The cost of work

[Clive Noble]

Yesterday morning I dropped my car off at the local garage to supply
and fit a new aerial, some kids had broken the old one off.
(The real truth is that I couldn't find a parking space and it's a
convenient place to leave the car for a day, close by the office)

"Can you fix my glasses" asked the receptionist.
She produced a broken rimless with Poly Comforts.
"I want the lenses put into this other rimless and the shape changed"
We had not made either of these jobs by the way.

I took the parts back to the lab, measured it all up and found with a
bit of fiddling and stretching I could get her centers and heights into
the other mount. I thought it would be a 20 minute job.

2 hours later and a lot of hard work (during which time I thought I
might have to supply a new lens!)she had a great new pair of specs
and was delighted.
I took the equivalent of $20 for the work and she baulked and argued
at that!

When I later went to collect my car, the bill came to over $30, most
of that was labour and it was a true 10 minute job!

Yes, it's my fault, I should have done it myself I know, but my
questions are :

1)Are we undercharging for our professional time in complicated
exacting work?

2)Should we be charging more than a garage mechanic who's doing a
reasonably simple task?

3)How much would you guys take in other countries (in Dollar
equivalent terms) for a reglaze job like I described above.

I suppose I did make a mistake in not quoting her beforehand........
but then garages never quote for a job beforehand either do they?

The only good part was that I did get free parking for the day and
hopefully gained a patient.

[MVEYES]

My response to her was that she saved a couple hundred dollars because she didn't have to purchase a new pair of glasses. You had 2 solid hours of intensive labor involved and gave her a great deal on your time. I have turned metals into nylon mounts that took 20 minutes and charged $25.00 for the work. I was told that was cheap. All labor except for the nylon chord. We drill out screws and charge $3 for the work. Sometimes it goes fast sometimes not. I know some places charge $15.00 for adjusting glasses for those patients who haven't purchased their glasses from them. In return they give them a $10.00 coupon off the next set of glasses that they purchase from them. Don't feel guilty for charging for your expertise.


:cheers: Jerry

[10 Pence Short]

Clive,

Car dealers in the UK charge ridiculous labour rates for their service. For example, certain Honda dealers in London charge as much as £60 per hour (that must be close to $100USD!!).

I can't believe this woman was complaining about your bill before handing over hers!!

The annoying thing about cars (well, the European ones I know, anyway) is that you need a NASA strength manufacturer supplied computer system just to diagnose what's wrong with modern engines these days. Open up an Audi or VW bonnet and all you'll see is a vast expanse of plastic across what seems to be an 'engine' (it could actually be a specially bred pair of hyper-active midgets who drink petrol for all we know).

[Judy Canty]

I took a hint from Diane Drake about a year ago and posted a price list for repairs in my shop. I noted that those same services were available to my customers at no cost. While I don't always charge a walk-in repair, they at least know that there is value to my skills and services.

BTW, when the offending clerk balked at your charge for services rendered, I would have hard pressed not to take them back apart and let her find someone else to abuse.

[Texas Ranger]

Clive, I guess I just look at the "long term"; about anything I can do to build "good-will", is worth it, about all we charge for is frames and lenses; as an example, a couple came in yesterday; he had been in a month ago, we put some new nose pads on his frame(wasn't ours), cleaned and adjusted them, at no charge; he and his wife spent $700 dollars yesterday, and will be customers for a long while. You answered your question, you should have let her know what had to be done, how difficult it would be, any risks to her lenses and the cost involved, she might have decided not to risk it, BTW, I don't do edge downs unless the pt understands that if "their" old lenses are messed up during the process, they get to pay the cost of the new ones...if you had told her $20 up front, and she told you $30, you could have each decided if it was worth that much to park your car....

[ziggy]

I have come to one true fact: "If you could split the diffrence between what you think your time is worth and what the consumer thinks your time is worth you could eat VERY well"
This quote was from my dad in 1992:bbg:

[shimsham]

nose pads, screws, adjustments and end tips i generaly don't charge for as it does encourage a good opinion with the punter and as we all know personal recomendation is the best advertising!
But edging and mounting rimless??? you should have charged more!!!
i'd charge £30 for rimless glazing about $45(?)