Outrageous RV service costs

[Rderhy]

Amen! I would just add another bit of information; I own 3 auto repair shops in Minnesota, and so far in 2023 we spent over $127,000.00 in advertising and marketing for automotive technicians (we only hire top tear technicians) with very poor results due to the incredible shortage of qualified technicians. In the last 3 years technician's income has almost doubled, we increased their vacation time to 3 weeks, increased their insurance coverage to 100%, installed A/C in all our buildings (which by the way was a little over $100,000.00), and the list goes on.
Operating a business is tough and expensive, and if we want business to be there to serve our needs, we must be willing to pay the price to keep them for our convenience.

[ThruHiker]

Originally Posted by dsmiths

It's not just in the RV service area, my brother in law bought 2 new toilets for their house and called a local large Plumber service and they charged $1500.00 to install them. It was not a hard replacement with floor repair or rotting floor joists just simple unbolt and new wax rings and shutting off the water and unscrewing the water supply lines. This is what happens when the Government pays people to stay home.

LOL. Last winter, visited my wife's best friend at a house she had just inherited in FL. It was in pretty good shape, except it needed a new toilet in the master bathroom. We went to HD, she picked out a toilet, put it in her Impala and home. Took me about an hour to take out the old one and put in the new one. Floor was in decent shape so yeah, just swap rings etc. I guess I missed out on $750!

[RBNye]

Originally Posted by bikendan

The came up on my Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/10006360688...ibextid=Nif5oz

$400 starting, for electric tongue jack install
$680 starting for a rear camera install
$650 starting for a pair of 6v golf cart batteries install
This is at a local dealer that was acquired by Blue Compass.

Honestly this is quite reasonable considering the cost of materials, stocking costs, labor and burden. You are paying for the parts, their availability for your model, the tech's time and experience, and a whole raft of costs (building lease, utilities, payroll, supervisory, regulatory compliance, business taxes).

This is a big reason a lot of us learn how to DIY. Sure, I've paid to have my bearings repacked, and seal checks - once. Once I understood how it was done and what to look for I can now do it myself for a lot less. Education and experience have a cost both to hire and attain.

[markb5900]

I agree with some others that it is in your DNA in my opinion.
I have an 11 year old grandson that I just bought a mechanics tool set for so he will stay out of my tools. I can’t even head in the direction of my shop without him tagging along.
I have a 19 year old grandson that honestly does know a thing about tools or working on much of anything and has no desire to learn.