4 ms·

I got estimates to replace alternator for Mitsubishi Montero Sport in Seattle area for $330. It took 40 minutes to do it yourself, first time, while reading ins

by slaw 4y ago

I got estimates to replace alternator for Mitsubishi Montero Sport in Seattle area for $330. It took 40 minutes to do it yourself, first time, while reading instructions, using only one wrench on a parking lot of apartment complex. If I had to do it again it would take me 15 minutes. $160/h for plumber work is very reasonable price compared to $600/h for mechanic work.

throwaway0a5e 4y ago
You're paying $330 for an alternator because you're competing for the mechanic's time with someone who's head has been pumped full of "but what if a wheel falls off, better leave it to a professional" rhetoric and who has enough money from his FAANG RSUs to entertain the idea spending $200 on a 20min pad slap brake job.
pixl97 4y ago
And you completely underestimate people's ability to screw that up. Mechanics tend to have a book that tell them what rate to charge and how long it should take. Then when you add in being in the Seattle area, that their taxes and property costs are off the hook because of all the computer programmers that happen to live in Seattle, earn well into the 6 figures, and post on HN, that their prices are not bad for people that don't want to turn a wrench.
- slaw 4y ago
  The book is used for warranty work. When you are paying customer you will not be charged by book time, but multiple of that.
linsomniac 4y ago
I once had a bad fan on my heat pump (bearings went bad). I went in to replace it, but none of the local motor suppliers, and nobody I could find online, could offer a replacement. It was a fancy 2 stage motor, I guess... So I called the big plumbing/heating place in town. They came in with a $750 quote to replace it, but they said: "It's not currently failing, but when we're in there it's usually a good idea to replace the contactors." I asked how much that would be. He looks up in a table "$375". "For a relay?!?" I later looked up the contactor price and it was less than $20, and it'd take me less than an hour to replace it, maybe 5 minutes "while I was in there".

by slaw 4y ago

throwaway0a5e 4y ago

You're paying $330 for an alternator because you're competing for the mechanic's time with someone who's head has been pumped full of "but what if a wheel falls off, better leave it to a professional" rhetoric and who has enough money from his FAANG RSUs to entertain the idea spending $200 on a 20min pad slap brake job.

pixl97 4y ago

And you completely underestimate people's ability to screw that up. Mechanics tend to have a book that tell them what rate to charge and how long it should take. Then when you add in being in the Seattle area, that their taxes and property costs are off the hook because of all the computer programmers that happen to live in Seattle, earn well into the 6 figures, and post on HN, that their prices are not bad for people that don't want to turn a wrench.

slaw 4y ago
The book is used for warranty work. When you are paying customer you will not be charged by book time, but multiple of that.

linsomniac 4y ago

I once had a bad fan on my heat pump (bearings went bad). I went in to replace it, but none of the local motor suppliers, and nobody I could find online, could offer a replacement. It was a fancy 2 stage motor, I guess... So I called the big plumbing/heating place in town. They came in with a $750 quote to replace it, but they said: "It's not currently failing, but when we're in there it's usually a good idea to replace the contactors." I asked how much that would be. He looks up in a table "$375". "For a relay?!?" I later looked up the contactor price and it was less than $20, and it'd take me less than an hour to replace it, maybe 5 minutes "while I was in there".