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Old 11-27-2018, 05:53 PM   #99
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Speaking of "Sliding Rates" based on the vehicle, how about the OWNER?

A buddy of mine worked at a European Imports Independent Specialist repair shop. Located on the border between Fairfield County, CT and Westchester County, NY. If you don't know the area, just think HOLLYWOOD BUCKS.

The shop labor rate was TWICE what we charged at the nearby Honda dealership. I couldn't believe it. He said they "Had To" because they would spend as much time having to listen to the customer go on-and-on about how much they knew about automobiles as it took to do the actual repairs. He reminded me of the Lincoln quote" A lawyer's time and advice is his stock in trade". I couldn't argue with that.

He also mentioned that when someone would call for an appointment and give his name as "DOCTOR" so-and-so, he would code the appointment book with a prominent "DR." for "Extra Special Pricing". Gotta love it!
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Old 11-27-2018, 09:46 PM   #100
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Excessive charge is an understatement, especially since they charged you for 28 quarts of oil for the engine when it only takes 26 quarts.
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Old 11-28-2018, 08:54 AM   #101
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Just had the oil changed at Speedco in Vegas.

$299 plus $15 extra for using Fleetguard filters (optional) plus tax.

Have 20K miles on MH, 2nd change. 1st oil change was at dealer (Beaver) and cost about $525 and included inspections. Didn't need inspections, was at Middlebury for AIR in August.

Next oil change will go back to dealer because of inspections.
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Old 11-28-2018, 09:13 AM   #102
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I have also gone from DIY for years to Speedco. I cannot shop for all 3 filters. buy the oil and grease, return the used oil and clean up my mess up for $300. Inspections I still DIY and check my zerks, but the dirty part I am leaving to Speedco.


Generator is still DYI as it is so easy and clean.
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Old 11-29-2018, 07:30 AM   #103
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If we weren’t fulltimers and we were still in our house with the same setup I’d do all of my own maintenance on the Anthem. I did for the previous two MHs and enjoyed it. I also knew that it was done correct. All parts were readily available and with the Internet I’m sure I’d save a few more bucks buying on line.

For the most part, I do some of the maintenance on the Anthem but what the heck am I going to do with 26 - 28qts of oil after I’ve dropped it from the motor? And we’re am I going to do it?
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Old 11-29-2018, 10:05 AM   #104
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The problem I have with the typical dealership: They charge the $150-$250/hour labor. Lube tech makes $10-$15/hr, gas mechanic makes $14-$25/hr, diesel mechanic makes $16-$40/hr. You say, let them go somewhere else. Small towns=few opportunities, large towns are pretty much the same. Dealerships depend on individuals who are clueless re maintenance & repairs & the majority don't care if the service techs are competent.

I find small, independent shops and give them all of my business. They value your business, you can depend on the owner to make sure it's done right and you don't feel as if you've been screwed every time you drive out of their shop.
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Old 11-29-2018, 12:58 PM   #105
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Wimpy

"Dealerships depend on individuals who are clueless re maintenance & repairs & the majority don't care if the service techs are competent."

That statement is the farthest from the truth, Been in the dealership world going on 40 years. However ,we love fixing the mistakes that the independent shops and wally world make. This has been an interesting thread for someone that is in the business. Profit is not a 4 letter word, obviously everyone on this forum has made alot of it to afford the toys we all drive. And yes the OP was did overpay.
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Old 11-30-2018, 04:10 AM   #106
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If we weren’t fulltimers and we were still in our house with the same setup I’d do all of my own maintenance on the Anthem. I did for the previous two MHs and enjoyed it. I also knew that it was done correct. All parts were readily available and with the Internet I’m sure I’d save a few more bucks buying on line.

For the most part, I do some of the maintenance on the Anthem but what the heck am I going to do with 26 - 28qts of oil after I’ve dropped it from the motor? And we’re am I going to do it?

i am lucky here, as the county i live in has a garbage tax, to help keep the back roads clean. as this tax, gives us a "free pass" to the dump. bring it there covered, and NO charge, just have to prove you live in the county.
so nobody has to dump in a creek. during the night.

we have day time at the dump, or a transfer spot. no questions. (other than proof you live in the county).
yes everything including oil.
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Old 11-30-2018, 05:28 AM   #107
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Wimpy

"Dealerships depend on individuals who are clueless re maintenance & repairs & the majority don't care if the service techs are competent."

That statement is the farthest from the truth, Been in the dealership world going on 40 years. However ,we love fixing the mistakes that the independent shops and wally world make. This has been an interesting thread for someone that is in the business. Profit is not a 4 letter word, obviously everyone on this forum has made alot of it to afford the toys we all drive. And yes the OP was did overpay.
Dead on correct! Everyone of us made money and never complained about making 'too much money'! The simple answer is 'do it yourself', shop around, or pay the bill. Shopping around isnt all that easy if you live in a rural area, but the internet is there so get online and ask some of the shops. In DIY one should really read, watch videos, and learn the manual, and be aware it is not some easy clean, 10 minute affair to change the oil, filters, fuel separators, belts, etc., on some of these machines.
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Old 12-01-2018, 09:00 PM   #108
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I'm not sure about other states but in CA you pay a disposal fee when you buy the oil. No fee to return the old oil.
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Old 12-01-2018, 09:33 PM   #109
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Yes, they charge $155 an hour for an oil change. I asked my local shop about changing the oil in my MH. He said $155 an hour. When I asked why so high and if they charged that for autos, he said "no, we charge $75 for autos". I then asked what the difference was, since both simply required a mech to slide under the vehicle and drain the oil and them fill it from the front. His comment was "It's a MH, if you can't afford it, don't buy an RV". Basically they are charging more because they can. By the way, I asked the mechanic how much he makes an hour, and he said $14 and hour whether an RV or an auto... go figure. Ripped off when you buy the unit, ripped off for service, and ripped off when you sell it. Guess that's the American way anymore.....

Although the mechanic makes only $14/hour. He does not pay the rent on the shop, the electric bill, the water bill, advertising, insurance, special shop equipment, ect, ect. Just sayen. 10 years as an ASE certified mechanic.
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Old 12-02-2018, 05:56 AM   #110
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Although the mechanic makes only $14/hour. He does not pay the rent on the shop, the electric bill, the water bill, advertising, insurance, special shop equipment, ect, ect. Just sayen. 10 years as an ASE certified mechanic.
So correct. Many folks just really have no business acumen and understand the behind the scenes stuff. That shop has to pay all you mentioned. Throw in property taxes, worker compensation insurance, employer portion of SS tax on employee income, and many other costs. That $14 an hour employee is actually costing the business at least twice that in total cost to the business for that one employee.

And many shops have priorities. For instance, take a Freightliner truck dealership shop. They are more focused on taking care of their commercial customers than the MH crowd. To that end, they charge a premium on shop time to the MH owners that show up. May not seem fair to the MH owner, but the dealership is focused on where its bread and butter is really coming from. I do the same thing with my business. I am in commercial trucking. There are some loads I simply will not do unless I get a premium rate to do them.
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Old 12-04-2018, 06:13 PM   #111
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Although the mechanic makes only $14/hour. He does not pay the rent on the shop, the electric bill, the water bill, advertising, insurance, special shop equipment, ect, ect. Just sayen. 10 years as an ASE certified mechanic.
I don't know of ANY mechanic who makes $ 14.00/hour. Heck the fast food places are paying in excess of $ 10.00 per hour and our new Congress will be pushing for a minimum $ 15.00 per hour wage. Although I've been retired for about 8 years after formerly working for a Detroit Diesel/Allison distributor and a Cummins engine distributor (for a couple of years), a fresh-out-of trade school "mechanic" was getting a minimum of $ 18.00 per hour 8 or 10 years ago and a top technician was getting around $ 30.00 per hour - direct wages plus fringes, Social Security employer tax, health care, etc. etc. 8 to 10 years ago. This was in the Midwest U.S. and it was considerably higher on the coasts. Now, that fresh-out-of trade school guy had up to $ 40,000 in student debt if he attended a 2-year program and still had a LOT of specific product training before he could be turned loose on his own. Even with our experienced technicians we budgeted at least 40 hours of company-paid training per year, newbies were budgeted at a minimum of 173 hours per year.

As others have said, we REALLY didn't want to work on RV's (or marine pleasure boats for that matter). On a DP the engine is difficult to get to, you have to be extremely careful to not get grease on the carpet, etc. (and rightly so). In the case of break-down, you're probably in the middle of a trip and want everything else dropped to get you back on the road. In today's world there's a place for the certified "specialty" shops and a place for the Speedco, etc. If you've gone to a shop that's part of a nationwide chain - whether the Cummins distributor, the Allison distributor, or (probably) the Speedco, if there's a problem with the repair, in most cases you have a nationwide warranty. If you're going to an independent shop, then you have to go back to him for any warranty repair.
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Old 12-05-2018, 06:52 AM   #112
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[QUOTE=kluza2786;4528942]0 minimum of 173 hours per year.
As others have said, we REALLY didn't want to work on RV's (or marine pleasure boats for that matter).

Then please hang out a sign "NO RV WORK DONE". Accepting the business, charging a higher, different rate and being contemptuous of a customer is a despicable way of doing business.
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