Best flat rate repairs to look for

[mjw011689]

Hi everyone, hoping this is in the correct forum... I'm considering going from an hourly auto tech position to a flat rate shop. I make a decent amount hourly, so i'm hesitant to jump to a flat rate shop, but I don't have much choice (moving out of state). I've done a base+commission tech job a long time ago, so that's the closest ive been to flat rate, but that was with Sears, and I was young, so I don't really count that as flat rate experience. That being said, I've been working on cars for almost 15 years and I've been a master certified tech for almost 8.


On to my question...


What repairs do you guys at flat rate shops look for? I absolutely 100% do not and will not ever rip a customer off. However, I know there are certain things that will make me more money than others due to either being super common or easier to repair than flat rate time calls for.


Do you see most of your big paying jobs come from common little things that you happen to find during normal inspections and just add up, or do you find most of your big jobs come in as a diag for a big problem right off the bat?

Obviously there are variables from state to state (here in Washington, everyone and their dog owns a Subaru that probably has a leaking headgasket), whereas I NEVER saw subies in the Phoenix area when living there. But overall, whats the most common moneymaker in the flat rate world? I've been in the hourly dealership world for the past 8 years or so, so I see lots of newer vehicles and very few from mid 2000's and back.

Just trying to get an idea of the type of stuff to look for to maximize pay if I do end up going to flat rate. I do know that just being organized and having everything ready and staying busy and not wasting time affects that total dollar amount.


That ended up way longer than intended, hopefully someone can give some input. 

[Noberator]

Hello

This is a UK based car Forum.

[remmington]

Do I take state side "flat rate repairs" to be UK "fixed cost repairs"...?

If so...! Someone in the USA - has made a mint with "lube stations"... Yes...?

[valhalla]

I would stick with hourly-rate, if I were in your shoes.

Unless, as Remmington says, you end-up doing the flat basics that any monkey can do (i.e. not a Master Tech) such as lube-services, bulb-changes, etc.etc. then you will never make any money at this.

A serious mechanic has to charge-out an hourly rate; if the job turns-out more complicated than you first thought (as 90% of them seem to on modern cars, especially electronic/electrical issues) you need to charge the customer accordingly to get it fixed at his/her cost, not yours.

The only compromise I can suggest is to "flat-rate" the basic services you offer, and hourly-rate any diagnostic/major repairs.

[remmington]

The problem with the trade at the moment...

It is the parts prices:

Today!

57 plate Renault Laguna - interior fan failed plus resistor - fan is £325.90 plus VAT - resistor is £119.03 + VAT giving a parts total of £444.93

14 plate transit - DPF £2200

15 plate mondeo - Atomiser for DPF £250 + VAT and pump for DPF regen £294.64 + VAT (plus maybe a DPF filter).

64 (high mileage) plate Audi not going into regen - glow plugs - set of glowplugs as No3 has a pressure sensor on it is £165 a set - high risk of snapping the fragile pressure sensor plug.


All the above customers think I will be stealing off them - the above prices are trade with no margin (profit) or labour to do the jobs.


So to do a quality job - I need good new parts.


I could:

Buy in some secondhand ebay c##p for the Renault - gut the DPF filters on the Fords and MAP the problems out - and just change the one dead glowplug on the Audi. I have even seen a "hot glowplug" bodged into the loom where a glowplug has been snapped on one of these.

But then in my mind - I am not doing the job to the correct standard.

The price of parts is driving down the general quality of garage repairs.


So why would you not wanna specialise in the "monkey work" - changing oil - brake pads - bulbs and wiper blades. At least you can offer the customer a fair price and they will be happy - and you can earn some hassle free money.

I wanna be a monkey...


Aiming high in this trade is the mistake - loads of special gear - loads of electrical work - problem jobs with no money in them.

Aim low - loads of repetitive easy high profit jobs is what you want.


Been following the BBA forum - a few of the high skilled full time auto electricians on there - have chucked the towel in - they just can't make it pay.

[remmington]

Jiffy Lube backed by Shell

There are about 2,000 Jiffy Lube franchises in North America, all of them independently owned by 252 operators, with about 24 million customers each year.

Looks to me like the Lube Station idea in a big city is like printing money.

[givusaclue]

Jun 25, 2019 10:50:40 GMT 1 remmington said:

Been following the BBA forum - a few of the high skilled full time auto electricians on there - have chucked the towel in - they just can't make it pay.

who's packed up from there?
i've noticed sb posting a bit on here