JetJock

I had some minor service done today at Jones Acura in Lancaster PA. I've never had any issues with their service department, but today I noticed their labor rate increased to an obscene rate of $92.00/hr.

I think mechanics, and the shop deserve a decent wage, but this is insane. You can have a $35,000,000 Gulfstream 5 Jet, serviced at any Authorized Gulfstream Service Center for less than $80/hr. Why does Acura charge more than Jet mechanics? Something isn't right here.

I've had several Acura's over the past 8 years, but this is probably going to be my last. I love the car, but Acura service is just too damm expensive. I'm sick of being ripped off. Hundai is looking better every day with their 10year, 100,000 mile warranty.

architectonic

$92/hour are you sure? If its really that high, then all those jet mechanics should change careers and become Acura Techs.

blokhead

It's the way it is, they have to compete with independant shops... Some people believe to make more money you have to charge more, with less business, other people believe that if you lower prices you get more volume, therefore more business.
It could be worse, my company charges $450 an hour for regular time M-F 8-5, any time after that is overtime at $675/hr and Sat after 5 to Monday at 0800 is doubletime at $900/hr, and thats just for me to be onsite, not to mention minimum charges of 4hrs for afterhours work.

Also you can go to honda dealers, they tend to be less expensive and can use original manufacturer parts. Besides, you get what you pay for. If you don't like it go somewhere else, South Carolina only has 2 Acura dealers, and they are owned by the same dude, so not much of choice if you want Acura to service your car.

ggesq

iTrader: (1)

$92 seems high to me as well. As an aside, it's the cost of having a luxury or near luxury vehicle. Lexus, MB, BMW (out of warranty) and other manufacturers are the same. Acura is no different.

Chanrith

Stick with independant shops and you should be fine. It appears even Honda dealers want a premium for servicing Acura cars. I've compared the cost of changing a timing belt/water pump and Acura wanted $800+ (loaner included) while Honda wanted $700+ (no loaner). Not much savings there so I decided to go to an independent shop and got it done for $500 OTD with OEM Honda parts. But if you think Acura maintenance is expensive you should look at my friends bill for his Audi repairs.

JetJock

It could be worse, my company charges $450 an hour for regular time M-F 8-5, any time after that is overtime at $675/hr and Sat after 5 to Monday at 0800 is doubletime at $900/hr, and thats just for me to be onsite, not to mention minimum charges of 4hrs for afterhours work.

Are you a Brain Surgeon?......opps....probably a Lawyer!!

rodneyc77

iTrader: (1)

The labor rate isn't what they pay the actual guy working on your car...

The labor rate is a combination of things:
1: Paying the Tech with all his/her benefits (insurance, taxes, vacation, sick time...etc.)
2: Dealer Overhead (rent and/or mortgage, Utilities, taxes, supplies, maintenance of equipment, service advisors, secretaries, loaner cars... etc.)
3: Profit $$$$

JetJock

One reason I don't own an Audi today. After owning 2, I got sick of being raped each time I needed service. It's bad enough paying their going rate, but usually, you pay twice because of the "flat rate" book. Any decent mechanic can do a job in half the time the book quotes. I have a friend who just graduated from mechanic school, so I think he's going to be doing most of my routine maint. in the future. He charges $25.00/hr...actual time.

Bearcat94

While true, I am not sure that explains why a dealership would charge $92/hour and an independent would charge, say, $60 or $70 per hour. Especially when regarding "minor service".

I don't believe Acura Mechanics make *a lot* more (or know *a lot* more); I don't believe that the service dept overhead is *a lot* higher.

That leaves the dealership profit. Hmmm, ya think ....

cbptls

The Honda dealers here in NJ charge $100 per hour, so please don't complain.

JetJock

Do the Mechanics go to Princeton University?? For $100/hr I'd expect a 4 year Ivy League Degree to justify that rate.

subinf

The independent shop I used to work for was billing at 105/hr, and 120/hr if you used your own parts.

It wasn't as bad outside of the Bay Area - rates seemed to float around 85/hr.

Bearcat94

Uhmm, the Business Manager went to Princeton. The mechanics went to Vo-Tech in high school. Then the Business Manager hired them at $15 per hour.

Desert_TL

The company I work for charges the customer about $120/hour for my time, but only pays me approximately $32/hour. I have a 4-year engineering degree. That's just how it goes. I don't have enough experience or connections to make contact and do business with the customer directly; the company I work for basically finds the customer for me, bills the customer on my behalf, and the company then pays me. I could try to go into business myself and charge the customer $120 directly, but then I run the risk of not having constant/stable work, and the customer runs the risk of not having my work be "guaranteed" by the large corporation.

If an auto shop charges $92/hour labor, the actual tech is probably getting $20/hour. The tech could try to go into business for himself, but wouldn't have the constant stream of customers that comes from working at an Acura stealership.

Anyway, $92/hour sounds about right to me.

Ac Man

If you think $92 per/hr is bad with Acura, try $109 per/hr at BMW! That price you paid has got to be dealer specific, because I got my TL serviced for parts back in March, but I don't recall paying $92 per/hr, cause if I did i'd be pissed off too!

trancemission

coud be worse, good friend of my brothers is a service rep at BMW. he told me their rates are 129/hr.

JetJock

I feel your pain guys....one of my friends just graduated from a very expensive school in the Philadelphia PA area. It cost him and his parents over $30,000. He had to spend a lot of money for tools etc., just to get a decent job. The other day, his mom told me they were slow in the shop, and since he works "flat rate", he's been sitting around for the last few days making "0"...nothing...not even minimum wage!! He has to work a second job in a bakery just to pay his bills. It sucks....the shops make a load of money, pay the mechanics NOTHING when business is slow, then have the balls to charge almost $100/hr. I'm about done with dealer shops, I think I'll give my business in the future to my friend, or any other shop that charges fair labor rates, and also pays their mechanics a decent wage. As the old saying goes....the "rich get richer."

S1CK TypeS

damn u guys are defi gettin raped. ive had work done anywhere from $75-$80/hr thats for acura and independent

trancemission

being a corporate pilot you should be used to that.......

Eoanou

Acura of Milford charges $82.50 an hour and sometimes they'll drop a few hours.

bhelsdon

My Acura dealer charges $105.00 an hour

04WDPSeDaN

iTrader: (1)

I am an automotive tech, i think the place i work in charges almost 100 an hour. I don't see anything more in my paycheck every week except what i make a year. If i bang out 40 cars in one week but the next week its 20 i still get paid the same. My salary btw is bullshit, people working in the movies make almost the same amount I make.

Only way to make real money is to keep doing side jobs. I can make 2x the amount of money I make in 4 hours of a side job than i do working from 8-5.

erdoc48

I had previously written on prior posts that maintenance could be done at a Honda dealer for less money- I'm sure this is still true with some exceptions. I went to a Honda dealer that I have been using for years (Willis Honda in Burlington, NJ) to have my oil changed today. I typically would bring a jug of Mobil 1 5W-20 and a Mobil 1 oil filter to be installed. When I went there today, I was told that the dealership would no longer perform oil changes on cars where the owner brings their own oil and filters. I was told it's their policy because they had 'too many problems' in the past (whatever that means).

If I wanted them to do the oil change, I would have to buy the Mobil 1 from them and a Honda/ Acura filter. When I asked them what's the difference between the Mobil 1 I had and theirs, they had no answer.

Since I had already bought my jug of oil and a filter, I took the car to Goodyear/ Gemini where they happily did the oil change for $14.88 including tax. I guess I'll be going there from now on. I'm not mad at Willis Honda overall, because they treated me very well in the past, but I'm sure this 'policy' is about gouging people for the Mobil 1. This is how you lose customers.

I will be writing to the general manager at the dealership to let him or her know of my disappointment.

dwest1023

Most of the maintenance on an acura can be performed by yourself. My local Mazda dealer charges $9 for an oil change on any car provided you bring you own oil. They have Sunday service, so I take all 3 of my vehicles there.

subinf

That was the best part about my job.

You should also look for a job that will pay you commission on top of your salary. I worked for a shop that did that and it was great.

Ricky Vaughn

Northeast Acura is $95 an hour.

I almost feel bad that I am being billed out at $185 an hour as I type this.

Hapa DC5

Most dealers (Acura or not) in this area are $120+ an hour in labor rates. My Acura dealer is at $140 an hour btw. It's the Silicon Valley baby, you gotta love the cost of living.

The lease on their building is 50K+ a month...

6MTUA5

iTrader: (2)

My Acura dealer charges around $85/hr

TL1999

90 per hr for my local dealer

Eoanou

This is cheap considering the Audi dealership charges me $102.50 an hour. Although they do have the maintenance package which is $500 for unlimited oil changes, but I wonder if it includes Transmission Fluid.

Eoanou

Btw I bring my car to Expressway for Oil Changes, all I do is check the color of the oil, see that its nice and golden, and I don't mind. So long as it's 5w-20 it doesn't matter what brand is in the car. It's all the same just that some break down quicker than others.

desper

Acura dealer in Stockton is at least $90 an hour..... They pay there guys no more than $20hr. Probably closer to $15 actually.. Nothing but profit after the guys salary/benefits and rent..... It is a big part of how they cover there overhead with sales staff/inventory/and property

gauravp123

anything here in Long Island is triple digits per hour.

so don't complain!

blokhead

No, I service medical equipment...