Let's get serious

[Gregory OConnor]

I dont tink it is simple. Like Pete said, Local shop rate is a
factor of Local overhead cost. Fair is 'going rate' for class 8
trucks and the reason to give business to a specialized shop is that
they are the better choice. the consumer will not be paying shop
Tuition . There is little exclusive parts and systems in a
wonderlodge. that is one of the Wanderlodge feature that makes it
affordable.

I dont think a shop would consider what is fair unless they are
thinking of charging a premium. product familiarity will attract
business and local shop rate should prove profitable.

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
<MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>
> 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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