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N/A

Yahoo Message Number: 55447
Hello All:

Wondering when all the Country Coach Owners are coming back to the wonderful Junction City Oregon area, all us Unemployed former CC Techs. are just itching to work on some broken coaches. LOL
Just wanted to say I hope all of you are having a safe and happy new year and say thanks to all of you that are calling for assistance with your problems and issues.

Kevin Waite (Former Country Coach Service Tech.) K&M Mobile R.V. Repair LLC
95430 Noraton Rd.

Junction City, OR. 97448
(541) 998-8132 (Home)
(541) 953-6162 (Cell)

(kvn.wt.7629@...)

Re: N/A

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55455
Kevin,

I am curious about the rates charged by ex-cc techs. Since CC had all that overhead of the big buildings and the huge staff to support, I can see that their fixed costs were pretty high, Possibly as much as half the hourly rate they were charging. I would expect a small operator's rates to be much more reasonable since he doesn't have all those fixed costs. One of the problems I've had with service centers is that they line up more than one coach and have the tech jump back and forth between coaches and charge as though they were working on my coach the entire time it was in the bay. So, out of an 8 hour period they may only work on a single coach for a couple of hours but then the bill reflects the entire 8 hours the coach was sitting idle in the bay. I would imagine that rates have become a lot more realistic with the job market now. Can we expect some significant savings since we won't be helping to pay the fixed overhead of CC?

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: N/A

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55458
Kevin came out to my location in Oregon, gave lots of FREE advice that allowed me to evaluate and fix some problems I was having. He worked on another couples RV, fixed their limb damaged antenna, and for another couple coordinated some other work. Kevin works hard, in a focused manner, and does not charge for things that he can advise on. When I ordered parts he provided them at very low markup.
I have owned several companies, as have others here, and can see Kevin provides a very good value for the excellent work he does. He is a knowledgeable and pleasant person to work with, and earns his fees. He does not pass on "CC overhead", but does have to travel to a location, pay his food bill and house payment - he has an investment in the business he provides, and is gambling on the job covering his overhead. I bet he can tell of times he spent a fair amount of money to get to a location and only a switch needed flipping, or a valve needed a half turn, and he lost money on those jobs.
All this to say I have had Kevin work on my rig, was more than happy with the result and fees. No one can expect an intelligent person to work for less than he is worth. I just hope Kevin has enough work to continue in the business.
With a little work you might find someone to do a certain job cheaper, but I will stick with someone that knows their business, is easy to get along with, and charges a fair fee. I am sure we have all experienced the rip-off tactics of some RV suppliers - this is NOT one of those.

Yes, you hit a nerve. I will climb down off my soapbox now.

Jack Nichols, 2003 Intrigue

Re: N/A

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55463
Jack,

You said, "you hit a nerve," not sure what that means but I merrily asked the question if he was going to charge the high overhead rates that a bricks and mortar business has. If he tries to do that then I doubt he will be successful, if he charges reasonable rates and provides good service then I expect he will do well. But, if he tries to charge the $100 or so hourly rate, which includes the overhead costs of a bricks and mortar business like CC or Guaranty then I doubt he will be successful. I too, think everyone should be paid a "fair" price for their labor. I'm sure you are right that Kevin does that.

Ray

2000 Intrigue 11040

Re: N/A

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55469
Hi there, this is Scott Adams and Bobby Vodden from Amazing Creations and Kustom Coach Works. We handle all of your aftermarket custom cabinets, floors, roof seals, TV upgrades, audio video,110&12volt systems, minor chassis & body and much more. We are located 2 miles south of Junction City Or @ 93150B Prairie Rd our shop rate is 85.00hr our work is guaranteed for as long as you own you coach. If you would like to look at some of our work please go to amazingcreationsrv.com or kustomcoachworksrv.com. You can also ask some of your fellow cc owners that we have done work for. Thank you for your time.

Scott and Bobby

PS. we will also be quartzite in Arizona the 18th-29th to answer any questions take measurements and set appointments

Re: N/A

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55487
A tech should be able to handle 2 bays at a time . This is using his skills to the max as the day unfolds. Diagnostic time, parts ordering, wait time for parts, tear down, and reassembly.
Most shops bill diagnostic time unless it's pretty straightforward repair. Example, water pump. In the cars and truck repair pretty much guided by flat rate charges. This is good for both the customer and the shop. Customer not overcharged, shop is paid reasonable fees. Now you can introduce all kinds of variables but usually as in my case if we were going over the initial estimate by 10% we were on the phone with the customer. Good tech's can beat flat rate and this is why they make more dollars. Rarely did we have some customer upset when picking up there vehicle. Most problem area.... electrical issues and repairs.
Ray, my only suggestion is to ask to see the billed time on the back of the repair order. Most shops require the tech to sign off and on when on that job. Ask to be notified when the repair estimated cost goes over 10% of the repair. Go to the shop and just see if your coach is being worked on. Unannounced drop in. Ask to see all old parts.
These ex CC techs should be charging half the rate that CC charged with a full overhead shop. Now before they all attack me, your overhead is no where close to what CC had. The key issue is reasonable billed charges. Travel time if they come to your location. As in Rich's blower fan (last couple of days) repair, tech found in 20 minutes, billing should be min of 1 hour plus travel. Sounds reasonable to me. Also now days they add a fuel charge. I believe that is reasonable.
AL

00 affinity #5851

Re: N/A

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55489
Al:

With my experience in working at a flat rate shop espeacially as a new employee or working for a family owned business, the newbe gets all the crap jobs and never makes the money that the others do, in my opinion, I myself would steer clear of working for a shop that pays flat rate.

Kevin Waite (Former CC Tech.)

Re: N/A

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55493
I had a forklift place one time give me the wrong copy of the bill on which the back of there copy had the time charged by the tech on a little peel off strip with his employee code, time charged, clock in and out time. well it was for 3.2 hours and they charged me 7 hours. Well after spotting it when I got home I went back the next day and they nearly shat themselves when I called there hand on it. Needless to say they are only down the street and I have never been back and I try to tell everyone I know. Try to screw me shame on you!

Re: N/A

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55497
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry
From: "Roger Bryan"

Date: Fri, 8 Jan 2010 12:08:45 -0600 To:
Subject: Re: [Country-Coach-Owners] Re: N/A

I had a forklift place one time give me the wrong copy of the bill on which the back of there copy had the time charged by the tech on a little peel off strip with his employee code, time charged, clock in and out time. well it was for 3.2 hours and they charged me 7 hours. Well after spotting it when I got home I went back the next day and they nearly shat themselves when I called there hand on it. Needless to say they are only down the street and I have never been back and I try to tell everyone I know. Try to screw me shame on you!

Re: N/A

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55498
PAID THE

I DO NOT THINK YOU CAN EQUATE CC OVERHEAD TO THE TECHS THAT ARE NOW ON THEIR OWN, AS CC DID NOT PAY THEIR BILLS, THUS NO OVERHEAD.

Re: N/A

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55501
Thank You, very much for your reply and pretty much speaks for itself.
AL

00 affinity #5851

Charge out rates

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55506
Re: Charge out rates for independent service techs - it is almost impossible for any of us to accurately assess what the costs for any particular tech might be. There are so many unknown variables - things like billable hours vs. actual hours worked - which have a huge effect on the tech's ability to make a reasonable income. And that's what it's all about because if they can't make a reasonable income, they will move to some other work and there will be no service available.
The best we can do as customers is to research what's available and then make a choice - in effect we vote with our dollars. The market will determine through supply/demand what the rate should be over time and that's what we will pay to get work done. As an individual, I can't tell someone what they should charge but I can decide who to use based on the information available to me.
I think it's important that we keep talking to each other about the value we receive with service techs and facilities so that the good ones get our support. They will then stay in business and everyone's needs will be met.
If we all used the RV service reviews web site more diligently (and I include myself in the category of those who have not sent in reviews) it would be a much better resource.

Richard Owen '05 I(nspire 51442

Re: Charge out rates

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55510
I agree. At the end of the day supply and demand will determine how someone suceeds. I'll look for value for money but above all I'll be looking for honesty. I'm happy to pay a good price for good honest service.

Bruce

2001 Intrigue #11278
 

Re: Charge out rates

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 55523
A tech will need to gross about 3 times per hour what he wants to net at the end of the year to cover:
1) replacement & update of tools, truck, software, etc.
2) costs (including time off & travel) of schooling to stay current (e.g. Cummins training is $1000 per day plus travel & down time)
3) insurance, accounting, dealing w/dozens of govt agencies
4) overhead time of dealing w/customers B4 & after that are not billable to anyone

So aiming for $65k/yr or ~$33/hr, a tech would need to charge $100/hr for billable work, and then stay fairly busy. If he nets 5 hours billable per day, that's $500 x 250 working days/yr = $125,000 gross. If he loses half to the above, he is in his intended ballpark. If he has long winter months w/no or minimal customers, he almost can't make up the difference.

My guess is that most mobile techs make about $40-50k/yr net.
Mike