Rip off

I got a electric trailer break mod from Amazon for $65.55 and the dealer ship that I have bough my last 6 vehicles from charged me $194.45 to program it for me. Don’t care about there customers.

Is $200 bucks worth such anger? While I know some dealers do go over the top with some pricing there is a certain overhead needed just to answer the phone and have someone drive your vehicle into the bay.

If you had the knowledge and equipment needed to do it yourself it would have happened. Breath deeply and enjoy using the trailer brake.

If you owned the dealership and were responsible for maintaining books in the black, what would you charge customers?

In my old line of work, we (like all businesses) knew our truck-based service guy's van and labor cost's per hour. That was ...the total cost of his wages/benefits, truck & tools cost, insurance, fuel, consumables, billing and so on. When we donated an hour of labor (to help an angry customer), it took something like 6-7 hours to break even depending on the guy's labor rate & total cost. Which means most of the day the service guy wasn't producing any profit for the company. A company which doesn't show a profit for too long, won't be around to service their customers and therefore is actually performing irresponsibly doing excessive work for free. And putting their business at risk. While it sounds twisted, it's pretty much the facts. But yeah, maybe if it was an hour's work, that's what they should have charged you plus a software charge. If their labor rate is [estimated] $135/hr plus a $45 software charge (+taxes, etc) ...it sounds about what they charged you.

Note: It probably would have cost you ~$200 in parts/software & your time (to learn it) to program it yourself.

.

No offense but this sounds like a lack of homework/research and possible laziness. The angry post isn't worth wasting everyone's time. Oh and don't buy trucks without the provisions you need... Hella cheaper to buy the truck with it than add it later, just sayin.
Alfaobd, and do ur damn research, if you do that much u may never have to take your shop again..

Brandon-w said:

No offense but this sounds like a lack of homework/research and possible laziness. The angry post isn't worth wasting everyone's time. Oh and don't buy trucks without the provisions you need... Hella cheaper to buy the truck with it than add it later, just sayin.
Alfaobd, and do ur damn research, if you do that much u may never have to take your shop again..

Click to expand...

My trailer tow package didn’t cost much at all as I remember, $560

I enjoy the people who walk into our historic carriage museum and are shocked we charge admission.......they are ususally holding an $8 cup of coffee and think museums should be free.

FYI, a little late but you could've bought AlphaOBD program and the Bluetooth OBD dongle for less than that and programmed it yourself.

On average, a dealership will charge between $75 and $130 per hour for labor. Some dealerships charged $150 back in 2020

Bigcurt1954 said:

I got a electric trailer break mod from Amazon for $65.55 and the dealer ship that I have bough my last 6 vehicles from charged me $194.45 to program it for me. Don’t care about there customers.

Click to expand...

It seems rough, but the dealership fee is independent of what you paid for the mod. If you spent $2000 on the mod, they would have charged you the same $194 because they probably went "by the book" on what it costs to program your truck.

Did you call around to see what other shops might charge? You know shop around. Did you ask them how much before you let them work on it? Not sure why you are surprised at the cost.

Even the dollar menu isnt a dollar anymore.

All the more reason never to use a stealership for anything.

Bigcurt1954 said:

I got a electric trailer break mod from Amazon for $65.55 and the dealer ship that I have bough my last 6 vehicles from charged me $194.45 to program it for me. Don’t care about there customers.

Click to expand...

Yeah that is on you. Kind of ballsy to also bring in your own non MOPAR not bought from them parts and then expect them to give you favorable pricing. I know many dealerships will refuse customer brought in parts and the ones that do not, will charge you a premium for installing it because they lost out on the sale of earning money on said part.

Bigcurt1954 said:

I got a electric trailer break mod from Amazon for $65.55 and the dealer ship that I have bough my last 6 vehicles from charged me $194.45 to program it for me. Don’t care about there customers.

Click to expand...

Imagine how much you overpaid for those 6 vehicles!!!!!!!!!!!!

chri5k said:

Did you call around to see what other shops might charge? You know shop around. Did you ask them how much before you let them work on it? Not sure why you are surprised at the cost.

Click to expand...

This!

If you knew that you would wind up at the dealer service lane with a non-OEM part, you should have called them before buying from Amazon to get their estimate for the complete job - part and labor.
Before you buy anything, think about what is next after you own it if anything.
Just saying.
* Back in the day, my dealership would have turned you away with a part other than OEM.
Aftermarket parts were a big no-no and rightfully so as there was so many inferior quality parts to be had.

I just had a trans problem, took it to the dealer and was charged 336.00 for diagnostic fee. Well came back and told me no codes found and had to remove the pan to check the inside. Well I said no. 336. for no code found, not right.

GTyankee said:

On average, a dealership will charge between $75 and $130 per hour for labor. Some dealerships charged $150 back in 2020

Click to expand...

I think you are a bit behind on dealer labor charging. At least in my area they are between $200-250/hr with 1hr minimum.

Bigcurt1954 said:

I got a electric trailer break mod from Amazon for $65.55 and the dealer ship that I have bough my last 6 vehicles from charged me $194.45 to program it for me. Don’t care about there customers.

Click to expand...

Most dealers have a 1 hour minimum on labor charges which depending on your dealer can be upwards of $250.

bigblock_doc said:

I just had a trans problem, took it to the dealer and was charged 336.00 for diagnostic fee. Well came back and told me no codes found and had to remove the pan to check the inside. Well I said no. 336. for no code found, not right.

Click to expand...

I understand the point about not wanting to pay the money........but you took your truck to the dealership and told them to take the time to look at it. So there were no codes present. You expect them to do this for free?

I love how all of you are siding with the dealership, he bought 6 vehicles there so I don't think he is out of line on this issue. If I had more interest I would search and see how many of you have bashed dealerships in the past.