quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
4 spark plugs, 4 fuel filters for under $50 unless you are grossly overcharging your customers.

So how does your shop's invoice detail the charges? My shop's invoices list every part by cost & part number; and every service by description, analysis, and hours worked.

<< crickets >>

OK, possible scenarios.
(A) - The saw repair shop charges really high rates for parts & labor, then refuses to provide details of charges to the customer. Unlikely, but as the saying goes, one's chances might be really small but never zero.
(B) - The saws were so filthy and so poorly maintained that the shop's technicians had to spend a boatload of time cleaning off the filth, in order to really see what's going on.
(C) - The OP doesn't want to divulge what the shop charged, possibly because of item (B).
(D) - The OP doesn't understand how to operate and maintain chainsaws. Possibly resulting in item (B), and ultimately not comprehending the work done by the saw shop.
(E) - The OP has embellished the story of this rant.

My local Stihl dealer also sells Mahindra tractors.
Some years back, I needed some garden tractor front tires removed from two wheels, and new tires installed on the wheels.
I removed the wheels from the garden tractor and hand carried the wheels with the old tires, along with the new replacement tires down to the Stihl/Mahindra dealer.
While there doing the repair order at the counter, I asked if they stocked new valve stems. They assured me they did, and brought a box filled with new valve stems up to the counter and showed me.

The repair order clearly stated that while the old/bad tires were off of the wheels, that new valve stems were to be installed.
When I got the phone call that the new tires were mounted and ready for pickup, I drove down to pick them up.
Sadly, the dumb ass parts counter guy who helped out in the service department looked at the original valve stems and decided they were good enough and did not replace them. (they were 15 years old at that time)
I was pissed and ripped the business owner and the parts counter guy a pair of new assholes.
To their credit, the business owner offered to break the tires down and install the new valve stems, but the new tires had bead sealant when dufus installed them, and I decided to decline the offer.

I have done routine maintenance on my Stihl chainsaws over the years at home myself. Why? Because I can take as much time as is needed to do the job correctly the first time.
When my Stihl chainsaw started having carburetor problems, I briefly thought about taking it to the Stihl dealer.
Then I remembered the garden tractor tires/valve stems issue.
If they aren't smart enough to install new valve stems when the tires are off the wheels, how in the hell are they going to figure out a complicated chainsaw problem?

I ordered a new chinese carburetor off of Amazon and replaced it myself at home. It wasn't a fun job and I had to fiddle with it several times until I was satisfied with the job.
There is a lot of components packed into a small space, and the linkages that attach to the carburetor have to be installed in a specific order.
BTW, that Made in the USA Stihl chainsaw, made with globally sourced parts, had a original carburetor made in china.
The numbers stamped into the original carburetor did not provide any usable information for selecting a replacement carburetor directly from Stihl.
I purchased the chainsaw brand new from a Stihl dealer.

So in todays world, IF you can't do a repair or service yourself, be prepared to get screwed.

quote:

Originally posted by fritz:
<< crickets >>

OK, possible scenarios.
(A) - The saw repair shop charges really high rates for parts & labor, then refuses to provide details of charges to the customer. Unlikely, but as the saying goes, one's chances might be really small but never zero.
(B) - The saws were so filthy and so poorly maintained that the shop's technicians had to spend a boatload of time cleaning off the filth, in order to really see what's going on.
(C) - The OP doesn't want to divulge what the shop charged, possibly because of item (B).
(D) - The OP doesn't understand how to operate and maintain chainsaws. Possibly resulting in item (B), and ultimately not comprehending the work done by the saw shop.
(E) - The OP has embellished the story of this rant.

That is all stupid bullshit fritz.

One wrench monkey does not a whole manufacturer make.

quote:

One wrench monkey does not a whole manufacturer make.

That is true. But two shows a trend.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
That is all stupid bullshit fritz.

Then why don't you stop all your stupid bullshit, and state what the real invoice says.

Or are you only capable of stupid bullshit?

I stated what the situation was in the op. What was done and what wasn't. And how much he charge was. I mostly maintain my own saws. Stay out of my threads fritz or put me on your ignore list. Maybe that will keep you happy.

As I stated in my first post...."Well, that sucks. You certainly should have received an invoice for the charges..."
You don't go into details on the invoice, but you've ranted about the overall amount.

Your work statement isn't all that clear in the OP:
- "Just basic clean up. Maybe a plug and fuel filter, blow out the air filter, touch up the chain."
That word "MAYBE"...it's not definitive. And that's work that I do myself -- I don't need to pay anyone for it.

- "He probably did not have 90 mins. total on all four saw's. Maybe $40-$50 in parts max. I was not happy."
Again "probably" and "maybe". Neither is definitive. It sure doesn't sound you know what was done.

Then you later state:
- "4 spark plugs, 4 fuel filters for under $50 unless you are grossly overcharging your customers."
Which implies that you don't know what the charges were. You sorta kinda seem do, but not really. Both the parts and the labor. It sounds like your saw guy didn't give you an itemized bill. That's on him for not providing good customer service. Or maybe you just don't want to state what the invoice says. Possibly it's your way, but I don't find that nebulous charges from a vendor are acceptable, and I don't leave a shop with incomplete information about parts and services. Decades of chainsaw (and other tools) experience has taught me that.

As for your statement:
- "I mostly maintain my own saws."

We seem to have a difference of practice & opinion what "mostly maintain" means. For me, "mostly" is ....
- I keep my chains sharp. Nobody needs to touch them up. When I can't keep a chain sharp, it's done and in the trash. Probably end of life, too.
- I keep my air filters clean. Nobody needs to blow them out.
- I pull spark plugs on occasion. Maybe every couple of years. When one doesn't look good, I screw in a new one. I have spares.
- I inspect fuel filters on occasion. Shining a light in the tank is often telling. It's pretty easy to fish them out of the tank for a better inspection, and it's easy to switch them out. I have spares.
- Cleaning air filters is easy. Daily tapping with a scrench does a lot. Washing a few times a year is even better. I have spares.
- I noted earlier how I keep my bars in good working order.
- I regularly hose the grit out of the starter puller assembly, so the grit doesn't build up on the starter cord. I've never had to replace a starter system or a starter cord.
- I wipe around the oil and gas filler caps before refilling. Keeps dirt & sawdust out of the tanks, prolonging life of the oiling system and the fuel filter.
- Regularly inspect the drive sprocket (new style Stihl) or the drive sprocket / clutch assembly (old style Stihl) for wear. I don't keep spares, but my shops keep them on hand. I replace as necessary.
- When a chain starts creeping forward during idle, I pretty much know that the clutch or clutch springs are showing their age. I'll pull the clutch covers to inspect. If the clutch needs work, I'll let a shop handle that.
- I'll re-tune a non-electronic carb if it's really running poorly, but I also know my shop does it better -- especially with some assistance with their tachometer.
I pretty much know my saws front to back. I find that's part of the ballgame, given how many hours I put on my saws. The owner of my primary shop respects that. I don't receive surprise costs from my shop.

Maintenance that I don't perform...
- Carburetor replacement.
- Fuel line replacement.
- Clutch work.
- Oiler gear replacement.

$125 per saw actually doesn't sound too crazy these days, considering labor and other costs are through the roof. Start with an hourly rate that is probably $75-100, then add shop supplies, parts, and tax, and it gets up there fast. A lot of shops have a minimum labor rate too, so it doesn't matter if it takes them 20 minutes or 45 minutes. They change the full hour. Is it way more than it would have been 5-10 years ago? Probably, but that's the modern reality for anything labor-related.

Of course all of this should be documented and invoiced appropriately.