xt6quebec

hi, this is my first post, but i've been a member for about 2 years. I just didn't have a subaru anymore but I recently purchased an Impreza. I work for an Acura dealer, i'm a technician, I used to work for Volkswagen and things are really different here... It doesn't have anything to do with the companies but more with the dealer itself. Here you won't get charged for the shop supplies (brake cleaner, grease, etc.) BUT someone has to pay for it. We charge $70/hour CND, with that amount you pay the tech, but also a part of rent or taxes for the building, must pay service advisor, manager, parts guy and other "support" staff. You end up not charging enough money, so you take a little profit from the parts (about 10 to 35 %) and that still not enough. Only choice left is to charge more time than needed (flat rate comes in) ie. it takes 45 minutes to change brake pads, we charge 1.5 hours. If for some reason a problem occurs, a seized pin or something, we still charge 1.5 hours. If you go to an independant shop, maybe they'll charge less time, they probably charge less for an hour, but make between 50 and 200% profit on parts. Here at the dealer, we have to sell the part what it's listed, not necesarily what it's worth... we can't change prices, that makes us a little more expensive. And in the end, one can be REALLY more competent in a indie shop than a dealer trained tech. A Certificate is just a piece of paper... you have to trust who you do business with, if you don't trust them(for whatever reason) just go somewhere else. one last thing, cheaper doesn't mean worse or better, it just means cheaper.