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Should there be a "degree of difficulty" factor in billing repair jobs?

Vetech63

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2016
Messages
6,362
Location
Oklahoma
If I don't have to think much on a job...........Billed at regular rate.
If I have to think a lot and research prints.....Billed at regular rate + difficulty factor of x 1.35.
If I have to repair someone elses screw up because you were too cheap in the first place........Billed at regular rate + difficulty factor of 2.50.
If its a difficult job and you want to tell me how to do it............Billed at regular rate + difficulty factor of 4.50.
If its difficult, you insist on telling me what to do to fix it, and you want to watch.........Billed at regular rate + difficulty factor of 7.25 ..........and your land deed.
 
Last edited:

Sberry

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
395
Location
Brethren, Michigan
Occupation
Farmer
I just got done with a car repair that was more fun than I wanted. She is a good customer that I dont wanna hose but took all fricken day and then some with a helper.
 

Mobilewrench

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2020
Messages
373
Location
Kona, hawaii
The U-tube stuff is pretty funny. I have a story that I like to tell about changing the oil cooler in my service truck. I say, "it took me the better part of a day to do it. Admittedly, I did several other things in the process. But, I was surprised. The u-tube video I watched on it was only twelve minutes long..."
 

Mobilewrench

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 26, 2020
Messages
373
Location
Kona, hawaii
Personally, I just bill time. Unless I have to buy a special tool. Then the customer pays for half the tool that I keep. The thing that gets me is when a customer thinks that the next problem they have is a result of the last thing that I fixed.
 

Bumpsteer

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2009
Messages
1,333
Location
Front seat on the Struggle Bus
Occupation
Mechanical designer
Sadly I've always included a pita charge when needed. Its brought on by almost anything....is the customer a dick? How long will it take to get rid of the horse/cow **** and smell from the machine? Do I have to go get a 2" hose and tap a fire hydrant to get the mud and or **** off the machine?

The list goes on seemingly forever.

And no, I ain't going to bury yer horse thats been dead for a week in July.

Ed
 

simonsrplant

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2014
Messages
554
Location
Alberta CANADA
Occupation
Heavy Duty Off Road RSE
Interesting original question.
I personally just charge my hourly rate plus all fuel plus all consumables.
That's that.
Fuel is not a constant as winter running near doubles consumption.
Consumables, your anti sieze, loctite etc, as much as it's an overhead it's also me doing things correctly to spec. You ay for that.
As for tooling etc, I've been told by people in my contacts that I should / could charge for my track press or hytorc for example but where would it end?
I consider that the tools I heavily invest in have got me that job. All my tooling is paid for so why should I be charging more for it?
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,260
Location
Canada
Some people will charge a little higher rate if they're using a very specialized tool that not many people have. Paying 5 or $10 more per hour or an extra charge like $25 for something like a track press isn't too unreasonable. Should note that in Alberta the rates for mechanics are quite high with the larger shops charging $150+/hr. and the field mechanics even more.
 

HardRockNM

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2020
Messages
101
Location
New Mexico
Occupation
Miner
Some people will charge a little higher rate if they're using a very specialized tool that not many people have. Paying 5 or $10 more per hour or an extra charge like $25 for something like a track press isn't too unreasonable. Should note that in Alberta the rates for mechanics are quite high with the larger shops charging $150+/hr. and the field mechanics even more.

I know for a fact that one of the major dealers down here charged $160USD/hr for field mechanics a year ago. That may well have increased. I'm quite content to pay the independent guy I use for more advanced work $100/hr.
 

Welder Dave

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 11, 2014
Messages
12,260
Location
Canada
If your independent guy charged $25 or even $50 more to use a track press(or other specialized tool) is still a better deal for you.
 

HardRockNM

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 14, 2020
Messages
101
Location
New Mexico
Occupation
Miner
If your independent guy charged $25 or even $50 more to use a track press(or other specialized tool) is still a better deal for you.

Absolutely, and he'd be well within his rights to do so. He bills all jobs at the same rate (although there's one corporate client who I suspect will get a higher rate if they try to come crawling back after a history of late/nonpayment).
 

Truck Shop

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2015
Messages
16,556
Location
WWW.
This right here is a fine example of {Sucker}.
A friend that runs a machine/fab shop had a customer bring in a Landoll like the one below {crappy trailer}. Customer wanted the steel diamond
plate deck replaced front to rear. Trailer is a 1994. So friend calls me to come look at it {I look at it and laugh}. I told him once you peel the deck
off all the crossmembers and stringers will be rusted through where the deck lays on top of them {typical of steel decked beds of any kind}.
So he told the customer the issue it will be time and materials and what ever that comes to. Customer said do it.:oops:.

Customer sh!t when he came to pick it up. $21,000. He bought a pig to begin with. Not the same trailer below-but like it.

5cba0bf5b90da06d040366d0.jpg
 
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