Opinion on service bill

[NCTrailrunner]

Howdy,

As you can see, I just joined this forum, and based on the title, you might think I am going to be angry. Maybe. The verbal quote was $818. Which seemed a bit high, but not extreme, so ok, do it, I don't want to and can't. I picked up the truck and turns out they do not include taxes or "Shop supplies" on the estimate. What is shop supplies? Pizza? Toilet paper? Sounds like overhead to me. Why not charge me for occupancy cost? Maybe parking? This place is nowhere near a dealership. Just a repair shop. I have been coming here for years, but they changed ownership...

I would like a few opinions on this bill. I have no idea if the AC work is reasonable; I know it is expensive, and there are specialized tools involved. It looks like the transmission service is a little high, but not outrageous. What do you think?

2002 Dodge Ram 1500 ST V6 3.7L that I bought new in 2002!

Thanks,

 

[jws123]

I work in a dealer the trans service cost looks right. The only thing i see that is crazy is the $240 to re charge the system that should of been included int the line replacement r134 is cheap. As far as shop supplies i dont know.

 

[chopperman1]

Doesn't seem outrageous to me!

 

[Tom Davis]

Appears to be the norm. I don't know of anyplace that will include them in the estimate, I always ask for the out the door price and still plan on giving about a 10% leeway.

 

[NCTrailrunner]

Thanks for the feedback.

I suppose what irritated me is $21 per quart for trans fluid, when they probably pay $6-8 in bulk. $40 shop supplies? $5 or $10 would have gone unnoticed.

The former owner stuck by his estimate and had open communication. The estimate I was given was $818. The bill was $919. And the cashier had no idea what shop supplies meant. Condescending tone of a 20 year old, "I guess it's supplies they use in the shop."

But I did not ask if that was the total bill. So I am partly to blame. I just got in the habit of not needing to ask with the former owner. And $100 either way is not going to make that much difference.

 

[Travelin Ram]

I’d be looking for a new shop, and I’d let the business owner know why. Inaccurate estimates and condescending attitude? Not going to get much repeat business.

 

[Dean2]

I’d be looking for a new shop, and I’d let the business owner know why. Inaccurate estimates and condescending attitude? Not going to get much repeat business.

Agreed, buy existing successful shop so you have a client base. Hire snarky staff, change quote process and probably a bunch of other stuff, owner not present: so immediately set out to pee off the existing clients. GREAT business model, NOT!!!!

 

[CanuckRam1313]

I'm familiar with that operations system, it is Protractor Software.
Anyhoo...
The shop supplies has an astrix with a 'S' on it.
Looking at the invoice I see this astrix and 'S' on all items applicable to environmental charges.
This is what it's classified here in Canuck-Land on service invoices.
I am thinking this is what the shop supplies is for.

 

[FabricGATOR]

Shop supplies are things that we use but are too menial to list, (1/3 can of cleaner/degreaser, four paper towels, a few zip ties, [hopefully] two new Schrader valves in the refrigerant charging ports, some refrigerant oil, some sealant or such transmission pan, and a little GoJo hand cleaner, perhaps a paper floor mat so their greasy shoes didn't leave a smudge.)

What worries my is where is the charge for the new a/c accumulator drier? Surely they replaced that.

$55.71 sounds like only the pan filter and not the spin on filter too, meh, most other transmission don't have a pump spin on filter, so OK

ATF +4 is upwards of $9 quart IF you can find a deal and doesn't include shipping.

I wonder how they got 8 quarts out....

 

[Ironhead3]

Howdy,

As you can see, I just joined this forum, and based on the title, you might think I am going to be angry. Maybe. The verbal quote was $818. Which seemed a bit high, but not extreme, so ok, do it, I don't want to and can't. I picked up the truck and turns out they do not include taxes or "Shop supplies" on the estimate. What is shop supplies? Pizza? Toilet paper? Sounds like overhead to me. Why not charge me for occupancy cost? Maybe parking? This place is nowhere near a dealership. Just a repair shop. I have been coming here for years, but they changed ownership...

I would like a few opinions on this bill. I have no idea if the AC work is reasonable; I know it is expensive, and there are specialized tools involved. It looks like the transmission service is a little high, but not outrageous. What do you think?

2002 Dodge Ram 1500 ST V6 3.7L that I bought new in 2002!

Thanks, View attachment 526886

Shop supplies have been charged on work orders for over 25 years here in New Brunswick, Canada, and are usually based on a percentage of every hour of technicians time spent on your vehicle. This garage charges 5% of the labor charge, which I suspect is $139.95 per hour by the labor charges, and shop supplies is for anything that is not actually invoiced to you in parts - seals for ac lines if they don't come with the new hose, or perhaps they make their own hoses and reuse the ends so they replace the seals, which is common, brake cleaner, rags, miscellaneous bolts, nuts, cable ties, etc. As far as the prices of the services performed on your truck, they seem reasonable to me, although the work order is obviously in USD, but seem on par for what it would be in Canada. AC service, although all based on the same principal, system and components, is now a trade in itself for a technician who is good at what he or she does. With the variances in manufacturers placement of components, switches, sensors, etc., it isn't "they are all the same" anymore.

 

[Dusty]

I just checked the on-line price for Mopar ATF-4 in 1 quart versions and it looks like several are selling it for just under $10US. But, that does not include shipping.

These on-line prices appear to be discounted. Keep in mind that service repair shops are almost always prone to sell at retail, so maybe $20 is reasonable retail. (I can't check the dealer retail at this hour).

Regards,
Dusty
2019 Ram 1500 Billet Silver Laramie Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP75, 3.21 axle, 33-gallon fuel tank, 18” wheels. Build Date: 3 June 2018. Now at 97206 miles.

 

[FabricGATOR]

anything on the list, including the blue bottle from Walmart is approved ATF+4

Licensed ATF+4 Brands - Center for Quality Assurance

Independent testing has shown that unlicensed products claiming ATF+4 compatibility do not meet FCA specifications

www.centerforqa.com

What is not on the list is any 'universal' atf that the kid at auutoparts store wants to put in your trunk

 

[madtrucker2016]

Howdy,

As you can see, I just joined this forum, and based on the title, you might think I am going to be angry. Maybe. The verbal quote was $818. Which seemed a bit high, but not extreme, so ok, do it, I don't want to and can't. I picked up the truck and turns out they do not include taxes or "Shop supplies" on the estimate. What is shop supplies? Pizza? Toilet paper? Sounds like overhead to me. Why not charge me for occupancy cost? Maybe parking? This place is nowhere near a dealership. Just a repair shop. I have been coming here for years, but they changed ownership...

I would like a few opinions on this bill. I have no idea if the AC work is reasonable; I know it is expensive, and there are specialized tools involved. It looks like the transmission service is a little high, but not outrageous. What do you think?

2002 Dodge Ram 1500 ST V6 3.7L that I bought new in 2002!

Thanks, View attachment 526886

The recharge for A/C is high because they can pull your R134A out and save it in the machine and the work is complete then put yours back. So maybe you paid for your very own R-134A