Technical how much to charge for oil change - Help

To turn this around..say I'm the 80 yr old guy needing this service done to my cl***ic car.
Not in my wildest dreams would I expect someone to do this for free..I'd gladly pay market price to a fellow car guy rather then someone at a quick lube place, who may not have a desire/appreciation or interest in my car.
If you want to/have the time to do it, by all means do it.
Let him tell you what he thinks is fair, and go with that..if it's high let him know it, if it's low, be busy the next time he asks.

 

Ha ha ha someone else's shoes.

 

I'll do it! I will need $900 for plane fare.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

How about 30 bucks for your labor, he buys supplies and you get to listen to him tell you about his teenage years? Bet he would love to share some stories, with someone he trusts with his ride.

 

To me this topic is amazing. It starts off with everyone saying do it for free, even me, then it migrates towards higher rates!
It's more fascinating as an experiment in human psychology.
Personally I like Squirrels reply best...free if you want otherwise why do it!
Perception of two people...80 yr. old (his financial state, intentions,etc.), mechanic (his financial state, empathy, good deed today with future rewards?).
I still maintain what would happen if you did it properly, hand him your out-of-pocket cost receipts...then the ball is in his court.
He's not going to just pay that...I'm sure he would expect to pay for your time.
As Chappy 444 pointed out if you do a good job, he pays you fairly, you'll reap future benefits. It boils down to IF you want this kind of work.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

Just charge for materials or do the entire thing for free. Show some good will.

 

Come on guys....think about it honestly in reality and not in this alternative universe.
Two questions....
Would you let some guy you met at a car show drive across town and change the oil in your car with his tools for....Nothing?
Would you drive across town and change a fellows oil plus some specialized mechanic work for....Nothing?

 

If you don't how to charge for an oil change just stick to wax on wax off.

 

As long as the car show had plenty of tats, beer, weed and lived deep in the ghetto...sure!

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

I have car friends who will drive 2 hours (or more) each way to help me if I need it without even thinking about expense. We share expertise.
I would and do the same thing for them.
I have people I know (car folks as well) who won't drive 30 minutes to help. Too busy,plus they have expenses,you know....gas,time,wear and tear on their vehicle,don't work for free,blah blah blah.
Choose your friends wisely.

 

Leave me the key's and a note authorizing me use of your car and your on. Since it would be for free, I would have to work it in so I might have the car for the rest of the summer. and it's a long driver to Washington and back.
I don't do rear tires but they may need replacing when I return it.

 

Why doesn't the old guy just take it whoever does his Rolls Royce or Mercedes service.

 

Haha! Thanks for the offer, but I think I will have to wait for a better deal.

 

Do it for what he's happy to pay and you'll be happy with next time around.

Chris

 

In the last six weeks I have driven into town to help two different people troubleshoot two ignition issues on two different flathead Fords. Got them both up and running after an hour or so of sleuthing and fixing, and the thought of charging them never crossed my mind. They found me here on the HAMB, and sent me PM's asking if I could give them a hand. Older retired guys, not hurting for money. They are car guys through and through, and that's what we all are. I suspect an 80 year old guy with a Model A is also somewhat of a car guy. I consider it karma. I am heading out for Back to the Fifties mid day tomorrow, and if I have trouble on the road I would expect that karma might repay a bit back that I have payed forward.

 

WOW tough crowd here. Bruce.

 

Time and materials. What is your time worth? Not as much as a dealership or fully equipped shop. Figure $30 an hour or whatever you think is fair. Charge list price for the oil, filter, etc. If you get a discount the difference goes in your pocket.

If the guy was my grandpa or an old friend I might work on his car for free, if he was there for me when I needed a friend. But if it is a neighbor or acquaintance, give him a break but he should pay something.

 

While I had my lawn mower shop I had a 100 year old man bring his off brand mower to me to sharpen his blades. I did it free and told him to come back when they needed sharping again. Got to sharpen them one more time. Was easy for me and I enjoyed talking to him. Hope I make it to a 100 and am in as good as shape as he was.

Bones

 

You mentioned in one of your responses that he didn't want to talk, only expected the job to be done. I would do a good job and charge 10% less than the lube & oil places around town.

He's getting a job done right at a good price.

After that, I'd still try to hit him up for a story. He might loosen up once he sees your not out to cheat him.

If it were a neighbor or a friend I wouldn't charge for labor.

If he's not all there mentally, I'd probably do it for free, based on the idea that the strong should help the week (not prey on them). Then I'd give God the credit somehow. Unless, of course, I couldn't afford to do that.

I don't think you'd be preying on him if he hired you with a sound mind, you did a good job and charged him 10% less than the going rate you've found by shopping around.

This might work into something big for you.

 

Free?? Really??
I’m a mechanic and used to do the “ case of beer” or buy me a drink at the bar routine. Don’t work you end up working for free!

I charge for what I do, at the end of the day the people who pay me to do work for them pay me for my knowledge and experience. If they knew what I know they would do it them selves!

I needed a new roof on my house a few years ago, called my buddy who’s a roofer ..... ya think he roofed my house for a case of beer? Nope, gave me a good deal and we did drink beer but I stilled payed.
My cousin is a drywaller came and did my ba*****t , still charged me.
It’s a trade, it’s a profession and it’s a skill that’s not given out for free.

Heck even a crack ***** charges 20 bucks for a reach around in the back parking lot !!

Go $50 -75 bucks

With the generator re and re your looking at around 2 hours with clean up etc.

 

Oil change/lube, labor only = one sleeve of ***leist Pro V-1's
Brake job, 4 wheels, disc/drum = a gross of the same
Wiring problems are by the hour = one gl*** of decent bourbon per hour...plus the golf balls.

 

"Who let the dogs out ?" Lol. Bet your rear feels like Hamburg now. But you should of known you were going to get hambed. Go by your gut feeling.

 

Charge him the same hourly rate that you get for detailing cars and he also pays for the supplies. He doesn't want, need or expect it to be free, he just trusting you to do a good job and be fair.

 

charging your going rate plus materials is MORE than fair, otherwise he has to drive it somewhere and either wait for some slacker to do the service while waiting in room with uncomfortable chairs with a bunch of people sitting around texting and a tv set to day time soaps, or he has to leave it and get a ride back and forth while the thing is in the hands of "who knows who" while it is parked in a lot next to "you [i don't give a ****] knows who"................maybe charge more.

 

Charge him $19.95 for each job and strip the drain plugs, put the wrong fluids in and smash his exhaust on the lift....... This of course could be the reasons he came to you in the first place.
Free-charge-gouge-decline, depends on the guy and how your feeling at the time.

 

this is a business proposition....a service.

It's not like the guy is 10 miles from an exit in the median of I 65 trying to fix his car with a pair of water pump pliers and a plastic s****.
He wants someone to come to his home and change the oil on a specialty car. Thats a service.
Honestly I think this needs to be approached with caution. It never fails with these old vehicles, there's always a catch.
Look for nothing being touched since 1957. Whats not rusted solid is cross threaded whats not cross threaded is rounded off.
A 10 minute job could easily turn into a 3 day job.
There may be more here than meets the eye.

 

I charge according to many simple guidelines -
PERSON :
Friend ?
Real car person ?
Person just getting into cars needing help, needs an old guy for guidance ?
Person who can provide a service you need for much less than market in trade ?
Just some ***hole that bought an "old car" to be KOOL ?


CAR :
Something you really want to work on ?
A victim of some previous hacking that would remain when you finish ? Do I want my name on it ?
Can you be sure of the end result of your work ?
Do you already have everything in hand for the job ?

Many cars have been treated and released here with damn little $$$ changing hands.

 

I've been reading along and keep thinking.....does the OP know the proper maintenance on the car or just willing to do it for money?

Not trying to be harsh, do you know the correct way to do what he wants done or are you willing to do it just for the money? If you have done it before and know what it takes, you should know how long it's going to take and what you are up against. If you have never done it, you are learning on his dime (are you willing to stand behind your work if you mess it up?).

I can see both sides of this. Do it for free to get your name out and/or be a good guy. Do it for free to gain the experience. Charge for your time because you are a business. Charge because you have expenses to pay.

You must have an idea of what to charge or you wouldn't come here asking for opinions to back up your thoughts.

I've done stuff like this in the past and told them no charge. Almost every time they have insisted I take something and I have refused it. It's my hobby. Some have stuffed money in the roller cabinet when they thought I wasn't looking. Some insist on giving you something and in those cases I take whatever they hand me and thank them. When I look at it later it is usually more than I would have charged them. Some offer nothing, some way more than it's worth. It all balances out. I have NEVER had it bite me in the *** but I suppose it could. I only do things I'm completely comfortable with, I never learn on another guy's stuff, my preference. I have always come out to the good in the long run, getting something from them when I needed it later or help or parts....it always came back to me somehow.

Go with your heart, your brain doesn't know or you wouldn't be here asking.

JMO,
SPark

 

Jeeze guys. Did I log in to the alternate universe "Bad Spock" HAMB, you know, with the goatee?

Do the job for free, gain his trust. Then take him for everything he's got at a later date, when his guard is down.

****er's prolly got a coin collection and a bunch of Maxfield Parrish prints on the wall.

 

Your time has value. How you seek reimbur*****t is your decision. No good deed goes unpunished. I always reward courtesy with generosity, and rudeness with padding the bill.