$450.00 to change 1 bushing!

[SGOS252382]

I went to Tuffy's Automotive (Colonial - Ft. Myers Fl) and they told me it would be $450.00 to replace 1 trailing arm bushing.

Their computer showed 3.5 hours to do the job and they wouldn't budge on the cost. I tried to explain to them, I just wanted 1 bushing replaced but they said it would be a minimum of $450.00

Of course I didn't let them install the bushing. I'm going to get a performance shop to install the bushing for me.

But $450.00, that's highway robbery.

[lexlueger]

Did they at least buy you dinner before they....

[midnighter]

Welcome to labor costs. This is why I have learned to do the most I can in my garage and spend the money I save on labor costs to buy tools instead. I can almost be a certified mechanic with all I have learned and I am considering getting into it at least part time so I can charge people the big bucks to do stuff that is not that hard for me to do for them with all the right tools.

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by lexlueger

Did they at least buy you dinner before they....

Yeah

I've been to them before and the owner or different sales guy was there and he worked with me (treated me fair and charged me a reasonable price for work).

What was even worse is they had 0 business (not 1 other customer) and no one was working. But he still wanted to charge me $450.00 for work his suspension guy could easily do in 1 hour.
I would have gladly paid them the going rate. If it took him 1 hour to do the job I'd pay him for 1 hours work. But to tell me it would be at least $450.00 to change 1 bushing is being completely unreasonable and not very good customer service.

[lexlueger]

Most shops don't get the concept of consumer loyalty. If I receive good service at a mutually fair price then I'll return to your establishment. Over charge me once and it virtually guaranties that I won't return. Seems pretty simple to me.

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by midnighter

Welcome to labor costs. This is why I have learned to do the most I can in my garage and spend the money I save on labor costs to buy tools instead. I can almost be a certified mechanic with all I have learned and I am considering getting into it at least part time so I can charge people the big bucks to do stuff that is not that hard for me to do for them with all the right tools.

Hopefully you won't charge people $450.00 to swap out 1 tailing arm bushing that you can do in 45 minutes. If so, you won't be getting much return business.

But I do understand what you're saying. Labor costs are a major part of any job. But customers should be charged a "fair" rate for the job being done.

[HufferSS]

If its 45 minutes.....then do it yourself.

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by HufferSS

If its 45 minutes.....then do it yourself.

I would but I just had surgery on my ankle and I can't do any crawling or lifting etc. I can barely walk.
I tried to jack my car up (not too smart with my ankle the way it is) and ended up hurting myself even more.

[SC2150]

We do them all the time here...but were a 2 hour drive from you. $200.

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by SC2150

We do them all the time here...but were a 2 hour drive from you. $200.

Just curious. Would that be your charge to install a pair of trailing arms or just to replace the 1 bushing I need replacing?

I've already got BMR trailing arms on my car. I just need the lower bushing replaced on the driver's side trailing arm.

And its wouldn't be that big of a deal for me to drive up there to get it done. I'd just have to pick a day and drive up there.

Thanks for the info.

[mhog]

Find someone on the forum to help you that in your area. Buy him a fee beers.

[ssmike]

If I could do both in 1 hour on jackstands a professional shop should be able to do 1 in that time or less! $100 job IMO!

Why only 1 needs replacing?

[SGOS252382]

Originally Posted by ssmike

If I could do both in 1 hour on jackstands a professional shop should be able to do 1 in that time or less! $100 job IMO!

Why only 1 needs replacing?

A while back when I was getting the trailing arms installed, I ran out of time and had to quickly get to a doctor's appointment.

So I ended up 1 BMR bushing short on the driver's side bottom. Remember, lot of guys replace their trailing arms and leave the stock bushing in the bottom. BMR charges extra for the bottom bushing (trailing arms come with the top bushing only).


Getting the 1 bushing installed (by another shop or friend) isn't a big deal.

I just thought it was highway robbery for Tuffy's Automotive to try to charge me $450.00 to replace 1 trailing arm bushing.

I asked the manager if they would charge people $900.00 to install both trailing arms. He said "yes."
But like I said, the computer shows 3.5 hours per side (7 hours labor for both sides).

[bucketobolts]

Originally Posted by mhog

Find someone on the forum to help you that in your area. Buy him a fee beers.

I'm for a work day