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What is Your Hourly Rate?

It amazes me how many people ring me up for a immediate quote on a car which has major issues without giving me the chance to thoroughly inspect the vehicle and get a detailed analysis of what the real problem is. These penny pinchers ring one workshop after another until someone gives them the cheapest price possible. It’s easy to pick these type of people by their initial question- “ AND WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE ?”

For a job to be done properly it requires skilled labour which is the backbone of any quality, successful job and the price has to be paid – YOU CANNOT GET SOMETHING FOR NOTHING!

Many years ago I took one of my ex-wives to court because she would not give information about the well-being of my daughter. In the initial interview with my solicitor, I stated my case and then asked “AND WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE?” My Solicitor laid back in his plush leather chair, crossed his arms, squinted his eyes and barked back at me, “DO YOU WANT TO SEE YOUR DAUGHTER OR NOT?”
“OF COURSE I DO, WHAT A SILLY QUESTION” I said defensively,
“THEN GET THE MONEY & DO NOT ASK ME MY FOR MY RATE!”

Bang… Talking about getting hit right between the eyes, but his words ‘GET THE MONEY’ kept ringing through my ears and something miraculous happened, I kept focussed, worked harder than I ever did before and presto I got the money, won the court case and got to see my daughter.

Watching my solicitor perform in court with confidence and poise was money well spent.

Skilled labour in any profession or sport takes years and years of practice. It’s doing that counts, not study or reading books. Organised refined labour is what gets the job done.

And there are no short cuts. The price has to be paid in any profession.

The surgeon who performs microscopic robotic surgery; the bricklayer who can lay hundreds and hundreds of bricks perfectly; the doctor administering a catheter to give a patient relief; the mechanic who can tune an engine for peak power and good economy; the nurse who showers, cleans and puts fresh bed linen on to give the patient dignity and hygiene; our brave soldiers fighting overseas so we can have peace in this country… all this is skilled labour and the full price has to be paid.

This is why I hate reality home improvement or renovation shows. I believe these misguiding television shows have a duty of care to perform especially in handling asbestos, dangerous other materials and of course they do not show the tedious hard work that trained professionals do because this will be boring and we cannot have that-people will switch channels to Family Feud.

Here is the irony. People who have mastered their profession make it look easy!

SO WHY DID I WRITE THIS BLOG?

I will give you the answer. A week has just passed since another dreadful balcony has collapsed, killing and maiming people at a Christmas party. The coronial inquiry will get the answers, but how many more people need to die or be injured because of shoddy workmanship or unscrupulous people wanting renovations and not wanting to pay the hourly rate for work to be done properly?

Miserable people who systematically try to screw down quotes from struggling tradesmen are the biggest cancer to the economy. What this does is force the tradesperson to buy rubbish from China. China is a Communist government with a Capitalist business ethic and they deliberately hold their currency low so they can export their rubbish to the world, they have no shame or respect for quality.

I refuse to fit Chinese parts to any cars I repair (experience here) unless it a Great Wall.

Any person who tries to screw me for price or tries to manipulate so that I cannot do my job properly to a set standard is not one of my customers and will know it.

GET THE MONEY, GET THE JOB DONE RIGHT. IT COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE!

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.

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Capped Price Servicing – What is the Truth?

In my last blog, I talked about CONTINUAL IMPROVEMENT, how skills and an ongoing desire to be better is essential for better customer service without the gimmicks.. Which brings me to CAPPED PRICE SERVICE .

Capped Price Servicing was introduced by major car dealerships to try and reverse the poor customer retention rate which car dealerships created themselves through sky high servicing costs and poor customer service.
Their gimmick is simple – NO SURPRISES AND FIXED BASIC PRICE SERVICING.

Car dealerships do not make money selling new cars, their source of positive cash flow comes from spare parts, selling useless extended insurance and warranties (read the fine print), trade in cars (traded in at low price and sold high) and of course car servicing.

The truth is quality new cars do not need much service upkeep in their first 3-5 years or 50,000km which aligns with the dealership service plan. In other words they are only stating the obvious.

So what is the catch?

There has to be a catch right?

Car dealerships and franchises work on volume, while the profit margin is quite small, but because they do so many of these low skilled services (that’s how they make their profit) consequently brings a low skill technician. (I recently had one of these moron technicians working for me and let’s just say Hasta la vista BABY!)

The catch is cars are an ongoing load bearing rotating piece of a machinery. Anything that rotates on a car can and will wear. I WILL REPEAT THAT -ANYTHING ON A CAR THAT ROTATES CAN AND WILL WEAR. Tyres, fanbelts brakes, suspension, internal engine components, water pumps unless you park your car in a garage and let it sit there is the only way you can avoid wear and tear.

Pricing though important should not be the main focus to the diligent car owner. Now with turbos, direct injection and variable camshafts, it is critical to have the best oil, best tyres, the best quality filters. A dirty air filter can affect your ca’s performance, engine wear and fuel economy and yet is perhaps one of the most overlooked service component.

To the serious car owner your car should be looked at as a investment, no different to your home.

Your car is a vital piece of equipment, especially when it comes to picking up children from school, family and work commitments. Invest in your car. Do not  be swayed by capped pricing only to be  slugged like a wounded bull  when your service schedule is over or when your car is due for tyres and brakes.

Yes pricing is important, but a good quality technician who knows your car personally, has track records, works to a system and is totally open and transparent while using the best parts and has the best equipment WHICH HE USES ensuring motoring piece of mind.

– Manny, 0411 496 621
To serve, to perform, to guide.

 

At Manny’s Mechanical Repairs you are in good hands, our main services include, Safety Certificates, Logbook Service, Free Pickup & Delivery, and Car Cooling System Repairs.

We have the latest diagnostic equipment and my work van is fitted out with an industrial air compressor. This enables me to perform heavy duty work and give you – the customer – the best service at any place and at any time.

For Bookings and enquiries, please contact us on 0411 496 621, email us at agrade@mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au or visit our site www.mannysmechanicalrepairs.com.au.