tire mounting

[PPS26]

degsy that sounds fair i need to start charging for tire disposal, bobs tire charges us a pretty penny for disposal that we dont charge for

[MysteriousR1]

I hear ya. You know it's about averages though. What you do when you get a Goldwing in your shop? Or a laced wheel, or a wheel off an older bike that is all corroded and needs to be wire brushed/painted. Or the wheel is breaking balls and the bead doesn't wanna seat or it won't balance and you have to rotate the tire?

We just try to charge a fair price, every tire/wheel is different. Some are way easier than others.

IMO issues that you mentioned should be "extras", a Goldwing customer should know that it will cost more and if not inform them why. But if the Tech has issues mounting my tire, why should i have to pay more? Im sure theres a Tech out there that wouldnt have issues mounting the same tire. This reminds me when my shop poped both my tubes on my KTM and tried to say it was age(even though they just replaced them a month ago). After talking around the tech told the manager that he had ruined one and his helper the other. Yeah, like i was going to pay for there mistakes.

[Speed Demon 828]

You're not paying for issues a tech is having. My point is that one type of wheel/tire may take longer than another. So you average the amount of time it takes and charge a fair price.

This is like talking to a wall. Why doesn't the OP call all the shops(real shops not these wanna bees) in New England and post the results.

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

You're not paying for issues a tech is having. My point is that one type of wheel/tire may take longer than another. So you average the amount of time it takes and charge a fair price.

This is like talking to a wall. Why doesn't the OP call all the shops(real shops not these wanna bees) in New England and post the results.

The OP is a Real shop Plawstow Power Sports he is the service Writer.

[MysteriousR1]

My point, as a customer, is that i dont see why if my tire takes half the time as others, i pay the same amount.

[Speed Demon 828]

It's called flat rate.

[Speed Demon 828]

The OP is a Real shop Plawstow Power Sports he is the service Writer.

I understand that. I was not digging the OP. I just want you all to see the results so you'll understand the majority of real shops operate like this.

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Its possible to damage a tire mounting it. Bad things can sometimes happen. You're paying a flat rate based on averages. I can demount/mount and balance a tire in 6 or 7 minutes also (probably less) but I always take my time and take care if everything. My average is about an hour not including travel to-from the trailer, firing up the genny, Compressor etc. Plus I always shoot the shit with customers. Hell 1 change I did for duncanmoto took about 4 hours and a half a bottle of captain morgan!!

[markbvt]

I'm not going to argue with you Mark. I'm just telling you why we charge what we charge.

We use the best equipment and take pride in our quality and workmanship.

If you don't like having to pay someone to change your tires than good for you!

Sorry if I'm coming off as a dick -- not my intention -- the point I'm trying to make is that I don't think it's fair to charge prices for something really basic like a tire change that equate to much more than the shop's labor rate.

Extras like wheel weights and tire disposal, absolutely, charge them as line items.

We just try to charge a fair price, every tire/wheel is different. Some are way easier than others.

So charge accordingly. If someone wants you to change the tire on their crusty old CB350 rim that's been sitting in a barn for 20 years, I can totally see charging them more for it. But why should someone with a clean new wheel be penalized?

just because a good flat rate mechanic can do the work in a fast manner doesnt mean the shop should only make 10 bucks

Why? The shop's only making $10 if he's spending those ten minutes in the middle of a valve adjustment, or digging a broken spark plug out of a cylinder head. Why should the customer have to pay more for something that takes the mechanic the same amount of time to do but is easier work for him?

I know running a business is tough these days... but so is being a customer. I have a very limited budget, and as such I need to spend my money as wisely as possible, including doing as much work for myself as possible. I'd love to support local businesses, especially good motorcycle shops, but not when the prices are above and beyond their established labor rates.

--mark

[BLACK SQUIRREL]

My point, as a customer, is that i dont see why if my tire takes half the time as others, i pay the same amount.

It costs What the shop charges. Its what they are deciding to sell the service you are welcome to not buy the service.

Both The speed Demon shop and what is proposing to charge is Fair. I know of some dealers that charge 70 bucks (off the bike if you do not buy the tires from them)

[Degsy]

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8330/4.5.0.77 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

On a side note, I did 1 change on carbon fiber rims. I charged $75 a rim for that.

[Speed Demon 828]

Look guys, the tire business is so eroded due to internet sales that a lot of shops won't even stock tires. They are trying to recoupe some of that huge loss by raising their fees. They are doing what they need to do to survive.

[MysteriousR1]

Look guys, the tire business is so eroded due to internet sales that a lot of shops won't even stock tires. They are trying to recoupe some of that huge loss by raising their fees. They are doing what they need to do to survive.

Im sorry, but that should tell your shop that your charging to much. Im offically running my business wrong.

[Speed Demon 828]

Im sorry, but that should tell your shop that your charging to much. Im offically running my business wrong.

I don't understand what you are saying. I've held my line on mounting fees since day one. My tire or your tire. I'm saying business are losing the sale of the tire to the internet because distributors are selling direct. We can't compete. Do you understand? What would you do to recoupe a huge part of your business if it was lost?

[MysteriousR1]

Become competitive. But i hear you on people beating your prices. I work/own a construction company and am blown away on some of the prices that people offer, would almost have to work for free. It is a absolute fight for any bit of buisness that i can get, but being competive is the only way i'll survive.

[markbvt]

Look guys, the tire business is so eroded due to internet sales that a lot of shops won't even stock tires.

I don't think I've ever been to a shop that stocks anything more than a handful of sport and MX tires. Every tire I've ever bought at a shop, they've had to order for me. But don't take that as a complaint -- I don't see how any shop could possibly stock a full selection of tires unless they sell online. The warehousing alone would be a nightmare.

--mark

[Speed Demon 828]

Become competitive.

See this is my point. You can't. They have tied our hands. Tires sales are a lost cause but what we the shops have is our service. You can't buy mounting on the internet. Sorry but prices are going up! Just like everything else nowadays.

[scottieducati]

I know this has nothing to do with the cost for tires, but I was recently quoted on some motor work (building a race motor) by a local shop. The quoted price on the PISTONS ALONE I got was nearly double what you can buy them for just about anywhere.... not from wholesalers either.... from another dealership.

Seems the whole industry being in the shitter, they gotta inflate what they can across the board. Shame is though, I don't mind paying ~15-20% markup on parts for the convenience of the dealer having to handle it... but that just floored me.

So would $40-50 / rim loose to change a tire.

See this is my point. You can't. They have tied our hands. Tires sales are a lost cause but what we the shops have is our service. You can't buy mounting on the internet. Sorry but prices are going up! Just like everything else nowadays.

[Speed Demon 828]

So would $40-50 / rim loose to change a tire.

See this where you are losing me. I've been in the business for 15 years Every winter I pretend to be a customer and check out my competitions prices. Labor rates, menu prices, tire changing etc. I can't recall ever getting a price lower than $35 for mounting a tire off the bike. Maybe it's a Connecticut thing, I don't know.

[markbvt]

What would you do to recoupe a huge part of your business if it was lost?

Definitely a tough position to be in, but when one part of your business becomes impossible to compete in, maybe the best thing to do is concentrate on other areas of your business to draw in customers. Trying to compensate by raising mounting prices isn't going to work in the long run. Instead, draw in customers through outstanding customer service, for example. Even I, cheap bastard that I am, am willing to pay to have someone work on my bike if I know they're going to do a great job and treat me well. I bought my V-Strom from a Suzuki dealership 40 miles away when there's one 5 miles from my house. Why? The one close by acts like they're doing you a favor letting you set foot in their dealership, while the one further away treats you like they understand that you're writing their paycheck. I also brought the bike to them for a valve adjustment instead of doing it myself because I trust them.

I've never dealt with your shop, so you guys could be the best in the world for all I know; no idea. My point is just that top-notch customer service goes a long way in attracting customers. Even little things -- for example, the aforementioned Suzuki dealership gives your bike a quick wash when they're done servicing it. It only takes them an extra five minutes, but it makes an immediate impression on the customer. Another example: my car mechanic will show the customer all the parts he's replaced, next to new ones, and explain what was wrong with them and why he had to replace them in terms that even the automotive-challenged can understand. This builds a massive amount of trust, and that customer will tell ten other people to bring their cars there.

If you guys are already doing this kind of stuff, great; but if not, maybe give it a try.

--mark

[markbvt]

I can't recall ever getting a price lower than $35 for mounting a tire off the bike. Maybe it's a Connecticut thing, I don't know.

A buddy of mine used to own a motorcycle service shop and charged $30 a wheel ON the bike, plus parts. It took him half an hour to pull the wheel, do the tire change (with tire irons), balance, and put the wheel back on the bike. So he was just charging his labor rate.

--mark

[Speed Demon 828]

Mark, good chatting with you and everyone else. I gotta punch out for the night. But I invite you and everyone else to come down and check out our shop. As my favorite vendor says (I'm sure he's reading this thread) we're the #1 shop on Blue Hills ave. So stop in and say hi.

Later,

[Manny]

My point, as a customer, is that i dont see why if my tire takes half the time as others, i pay the same amount.

Customers rarely want to go into a situation where they don't know the final price before they start.

If it was based on time and it took 5 minutes too long folks would be bitching the guy should work faster.

In the end flat rate helps the customer shop around and make a decision and allows the dealer to make a few bucks.

Remember, the idea of this is not just to "provide a service" its to make money. Dealers should charge more than someone out of their garage.... running a business costs money.

[Pittenger5]

If you think flat rate isnt the case across the board youre off your rocker. We charge the same amount for a gallon of a standard color picked off the shelf as one we have to help the customer pick the color, custom tint it cause its not exactly right, then adjust it after they brought it home and tried it and it still wasnt right. Fair? Probably not, but thats what you work off of.

[Mr. Kurtz]

If you think flat rate isnt the case across the board youre off your rocker. We charge the same amount for a gallon of a standard color picked off the shelf as one we have to help the customer pick the color, custom tint it cause its not exactly right, then adjust it after they brought it home and tried it and it still wasnt right. Fair? Probably not, but thats what you work off of.

Nice signature...