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Hot take: I finally get why some shops charge $75 for a basic tune-up
For the longest time, I thought it was a rip-off. I ran my own mobile repair gig for three years, and I'd do a 'tune-up' for $40 flat, thinking I was the good guy. Then last month, I started helping out at a proper shop in Tacoma. The owner, Mike, made me log every single step and part on a work order, even just cleaning a chain or adjusting a barrel adjuster. Seeing the actual time, the overhead for the shop space, the cost of the cleaner and lube we use, and the guarantee they offer... it clicked. My $40 service was basically just a quick safety check and some air in the tires. Their $75 job includes replacing any frayed cables, truing wheels if needed, and a full degrease and relube of the whole drive train. It's a totally different level of work. I was undercutting the whole trade without even realizing it. Anyone else have a moment where they realized their pricing was way off?
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danielb4325d ago
Oh totally, I still cringe thinking about my old "$40 special". I basically gave people a chain wipe and a stern look and called it a day. Felt like a real genius until I actually saw what a real shop tune up involved.
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