Author Topic: Dealership labor rates?  (Read 2237 times)

Offline willowstreetguzziguy

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Dealership labor rates?
« on: April 12, 2021, 10:39:33 AM »
What are the typical per hour labor rates for major motorcycle dealerships these days? With most motorcycles putting more and more expensive gadgetry on their motorcycles, you’re almost dependent upon the dealer for any repairs when those expensive parts stop working.

Just curious... What are you finding are the labor rates in your areas?  And do certain brands charge more or are they all getting the same?
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Offline Gliderjohn

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #1 on: April 12, 2021, 11:01:51 AM »
My current guess for KS is $90-$120.
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Offline Dave_NWTrophy

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #2 on: April 12, 2021, 11:11:42 AM »
$110-$120/hr in the Puget Sound area of WA.  I know certain cars command a higher rate, BMW and Jaguar/Land Rover are $160/hr+.  Haven't seen too much difference between motorcycle brands.

Offline kingoffleece

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2021, 11:33:16 AM »
105 per hour independent bike shop
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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2021, 11:33:16 AM »

Offline Antietam Classic Cycle

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #4 on: April 12, 2021, 12:26:31 PM »
I need to up my rates...
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Offline Bisbee

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #5 on: April 12, 2021, 06:54:16 PM »
$ 100 per hour for my Stelvio at Powersports in Prescott, Az. Had them do the break in and second service before warranty ran out. They are a Guzzi dealer. Do excellent work.
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Offline Motormike

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #6 on: April 12, 2021, 07:51:49 PM »
I think I mentioned this once before:  Big sign behind the Harley Davidson service desk...Labor $75.00. Wow, that's not bad, I thought. Then in very small print underneath, it says, "Per Half Hour." :angry:

Offline Tom

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #7 on: April 12, 2021, 08:04:30 PM »
$150.00/hr. out here in the middle of the Pacific.
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Offline Ncdan

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #8 on: April 12, 2021, 08:56:36 PM »
It’s not going to happen for me. I’ll be out of the motorcycle world if it ever became necessarily for me, personally.

Offline Scout63

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #9 on: April 12, 2021, 09:00:48 PM »
About $300.00 if I work on my bikes on weekdays.  $0.00 on the weekends. My lost hourly attorney rate less overhead, but I only have to argue with myself over the cost.
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Offline usedtobefast

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #10 on: April 12, 2021, 11:01:26 PM »
$150 - $180 / hr in San Francisco Bay area.   :sad:
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Offline jared p

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #11 on: April 12, 2021, 11:08:53 PM »
Pre-dealership our rates were lower, too low apparently looks bad. However, it's ludicrous what HD dealers charge
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Offline vintagehoarder

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #12 on: April 14, 2021, 09:37:56 AM »
100-150 around Southern Ohio, KY and IN.
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Offline Kev m

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #13 on: April 14, 2021, 10:59:56 AM »
Pre-dealership our rates were lower, too low apparently looks bad. However, it's ludicrous what HD dealers charge

I suspect $100+/hour is pretty typical across much of the US in the automotive industry these days.

According to AAA as of 2017 their approved shops charged "between $47 and $215 per hour, based primarily on the shop’s cost of doing business."

Yes, there are auto shops that are OVER $200/HOUR!

https://www.aaa.com/autorepair/articles/auto-repair-labor-rates-explained

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Offline Turin

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #14 on: April 15, 2021, 12:08:47 PM »
Do shops still use book rate?
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Offline Sasquatch Jim

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #15 on: April 15, 2021, 12:16:21 PM »
That's why they call them stealerships.
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Offline LowRyter

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #16 on: April 15, 2021, 12:18:38 PM »
Don't go to a dealership if you have a competent service shop around. 
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Offline Kev m

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #17 on: April 15, 2021, 12:28:55 PM »
Do shops still use book rate?

Yes.
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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #18 on: April 15, 2021, 02:31:59 PM »
That's why they call them stealerships.
perhaps ,but do you have any idea of the cost of running a repair shop with employees , workman's comp, liaability insurance, taxes, rent or mortgage, permits and so on?

Offline Alfetta

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #19 on: April 15, 2021, 02:47:31 PM »
im some kind of "dealer", and i will only charge you $25/hour and a sixer of Newcastle...  warranty end at the same point my driveway does..
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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #20 on: April 16, 2021, 08:32:26 AM »
If I had to pay dealers I would no longer be riding.

Just like cars, there are some you keep, and some you trade as soon as the warranty is up.

I like my simple bikes.

Most dealer service techs are parts changers.  They are not going to actually attempt to repair a part. 
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Offline Motormike

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #21 on: April 16, 2021, 10:17:18 AM »
Most dealer service techs are parts changers.  They are not going to actually attempt to repair a part.
Most parts today are modules, they can't be repaired even if you wanted too!  What gets me is when a small part of a larger assembly fails, and the factory will only sell the full assembly.  Fuel pumps are a good example. If you need a pressure regulator, or even the pump motor, you have to buy the whole assembly.  Or a TPS.  I know Kawasaki is infamous for forcing you to buy a full throttle-body assembly ($$$$) just to get a new TPS.  Of course, invariably, someone does a little research and finds out another source for the part in question, saving a lot of money.  But if you just go to a dealer, you'd better be prepared to bend over big time.

Offline Tom H

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #22 on: April 16, 2021, 10:19:53 AM »
TWA, many times it's cheaper to just replace a part than to repair it at the going labor rate. Think Guzzi starter. To go through one at $100 an hour labor rate could get up there. Or pop an $70 aftermarket in and be done.

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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #23 on: April 16, 2021, 12:07:20 PM »
TWA, many times it's cheaper to just replace a part than to repair it at the going labor rate. Think Guzzi starter. To go through one at $100 an hour labor rate could get up there. Or pop an $70 aftermarket in and be done.

Tom

If you are paying the dealer, yes. If you dig into it yourself you can sometimes repair a part for more time than money.  This is where forums and YouTube really shine.
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Offline Tom H

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #24 on: April 16, 2021, 12:48:39 PM »
TWA, your right that many are techs not mechanics. Also remember that this thread was about dealer pricing.

I do my own repairs, at least as many as I can without a machine shop. The starter example, I would pull it apart and fix it if possible. My labor rate is $0.00 for myself.

Tom
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Offline bad Chad

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #25 on: April 16, 2021, 06:05:18 PM »
"Don't go to a dealer..."?

Sure, maybe we can just kill off all the delaers, then wouldn't life be great!
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Offline twowheeladdict

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #26 on: April 16, 2021, 06:23:26 PM »
"Don't go to a dealer..."?

Sure, maybe we can just kill off all the delaers, then wouldn't life be great!

Believe me, there are plenty of people out there who don't have the time or the inclination to work on their own vehicles.  There is no shortage of work for all the dealers around my area, and all the good independents since dealer s tend not to work on vehicles over 10 years old. 
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Offline Motormike

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #27 on: April 16, 2021, 09:41:27 PM »
Just talked to a friend of mine today.  He has a 1999 Harley Electra Glide Evo.  Wanted the local HD dealership to take a look at a persistent oil leak from the cam box.  The dealership said, "we don't work on bikes that old."  :huh:

Offline Kev m

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #28 on: April 16, 2021, 09:52:32 PM »
Just talked to a friend of mine today.  He has a 1999 Harley Electra Glide Evo.  Wanted the local HD dealership to take a look at a persistent oil leak from the cam box.  The dealership said, "we don't work on bikes that old."  :huh:

Though I think that's a bullshit answer, it IS 22 years old, which means it's a "classic" and as much as I'd want a dealer to still have a tech that remembered it and parts to fix it, well it's oid enough to drink.

In Harley terms it's two complete redesigns from current.

And it's not like there aren't plenty of others who still will look at that.
« Last Edit: April 17, 2021, 06:29:45 AM by Kev m »
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Offline LowRyter

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Re: Dealership labor rates?
« Reply #29 on: April 16, 2021, 10:16:01 PM »
Just talked to a friend of mine today.  He has a 1999 Harley Electra Glide Evo.  Wanted the local HD dealership to take a look at a persistent oil leak from the cam box.  The dealership said, "we don't work on bikes that old."  :huh:

Evo, perhaps the most successful bike in Harley's history.  Financially, it saved the company and it was the most reliable bike they've ever built.   

I can only guess that it's probably the largest production run too but I'm sure someone can verify or correct that.
John L 
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