labour rates

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Tue 11 Feb 2003 17:53
labour rates - andy n
hi, ive just picked up my bmw from my local main dealers bodyshop which had carried out a major repair and noticed that the labour rate charged to the insurers was £25 /hr this contrasts with a labour rate of over £60/hr i was recently charged for a inspection 2 service at the same premises on asking why i was told this was "normal motor trade pratice"???!! any one out there in the trade care to comment, i assume the dealer pays his body shop guys similar rates to his mechanics so why such a differance?
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Tue 11 Feb 2003 19:01
labour rates - lauriew
Insurers will not pay above a certain hourly rate(£25 in your case). My son is an Insurance Engineer and he says that some "Prestige Car" repairers do try it on... but to no avail.
All makes are the same,(but the parts will be more expensive).
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Tue 11 Feb 2003 19:46
labour rates - P.Mason {P}
This suggests that the garage are still able to make a profit on labour rates of £25 per hour, as they would refuse the work if they were making a loss on it. Hence at £60 per hour they're laughing..
P.
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Tue 11 Feb 2003 19:49
labour rates - SteveH42
Assume 20k and 35 hours a week. That's £11 an hour, and assuming that much again for tax / NI etc and providing employee facilities, you are still slightly in profit. Also, don't forget they tend to round up to the nearest hour.
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Tue 11 Feb 2003 19:56
labour rates - Vansboy
You did say 'bodyshop'.You will find that historically,this side of the business will have a lower hourly rate than the mechanical side.
Never could work that one out.
Plus, the insurer will expect a generous 'trade' discount,they'll want the parts cheaper too!
Mark
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Tue 11 Feb 2003 22:02
labour rates - Armitage Shanks{P}
A certain broadsheet Sunday paper has been inviting reports of labour rates around the UK. The current record holder is £95 and hour plus VAT!
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Tue 11 Feb 2003 22:13
labour rates - HF
Blimey I'd better get off and do my 'amateur mechanics' course asap then!
HF
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