Ever get hit with 'go away' pricing?

I tried to help out my local shop and got a quote for a basic 2.5 spacer leveling job. The price was so ridiculous, I won’t be going back.

@Dare
I leveled my '21 PowerBoost in about 2 hours. Didn’t have to do anything crazy.

@Dare
I don’t own a PowerBoost, but according to Alldata, removing the front struts takes 4.8 hours. Add the alignment, and it’s 6 hours total. They seem to be straight with you.

Arlen said:
@Dare
I don’t own a PowerBoost, but according to Alldata, removing the front struts takes 4.8 hours. Add the alignment, and it’s 6 hours total. They seem to be straight with you.

Okay, but if it’s a 6-hour job, does that mean their rate is $290 per hour? That’s just insane.

@Hux
Actually, rates like that are becoming more common in the industry.

Kei said:
@Hux
Actually, rates like that are becoming more common in the industry.

Yeah, and the tech probably only gets 10% of that.

Kei said:
@Hux
Actually, rates like that are becoming more common in the industry.

Common where? Around here in California, it’s like $150 to $180 per hour tops. This sounds more like the ‘you didn’t buy the leveling kit from us’ rate.

Kei said:
@Hux
Actually, rates like that are becoming more common in the industry.

Not even close. In Canada, it’s about $165 CAD (around $120 USD) at a Ford dealer.

Flynn said:

Kei said:
@Hux
Actually, rates like that are becoming more common in the industry.

Not even close. In Canada, it’s about $165 CAD (around $120 USD) at a Ford dealer.

Yeah, it really varies. The local Chevy dealer here charges $275 an hour.

@Tallis
That’s just crazy. Even well-known performance shops in Michigan charge $160 to $175 an hour. Anything near $200 would be laughable.

Rex said:
@Tallis
That’s just crazy. Even well-known performance shops in Michigan charge $160 to $175 an hour. Anything near $200 would be laughable.

Even the Ford dealers in Michigan charge around $180. I thought that was steep.

@Lian
It’s still a big difference compared to $290. There’s no way that’s normal.

Flynn said:

Kei said:
@Hux
Actually, rates like that are becoming more common in the industry.

Not even close. In Canada, it’s about $165 CAD (around $120 USD) at a Ford dealer.

Name a Ford dealer that’s $120 per hour. Haven’t seen that in Colorado for at least a decade.

@Mori
Got quotes of $245.99 per hour for diagnostics at three Ford dealerships here in Colorado just this week.

@Mori
I’m in Canada at a Ford dealer in Ottawa. We charge $165 CAD ($125 USD). For the price difference, you could drive to Canada from Colorado and still save money. Plus, the average labor rate in the U.S. is $131 USD, so just find a shop a little farther out if needed.

Flynn said:

Kei said:
@Hux
Actually, rates like that are becoming more common in the industry.

Not even close. In Canada, it’s about $165 CAD (around $120 USD) at a Ford dealer.

I work at a big truck dealer (Mack/Volvo), and we don’t even charge $290. Our rate is $205.

@Lilnim
I’m in heavy equipment, and we charge $195 per hour.

Flynn said:

Kei said:
@Hux
Actually, rates like that are becoming more common in the industry.

Not even close. In Canada, it’s about $165 CAD (around $120 USD) at a Ford dealer.

Get out of here. We’re at $250 in a low-cost-of-living state.

@Dare
It’s definitely a hassle, but you don’t need to remove the hybrid stuff. You can get the bolt with a box wrench, ratchet, or stubby socket.

I know because I installed 6112s in my driveway.

Rin said:
@Dare
It’s definitely a hassle, but you don’t need to remove the hybrid stuff. You can get the bolt with a box wrench, ratchet, or stubby socket.

I know because I installed 6112s in my driveway.

Just because it’s possible doesn’t mean it’s not a 6-hour job. If the book says 6 hours and to remove the hybrid components, then that’s what they’ll charge.