Let's get serious

[bubblerboy64]

There are no real good short answers to these types of questions?
You know why? Each situation is entirely different. I feel that
this has to be answered in reverse. It's not up to the customer to
say what is fair, its up to the shop owner, to set what is a
reasonable return for his investment of time and material. He is
the ONLY person who knows as was mentioned about overhead expenses
etc. His obligation to the customer is to then see that the job is
well done and warranteed at a reasonable level. The customer should
expect good service, sound work and he should go to an individual who
has a good reputation for fairness and competence. The shop rate
should be posted and if the price is too much then you go down the
street and buy your beans some place else, or do it your self if you
are so learned or inclined. Some people are price shoppers, I am
looking for the best man to do the job and if that means paying more
so be it. I know that it takes a heck of a stack of money to be in
this business (any business) and price is almost never cost. Treat
your staff well and be fair with the customer. The money is not as
important as you might think. Sorry to run on. If as an owner you
are looking for numbers then call the other shops in your area and
ask them. I was told 35 years ago that two very insightful things.
If you are not getting complaints about your prices being too high
you are not charging enough. Second, the most ungrateful client you
will ever have is the one you cut the biggest break. Its oh so true
from my experience.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC





>
> It's pretty simple Masterson, what are you willing to pay for a
dedicated BB tech to deal with issues particular to BB??
> I see some are getting off on tangents regarding this thread, and I
would ask those who have a point of view to save it and post what
they are willing to pay. Not interested in anecdotal comments about
RV related services. We are talking Wanderlodge exclusively here.
> My shop does such work and I'm interested in what the "community
considers fair", as I'm sure the new stewards of Wanderlodge do.
> MH
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Pete Masterson
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Sunday, January 06, 2008 11:38 AM
> Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Let's get serious
>
>
> While I certainly don't expect service to be free, a rate that is
> reasonable in relation to other heavy equipment service providers
is
> appropriate -- possibly with a modest premium for special "BB"
> knowledge/experience.
>
> I know, for example, that Camping World charges rates comparable
with
> other service providers for various basic services (oil change,
> generator service) and for installation of various components
> purchased through their stores (e.g. installing a Remco
transmission
> lube pump on my toad). Unfortunately, the level of BB knowledge
at a
> Camping World store is, essentially, non-existent (although the
> Fairfield CA CW now has a couple of technicians who've
experienced
> the joy of working on at least one 'bird).
>
> There are market realities. CCW/BBCoachworks could not reasonably
> expect to charge substantially more that the going rate to
perform
> various service tasks on vintage 'birds -- nor would BB owners be
> likely to seek out such service if reasonably priced (but perhaps
> lower knowledge-level) alternatives exist. Some premium for the
BB
> knowledge is appropriate -- but only if that actually results in
> better service or faster ability to track down certain unique to
BB
> problems. We all make judgments about the level of quality
(value)
> vs. cost.
>
> There is also a very real locality issue. Service charges vary
> significantly by region of the country. When I had a radiator
service
> (that had experience with heavy equipment) work on my coach, it's
> location in the San Francisco Bay Area came with an approximate
25%
> higher price than a similar service in central Oklahoma might
have
> charged. So, the Ft. Valley plant might be expected to have lower
> hourly shop rates than the Southern California CCW facility. That
> would simply reflect the different costs in land/rent, prevailing
> wage rates, etc. I also note that I paid about double ($350) what
> someone else claimed ($180) for a replacement motor for the
generator
> cooling fan. (I might have shopped more for the repair, but I
would
> have had a much higher hassle factor and doubtless would have had
to
> drive much further to deliver/pickup the motor -- so my
convenience
> also factored into the price I was willing to pay.)
>
> Since I'm aware of the regional cost differentials, I accept that
I'm
> going to pay more in the Bay Area on service for many things, as
well
> as for my coach. Indeed, after backing into a pole with my toad
at an
> RV park in Texas, I elected to have the damage repaired by a
small-
> town Texas body shop rather then wait until I returned to
California.
> I figure I saved about 50% on the repair cost. (The damage was
below
> my deductible, so insurance wasn't a factor.)
>
> So, your question is certainly realistic, but is far from simple
to
> answer.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> aeonix1@...
> On the road at
>
> On Jan 5, 2008, at 7:01 PM, Mike Hohnstein wrote:
>
> > I think it's probably realistic to pose a question to the group
as
> > a whole. I think the time has come for members to step up to
the
> > plate, particularly the ones who feel they need a genuine
service
> > facility to fix on ALL Wanderlodges, and state what they view
as a
> > fair labor rate. Have at it you guys, what are you willing to
> > spend, actually pull out the dusty wallet and drop some dinero.
> > I'm sure 'ol Macy will be VERY interested, and such information
> > could well be instrumental in justifying such a venture.
> > Don't be shy, let's hear it!!!
> > Mike Hohnstein
> > Germantown, WI
> > AutoTransDesign.com
> > 83FC35
>
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