IS THIS A GOOD DEAL????

I took my H2 to a mechanic shop and the owner gave me a deal. He offered to install a Magnaflow exhaust for $640 and a K & N air intake for $500. A total of $1140 this is also including labor. Do you think this is a good deal? By the way this guy knows what he is doing. He is constantly working on Supras and Lexus. He also showed me a picture of an H2 he worked on, where he did a lift, air intake, and an exhaust. Please tell me what do you think.  

HELL NO!!!

I think it's too much. You can get the exhaust for around $499-$549, and it only takes an hour to install. As for the K and N, $279 and 45 minutes.
 
 
BTW, Welcome to the forums

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bumble B H2

I took my H2 to a mechanic shop and the owner gave me a deal. He offered to install a Magnaflow exhaust for $640 and a K & N air intake for $500. A total of $1140 this is also including labor. Do you think this is a good deal? By the way this guy knows what he is doing. He is constantly working on Supras and Lexus. He also showed me a picture of an H2 he worked on, where he did a lift, air intake, and an exhaust. Please tell me what do you think.  

 
I'd say it's a good deal... for him, not so much for you.

ask for a estm.
with a itemized list of parts and labor
 
im on the other side of the fence here
a shop has to markup their parts for resale
if not they wont make it in busniess long
i know ya know that walmart dont sell ya something for what they paided for it
 
if ya feel the markup is to high
just bring ur own parts and have them install them
just remember if the part fails there most likely will be no warranty
now the manufacturer will warranty the part itself but no labor warranty
if the shop sells ya the parts and installs them you have parts and labor warranty
 
i deal w/ this stuff all the time and have gotten cussed out over it
but ya cant expect a shop  to eat labor  over a  customer supplied part
the little parts are not bad and if ur a good customer they (i) will work with ya some
but when it a used junkyard motor and it smokes and  knocks after install
thats when  people get mad ..sure the junkyard will give ya another motor but
the shop will charge ya  labor again to R&R the motor
 
sry for the mini rant
but i have customers tell me that they can buy the parts cheaper alot
and i have to give this same speech alot
 
 
 

Get a buddy, get your tools and get a 30 pack and save yourself some $$$.  That is if you are able to do that.  I am sure the H2 is different, but i am not a mechanic by any means and I did my cat back with a friend.  Did not take long at all. 

OH MY GOODNESS< YOU are getting taken for!
 
 
You can get the K&N air intake from performancepaddler.com for $209.00 and it is a qwick install on your own with a diagram install sheet (included).  The Magnaflow system they also will give you a great deal for... you can do both of them your self... and spend half as much.
 
 
Justin

I paid $569 CDN for my Magnaflow WITH install locally. I bought my VOLANT on eBay for $300US and my dealer charged me $49 CDN to install, so SOUNDS A MIGHT EXPENSIVE to me!!

I wouldn't touch that "deal" with a 10 foot pole ....  That's the kind of offer that leaves you bleedin' from the rectum!!!!!!  Best cost I've seen RETAIL on the K&N was $269.99 and I saw the Magnaflow a few weeks ago for $379.99 ... If you are anywhere near Cincinnati I'll offer to do the installs for $100 dollars and I'll offer to weld the exhaust instead of using the clamps ...
 
Both of these kits are super easy to install just using hand tools and potentially a pipe cutter for getting the stock exhaust out.  I did them both on my old Avalance (corsa exhaust though) on a week night not even breakin' a sweat ... I think I did more beer drinking than wrench turning to be quite honest LOL!

quote:

ORIGINAL: kild1

ask for a estm.
with a itemized list of parts and labor

im on the other side of the fence here
a shop has to markup their parts for resale
if not they wont make it in busniess long
i know ya know that walmart dont sell ya something for what they paided for it

if ya feel the markup is to high
just bring ur own parts and have them install them
just remember if the part fails there most likely will be no warranty
now the manufacturer will warranty the part itself but no labor warranty
if the shop sells ya the parts and installs them you have parts and labor warranty

i deal w/ this stuff all the time and have gotten cussed out over it
but ya cant expect a shop  to eat labor  over a  customer supplied part
the little parts are not bad and if ur a good customer they (i) will work with ya some
but when it a used junkyard motor and it smokes and  knocks after install
thats when  people get mad ..sure the junkyard will give ya another motor but
the shop will charge ya  labor again to R&R the motor

sry for the mini rant
but i have customers tell me that they can buy the parts cheaper alot
and i have to give this same speech alot

 
While I do see where you're coming from Kild, the costs they extended to him are insults at best.  The K&N took me 45 minutes to install so if we assume $55/hourly for the mechanic it should run him nowhere near $500 installed.  That would equate to approx $170 dollars worth of markup ($280 for the FIPK, $55 for the install = roughly $330) which on a 280 dollar product is an absolute azz rape.
Same thing on the exhaust, say 2 hours of labor if the mechanic is totally green and can't spell socket wrench properly.  $110 on the install, $380 on the product and you got approx $500. Add what, 10-20 bucks in shop supplies and we got ourselves about $850 dollars worth of parts, labor, and supplies.  They are wanting to charge him almost 50% more than that ... that is absolutely horrendous in my opinion!  I would have laughed at whoever extended that offer ... and you could've heard me chuckle about two blocks away as I was leaving ...
 
While I understand we all got to live, the markup they slapped on that "deal" won't make them any money .. no person in their right mind should pay that kind of markup ... Not sure what ya'll have paid to get off road lights wired in but my dealer extended me a $55 dollar flat fee to get my PIAA's installed on the brush guard and run electrical and light controls in to the cab.  The offroad shop I checked out wanted almost 4 times that for the same install ...

quote:

ORIGINAL: ZYNE

...That would equate to approx $170 dollars worth of markup ($280 for the FIPK, $55 for the install = roughly $330) which on a 280 dollar product is an absolute ...

Same thing on the exhaust, say 2 hours of labor if the mechanic is totally green and can't spell socket wrench properly.  $110 on the install, $380 on the product and you got approx $500. Add what, 10-20 bucks in shop supplies and we got ourselves about $850 dollars worth of parts, labor, and supplies.  They are wanting to charge him almost 50% more than that ...

While I understand we all got to live, the markup they slapped on that "deal" won't make them any money ..

2 things:

1. If this were a 'vette, we'd refer to this as the infamous Corvette Tax. Since it's a Hummer we'll call it the Hummer Tax.

2. Kild1 said, "a shop has to markup their parts for resale if not they wont make it in busniess long." If a shop needs to severly overcharge on a simple project to stay in business, then he might be in the wrong business. I'm all for local support - I don't eat at chain restaurants, I try not to buy off the internet or shop at large retail stores when there is small, locally owned alternative, etc. - and I know that I pay a premium for this. However, I have relationships with these people and I know they wouldn't overcharge me beyond what is reasonable. Sure, I pay more at my local hardware store than I would at Home Depot, but I know that when I can't figuire it out, then the guy at the local hardware store won't just shrug his shoulders. The point is that sometimes there's value in paying more to the local guy than buying on the internet or at the big chain retailer. However, there has to be a limit. If it were me, this guy's prices are beyond that limit. More offensive than his prices, though, is him telling you that he's making you a deal. Clearly that's not a "deal" and you should let him know that you're offended by the notion that you don't know the difference between a deal and a hole in the wall.


Just me $1.50 worth...

...oh, you expected it to be $.02? Well, I couldn't charge that and make a profit and stay in business...

zyne 55/hr is cheap very cheap
the most of the dealers here in memphis are at 90 to 100/hr
we are 65/hr and are the cheapest around
it helps that we have been open for over 23 years  and 6 years before that in an exxon station
 
ur right  no shop should rape  a customer 
most shops have a 60% mark-up  on parts
i adjust my mark-up on each part i buy to give the customer a fair price
when buyin through the dealer  we get 10% off retail and charge the customer retail price (the price they would pay if they went
to the dealer and bought the part themself)
but the dealer has no labor warranty on parts bought there
napa & autozone has a labor warranty usally 40 bucks per hr
on parts we buy from them
 
autozone give no price break to shops
we pay the same thing a walk in pays for parts
but police and firemen get like 10% off at AZ
kinda crazy that a guy who buys 8k to 10k in parts a month gets no break on parts
thats why im a napa carcare center now
 

quote:

ORIGINAL: kild1

zyne 55/hr is cheap very cheap
the most of the dealers here in memphis are at 90 to 100/hr
we are 65/hr and are the cheapest around
it helps that we have been open for over 23 years  and 6 years before that in an exxon station

ur right  no shop should rape  a customer 
most shops have a 60% mark-up  on parts
i adjust my mark-up on each part i buy to give the customer a fair price
when buyin through the dealer  we get 10% off retail and charge the customer retail price (the price they would pay if they went
to the dealer and bought the part themself)
but the dealer has no labor warranty on parts bought there
napa & autozone has a labor warranty usally 40 bucks per hr
on parts we buy from them

autozone give no price break to shops
we pay the same thing a walk in pays for parts
but police and firemen get like 10% off at AZ
kinda crazy that a guy who buys 8k to 10k in parts a month gets no break on parts
thats why im a napa carcare center now

 

quote:

ORIGINAL: kild1

zyne 55/hr is cheap very cheap
the most of the dealers here in memphis are at 90 to 100/hr
we are 65/hr and are the cheapest around
it helps that we have been open for over 23 years  and 6 years before that in an exxon station

ur right  no shop should rape  a customer 
most shops have a 60% mark-up  on parts
i adjust my mark-up on each part i buy to give the customer a fair price
when buyin through the dealer  we get 10% off retail and charge the customer retail price (the price they would pay if they went
to the dealer and bought the part themself)
but the dealer has no labor warranty on parts bought there
napa & autozone has a labor warranty usally 40 bucks per hr
on parts we buy from them

autozone give no price break to shops
we pay the same thing a walk in pays for parts
but police and firemen get like 10% off at AZ
kinda crazy that a guy who buys 8k to 10k in parts a month gets no break on parts
thats why im a napa carcare center now

 
I think the hourly rates may vary from dealer to dealer .. I know the rates at the Dodge dealer I was a customer of before was at $65/hour so ... Regardless .. the pricing they have extended him is insulting at best.  I bet you I could beat both costs and the labor charges through my dealer any day of the week and twice on Sunday.  With this said I wouldn't touch their pricing with a 10 foot pole on something like this, just for the fact that even they mark up the cost some on the parts too. 
 
And whether dealing with the big chains or the little local guy is good or bad, I find your attitude honorable Eric.  I for one look at the bottom line and there's no way in hell I'll spend $369.99 on a part I can get for $279.99 online.  Sure, it will help out the local guy, but no matter how you look at it, you're income to him and I can guarantee you that the committment you have towards him/the business is a one way street and the second your money isn't involved in the equation ... well, lets just say they are in business to do just that, business .. and to be quite honest ... I logically do not see the reason to spend more than you have to just to avoid online retailers or big chains.  It's ultimately a savings to you which is noticed in YOUR pocket ... I'll take the savings personally.  That leaves me more $ left over to spend on other, far more important things!

quote:

ORIGINAL: ZYNE

And whether dealing with the big chains or the little local guy is good or bad, I find your attitude honorable Eric.  I for one look at the bottom line and there's no way in hell I'll spend $369.99 on a part I can get for $279.99 online.  Sure, it will help out the local guy, but no matter how you look at it, you're income to him and I can guarantee you that the committment you have towards him/the business is a one way street and the second your money isn't involved in the equation ... well, lets just say they are in business to do just that, business .. and to be quite honest ... I logically do not see the reason to spend more than you have to just to avoid online retailers or big chains.  It's ultimately a savings to you which is noticed in YOUR pocket ... I'll take the savings personally.  That leaves me more $ left over to spend on other, far more important things!

 
I could launch into a whole diatribe about the idea that what goes around comes around and how we've put that idea into practice and have seen substantial returns as a result, but this might not be the place for it.
 
Here's an example of what I'm talking about.  I have a vette and I've been known to spend a few bucks on it now and then with simple, relatively inexpensive, cosmetic mods.  When I choose to spend what few bucks the wife lets me have, I always go to a guy that I trust is going to take care of me.  Yea, he's a little more than everyone else, but he always takes care of me.  A few months ago I bought a set of stainless steel letter inserts from him for about $10 more than I could have paid online (and we're only talking about a $60 part here).  Last week I lost one of the letters - it fell off my car.  When I went back to them to buy a new set of letters - only needing one of them - they opened a package and gave me the letter I lost and wouldn't let me buy the package.  Okay, yea we're talking little stuff here, but had I bought it online I would've had to buy a whole set to replace the one letter.  So, yea I spent $10 more, but I saved $60 in the long run.  More importantly, he proved yet again why I should keep going back to them.  Earlier this year I was telling him what I wanted to do to the under-hood dress up stuff.  Rather than selling me the $1200 in stuff to get close to what I wanted, he pointed me in the direction of an eBay store that had exactly what I wanted - and for less than $700.  If it was all about the money, he would have bought the stuff from the eBay guy and sold it to me for the $1200 I planned on spending.  But I know I've developed a relationship with someone I can trust is always going to take care of me.
 
I could go on and on, but you'd get bored quickly - I tell stories better in person than I do in writing :)
 
 

I see your point Eric...at least in the Chrome letters instance, you made out head and shoulders above online buying..but this is not always the case..so sometimes it's a win-win and than sometimes it's a win lose...you just have to weigh the possiblities..
 
Case in point..(I'm a prudent shopper by the way)..I searched high and low for a tire deal for my Jaguar and looked everywhere in town and on-line...Thanks to advise from Mark (dilo) I was able to find and get the tire I was looking for for 1/3 less the price on line, than locally..the Tire guy that would have sold me the exact same tires for nearly $80.00 more, was still happy to mount and balance them for me...why? you ask..Because like you said..regardless of the sale and where I bought my tires, I had established a long time friendly relationship with him and still got the same good service regardless.

quote:

ORIGINAL: ericstanley

quote:

ORIGINAL: ZYNE

And whether dealing with the big chains or the little local guy is good or bad, I find your attitude honorable Eric.  I for one look at the bottom line and there's no way in hell I'll spend $369.99 on a part I can get for $279.99 online.  Sure, it will help out the local guy, but no matter how you look at it, you're income to him and I can guarantee you that the committment you have towards him/the business is a one way street and the second your money isn't involved in the equation ... well, lets just say they are in business to do just that, business .. and to be quite honest ... I logically do not see the reason to spend more than you have to just to avoid online retailers or big chains.  It's ultimately a savings to you which is noticed in YOUR pocket ... I'll take the savings personally.  That leaves me more $ left over to spend on other, far more important things!

I could launch into a whole diatribe about the idea that what goes around comes around and how we've put that idea into practice and have seen substantial returns as a result, but this might not be the place for it.

Here's an example of what I'm talking about.  I have a vette and I've been known to spend a few bucks on it now and then with simple, relatively inexpensive, cosmetic mods.  When I choose to spend what few bucks the wife lets me have, I always go to a guy that I trust is going to take care of me.  Yea, he's a little more than everyone else, but he always takes care of me.  A few months ago I bought a set of stainless steel letter inserts from him for about $10 more than I could have paid online (and we're only talking about a $60 part here).  Last week I lost one of the letters - it fell off my car.  When I went back to them to buy a new set of letters - only needing one of them - they opened a package and gave me the letter I lost and wouldn't let me buy the package.  Okay, yea we're talking little stuff here, but had I bought it online I would've had to buy a whole set to replace the one letter.  So, yea I spent $10 more, but I saved $60 in the long run.  More importantly, he proved yet again why I should keep going back to them.  Earlier this year I was telling him what I wanted to do to the under-hood dress up stuff.  Rather than selling me the $1200 in stuff to get close to what I wanted, he pointed me in the direction of an eBay store that had exactly what I wanted - and for less than $700.  If it was all about the money, he would have bought the stuff from the eBay guy and sold it to me for the $1200 I planned on spending.  But I know I've developed a relationship with someone I can trust is always going to take care of me.

I could go on and on, but you'd get bored quickly - I tell stories better in person than I do in writing :)

 
LOL, fair enough ... I don't tell stories too well at all ... anyhow ... I do see your point and I'm not arguing it one bit.  Some things I will pay retail for through a dealership or a local retailer, assuming there's a benefit in it for me to do so.  I don't do charity work in the retail sector ... there are plenty of charitable causes out there I'd rather see my money go to and someone elses retirement unfortunately is not one of them :-) 
An example for you, I just bought me a new set of Oakley's, they retailed for $339.99 at the local mom and pop's store I usually go to.  1 year send-in warranty, pouch, the little Oakley coin thing, right.  I ended up getting a far better deal elsewhere, more than 30% worth of "better", still the same 1 year send-in warranty, same pouch and coin, just at a $219.98 shipped price tag.  Now, should I have picked the local mom and pops store in case I have a problem with the glasses?  The warranty is the sa