Overpriced oil change services

[speedyswede]

Originally Posted By: renegade_987
I think the prices are crazy, dont you guys?


ummm...Not really.

I work in an auto repair facility. When I DIY my OCs, I pay $42(employee price) for 6qts of Castrol Syntec 5W40(bulk) & an OE filter/dp washer. If I don't have time to DIY, I'll pay one of my coworkers(a technician)an additional $20 to do it for me(w/no "20-point inspection", mind you!). So, even on an 'inside level', bargains on full syn. OCs are kind of hard to come by.

 

[dparm]

No one should go to Jiffy Lube without a coupon or early-bird special. My father pays $65, not $75 on this principle alone.

 

[finalyzd]

Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
No not really, they are probably making a few bucks off each one when you add up the people working their and other overhead costs like the building and insurance.

Just to do it yourself would cost about $40, say if you buy the Castrol Edge deal at advanced for $30+ a quart which is like what $7 retail? And you don't have thousands in overhead each month.



So who here has run a shop and knows how much overhead costs?




insurance is roughly $1,500 to $2,500 a mo depending on how much business you are doing, location and what services yo are performing, lease on building is anywhere
from $3k a mo to $5k a mo, then wages cost of product and other misc. costs add up, i've run a lube shop for awhile now and you are luck to turn $3K a mo. profit.


+11111. A lot of people don't understand how much it cost to run a shop. At my shop we use castrol and wow there prices are outrageous. Three price increase this year alone. I would like to ask the people who said 65 for a syn oil change is crazy, how much would you charge for a oil change if you ran a shop and had to pay, insurance,rent,wages,electricity,inventory,maintenance,equipment,tools, advertisement? 29.95 with napa syn?

 

[sm00thpapa]

20 point inspection yeah right. I went to a stiffy lube and NTB and not once did they complete a 20 point inspection. They always forgot something. Either didn't top off all fluids or didn't put air in the tires.

 

[sm00thpapa]

Originally Posted By: finalyzd
Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
No not really, they are probably making a few bucks off each one when you add up the people working their and other overhead costs like the building and insurance.

Just to do it yourself would cost about $40, say if you buy the Castrol Edge deal at advanced for $30+ a quart which is like what $7 retail? And you don't have thousands in overhead each month.



So who here has run a shop and knows how much overhead costs?




insurance is roughly $1,500 to $2,500 a mo depending on how much business you are doing, location and what services yo are performing, lease on building is anywhere
from $3k a mo to $5k a mo, then wages cost of product and other misc. costs add up, i've run a lube shop for awhile now and you are luck to turn $3K a mo. profit.


+11111. A lot of people don't understand how much it cost to run a shop. At my shop we use castrol and wow there prices are outrageous. Three price increase this year alone. I would like to ask the people who said 65 for a syn oil change is crazy, how much would you charge for a oil change if you ran a shop and had to pay, insurance,rent,wages,electricity,inventory,maintenance,equipment,tools, advertisement? 29.95 with napa syn?


All shops rip you off that's why you do it yourself and know it's done correctly.

 

[finalyzd]

Originally Posted By: sm00thpapa
Originally Posted By: finalyzd
Originally Posted By: mopar_monkey
Originally Posted By: hattaresguy
No not really, they are probably making a few bucks off each one when you add up the people working their and other overhead costs like the building and insurance.

Just to do it yourself would cost about $40, say if you buy the Castrol Edge deal at advanced for $30+ a quart which is like what $7 retail? And you don't have thousands in overhead each month.



So who here has run a shop and knows how much overhead costs?




insurance is roughly $1,500 to $2,500 a mo depending on how much business you are doing, location and what services yo are performing, lease on building is anywhere
from $3k a mo to $5k a mo, then wages cost of product and other misc. costs add up, i've run a lube shop for awhile now and you are luck to turn $3K a mo. profit.


+11111. A lot of people don't understand how much it cost to run a shop. At my shop we use castrol and wow there prices are outrageous. Three price increase this year alone. I would like to ask the people who said 65 for a syn oil change is crazy, how much would you charge for a oil change if you ran a shop and had to pay, insurance,rent,wages,electricity,inventory,maintenance,equipment,tools, advertisement? 29.95 with napa syn?


All shops rip you off that's why you do it yourself and know it's done correctly.


I can understand a shop ripped you off and your [censored] about it and there's a lot of bad ones out there, but trust me there's a lot of good ones too. And most people can't DIY, tell a 65 year old lady to change her oil and see the look she gives you. The way I see it, if a shop allows you to watch they have nothing to hide. If they have issues with it then I would move onto the next one. I love when people watch my techs, they know there getting what they paid for.

 

[cb_13]

My former service manager once told me you can shear a sheep many times but you can only skin it once. You gotta make money off every customer that comes in but in moderation. If you screw them they wont come back and they will probably tell their friends who will then never give you a chance at getting their business. I thought it was decent advice.

 

[sciphi]

That's about normal. After all, they're doing the work and supplying the oil for you. Plus disposing of the leftovers. Oh, and a little profit somewhere so they can stay open.

I'll still DIY since I have long since acquired all the needed tools, but if a car desperately needs one, I won't begrudge them.

 

[RamFan]

Come to think of it, I had to get an oil change while in West Yellowstone, MT this past week. Went to a place called Jake's Auto I think, $34 for a conventional oil change.

Real nice place, I watched through the window they did a good job. Watched him check the dipstick a good four times until he put enough in there.

 

[WMSmotorhead]

So many of these places are doing 15-20$ oil changes around here... It costs me 20$ in supplies to DIY with auto parts store oil... doesn't make sense. I trust myself more anyway.

 

[sm00thpapa]

[/quote]

All shops rip you off that's why you do it yourself and know it's done correctly. [/quote]

I can understand a shop ripped you off and your [censored] about it and there's a lot of bad ones out there, but trust me there's a lot of good ones too. And most people can't DIY, tell a 65 year old lady to change her oil and see the look she gives you. The way I see it, if a shop allows you to watch they have nothing to hide. If they have issues with it then I would move onto the next one. I love when people watch my techs, they know there getting what they paid for. [/quote]

The old people are the ones who get ripped off because shops know they are not going to check their work. I knew an old lady who lived right next to me. I saw her outside and she told me oh I just came back from getting my oil changed. I said oh good deal do you mind if I check under your hood. She let me and I did. Her oil was black and when I went underneath the filter was covered with grime and was never changed. So I went back to the stiffy lube place with her and talked to the manager. In fact he checked with me and her standing right next to him and he said sure enough it wasn't changed. He apologized to the woman and refunded her money and gave her a free oil change. This has been happening for over 30 years with these lube shops and it will continue to happen for the next 30 years. Do your self a favor do it yourself or ask some one to assist you. From that point on I did all of her oil changes.

 

[JHZR2]

If they are paying the tech $10/hr, the burdened rate with overhead and all is at least $30. Add $20 for oil, $3 for a filter, a few dollars for rags and disposal fees, and youre at close to $60.

Since most on here believe that businesses are allowed to make a profit, making $10 profit on $50-60 worth of stuff isnt a terrible situation...

 

[chainblu]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
So many of these places are doing 15-20$ oil changes around here... It costs me 20$ in supplies to DIY with auto parts store oil... doesn't make sense. I trust myself more anyway.

I think the term for that is "Loss Leader" or something like that. They sell that service at a loss, then once your car is on the rack they try to sell you other stuff to make up for the loss. Stuff like shocks, brakes, air filter...etc

I know everyone here has a tale of a crooked mechanic, but not all of them are.

 

[mopar_monkey]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
So many of these places are doing 15-20$ oil changes around here... It costs me 20$ in supplies to DIY with auto parts store oil... doesn't make sense. I trust myself more anyway.

they are losing money, they are trying to get you in the door to upsell other services to you, it costs me $18 to do an oil change just for product and wages, so you really can't make any money from oil changes.

 

[johnachak]

Originally Posted By: renegade_987


I think the prices are crazy, dont you guys?


I just got a coupon from my dealer for a "SPECIAL" Full Synthetic oil and filter and a tire rotation for $119 + filter disposal fees and tax.

 

[whitson01]

Originally Posted By: WMSmotorhead
So many of these places are doing 15-20$ oil changes around here... It costs me 20$ in supplies to DIY with auto parts store oil... doesn't make sense. I trust myself more anyway.

there is a dealership in asheville NC that are running a "special" of 4 complete oil changes for $40!! i dont see how they are even making money.

 

[someguy]

Local shop here charges $25 for Kendall blend, $55 for Kendall syn, $70 for M1. I took my car there twice a few years ago when I lived in apartment for the $25 kendall blend. The first time they tried to sell me all new suspension on my 6 year old car along with various flush or additive services. Second time they tried to sell me vc gasket for $100 (it was leaking but the part was $30 at napa), timing belt kit for $300 with some crazy amount of labor on both and they overfilled oil by 1/2 quart. Yeah I'm going to let you change my timing belt when you cant even do an oil change right.

 

[Sonic]

The quick lube drive through I used to go to was about $33 out the door for the standard oil change with conventional (I think it was Pennzoil). Haven't been there in well over a year. I was at MONROE muffler/brake shop the other day and looked at there prices. Full synthetic oil change with Valvoline SynPower was $82.99. OMG!!!!! That price may have included a tire rotation too but I don't remember. Either way, that's insane. Heck, with an impact wrench a tire rotation takes what, 30 seconds? Actually with some of the "techs" I saw working it might be 30 minutes.

Having a shop change your oil is conveinant but places COULD be doing it for alot less and still making money. I should put up a sign in my yard for oil changes. Bring the oil and filter and I'll do it for $5.

 

[Sonic]

Originally Posted By: spasm3
Yea and what kind of filter? an generic off the boat china filter?


I think it is a dixie cup full of crumpled up paper towel then duct taped in place. 200 ft warranty. Once they back it out of the garage, you're on your own.

 

[MuzzleFlash40]

I had to use valvoline once in a pinch. The used the Full Synthetic that I paid for because it was being poured out of sealed bottles. When I got home and checked the filter it was tiny compared to the 820s style that is factory. They said the smaller filter works just as good. NEVER agian. It may work as well, but i'm not going to take a chance on it!