Overheard a customer at the shop say my $80/hour rate was robbery

Some guy in a brand new F-150 was complaining to his buddy that body shops are just price gouging now, while I was literally fixing a dent on his tailgate for a flat $400. I mean, he didn't even ask why it costs that much or how much materials are. Has anyone else had to deal with customers who think we're just ripping them off without knowing the actual work?

2 comments

2 Comments

foster.jordan4d ago

$80 an hour sounds like a lot until you figure out what actually goes into that. Your insurance, your tools, your shop rent, and the years of experience don't just appear out of thin air. I had a guy once argue about a $50 diagnostic fee for ten minutes while his check engine light was flashing. Materials alone for that dent fix probably cost you more than people realize, and they don't see the time it takes to match the paint and blend it right.

the_olivia4d ago

Oh man, this is so spot on! People really don't get what goes into running a trade like this. I watched my uncle's shop deal with the same stuff for years and it's wild how customers think you're just pocketing pure profit. The paint matching alone is an art form and nobody sees the hours spent sanding and blending to make it look seamless. That diagnostic fee argument always gets me too because time is literally money when you're trying to keep the lights on and tools paid off. It's frustrating when people want professional results but don't want to pay for the process that gets them there.