST, I don't complain because they are meticulous with detail, and they do it once and do it right. Oh, and they let me bring my own parts, which is a rarity.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

Holly bejeepers..... i thought mine was charging me a melbourne tax, $110 + GST, I don't complain because they are meticulous with detail, and they do it once and do it right. Oh, and they let me bring my own parts, which is a rarity.

Also does tyres/balancing and wheel alignments though as a one stop shop for everything so I reckon thats not too bad given they're carrying lots of tyres on hand as well.

[oldel]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

Holly bejeepers..... i thought mine was charging me a melbourne tax, $110 + GST, I don't complain because they are meticulous with detail, and they do it once and do it right. Oh, and they let me bring my own parts, which is a rarity.

$110 is fairly average, maybe even cheap as I'm used to hearing about $120+. That being said if they aren't very good - ie if they are slow, dumb and throw the parts catalogue at problems because they're useless at diagnostics because they're thick or haven't spend the money on equipment and software, know nothing about electronics, and slow or inefficient at grunt work on the driveline then anything above $100 is a rip off.
I'm happy to pay more for smart and efficient workers, but not with rewarding the f'wits, hanger-ons etc with similar market rates that get greedy or are useless and use 'parts cannons', can't do the job right, strip threads, ignore things or break things etc.
IE being a mech is hard and the good ones are worth paying more for.

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Also does tyres/balancing and wheel alignments though as a one stop shop for everything so I reckon thats not too bad given they're carrying lots of tyres on hand as well.

I'm not sure carrying lots of tyres is a smart move, or one worth paying extra for. Doesn't take too long to get tyres couriered anyway and I'd rather not buy maybe really old tyres in their stock anyway. Give me fresher ones delivered from the main warehouse in a couple of hours thanks.

[Citroënbender]

Parking is increasingly an issue in running a Sydney workshop. Industrial strata usually has insufficient available space and street parking can be fraught. If you’re in an area with actual rangers, it’s possible to build a rapport - but if you’re in a suburb with parking “camera cars” that’s not an option.

[slowsnake]

Originally Posted by T3rminator

Holly bejeepers..... i thought mine was charging me a melbourne tax, $110 + GST, I don't complain because they are meticulous with detail, and they do it once and do it right. Oh, and they let me bring my own parts, which is a rarity.

What car?
Everytime i bought parts for my Saab the price tripled, the 85 Corvette Coupe was worse, but $110 IN today's market, bring your own parts, that's worth it, and the bonus....meticulous work!
You lucky, most make their "beer" money from a 50% write up on the parts, so your deal is a beauty!...



Cheers King Billy

[T3rminator]

Originally Posted by slowsnake

What car?
Everytime i bought parts for my Saab the price tripled, the 85 Corvette Coupe was worse, but $110 IN today's market, bring your own parts, that's worth it, and the bonus....meticulous work!
You lucky, most make their "beer" money from a 50% write up on the parts, so your deal is a beauty!...
Cheers King Billy

Falcon They go by the hour so type of car isn't really a factor. I have sent different cars in there and its the same. I also get a free courtesy car whilst its there, even if the job is only a couple of hours. Have built a pretty good rapport with them, to the point where they even let me bring my own coolant I have been using them for 8 years now.

I say "melb tax" because that is what my mates up in QLD call it. They always laugh when I tell them how much it is to do a job here.

[ratter]

Originally Posted by slowsnake

What car?

You lucky, most make their "beer" money from a 50% write up on the parts, so your deal is a beauty!...

50%

[zilo]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Local independent workshop across the road from work is $165/hour with minimum 1 hour diagnostic charge the moment they look at the car - which is fair enough.

I still reckon they're too cheap.

depends on what diagnostics are done...if there's a pool of water on the ground and the diagnostic is.."mate I think you are leaking fluid"...then...hmmmm...if it entails hooking up a laptop to the OBD port then sure...but even then $165 is still a rip.

[Crazy Dazz]

Had one guys who started making excuses beforehe'd even taken the job

[Yabbie]

Since I finished my trade I have worked all over Australia, big cities, little towns, remote, dealer workshops, mine sites, mum and dad outfits, for myself picking up skills both for my trade and people, so I understand both sides of the argument, now I work on what I want to work on, I accept a challenge and get quite proud when I can repair the so-called unrepairable / Stuffed what ever, I tend to work on the odd, old, different, or down right strange using the old skills that aren't taught to the younger people any more. Don't charge like a wounded bull and I am mobile. If I can't fix it or make it run / do the job they get it for free, usually I get paid my diesel to and from when I do remote or bush, I don't have to pay anyone else, BUT as always the parts / consumables have to be paid for. AS I have said before maybe I am Different but I have met more psycho's that are customers then us mechanics.

[ford71V8]

I panicked, thought i was about to miss my old mans birthday