I talked to one of the dealers locally $485 is what they quoted me to install the TRD springs on the xB? What have other dealers quoted/charged you for the install? Randode charges $50. How is there this kind of discrepancy?

 

Its because its a dealer...find a friend and do it with them.

 

yes, however I don't see how they can even justify it. How long does it really take?

 

should only take 45 minutes to an hour and a half...they really cant unless they meant that was with springs which is still insane...

 

That's with the springs, but the price is still way out of whack because it's the dealer.



DIY or die.

 

Find out what book time is to R&R springs and/or struts on the box. Multiply that by shop rate. Around here it runs from about $60/hr to $90/hr.

Before people get all bent about shops charging $90 an hour think about this. The shop has to (a)pay employees [wages, insurance, vacation, 401k, ect] (b)pay for insurance on the shop, (c) pay for advertisement, (d) pay for waste removal [used oil, antifreese, tires, parts, ect.] (e)pay for the shop owner's boat, and (d) pay for said boat's fuel. And let me tell you from experience, boats LOVE the fuel!!!!

Seriously tho, there is alot of overhead in a garage.

 

Ok I thought about it! This is how...well first they got to make the springs. So they got to go to Japan and make them and then bring them back ($300). Then they will install them for you at ($100). Last they have to take them for a joy ride around for a day or two and you get to pay for the gas ($58 ). Hope this helps explain things!

 

lol thats like saying its ok for a serial killer to kill people because he (a) got beat up when he waas a kid (b) his parents hated him (c) his girl friend is cheating on him with a guy named carl (d) he stubbed his pinky toe that morning

they charge that much because they know some dick will pay that much because they dont know any better or have enuff money that they dont really care.

 

nope, not according to this dealer $485 just for labor. springs were whatever the springs cost.

 

they are in business to make money. its very simple really.

 

Not exactly.
If mechanics don't get paid, they leave. No garage.
Is insurance doesn't get paid, shop closes. No garage.
If waste isn't removed, shop looks like ____, customers leave. No garage
The advertisement thing can go either way, but then again, I don't think it takes up too much of a shops budget anyways.
If owner doesn't get boat or fuel, he gets ____ed and mechanics leave. No garage.

Serial killers have a choice, shops really don't.

 

The older I get, the less time I have to work on my ride. So I am sure that someday, I'll end up taking my car to a garage for some stupid little thing like changing an alternator. I hope I never get to the point where it goes to the shop for an air filter tho!!

 

Yes all of that is true but the boat thing, or at my moms work any ways. Instead of the boat its the new car the owner drives & trades in every few months. Also another thing to look into is $90 a hour. Not to many jobs take 1 hour. So if it takes 30 min you get charged $45. If it takes less then 15min at my moms work they normaly dont charge any thing for labor. Most things like this is just a L.O.F. & things like that. The company can make up the money when it comes down to replacing a engine, trans, or a whole lot of stuff at 1 time. My mom works in the casher section & also deals with the flag sheets from the mechanics so she knows when they overcharge or when they dont.

 

Dealers are snakes, but yea they gotta make their money somehow, and sorry to say it's by suckering in people.

 

That's about what my dealer wanted to charge me, $200 per axle, $400 total in labor to install the springs. A 4-wheel alignment would be extra. I shopped around, and got them installed, with an alignment, for $185 from a local tire shop.

It pays to shop around. I doubt I'll take my car to the dealer for ANY kind of service, unless it's warranty-related. Lube/oil/filter change/tire rotation every 2500 miles at one of the local tire shops for $20, and I'll save the warranty-related stuff for the dealer...

 

I wanted to finance my TRD springs with my ride but my dealer waants $639 installed. NFW.

-nt

 

Randode is a small company, one guy I think, and has no overhead. We charge $579.00 for the spirngs, installed, with the re-alignment (4-wheel) included.

Shop around.

 

Stupid question, I know, but Is realignment really necessary? I got a guy who'll do it for $50 plus beer.

Joe
Scinergy IA Forever!

 

the point is you charge what you need to, to make a profit and run the buiness. not charge 3 times what somethign is really worth beacuse you know you can get away with it. not everybody out there know what things should cost, and they will trust what ever people say.

 

i paid $485 of r the springs and installation.

now, the springs cost $189, alignment is at least $60-90, labor is about $100,
so is $485 such a bad price? considering all the tools and time one needs to get this done, besides the knowledge, etc?

I did a lot of work myself on my WRX, highly modded, 300 HP @ the wheels(not the crank),
and it was a lot of work. lots of tools, help and time. I sorted out my suspension for a while, testing out different setups and all. when it came time for the box and i wanted springs, my wife was like, oh just get them installed, it's worht it for the $300 w/o the headache, etc.

to each their own. we're spending $15k as it is, at least. I saw soem dude moaning about the install price after doing a $3k stereo/nav system. gimme a break.

just my opinion.