Edit: Copy of the invoice for the curious (details removed)
My missus took her old Honda to get serviced. She's a youngish girl, so I'm a bit worried that she was taken advantage of. I told her to go to an indy who had served me well before.
For an oil change (and general inspection, i.e. pointing out brakes are getting low and timing belt is due soon):
1 hour labour ($150)
Oil filter ($30)
Oil (~$80)
"Workshop fee" ($15)
Oil disposal fee ($15)
So she paid $280 for just an oil change.
Did we get ripped off?
Canberra area for reference.
Well, I’d say that there is a consideration that a person’s rate is a proportional measurement of their worth, or skill as an individual that is usually intrinsic to their trade, exemplified in many trade industries where apprentices are paid less than fully qualified mechanics as they cannot perform the same scope of works. The notion therefore follows that the mechanic whom charges $150 an hour is a substantially qualified individual, as they are attracting a relatively higher rate, comparatively with other mechanics, so with that in mind does it follow that it would take such an individual a full hour to complete the works specified? I.E; if one is paying above average rates, per hour, for works, it’s reasonable to consider that the service being provided is proportionate. Why did it take a full hour to complete the job?
Now, a mechanic may wish to charge comparatively higher rates than their appropriate competitors, regardless of the works being performed, where their competitor may employ an apprentice, or a less experienced individual, whom is still adequately able to perform the works, but will attract a lower rate for their clients, but the mechanic whom charges more may not last due to the competitive nature of the business. That is within the purview of the mechanic charging more, however with consideration of what the market perceives to be reasonable, they either lower their rates, or they complete less taxing tasks at a faster rate, or they’ll lose business.
So, in my mind, it’s less a question of whether it’s reasonable to hold some moral expectation that an individual will, or should, lower their hourly rate based on the work being conducted, and more of an observation of what the market is dictating the cost that such a service should attract, and voting with one’s feet. In this instance, based on the comments of what other people are paying for similar works, it’s unlikely that the mechanic in question will get further custom from this individual, thus losing business, which is bad practice.
That’s just my thoughts; I understand where you’re coming from and I’d say either the mechanic needs to either increase the speed that they perform basic jobs, or lower their rate to reflect what the market dictates is an appropriate cost for such work, or they’ll likely go out of business.