Rip Off

[Van D]

Originally Posted by flappist

All these terrible ripoffs. If you don't like it go somewhere else.

In regards to the threadstarter, it's a bit hard when he's already had the work done. No one would expect that bill for such small work.

I have a similar one. Dad needed a hard top on the back of his navara bolted up, we were told it'd be an hour's work at $40 an hour. Fair enough.

I took it in for him and then proceeded to watch the workers out back fumble around for things (they do these hard covers and sports bars etc a lot by the look of it) and after waiting for about 20 mins, they tell me to go wait out front and it won't be long.. Another 1-hour-15 later, it's finally done and they try to charge me $110! :togo:

[Van D]

Originally Posted by flappist

If he had shorted the coax and you fried the PA tranny then he would have had to fix it, at his cost.
If he had made a dry joint and later when you broke down or need info from other trucks the radio had a range of 10 feet you would spew.

He did a professional job, tested it afterward and for the cost of a few drinks you have a safety/communication device that works and next time you have a problem you will not see a "For Lease" sign in the window as he will probably be there to fix that one too.

Just another point, as it's been mentioned a couple times. MOST business's I have dealt with who did work that failed on me or wasn't up to standard, did not fix it at all, and instead told me to go somewhere else.

This is something I find quite commonly happening today, so you can't even trust a 'professional' doing work.

[1niceef]

flappist, (not a "personal attack") but if you hate whinging & whingers so much... why would you keep coming back to the same thread that not only suggests whinging in the title but containing it throuout the whole thread (alot of it done by yourself)

i have also got somthing to whing about myself...
i recently got quoted 140 bucks to hook up a new headunit
(headunit supplied by myself).

[flappist]

Originally Posted by 1niceef

flappist, (not a "personal attack") but if you hate whinging & whingers so much... why would you keep coming back to the same thread that not only suggests whinging in the title but containing it throuout the whole thread (alot of it done by yourself)

i have also got somthing to whing about myself...
i recently got quoted 140 bucks to hook up a new headunit
(headunit supplied by myself).

As several here have made comments about costs of services I was explaining that providing services is expensive and there are many factors other than the actual wages of the provider involved. i.e. A person who charges $70/hr does not make $2800 per week the same way an employee who is payed $25/hr makes $1000/wk.

Is that whinging or education?

[GTWHOA]

I almost paid $50 for a paper air filter... Reason it was so dear was "its not a very common item yet" rofl

[Road Games]

Originally Posted by flappist

It is not that I never agree with you at all. If I have no interest in a thread or the points made are very obvious, indesputable and I would just be repeating what you or others have said then I usually say nothing. Too many threads have the same comment or statement over and over again.

Originally Posted by flappist

It is not that I never agree with you at all. If I have no interest in a thread or the points made are very obvious, indesputable and I would just be repeating what you or others have said then I usually say nothing. Too many threads have the same comment or statement over and over again.

Originally Posted by flappist

It is not that I never agree with you at all. If I have no interest in a thread or the points made are very obvious, indesputable and I would just be repeating what you or others have said then I usually say nothing. Too many threads have the same comment or statement over and over again.

Originally Posted by flappist

It is not that I never agree with you at all. If I have no interest in a thread or the points made are very obvious, indesputable and I would just be repeating what you or others have said then I usually say nothing. Too many threads have the same comment or statement over and over again.

Sorry poor attempt at humour And by the way I wish I had thought up some of his comments ....

[ea90gl]

I think its a load of BS that people can post about how people should expect to pay so much for little work "cause they get professional jobs done etc etc", when really these pros have done the work they specialise in so much a small job to them could be done in thier sleep. They dont deserve big $$$ for tiny jobs like most try to get off ya, and maybe if they didnt try to rip people off they would get even more business then the business they currently get. Wanna know why rip offs are still in business? cause they prey off the people that have next to no knowledge in regards to what they want fixed, thats how. the idiot that goes a head with a small job and then spends the big $$$ doesnt know how bad he's getting ripped off. I have done lots of work to my own cars and saved mega $$$, and even still help out mates that say want an oil change or so. I say give us a drink and were even, not try charge 50 bucks for time, cleaning my *** fees, extra 10 bucks cause i had to pick my nose et etc. And why dont people ask for a quote on those small 5 min jobs? Because most assume that any DECENT KIND HEARTED bloke would only charge 5-10 bucks, or even say never mind. Do you charge a homeless person 10 bucks for a glass of water "because I have the appropriate skills to pour the water in a fantasticly sterilised glass that wont get you sick and will leave you of your thirst quenched"? NO you dont, you do it out of good will not to rip people off.

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by flappist

As several here have made comments about costs of services I was explaining that providing services is expensive and there are many factors other than the actual wages of the provider involved. i.e. A person who charges $70/hr does not make $2800 per week the same way an employee who is payed $25/hr makes $1000/wk.

Is that whinging or education?

And being competitive fits into your business model where? Yeah, remote location, captive clientèle, the original point. Its called gouging.

If you charge the cost of the engine hoist, the analyser, the torque wrench etc to the guy who simply wants an oil change, you wont do many oil changes. These could be bread and butter business, and bring them back for the bigger jobs. Sticking to your formula puts more strain on a business, you only get the jobs that require those tools, and then have to compete anyway. If you took on the oil change, at a cost relative to that task, you may get enough oil changes to stay in business doing the other stuff as well. Income is income, it all pays the bills. No good charging the minimum hire of say $50 for a headlight globe change. Youve done more harm to your reputation, youre the last guy he will think of when he needs the bigger job done. You'll get the same response when you refuse to do the globe change as its beneath you, unless youre the Stone Bros or in that league.


Oh, I have a BA Business (Accounting) from QUT. If the equipment doesnt pay for itself theres no point having that equipment. You price yourself out of the rest of the work within that industry. Depending on the variables of the industry. What youre actually doing is focusing on the big jobs and leaving the little ones for someone else. Its a business decision, that often bites a company in the ar5e. Look after the cents, and the dollars look after themselves.

[flappist]

Originally Posted by fmc351

And being competitive fits into your business model where? Yeah, remote location, captive clientèle, the original point. Its called gouging.

If you charge the cost of the engine hoist, the analyser, the torque wrench etc to the guy who simply wants an oil change, you wont do many oil changes. These could be bread and butter business, and bring them back for the bigger jobs. Sticking to your formula puts more strain on a business, you only get the jobs that require those tools, and then have to compete anyway. If you took on the oil change, at a cost relative to that task, you may get enough oil changes to stay in business doing the other stuff as well. Income is income, it all pays the bills. No good charging the minimum hire of say $50 for a headlight globe change. Youve done more harm to your reputation, youre the last guy he will think of when he needs the bigger job done. You'll get the same response when you refuse to do the globe change as its beneath you, unless youre the Stone Bros or in that league.


Oh, I have a BA Business (Accounting) from QUT. If the equipment doesnt pay for itself theres no point having that equipment. You price yourself out of the rest of the work within that industry. Depending on the variables of the industry. What youre actually doing is focusing on the big jobs and leaving the little ones for someone else. Its a business decision, that often bites a company in the ar5e. Look after the cents, and the dollars look after themselves.

And this will turn into a pi55ing contest? I don't have a Bachelor of Arts (Business) so I did not learn any business theory in a classroom.
But like many on here I do run now and have run many businesses, one for over 20 years. All this means is I may have a different view on this topic from those who do not run businesses, nothing more.

This will go nowhere.

The problem is that "Rip off" like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. If you think you are paying a fair price for what you receive then you are happy. If not then you just have to deal with it.

If you buy something without asking the price first then you will probably learn a lesson that will be helpful during future transactions.

Life goes on..............

[JACK250]

Originally Posted by flappist

It is not that I never agree with you at all. If I have no interest in a thread or the points made are very obvious, indesputable and I would just be repeating what you or others have said then I usually say nothing. Too many threads have the same comment or statement over and over again.

Maybe there's an intellect forum somewhere that you can join

[fmc351]

Originally Posted by flappist

And this will turn into a pi55ing contest? I don't have a Bachelor of Arts (Business) so I did not learn any business theory in a classroom.
But like many on here I do run now and have run many businesses, one for over 20 years. All this means is I may have a different view on this topic from those who do not run businesses, nothing more.

This will go nowhere.

The problem is that "Rip off" like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder [colr=red]There are many industries where the beholder is the ACCC[/color]. If you think you are paying a fair price for what you receive then you are happy. If not then you just have to deal with it.

If you buy something without asking the price first then you will probably learn a lesson that will be helpful during future transactions.
Id say cowboy has learned that lesson, he still has a right to be annoyed, and flabbergasted at the bill
Life goes on..............

The degree isnt my only experience with business. However, being accounting based, I've got a good grasp of the ideas you floated regardless, its what accountants do. We design concepts like ABC and TQM, then follow up with accounting systems to monitor and provide data for the afore mentioned system. We promote it until the next fad comes along, then unnecessarily promote that necessitating a redesign of your accounting information system to suit. Basically, we gouge you.

Pi55ing contest?, no. I merely called you on the whinger remarks, subsequent to that you wanted points, I made them, you missed them.

I was going to simply ignore the snide arts degree remark, but cant resist. Its not a Bachelor of Arts (business), its a BA Business (Accounting, *insert other area of business here, ie: Economics or Banking and Finance*). The two faculties are completely separate. Yes, the term BA historically denotes Bachelor of Arts, as once all degrees fell under that umbrella, including science. If it was an Arts degree, it would be in that faculty.

[DOC]

LOL he said, she said, you are I'm not. who cares, people who can't wipe their backside properly then complain because they are sitting in crap ? :evil3:

The money question is below , no one to blame but one's self

Originally Posted by Falc'man

Easiest way I suppose is to ask "how much" will it cost before you "yeah, go ahead with it mate" so you don't end up thinking "oh *add your choice of cursing/abuse/swearing/begging*". .

[Falc'man]

Originally Posted by DOC

LOL he said, she said, you are I'm not. who cares, people who can't wipe their backside properly then complain because they are sitting in crap ? :evil3:

The money question is below , no one to blame but one's self

So what you are saying DOC is if one is to wipe said butt and can't get it clean they should not persist with said butt wiping material but instead should use a certificate obtained for some other use but works well for wiping said butt? And, if you have enough certificates you wouldn't need to "rip off" parts of said certificate but instead discard and make further use of other certificates??

[flappist]

Originally Posted by fmc351

The degree isnt my only experience with business. However, being accounting based, I've got a good grasp of the ideas you floated regardless, its what accountants do. We design concepts like ABC and TQM, then follow up with accounting systems to monitor and provide data for the afore mentioned system. We promote it until the next fad comes along, then unnecessarily promote that necessitating a redesign of your accounting information system to suit. Basically, we gouge you.

Pi55ing contest?, no. I merely called you on the whinger remarks, subsequent to that you wanted points, I made them, you missed them.

I was going to simply ignore the snide arts degree remark, but cant resist. Its not a Bachelor of Arts (business), its a BA Business (Accounting, *insert other area of business here, ie: Economics or Banking and Finance*). The two faculties are completely separate. Yes, the term BA historically denotes Bachelor of Arts, as once all degrees fell under that umbrella, including science. If it was an Arts degree, it would be in that faculty.

And how much do YOU charge an hour?

[uranium_death]

Originally Posted by JACK250

Maybe there's an intellect forum somewhere that you can join

We need intellects here otherwise we'd turn into the Kath and Kim or LS1 forums.

Flappist has made his point. You don't have to agree, but to suggest that he go elsewhere is a little self-assuming.

Regardless of what you or I may think, he contributes a lot to the forums, so chill dude.

[[Tonko]]

I cant help but think some of you are referring to mine, (about post 2)
I paid for a product (EB XR) and expected to get a legit deal, It was not cheap, but because they were losing money for every part they replaced/fixed on my car they lost cash. So of course they cut corners.
But the fact it was ALL done in house (sale and RW) they had no one to answer to, and never thought a 19 y.o kid would pick up on this stuff.
It was a bullshit situation.