Speaking from running a shop for a number of years, 11.5 hours likely includes his time spent dealing with acquiring parts, consulting manuals, logbook entries etc. There is a lot more to a job then just pulling a part and replacing with new.
That said, we always provide a detailed hourly breakdown of what we do, ie. 1.5 hours cowling tear down, 1.5 hours removing jugs, 3 hours iran, 1 hour office, 1.5 hours replacing jugs, .75 hour voltage regulator replacement, 1.5 hours button up, and .75 runup and ops check. Seems to be fairly standard to expect that. I know I never rush when I am doing a job, but that is because I am thorough as my name and livelihood depend on it being done correctly.
An update:
Called Cirrus mothership and spoke with the tech rep who handled my plane when the engine suffered thermal runaway by the guy taking off with the boost pump off and an insane deck angle. He had the invoices from when that engine work was done back in California, and we compared notes. Out west, there was no upcharge on anything - it was just T&M and the cylinders were subcontracted out, paid as invoiced, etc. I think he said they called around 12 other shops to compare notes on what they charge - all were within 5% of each other. Next came an email to the to the shop regarding the upcharges, and their response below. Figured we'd not come at them like complete dicks if this was one bad egg doing the billing that they could redeem themselves.
Email from me below - and the rep from the shops response: -----------------------------
Clint, yesterday you sent me the following invoices for work done on N2075T.
I called into question line 4: 7140-004 Cylinder Repair for $1515.25 when you sent it to me. You then sent me the invoice from the cylinder repair shop detailing the items worked on in PDF 1AD03 - with the work authorized to be done to R&R 2 sticky exhaust valves. I called you back saying $1,500 to repair the two cylinders is way over the top, when an overhauled/exchange jug is typically $600 to $800 depending on where you go ($600 Gibson, $800 RAM).
A repair involving a re-valve should not exceed $300-$350 per cylinder. Maybe $400 at the outside. The parts alone wouldn't break $600 combined for both cylinders. That figure which pretty much matches Pine Mountains price within 5% is as follows:
2 exhaust valves: $230 each = $460
2 exhaust valve guides: $20 each = $40
2 Gasket sets: $10 each = $20
8 Key valve springs?: $.27 each = $2.00
4 Roto cap: $23.00 each = $90
8 Tab lock washers: $.50 cents each = $2.00
3 Outter Spring 625958: $6.00 each = $18.00
4 Inner spring 625957: $2.50 each = $10.00
1 Stud: $7.00 each = $7.00 each
I was curious as to why the item prices were whited out on the invoice you sent to me from Pine Mountain. Pine Mountain faxed me the invoice for the work performed on my 2 cylinders this morning, item prices not whited out - which came to $1015.25. Can you explain the $500 dispairity between the Pine Mountain invoice & the invoice from Curtiss Aero that you e-mailed to me. I could have shipped my cylinders to any number of shops on the west coast or to Powermaster Engines in Tulsa that I have done trusted business with & directed business to in the past, however on your recommendation I allowed your team to use your perfered engine shop.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Regards,
--Shops Response
Alex,
The disparity lies in the fact that the invoice you received from Pine Mountain, and the costs you're referring to from other vendors is the price an FBO or Service Center receives. Obviously, our business is based on the profit margin we are able to make on parts and services from our vendors. Just as obvious is that no company sells their parts or services AT cost so I am confused as to why you believe you are entitled to them? That is the business model as you are well aware of and that is the way Service Centers and maintenance facilities stay in business.
Our vendors, including John and Pine Mountain provide their parts and services at a discount and we provide a service to the customer at a markup. A customer such as yourself would not receive that price on a service. As John informed you directly the price to you would have been exactly what we charged you.
The calculations you've so kindly provided amount to $649. You have coincidentally forgotten to account for John's labor in your inquiry. That amount brings the total to 1015.25. As for the reason the prices were whited out is to protect the relationship we as a Service Center have with our vendors. I guarantee another maintenance facility would not provide that type of privileged information.
In the future if you feel you might do better servicing the aircraft yourself, or shipping the parts to another vendor of your choice that is your prerogative. In the meantime that is the price for the services provided.
If I may also add Devon informed you on the status of the cylinders and the fact we were shipping them to Pine Mountain for service, a service you agreed upon.
Clint
Manager of Ground Operations
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So today when I call back into the mothership they say they have a conf call with the owner about the manager above - apparently this isn't the first time he's done toejam like this and the owner might not be in the know about it. And with that, is the data from other shops in the area about their best practices, how they invoice, what realistic charges are for this work - and generally economic reasons why not to fleece guys. Will advise later on the outcome.
