Hi guys,
Looking to get some work done on a motor bike. It got knocked over… Replacing a few parts and getting some scratches buffed out… Using legit honda parts so I'm not expecting anything cheap, but this place I went to wanted $120 just to write me up a quote. I need something proper to show the lady who knocked it over for insurance/payment for damages.
Is this common for [bike] mechanics?
I had to get quotes for my car recently and I found that they often want to charge you for the quote if they don't think you will actually be going with them for the repair.
Assuming you actually get a choice, choose the place you want to get it repaired, tell them that you are going to be going with them to get it repaired and they should give you a free quote.
I think in some cases you're paying them for your item. Some mechanics have a stipulation where if you have the worked done by them, the quote is waived, however if it's done elsewhere you pay for their time and quote (sounds fair).
Especially in the case of an insurance job!
1) The Insurance company is likely to be picking up the tab (therefore any mechanic will charge for everything possible)
2) The Insurance company may well tell you to take it to a specific place to get it fixed (therefore the mechanic that spends time putting together a quote may not get the job, therefore he's wasted his time so wants some compensation for that in advance)
Yep I agree, thanks for adding to that. If you have to get an assessment, it's only fair you pay for their time.
I tend to disagree.
Quoting for a job of any kind is part & parcel of running a business; you offer a competitive quote you get the job; that's the way it works in most industries AFAIK.
Not all the time stew, some businesses need to make money and if they give an indepth quote (not advice) you will need to pay for their services.
It's hit and miss, but it's very rare to get good free advice.
Let me put it this way, I don't pay for quotes; for any trade; period! :)
IMHO it sets a dangerous precedent when you can't ask for the fee prior to parting with your 'cabbage'! ;)
I'm not surprised you don't pay for quotes, this is ozbargain after all.
Personally, I'm happy to spend money getting something assessed (a computer/product which may need a repair). Independantly of course.
Sometimes I feel there is a conflict of interest from certain places if they offer the free quote where they bait you in and then screw you in parts or things you don't need.
You have to weigh up everything on merit. In the grand scheme of things it's very rare to find someone who offers a quality service or even advice, free of charge (that we would agree on).
Free quotes commonly have the conflict of interest that Kranbone mentioned.
It happens all the time in the industry that I work within (energy efficiency) - the only ones who give "free quotes" are product supplier who sell direct.
Some clients think that getting the quote for free is a "bargain" or "getting good value". But in fact, it's the END RESULT that needs to provide good value, not the quote.
We find that the products and services offered by those giving free quotes rarely if ever stands up to professional scrutiny. That is the polite way of saving that they lie about the work they do, and are generally MUCH more expensive than doing it "properly".
Let me put it another way, I've never had a vehicle mechanic, panelbeater or building tradesman ask a fee for a quote.
As you say Sam, it's somewhat industry dependent, but much more so individual business dependent! IME the ones who give free quotes know you'll be back often because they're offering a fair service at a fair price; not the other way around!
Just remember, the OP is asking about some fairly superficial cosmetic damage to a bike you could probably see rather plainly! No significant diagnostic work req'd, just a few scribbles on a quote; and they're probably gonna get the job anyway.
I'll also clarify I've never had to pay for a quote which I know what needed to be done. If I had no clue in the sense that I also needed an assessment and stuff explained, then I have been charged.
I know of people who have been screwed buying curtains due to a free quote. Always pays to do your homework and make sure stuff is independantly verified with no motive.
mrmmm..
interesting… ok.
thanks guys.
I think its unacceptable for anyone to ask for $ for a quote. if they do, it just means they have more than enough business. Just move on to someone else :)
You have to understand a businesses standpoint. In some cases they need to charge as you are paying for their time and their service. I don't mean asking for a quote on a TV or getting a filter changed for your car.
Having something assessed (properly) may often take time so it's not unreasonable to have a professional quote done by an independant place.
I guess you might be used to paying? Anyway I will never pay for a quote. I am not asking someone to explain what is wrong. If it is something like a car and I dont know whats wrong then I agree. You pay hourly rate for them to diagnose the problem or whatever. If it is a panel beater, I would expect a free quote, as that could be couple of thousand dollers. If it is a quote for a tradie job in my house, I would expect a quote. I am not talking about somoene diagnosing a problem for me haha. Anyway I will continue to not pay for quotes :| Does not make sense …
I never pay where needed to. In some cases you need to pay for a service. If someone is assessing a certain product, you may need to pay for that persons time, especially when they could be working or repairing someone elses product (car, computer, etc).
I would never pay for an "on the phone quote" but for someone to go through and list what is wrong and what needs to be done, that is what needs to pay for.
Better explained?
Some people cannot comprehend that the ONLY way you can give fee quotes is to cover the cost via the service or product. And that those seeking free quotes don't value your time - they will happily get "free quotes" from lots of other companies too. So, out of all the free quotes, you might only get 10% or even lower success.
This means that for every job you DO do, you need to cover the cost of those 10 free quotes. Often the time spent on quotes is actually worth more than the job that you won.
Clever businesses distinctly separate the quotation and supply processes. They charge for the quotes, even at a heavily subsidised rate. Those businesses do HEAPS less quotes, because people like massari are driven away.
Which is precisely the point, because now the company might only need to cover the cost of one or two (subsidised) quotes per job won. This subsequently allows the quoted prices to be FAR lower than those opposition companies who offer free quotes.
Of course, somebody who never pays for quotes would never find that out :-D
Some people here clearly didn't finish high school.
Once you realise why some types of business's have to charge for quotes you will not think its unreasonable.
I think there is a vast difference between a quote for an item, where you "know" what you want. In other words, if you are searching for the best price on a new monitor, you shouldn't have to pay for a quote. However, for a repair or modification, or where there is potentially a significant amounts of labour component (to do the consultancy and quote), then quotations are time consuming and "somebody" has to pay.
There is ALSO a big difference when you have already made a commitment to use a particular company, and the quote is intended to confirm the "contract price", rather than to compare against other companies. In this case, your price only needs to include the costs for YOUR quote, and most companies will quote for free to secure that job.
But, in that second case, the more common method that builds trust BOTH ways, is for the quotation to be paid for and a full credit or cashback be given if the order is placed. That is the way that most businesses charge for "selected tenderers" too, where the client has already nominated that there will be (say) only 3 quotes needed, and then an order will definitely be lodged from the best of those 3.
Building multiple quotation costs into the overall price means that prices MUST be higher, all things being equal. And anything that discourages tire-kickers and time-wasters is good for business - the cheapest, easiest and best way to achieve that is to charge for quotes.
One final thing… a good business will always be in demand, and will already have more customers that they need. Those best businesses don't "need" your business, so they don't need to offer free quotes [wink] - if they are already turning away paid work, they'll have no hesitation in turning away non-paid work (like quotations).
There a difference between a assessment which should cost u and a qoute( phow much does it cost) if I went to buy something from anywhere and I was charged for asking for the price I'll give them the wave.
The OP is after a firm QUOTATION for parts and labout to repair damage on a motorcycle, after an accident. The quote is for the insurance company, so it cannot be an estimate.
In order to quote, the mechanics first have to assess what is required. Perhaps the mechanic is charging $120 for the assessment, and then providing a free quote.
LOL :-D
WTF! Never heard of that before in regards to cars…so can't imagine it would be too common in the bike world either! Go find yourself a decent motorbike forum and they should be able to tell you where to go :) Did you explain that your not paying for it but claiming on insurance? (Who will then claim off the at-fault party)