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Air Conditioning Repair Pricing

JeffPMR
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  • 1 month later...


bantar Community Regular

bantar

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We charge a flat rate of $129.99 for Evac and Recharge, which includes a 2nd Evac and Recharge for any repairs.  Many around us have pricing ranging from $49.99-$89, either with 1 lb 134a included or none included.  Many seem to charge twice if repairs are needed.   Our typical COGS for R134a is about $5-7.    From memory, I think folks are selling 134a for $3-4/ounce, but my memory on this is iffy.   Frankly, I chose the flat rate model to reduce the accounting of the 134a used and the variable price points.   We document our findings, but don't adjust billing.    We do have to communicate well with our pricing seemingly higher than others, but we utilize the "one time charge" that helps to close it.  

Looking at the R1234yf, but demand is not there.  We are up to about 4 jobs missed, but this doesn't yet justify a new machine.   I'll reconsider when we hit 10+.  We will then move to a service + freon model pricing for that service as the COGs is too high - $70-$120 depending on the car.   Right now, I'm sending folks straight to the dealer for this service and the accompanying sticker shock.  It won't hurt for them to get beat up on their new technology pricing.

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bantar Community Regular

bantar

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I'm intrigued at the "return at least twice".   We generally ask the to return a week or two later for a single leak check.    I'm guessing that you are just giving it more time to manifest.    If you do find a leak in one of these checks and let's say replace a high side line, do you charge for the recharge a 2nd time?   We bill for the new work only.  We generally don't if it's in our leak check window.   If they have a known leak, and they don't fix it, then the next recharge is on the customer again.

What it interesting is that this method of pressure leak checking, waiting to see if a leak is present, is (seemingly) wrong for 1234yf as the loss of refrigerant is too expensive.  I'm trying to figure out how we will approach leak testing for 1234yf.   We currently utilize dye and a leak detector (sniffer), but don't currently use CO2 or Dry NO2 pressure testing.  There seems to be risk with over-pressurizing, when improperly used, by a careless tech.   I'm considering a service + refrigerant charging model to deal with leaks after service.   Much more work, and more expensive machine, so the service should be priced much higher.  I've been hearing a low of $350 on Honda's to about $600 on trucks.

I do like your dual pricing model and might consider the same.

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  • 1 year later...
Hands On Community Regular

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I am reviving this thread. I had my first R1234 car in, we replaced an engine. I paid the dealer $550 to recharge it for me. that is 10% of a machine cost. I am considering pulling the trigger. I was hoping to find some reviews on machines.

10lb bottle is under $600

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56 minutes ago, Joe Marconi said:

Before I sold my company, I purchased a Robinare. Good unit, good support.  You will need to charge. The $550 you paid is not uncommon. Make sure your register it and buy the warranty. 

My R134A is robinaire. I found complaints online that robinaire can not get replacement parts for their 1234 machines.

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12 minutes ago, DUFRESNES said:

Last year we had 5-6 people that had yf1234.  We purchased a robinair in December, thinking we would need it this year.  We have our 1st job tomorrow.  The best price we could get on freon was $675.00 for 10 lbs  The job takes 1 lb.  Question is how much are people charging for  labor.  

I paid the dealer around the corner from me $550 to fill a 2017 pilot. I was going to put myself at $499 for the service for now, and continue to monitor the market.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      Want to End Your Technician Shortage? Focus on Retention!
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      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”

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