Advice Please!!!!!

[will941s]

Went to install a new t-stat on my 98' 25hp Mercury 2-stroke. Broke off the bolts in the water jacket and took it the shop...heres where the trouble begins. Tech says, "simple fix, will call you in a few hours and give you quote on repair". That was last Monday. Did'nt hear, called him the next day, "have not got to it yet". The next day (wed) called again, "it's next on the list". Thursday called, "Working on it, taking the water jacket off...bolts are a little frozen so I'm heating them up, they are coming out". Today I call (tues) and tech says, "everything is off and ready to put back together, I need the gasket, it's at another shop. Can you pick it up and bring it to me". So, the shop the parts at is about 25 miles away, and i'm buying the part and taking it to him so he can finish the job and test run the motor. Tech is charging me $255 for labor (3 hrs @ $85 per). For a water jacket removal and two little broken bolts, and i'm getting the part so he can finish the job that i'm paying $255 for. Am I being shafted and if so, what should I say when I see the tech tomorrow. Please respond back, thanks in advance.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Advice Please!!!!!

Around here midas charges $85/hr, some dealers even more. The man that fixes your outboard has the same bills to pay and family to feed as the guy that beats off your muffler. Removing broken or frozen bolts from an aluminum block can be difficult to do without damaging something. I can see where it could easily take three hours. That being said though the price may be reasonable the service wasn't. If it wasn't for the fact that I do all my own work I can see where it would be a little hard to swallow if it happened to me.

That is the reason you see so many lawnmowers by the curb with free signs. Who wants to pay a mechanic a couple of hours labor to fix a
$125 item.

 

[will941s]

Re: Advice Please!!!!!

Thanks for the reply. I agree, I do my own outboard service and most of my own repairs but the bolt issue got me. The thing that bugged me about it was that he never gave a quote before he began the work and never once called me when he said he would. I think the price would not have been so shocking if he would have called and said "it's ready" instead of me calling and the tech saying ,it's almost done, you need to get the part and bring it to me then it will be finished....by the way, that'll be $255.