I just took my '01 S60 to an import auto shop here. I found out the labor rate is $83/hr.

I live in Arizona. I work at a japanese motorcycle dealership and our labor rate hereis $80/hr.

I'm curious to know what is an average labor rate where you live for an import auto shop? Does anyone know the labor rates for Volvo dealerships?

 

65.00 canadian at the last import shop I took it to. I don't know what the rate was at Volvo when I went there, I guess I could look at the work sheet and see.

 

Someone told me the dealership labor rate is much greater than a regular import shop, but I don't really know.

 

My Volvo dealership is between $75-$85 an hour.

 

My dealership in Pa. is $90/hr....

 

Our dealership in Michigan is $100./hr.

[sm=jawdrop.gif]

 

That's crazy. Those are hooker prices here!

 

If you live near Sarnia Ontario the rate there is 79/Hr Canadian

 

That is a Volvo Dealership, across the bridge in Port Huron. I think that would be around 75\Hr us dollars

 

in NY its 135 /hr

 

Walk into a dealership. Look around. Someone is paying for those nice one to three year old buildings (and rent in that uptown location), all teh hangers on in teh offices, and the technicians to stay current with the latest training and equipment.
That's great if you have a new or very new car, you have a shop that is current.
But if you own something older, find a local specialist.
I used to be self employed, and used to charge out those sorts of labour rates when converted to my local currency.
Once you pay yourself an average wage, put money away for superannuation, insurances, business expenses, rent, future equipment expenditure etc, it's really not a lot of money.
It's nice to think the local guy charging $ 45/hr is making money, but I guarantee he's not, and if they are making money, it won't be a spectacular lifestyle.
Think about that next time you haggle someone's rates down, then think about someone coming in off teh street and asking you to cut your hourly rate for what you do, just for them.

Regards, Andrew.

 

Dealerships are good for under-warranty repairs and recalls. I've always taken mine to an independent mechanic who was referred to me by a guy who has owned multiple Volvos (I believe a 740 and an S80).

Not only are dealers expensive, their work sometimes isn't the best. My car was in for an A/C repair many years ago (before it was mine) and it was repaired for about $1000. This lasted for about a year. It went in for another repair and this time it only went for three months or so. I bet I could find an independent mechanic who could get it running longer than that--but I've found I'm quite comfortable without A/C. My car hasn't had a working A/C in almost five years now and my old car had a marginal A/C as well.

 

I think the delearship in Boston charges 110$, and the delearship in wakefield charges $99.97. They are only like 20 miles apart too lol

 

I'm not ripping on independent garages or dealerships. I work @ a dealership and can appreciate the cost involved. I was just curious about labor rates accross the board.

I think $83/hr is a fair price, considering the dealership I work for charges $80/hr for motorcycles and atvs.

The nearest Volvo dealership for me is over 2 hrs away and so I have no desire to drive that far and take it there unless absolutely necessary.

 

Stadel volvo in central PA is $80/hr

 

Just to be clear, my post was a general rant about people thinking labour rates are too high, rather than a rebuttal to your post specifically.
It's hard to understand all the costs involved in a labour related business if you haven't been there, many people just think it's ordering parts and fitting them, but it is so much more.
No one is learning trades anymore (globally) and labour rates are only going to keep climbing. It's already pushing used car prices way down, as it becomes cheaper to just get anotehr car than fix it. Same with insurance claims.

egards, Andrew.

 

Got it.

It's true. This 3300 sqare foot dealership's monthly bills are like buying a house every month. The light bill is about $3000 a month! Can you imagine what the other costs must be?!

I was referred to a good mechanic in town that works on Volvos and I think I'm going to stick with him. Seems honest and doesn't treat me like an idiot like so many other places have.

 

Earlier I posted that our Volvo dealer's rate is $100. / hr.

I was about to buy parts to do routine maintenance a couple of weeks ago from an independant shop, and they suggested that I consider having them do the work. Our XC90 was due for a 60K mile service interval which consists of much more than just changing the oil and a few filters, I was warned.

Okay I thought, quote me what the 60K mile interval maintence would cost. The shop got back to me a short time later and quoted $682.00. This included the customary oil lube filter, checking most everything, new plugs, and a radiator coolant flush and new fluid.

Being a businessman I had to get a price comparison and checked with my Volvo dealer; their quote for the same service minus the coolant flush and refill? $399.00

For my wife's peace of mind we got the service done at the dealer (vs. me doing it, that is) and I'll be doing the next service interval with just oil change and filters.

And I always thought the independants would be cheaper. This one was an eye opener for me.

 

Here in Las Vegas it's 95-100/hr for labor costs.