What is the average hourly repair rate?

[Bionic_Man]

I need some work done on my 5er. My selling dealer is long gone, as is the repair shop I have been using. I've called a couple places, a brick and mortar shop was about $100 (and booked way out), a mobile RV repair guy was $125.

I am curious what the going rate for RV repair is in your area?

[2oldman]

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[travelnutz]

Yes, the rates for about any service on anything are considerably higher in the S.E. Michigan area than in the rest of the state and is why so many from your area bring their RV's to the west side for major service.

One member on this forum was quoted a price of more than double for a rubber roof replacement than what he got it done for at a reputable RV dealer here on the west side. I'd PM'd him some info and he checked it out. Guess where he had it done and saved thousands of dollars.

The materials used cost the same on either side but the business operating costs are very different like apples to oranges. I know as I had an engineering office and operation on both side of the state for decades and our son and his son plus families owned and lived there for years and one still does in Howell. Make more income each year but it's swallowed up plus with the higher cost of everything in the S.E. area of the state. Same goes for the east coast and the west coast or in very large city areas but people are free to make their own choices and then live with the details of life there.

[steveh27]

tnutz,

That's the same I read. No mention of getting loyalty membership just for having service done there. You will note at the end of the one paragraph they have a link to their terms of service. That's where I read about buying a membership if one did not buy their rv from them.

So unless one bought an rv from them the rate is $200 per hour. I wish there was as good a service place near me with lower rates.

[travelnutz]

Copy and pasted from their web site:

"The General RV Service Loyalty Program is a program for YOU, the General RV customer that has a current new or used RV purchased from one of our locations from around the country. This program gives you significant savings on service and maintenance work from any one of our service centers. If you have purchased a new or used RV from General RV you are already a member–and it’s FREE!"

"When you bring your RV in for service at any of our location across the U.S., our service writers will locate you in our system. When they do, you start the savings!! You will also receive a brochure listing our locations around the country and the benefits of being a General RV Service Loyalty Program member. Please take a moment to familiarize yourself with our General RV Service Loyalty Program terms of service."

Just 2 paragraphs of many on their site.

True it doesn't say that if you'd had any service done on Any RV that you own bought anywhere else that you are not a Loyalty Member. I was referring to those who have purchased an RV from General RV. Why would they give everyone the 35% discount as they are up to their eyeballs with service work constantly just on the many thousands and thousands of RV's they'd sold used or new. Perhaps, my wording could have been more clear as to just anyone wanting 35% off the hourly rate.

Why would they even post the high rate then if it really didn't apply to anyone? The high rate is and marketing ploy and to encourage potential purchasers to buy from them and having them think they are really getting something special if they do. So many people are very deficient in math ability and 35% sounds like a big saving but from what starting point? It's also to help control their service load they experience and not seek to make it unbearable with so many more non-General RV purchasing customers. As always, buyer beware, however, so many are not!

Personally, we wouldn't even consider a place with an over $100/hr shop rate unless it was an emergency and had NO other choice. I had owned a great business for nearly 40 years and know better than to be knowingly fleeced when there are other choices that can be made.

[steveh27]

tnutz,

Their web site does not say having been a service done customer. Please post where you saw that.

Using your link to their site says you are a member by buying an rv from them.

Going to their terms of service does say membership is available to non-purchasers by paying a fee

The service guy I spoke to said it's about $1,200 per year. I'll call HQ during the week to get an exact fee for my rv. $1,200 means that you'ld have to have over 17 hours of labor to get any benefit. I've never had that much work done in one year. So for me and many others their rate is $200 per hour.

[travelnutz]

steveh27,

Web site says it's FREE in black and white with an RV purchase or having been a service done customer. Perhaps General RV will have to explain what their site says it?

[Naio]

Jeebus, I think I hear a new career calling!

[steveh27]

tnutz,

Thank you for this info, but I am not a Loyalty Member even though I've had much service work done there this past decade. I've never heard of it before. From their website: besides being a member by buying an rv from them, Membership is also available, providing membership benefits on services only, to individuals who own RVs not purchased from General RV. Those memberships can be purchased via payment of a membership fee. The fee associated with membership in this fashion may vary depending on membership purchase date. Fee amounts may also vary on the size, type, or model of the RV in question. See a General RV Service Writer or Service Manager for further details and prices.

So having service done there does not get membership. A separate fee must be paid. I'm going to see what that is.

Just called them. They are going to get back with exact numbers but the service guy said it's around $1,200 per year!!! OUCH, too much for me, so the rate is $200/hour.

[travelnutz]

The RV service center dealer (not a General RV location) I use in West Michigan has a $95/hourly rate and there's a few others at the same or $100/hourly rate around here. Called several reputable local area places and got their present hourly rates. They do vary a lot across the USA so one has to be aware of the local going rate especially in or near large cities or out west where about everything is more expensive to consumers/customers. Hey it's only money even though it's really your own hard earned money so why would or should you care?

[travelnutz]

Just looked up General RV locations: MI-6, FL-2, OH-1, IL-1, UT-1

[travelnutz]

"At General RV in Mt Clemens, Michigan it's $200/hour."?

Fact is that General RV at its 11 locations in the USA with over 300 service bays has a loyalty program for it's service: It's a program to entice customers to use their service locations and costs the customer nothing to be a Loyalty Member which also give them priority timing over non-emergency walk-ins. Something a returing customer should really benefit from:

Loyalty Program | General RV Center
www.generalrv.com/rv-service/loyalty-program

35% off of posted hourly door rate; No appointment necessary for emergencies; Full service centers with Body shops; Working with a company that is family ...

Having had any service work done by General RV or having purchased an RV from any General RV location, you are already enrolled in their Loyality Program at any and all locations computer system. It's free!

Therefore, the hourly rate is actually $130/hr or less at the Mt. Clemmens, MI location and at all the others.

I have no connection in anyway and have never purchased anything from or had any serice done by or from General RV but this is still good to know as RV issues can happen anywhere when RV'ing, not just at home. 11 locations is a lot!

[lightning_drive]

Bionic Man wrote:
I need some work done on my 5er. My selling dealer is long gone, as is the repair shop I have been using. I've called a couple places, a brick and mortar shop was about $100 (and booked way out), a mobile RV repair guy was $125.

I am curious what the going rate for RV repair is in your area?

In AZ going rate is $100 to $125.

[jplante4]

$140 an hour on Cape Cod and we're scheduled 4 weeks out.

[DouglasC]

Just had hydraulic jack repairs done at Big Foot in White Pigeon, MI a couple of weeks ago. Labor rate was $125/hr.