Am I being ripped off?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3
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Am I being ripped off? A few months ago I ordered roughly $4k worth of parts from TSP. Among these parts were a moser 12 bolt, nitrous outlet plate system, nitrous outlet accessories, MSD window switch, a line lock kit, and new carpet. I took these parts to a local performance shop that I researched and found out that they work on a lot of F-bodies. I did buy a few parts from this local shop; these were Innovative AFR gauge and gauge pod, HP tuner with nitrous tune, nitrous bottle bracket, and a battery relocation with switch.
I received my bill today and by the way they kept the car for about 60 days. I called them periodically checking on my car. They never contacted me unless I contacted them first. The damage was $5,600. I got charged $85/hr. Hours spent on the rear: 16. Hours spent on everything else: 27. The parts I bought from this shop totaled roughly $1,600. Does this sound right or am I being taken advantage of?
I received my bill today and by the way they kept the car for about 60 days. I called them periodically checking on my car. They never contacted me unless I contacted them first. The damage was $5,600. I got charged $85/hr. Hours spent on the rear: 16. Hours spent on everything else: 27. The parts I bought from this shop totaled roughly $1,600. Does this sound right or am I being taken advantage of?
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37
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I cant imagine it taking 16 hours to put a rear in. Granted I've never put one in an f body, but that sounds at least 5 hours to long. And same story on the other hours. Sounds like you are getting shafted to me. But I could be wrong. I'm sure someone with more experience will chime in. Did you not get an estimate before having the work done? Did you sign anything? Are you in possession of the car now?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3
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I did not get an estimate, didn't sign anything and do not currently have possession of the car. This is obviously the lesson I am learning right now. I contacted them a few weeks after I gave them the car and they told me that they "finally" got the 12 bolt installed after making their own parts that the kit did not come with. I don't exactly know what they were talking about or what parts they were making, but I thought this kit was supposed to come with everything needed. I obviously don't know much about my car, I'm no mechanic, this is just something I enjoy doing. Is there anything I can do or am I completely hosed with this bill?
Rear axle removal - 1 hr
Removing the brakes/backing plates - 1 hr
Assembling the moser (putting the backing plates & pressing bearings, installing the center section, bolting the torque arm bracket on (moser's are not shipped assembled))- 2 to 3 hrs.
Installing the rear axle - 1 hr
Attaching the brake line to the new axle (Fabbing bracket as one dosen't come with the moser) - .5hr
So I could see 5.5-6.5 hours easy. 16 is a bit much...
Removing the brakes/backing plates - 1 hr
Assembling the moser (putting the backing plates & pressing bearings, installing the center section, bolting the torque arm bracket on (moser's are not shipped assembled))- 2 to 3 hrs.
Installing the rear axle - 1 hr
Attaching the brake line to the new axle (Fabbing bracket as one dosen't come with the moser) - .5hr
So I could see 5.5-6.5 hours easy. 16 is a bit much...
Teching In
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37
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I'm no lawyer, but I am thinking that if you didn't sign anything, that company has no legal grounds to keep your car. You could go pick it up any they would have no recourse against you. I'm not saying you should, obviously you owe them something, but don't let them rape you like that. Next time get an estimate.
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Yeah...Never get work done by the hour. Its too subjective...What takes me a couple hours may take someone else all day. You shouldn't have to pay hourly for for someone's abilities or lack of.
Even with time wasted Looking for the correct socket, missing bolts, bleeding brakes yelling at the wife to push the pedal etc..etc...I can swap a rear end in about 5hrs or so...Someone who has a lift, the correct tool, has done the job a few times...should be done in a jiffy. You got taken not only for the amount of time, but $85 hour!!! Nobody deserves to make that kind of cash doing non-technical task. With the right tools, anyone can do it.
Even with time wasted Looking for the correct socket, missing bolts, bleeding brakes yelling at the wife to push the pedal etc..etc...I can swap a rear end in about 5hrs or so...Someone who has a lift, the correct tool, has done the job a few times...should be done in a jiffy. You got taken not only for the amount of time, but $85 hour!!! Nobody deserves to make that kind of cash doing non-technical task. With the right tools, anyone can do it.
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I would tell them you want to take the car for a ride and make sure everything is good and never come back.. You got screwed forsure, I hate to say it. I hope it all works out for you and ey don't, try keeping your car..
i would def fight it that kind of stuff gives all mechanics a bad rep, there is flat rate manuals that every shop i have worked at or been around uses at least as a guide line. good luck and hope you get things worked out.
Have you asked this shop for a break down. Have you told them you feel there idea of what it took is insane? I also agree that $85 seems steep if they aren't doing custom fabrication. It isn't crazy especially depending what area you live in. I run a tire/repair shop and auto work is $65 and hour but to add $20 an hour for any reason seems a bit steep to me.
Good luck but see if they will work with you. You were a fool to just drop the car off to them, but lets hope they work with you and don't completely screw you because of you ignorance and foolish decision.
Good luck but see if they will work with you. You were a fool to just drop the car off to them, but lets hope they work with you and don't completely screw you because of you ignorance and foolish decision.
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Texas
These guys are right, at most 6hrs on the rear is all they should have charged, and 85 hr is pricey to me, I run a machine shop and have for 7 years and I only charge 60 hr, that's with rods oxy and acetelyne included! I would go in, show the owner the bill and go over it, nothing is set in stone in fabrication work and he might realize how much you got charged. Who knows he might not have wrote up the ticket, some douche did that didn't do **** all week and wrote it up like he did.
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Thanks guys I appreciate the posts. And I realize I am a complete idiot now but TSP referred this place to me. I checked out their very nice, clean, shop with a few other f bodies on lifts and I was sold.
10 Second Club
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 4,467
Likes: 193
From: Harford Co. Maryland
16hrs ??? I think I could pull the rear, rebuid it, and then re-install it.
Yes, lesson learned
Next time you'll know to get an up front quote....and just what "parts" did they have to fab ? If the rear was ordered for your car it should have dropped in.
Yes, lesson learned
Next time you'll know to get an up front quote....and just what "parts" did they have to fab ? If the rear was ordered for your car it should have dropped in. Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Even if they did have to fab a couple of things, they didn't fab the whole thing up. It should take less than an hour to fab anything for a rear end. That's why people who do fab work have tools and a shop, so it doesn't take 16hrs to do anything!
If $85/hr is their labor rate then thats what it is. I know several shops that are at $100/hr around here. I think alot of you are forgetting that most shops use book time not actual time. So it doesnt matter how many hours you can change a rearend in. With all that being said I dont think book time is 16hrs.
I would let TSP know this as well if you can't get it worked out. If they referred you to a bad shop then that reflects badly on them as well.
