Quote: Originally posted by discoverytdi on 25/1/2010
I've never charged for Hub nuts water filter greases oils etc, as I feel that those items should be included.
I got charged for 2 x BPW hub nuts, 1.5m gas hose, 2 hose crips and a water filter on my last service!
Just saying a service for a single axle was charged at £120 including the consumables in the price, what would your approx profit be for the 3.5 - 4 hours labour??
I certainly agree that they should be in with the price, this would obviously be reflected in recommendations by customers rather than them being unsure what the final cost would be. Everyone would expect the cost to go up if it needed extras parts like brakes etc but the normal run of the mill changes for a service need to be included.
Just saying a service for a single axle was charged at £120 including the consumables in the price, what would your approx profit be for the 3.5 - 4 hours labour??
I certainly agree that they should be in with the price, this would obviously be reflected in recommendations by customers rather than them being unsure what the final cost would be. Everyone would expect the cost to go up if it needed extras parts like brakes etc but the normal run of the mill changes for a service need to be included.
It depends BPW hub nuts are much more expensive than Al-Ko's same goes for filters Whale filters cost more than Truma (and Truma fit the cyrital type filters)
then there's the travel costs. I limit it to 30 to 50 miles radius.
so the best way to work out your P+L is to price up the cost of hub nuts filters fuel etc, find out what others are charging and go from there. to be honest though so long as you are cheaper than a workshop cost shouldn't be the main focus service product knowledge pride in your work and a willingness to give free advice these are what people remember you by. I must get 70% of my work from referrals. I don't spend much on advertising just an add in my D.A. and Regions fixture book £65 this year, but as I originally said I already was known within my D.A. & region and that helped a lot.
------------- 2003 Bailey Moselle & William the Land Rover
Mobile caravan & motorhome Service Engineer
listed in the company Directory service and repairs section under
Do you seem to get a steady flow of service requests throughout the whole year or is there a mad rush at the start of the season ie march/april and then go quiet??
How many services do you average a week and then i take it you have some repair work or fitment of accesories also and how far booked up are you usually?
just trying to get an overall picture before it commit myself to anything (honestly im not a taxman in disguise!!!!!)
I'm pretty new to the forum and have been looking into a servicing career myself, I'm a mechanical building services engineer with a pretty sound knowlege of heating, ventilation, water systems, cooling, etc... been serving my own vehicles (cars, boats & my recently purchased VW Camper), basically I love tinkering & pretty 'p'd-off' with the run of the mill job. seems like a good idea to do something i have a passion for.
I'm looking at the MCEA Training too, but, open to other options, i'd consider working for someone on a part-time basis with a view to job share etc just to get my foot on the ladder
seems like this maybe the way forwaed for me... i'm not after heavy competion or treading on toes, i live NE M/cr, anybody got any thoughts
Sounds there might be many obstacles on your way. I would also need to look into insureances etc. Like Liability insurance..... They can cripple you ....... Sitting myself self employed, with a liability insurance to cover an aircraft.....
Insurance is the least of my worries! Thats something we all need if we want to 'self employed', i more concerned with registration to approval bodies... following this thread has given me a good insight into what i need to do... it looks like there are various options/anvenues I can explore, sounds like the manufacturers route is a solid option. that'll give me enough of a an insight to become CITO Registered, i don't think being is gas safe is something i need to do since this is for statics only.
Don't charge as much for a campervan service as for a caravan - it doesn't need its running gear checked like a caravan does, especially when you've just been told by the owner that it had a full vehicle service at a garage last week.
Don't say you've "greased the corner steadies" when the owner knows it doesn't have any.
Don't put a new gas hose on when it already has one.
Don't insist it needs a whole new sink unit just 'cos a tap doesn't work (later mended by owner's friend's husband)
Don't say you'll be back on Thursday to fit a new battery when you've got no intention of turning up ever again.
Finally - don't expect your name to be given in recommendations if you do the above.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
sounds like you've had dealings with the type of person i try to avoid! can't stand cowboys and people out to make a buck at someone expence or lack of knowledge!
had a lot of experience working on various vehicles, just bought my first camper (been using my dads for and maintained the gas etc. for the privilage), i thought it was minted and bought it with my heart... only to find its been botched, in the process of getting it right, i found it difficult finding people to sort it, and loved sorting it out...been thinking maybe this is the way forward for me!
Yes, chap was a complete waste of time and money. Turned out he was only just starting up in the business, still working in his full time job every day and moonlighting. Wonder if he ever made it a full time career? Reckon I knew nearly as much about it as he did at the time.
Good Luck, I'm sure you'll be better at it than he was.
------------- Caz
If you can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, just keep going till you go round the bend.
i'm intending packing my current job in, because of that exact reason, i want to give 100%.... i've a lot of engineering knowledge when it comes to water heaters, heatig, vent, fridges, bla, bla... it's just a big step into the unknown with respect to going on my own! i'm giving it some serious thought.......................
there's definately light at the end on tunnel, i see it, but it's not a straight route!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: career in caravan servicing
