Shop Supplies

[Barrier2]

Hi All, Just a comment about a post in Serpentine Belt Replacement Thread .
Have most of you noticed the Tactic of "Fees added for Shop Supplies"? This seemed to have started about the same time Programs for Billing were Computerized. What are these Shop Supplies? I have asked and the response was usually " We always add that". When pushed I am told it's for the Rags, Hand Cleaner, Air for clearing dirt, Lights etc. This is NUTS. That is the Cost of Doing Business and included in the Overhead. It seems as if it appears on the Bill we are supposed to pay it.
Recently I had some Tires replaced, the Tech used Anti-seize on the lug Nut studs. Although I have some questions about its use for that purpose, I was impressed with it being used. I was shocked with the charge for it. $8.00 was added under Shop Supplies, the whole can recently cost me $5.99. I use it regularly for certain fasteners, for the studs not more than 1/16 of the can was used if that. When I was in that business we used Anti-Seize, WD-40, Penetrating oil, Brake Parts Cleaner and other products If We Needed it.
When I questioned the charge it was removed.
Anyone else noticed this? Have you ever questioned it? As a side note I just bought a New Car and was charged a $12.50 Tire Recycling Fee. Yet when I buy new tires they charge me for disposing of the old ones as well, maybe I should bring the receipt to show I already paid it?? That will go over big.
Off my Soapbox!
Robert

[JC2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrier2 Hi All, Just a comment about a post in Serpentine Belt Replacement Thread . Have most of you noticed the Tactic of "Fees added for Shop Supplies"? This seemed to have started about the same time Programs for Billing were Computerized. What are these Shop Supplies? I have asked and the response was usually " We always add that". When pushed I am told it's for the Rags, Hand Cleaner, Air for clearing dirt, Lights etc. This is NUTS. That is the Cost of Doing Business and included in the Overhead. It seems as if it appears on the Bill we are supposed to pay it. Recently I had some Tires replaced, the Tech used Anti-seize on the lug Nut studs. Although I have some questions about its use for that purpose, I was impressed with it being used. I was shocked with the charge for it. $8.00 was added under Shop Supplies, the whole can recently cost me $5.99. I use it regularly for certain fasteners, for the studs not more than 1/16 of the can was used if that. When I questioned the charge it was removed. Anyone else noticed this? Have you ever questioned it? Off my Soapbox! Robert

Kinda of reminds me of all the add-on bs fees they tack on to your phone bill. No one seems to know what they are for exactly.

[Barlow46]

Agree. I say we "Occupy Repair Shops"......my sign will say " Shop supplies, Hogwash!" What will your sign say?

[moisheh]

They have all been to the airline school of business. Charge extra for everything. Some CG's now charge a "facility fee"????

[RonNBama]

It would make for better customer relations to hide the shop supplies charge in the labor charges.

[sc3283]

maybe a wee bit of light shed...won't ease the pain tho............

shop supply charges began due to dropping advertised cost as low as possible to compete with others in the industry. Taking shop supply charges out of the advertised price, lowered that price in an effort to gain business.

Similar situation with mail order....if many of you can remember years ago...we bought mail order and the price was as posted, that included shipping, handling, insurance, processing fees etc etc. Same thing occurred to the mail order business.

I'm not condoning the practice....just giving my knowledge due to being a 20+ yr tech at 1 of this areas largest, highest rated car dealers. As a retired tech I can say, shop towels, hand cleaner, brake clean, carb clean, silicone spray, gasket sealers, small lengths of wire, wire terminals, anti seize, a few nuts, bolts, washers, cotter pins, small quantities of oil, atf, antifreeze, brake fluid were all part of "shop supplies". Our dealer found it to be actually about a break even for them...they charged a small flat fee per invoice. Some large jobs got by cheaper than they should, some small jobs paid a bit more. They felt to itemize each actual "shop supply" item for each invoice was not justifiable.

Now with tires....I don't recall the facts....but some of the BS fees are fed gov't or state gov't mandated..The repair facility has NO say what so ever with them and by law has to charge you.

Not saying it is right or wrong...just stating what was done back when I was in the trade

[Mr_D]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barrier2 Recently I had some Tires replaced, the Tech used Anti-seize on the lug Nut studs. Although I have some questions about its use for that purpose, I was impressed with it being used.

Anti seize or any lubricant should NEVER be used on wheel lugs unless called for and then only the type specified. The lubricant allows the nut to be way overtorqued. When lube is applied the torque MUST be reduced or the bolt will stretch.
Our DSDP has hub centered wheels, the nuts take 500 ft lbs and are supposed to be lubed with regular oil.
Normal lugs should never have anything applied to them unless the torque is reduced.
Here's one chart for reducing torque on lubed threads.
Here's another
And here's another

[Barlow46]

Here is some information from the Alcoa Wheels service manual page 32. http://www.alcoa.com/alcoawheels/cat...al-English.pdf


"Before installing two-piece flange nuts, lightly lubricate the stud threads and the contact surfaces between the cap nut and the washer as illustrated below with an SAE 30W oil. This will minimize cor- rosion between the mating surfaces. Lubrication is not necessary with new hardware.
Position one of the hub’s pilot pads at the twelve o’clock position. After positioning wheels on the pilot pads, hand tighten all two-piece flange nuts, then tighten to the recommended torque following the proper sequence shown below for your type wheel. After 5-50 miles of operation torque should be rechecked, unless your documented fleet practices determine otherwise. Check torque frequently from then on. If nuts require frequent tightening, studs break frequently, or wheel bolt holes are pounding out, hardware and mounting practices should be reviewed."

Many of us have this type of wheel and lug nut.

[jimbo16720]

I can understand adding a little extra say $1-$2 for supplies, but when they expect you to buy them a new can of penetrating oil for the one squirt you used then thats a little to much. Figure how many squirts are in that can and the total they collect and they can buy cases of it.

[Pusherpilot]

Gotta cover pilferage somehow..............
Ron

[Hikerdogs]

Charging for shop supplies isn't anything new. It's been around at least since the 1980's. Some shops charge a flat rate on each invoice while others charge a percentage of the bill. You're going to pay for the supplies used one way or another. It’s going to appear either as a separate line item on the bill or by paying a higher hourly rate. It might sound like a ridiculous charge but you would be surprised how much money a garage spends on these items on a monthly basis. No one is in business to loose money.

As for the tire disposal charges talk to your local, state, and federal representatives. These charges are mandated by the different levels of government. They are collected by the local businesses and passed along to the government entities just like sales taxes, excise taxes, and any other tax they mandate. The dealer doesn’t keep a dime of it for themselves. Nor are they paid by the government to collect it and pass it along.

In the scheme of things you got away cheap as far as the tire recycling fees are concerned. Last week I had to pay $7.50 per tire to recycle some tires that I had kept as spares. I originally paid an $8.00 per tire recycling fee when I purchased the new ones, so the total cost was $15.50 per tire

[TXiceman]

Got to make sure the shop owners girlfriend does not have to drive a BMW older than 3 years.

ken

[dsbike]

I do a few side mechanical jobs. If you brought your car to me you would pay for the shop supplies I use. I think I am fair with my charges. I do not mark up the price I pay for a part. Every shop out there does. If they pay $25 for a part you can bet you paid them $28-$30. I also don't charge $55/hr like the going rate in this area. I think charging for the materials I use to fix your car is reasonable, & for the few times I pay to have my cars fixed I understand why the charges are there.

[Pusherpilot]

In some states you can see the tire recycling process in action. All you need do is look for the black smoke.........

Ron