Why does my dealership have to do me like that?

"cazzyodo" (cazzyodo)
12/12/2014 at 14:34 • Filed to: rant

Getting quotes for my replacement mirror...cuz, you know, !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! .

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Went the other da during my lunch break. Quote was about $450.

For a mirror. And installation.

Installation is quoted at about $220 in labor. Let me say that again but in all caps.

TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY DOLLARS IN LABOR.

I was told it would take an hour.

$220/hour. I clearly do not have the right job.

A shop I used to take my family's old F-150 to quoted me $344 and about a half hour of labor. Both had roughly the same cost for the part, I mean it's right from Ford's site.

A different Ford dealer quoted me about $440...so not really less than my dealer but still.

So why, with my now 4 years of business (a lease, a purchase and three different vehicles having been serviced there) do they have to do me like that?

RS for your troubles...drool...

DISCUSSION (34)

OPPOsaurus WRX > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:37

just get the part and stop by. I charge a 6 pack of Mad Elf per job.

Captain of the Enterprise > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:38

I've done a few mirrors, they aren't usually hard, typically 2 or 3 bolts and a quick connect wire, so you could do it yourself and save some dough

JGrabowMSt > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:39

Check amazon or CarID for the part, see if you can do it yourself.

Screw the Dealership.

Mattbob > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:39

So you are going to replace it yourself? I think that is the correct answer.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:40

Is the labour cost not high because it needs painting? Mirrors for my car run about Ł25 because manual and unpainted.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:41

Why not just buy the part and do it yourself? There's probably a secret handshake to get the trim behind the mirror off, but the internets should have the answer to that.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:41

mirrors are easy. Few wires, couple screws, etc.

funny story... On base in Groton with my old 90 f150. Had the big metal arms on with to swing out and such. Apparently a drunkard ran into the window - physically ran and hit the mirror with his body- and it swung shut so hard it shattered my passenger window. Glass EVERYWHERE

EL_ULY > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:44

I deal with this all the time. Simply put, that's what it costs man. If you are worried about money, you can go after market and find a repair procedure online. You can probably skip that because it is such an easy job. I know it's pricey but that is what is costs dude.

jariten1781 > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:46

Solution

Kinja'd!!!

Milky > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:46

Uhh fuck no, I fixed my freind's in high school for like $30 iirc.

Lol, the picture is still on FB. So here is proof.

Kinja'd!!!

There has got to be focus mirror on the internet for cheap. DIY is your friend.

(Edit: I'm a dumbass. It was freshman year of college judging by my SC sitting there. Not that it matters though.)

Takuro Spirit > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:48

Getting to the mirror might be a PITA, having to pull off door panels and such. Certainly not $200 worth of work though.

Nothing > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:52

I just went and popped the plastic off the inside of my ST. Looks easy enough. I've replaced quite a few other mirrors, I'd say buy the mirror and swap it yourself.

PushToStart > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 14:57

holy shit. I should open a shop that specializes in replacing side mirrors. I could make a killing off of one of the easiest repair jobs in the world.

Just pop a couple panels off (normally easy if you have the right tools) undo a couple bolts and wires, take the old mirror off, put the new one on, and do the previous steps backwards.

E92M3 > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 15:03

An hour for paint, clear. Hour to install. Does it really take that long? Probably not but they round up to the nearest hour.

Don't forget they have 50+ employees to pay and a building/lot that costs $10-20k a month. The mechanics don't get $100 an hour.

GhostZ > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 15:10

I have no idea how dealerships work, but my guess is that they list it under "Body Panel Repair/Replacement" and have a minimum number of hours to do it (1 hour). Body repair means that they are booking time for any paint fixing, dent removal tools, etc. Plug that into the computer, and $220/hr in labor comes out including their probably 40-50% markup in labor.

thedevilinside > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 15:50

It cost me $365 for a new mirror this fall on my Focus ST. I can send a copy of the invoice if you want.

cazzyodo > Captain of the Enterprise
12/12/2014 at 16:20

I very well may just do that. Part is about $230 and shouldn't take anything...the real issue is the color match, though.

cazzyodo > EL_ULY
12/12/2014 at 16:21

When I think about it now I guess the real issue is that the cover was color matched...gotta pony up if I want it to stay that way. -_-

cazzyodo > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/12/2014 at 16:23

I just thought about it more and spoke to another dealer. On $180 in labor at one place, $65 is for paint. Makes a little more sense now.

cazzyodo > thedevilinside
12/12/2014 at 16:24

You get it done at a dealer? Body color cover, too?

I think that's what the real issue is for me. I called a place and had them break down labor and it ended up being $65 in paint and then $115 to install. That makes a lot more sense than the other place.

cazzyodo > Mattbob
12/12/2014 at 16:25

We'll see. I don't have the ability to match the cover to the body, though. Parts come in a black primer, I've been told.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 16:25

Yeah I thought paint would have a part in it, making it look factory takes a fair chunk of labour.

cazzyodo > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/12/2014 at 16:33

It makes sense...I've just been riled up.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 16:36

Understandable. Spending money because of someone elses mistake sucks.

thedevilinside > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 16:36

Ya, Tuxedo Black at a dealer

EL_ULY > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 16:55

Oh heck yeah. Here at Volvo, a cover is like $110 or $380 if painted. For a Vanquish.... $3,000

cazzyodo > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/12/2014 at 16:56

I'm so confused as to why or what happened. No scratches anywhere, no glass on the ground. It seems so deliberate. -_-

cazzyodo > thedevilinside
12/12/2014 at 16:58

$365 seems so much more appropriate...about $200 for the part, $65 for paint then $100 for install which is what an hour is I believe. That's where I don't understand the additional $100 they quoted me.

I emailed the guy back saying how disappointed I was in that quote and how I didn't understand...nothing. I'm just one guy.

thedevilinside > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 17:30

Mine was based off what the insurance company would be billed I think. I have an ST3 with heated mirrors. The break down was $225 for mirror assmbly, $40 for primed mirror cover, 0.9 hrs @ $42 Body Labor, 0.6 hrs @$42 for paint labor, 0.6 hrs @$30 for paint supplies. Install took the guy 15 minutes. But the place where mine mounts was bent so it took a bit more work later to get it to fit well. But that was done when the rest of the body work was done later.

What region of the country are you in?

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 17:30

Could be a theft. My stepdad caught someone with a screwdriver trying to take the mirror off his van. He caught them before they did any damage though.

cazzyodo > thedevilinside
12/12/2014 at 17:58

Detailed breakdown there.

Im in the northeast...specifically Boston.

cazzyodo > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
12/12/2014 at 18:03

I thought of that and it makes sense as to how relatively clean it was taken. I was just confused because of the fact there are two gtrs among other vehicles in the same lot.

thedevilinside > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 18:05

Figured it wouldn't hurt since it's the exact same thing. Mine got whacked off on a metal post at 70mph. I'm in Atlanta, not sure how much that affects prices if at all.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > cazzyodo
12/12/2014 at 18:05

Well I suppose it's easier to sell a Focus mirror since it's a common car.