Mobile mechanic price?

[30-30]

I had to call a mobile mechanic today and wonder if what I paid is excessive. The starter went out on one of our company trucks; an 08 F350 diesel. We were out in the boonies on a wildlife refuge and needed to get home this evening, and weren't certain that our problem was the starter, so we called a mobile mechanic. Five hours labor (2 hours on site replacing the starter) plus parts was $1050. I was expecting closer to $6-800. Did I get hosed, or is a grand about right for mobile service?

[540 MM]

We do road calls all the time. How far did he have to travel and did he have the starter with him?

[boh347]

I pay 60-100 an hr. Sometimes they charge mileage. $1.?? A mile

[30-30]

We do road calls all the time. How far did he have to travel and did he have the starter with him?

Traveled about 40 miles one way plus time/mileage to pick up the starter on his way.

[ladrones]

Was it on a weekend? Some charge mileage or by the hour for travel.

[fishingsetx]

My breakdown

$500 in time ($100x5)
$300 for starter (just a WAG)
$100 for milage (guessing $1 a mile)
$75 in tax

This puts you at $975 give or take.

While I think that is crazy high to change a starter (I do that kind of thing myself), it seems fair to pay someone who drove out and did it on location. We used to charge $139 an hour to repair office machines and $75 an hr for travel time I was making $6.50 an hr and the guy I was working for was far from rich (jusy me and him).



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[Greyman]

You got hosed I ran a mobile mechanic business for 10yrs. I charged for my time when I rolled to the job, even at $95hr that is $475 then you got the starter and I would guess at approx. $300 so yeah someone is making bank. too many crooks out there today...
sorry for ya.

[DJM]

We were out in the boonies on a wildlife refuge

What's it worth to not be stuck in the boonies?He probably charged extra for this.I know I would.


DJ

[EastTexasMan]

My mobile mechanic charges like an $80 service fee and then I can't remember the hourly rate, but I don't care what the rate is because he does top notch work and diagnosis things the right way. Brake check says you need brakes, ball joints going out etc, he will come by, free of charge, and say man you don't need brake pads and the ball joints just need grease and he will grease them up no charge. When something is wrong he knocks it out in my driveway and charges fair price.

[Greyman]

What's it worth to not be stuck in the boonies?He probably charged extra for this.I know I would.


DJ

This is whats wrong with todays business, charging extra for doing the job you signed up for??? Hello MOBILE MECHANIC.... driving to remote locations comes with the territory.

[Reaper87]

How much was the starter? Did he get it from ford? Those parts can be stupid expensive

[DJM]

This is whats wrong with todays business, charging extra for doing the job you signed up for??? Hello MOBILE MECHANIC.... driving to remote locations comes with the territory.

Says who?Replacing a starter in your driveway is isn't the same as out in the "boonies".
This is what's wrong with todays people in general.They want somebody else with the knowledge, skills and assets to do work that they aren't capable of ,then gripe about the cost.

DJ

[fishingsetx]

Says who?Replacing a starter in your driveway is isn't the same as out in the "boonies".
This is what's wrong with todays people in general.They want somebody else with the knowledge, skills and assets to do work that they aren't capable of ,then gripe about the cost.

DJ

This!!! If you have ever been in field service, you know there is a HUGE difference in the time, labor, and hassle required in fixing something in the field vs fixing it in the shop! You arent just paying for the part to be replaced, you are paying for their expertise as well as the hassle of doing it in the boonies. If it was done at a shop, I would say the price was a bit excessive, but since this was done in the field and in the boonies, I would say it was a fair price.

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[Tbar]

I think that starter(for a diesel) would be closer to $500.00.