Flat Rate Pricing vs. Per Hour Pricing

The last thing you want are mysterious service charges showing up on your garage receipt. Flat rate pricing vs. per hour – know the difference.

Do you ever feel like your mechanic might be ripping you off? We’ve all been there, and the last thing you want or expect when sending your truck in for a repair or maintenance are mysterious charges showing up on your bill. Tired of not knowing what your service charges are all about? We’re looking at flat rate pricing vs. per hour – how to know the difference and avoid the surprises.

Per Hour Pricing
Oftentimes the price you are being charged has little to do with the mechanic himself, and much to do with how the owner runs the shop. For example, if he pays his associates per hour, they will be charging you by the hour for the literal amount of physical labor they are putting into your truck. This can get tricky, as many feel like a mechanic may take extra time fixing the vehicle in order to make a little extra cash.

Flat Rate Pricing
If the shop does not pay by the hour, that means they pay “per job” and your mechanic is being paid a flat rate for every job he takes on. For example, if he is being paid $200 for a job, he will make that same $200 regardless if he spends 2 hours fixing your vehicle – or 20 minutes. That also means that if it takes him 2 minutes to fix a simple issue with your vehicle, you’re still dishing out $200.

Additional Fees
There may still be additional fees when it comes to your mechanic’s pricing. For example, he may charge you per hour for his time, and then add additional costs for the price of a part. This is called parts and labor pricing. Make sure to ask plenty of questions to avoid the pitfall, or just plain shock, of additional costs.

Trust your Mechanic
It’s important to find a mechanic who is straight up with you, and one that you can trust. A good mechanic will inform you exactly what’s going to happen to your truck during the service appointment, and what to expect with regards to pricing.

At Smith Springs, we let you know exactly what you’re getting into. Whether you’re coming in for truck spring repair, maintenance, alignment, or to take advantage of our local bus district special, we’ll let you know exactly what we’re planning for your vehicle – no surprises.