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Current costs for CB radio work (NO shop names please!)

loosecannon

loosecannon

Sr. Member
Mar 9, 2006
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Hi all,

I was having a phone discussion with someone about this topic yesterday and thought it might be a good thread topic since we come from all over this country (and others!) but congregate here.

First, please don't mention any shop names, as that would change the entire focus of the thread.

So, what are people paying for things like alignments, repair work, mic cord replacements, re-caps, amp repair, big projects, pretty much anything really.

Since this is such a niche market, my opinion would be that "this guy in town who works on friends' radios", and "a buddy of mine" are also welcome on this list, again, just no names please.

Hope everyone is enjoying being forced to stay home and talk on the radio!
LC
 
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Never more than a five-spot, LC. Any tweak & peak.


I’d look at online retailers for a start. Some post hourly rates. Some set limits on types of work. See options on new radios for an idea of what is a “minimum” charge?

I do know I’m standing in front of the guy and have spent, say, $60-$90 on accessories or more it’s easier to throw in some extras off-list.

I buy a radio (or pay for outdoor labor on a vehicle) the charges add up more quickly. (My wallet appears deeper?).

The more focus by the owner/tech needed, the more I hear the cash register keys ka-ching.

Where, when, mood, etc, play a role.

I toss a number in the air, and we both watch it flutter down.

All that said, it’s a $50 bill for openers. Now, what are we including, and what should we do once inside?

Ive spent less. But I prefer the same shops service and goodwill. I intend to spend $100 or more every time I go thru the door. As it’s not easy for me to get to one, I have a list at hand may be months old.

They remember me.
And my gear doesn’t break.
(Those two go together).

.
 
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thanks for the reply slowmover.

by your response, it sounds like "everything is negotiable" and someone new to a shop may come in and be quoted a firm price, while a regular may get the same service included for 'free' because of all the other work being done.
not bashing the practice at all, as that is how things work in many businesses.
LC
 
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Like a minimum "cover charge" or Bench fee, once paid, a lot of things at the shop where I worked thru lumped the list into a fixed price past the fee, and flat rate labor was about $35 for every hour after that fee.

But how you got to there was thru a "tier" process.

To help with the location - the Truck stop didn't have the shop - the shop was in another parking lot not far from it and had a larger parking lot in - where and with your trucks could pull in - even tandems - so there was I'd say about 10 acres from an old Kmart demolished and kept the parking lot for overflow.

You wanted someone to tune your antenna or look at your radio $35 - you get 15 minutes and SWR and Field Strength measurement...
  • To look at your radio you had to jump thru some hoops to qualify for that simpler $35 - else they'd charge $70 for "unique" radios and Base stations (the bulky radios - larger than a Cobra 29 or Galaxy 33) And even though Galaxy 33 was "bulky" it didn't have SSB mode - that is the "qualifier" for the higher bench fee.
  • More features the radio has, the more detailed the techs have to work over the radio and it's features.
  • So of you had Receive problems - sure you'll get your mount looked over and SWR checked with a F/S measurement - but you only have 15 minutes to iron out issues else you have to get charged again another $35 for the Bench Fee for a simple exam of the radio.
So for simpler terms $70 was a base fee for the exam and review of your install - but you did have someone go over your system and even remove and clean/check aerials (if permission was given) - company trucks' drivers needed a waiver so the shop didn't get screwed on a screw up, like a QUALCOMM of some other Dispatch tracer.

Lots of times the shop allowed other "lumpers" to work on your truck for a lower fee if work needed to be done to save the cost to the driver. But if the work performed required more experienced help - the scale tipped to an hourly rate of about $50 for their own work - radio to coax to harness to amp onto power route installs - stuff like that.

He hired about 6 guys on P/T wages, everyone else was "contact/contract" work. No Full Time. IF they had work, you did it, and got paid, else you waited for work and spent your day there as long as you wished - but they only pay you when you actually work.
 
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Last time I had work done I paid about $200 plus shipping. Work done, full recap, full alignment, extra channels, unlocked clarifier, extra modulation, white led lighting for the meter.
 
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I don't deal with our local shop when it's alignments or repair but I do purchase accessories from there occasionally. I do most of my own minor repairs if I cam. While in there I've witnessed business and I can give prices I heard charged there.
A so called peak and tune costs $35
Mic cord replacement I've witnessed $25
Mic plug $15
I've seen repairs quoted by what's being done but vary in price because there's not an hourly rate.

Now the next city south that tech charges 35 an hour plus parts and I do know he takes about an hour +/- to do a full alignment (with test equipment) because I've paid $35+ for alignments personally.

Like Slow, I've looked around on the web and seen different ways of charging but have never sent anything for work unless on a rare occasion for warranty and that only cost me shipping to them.
About all the help I can be to you.
 
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loosecannon said:
Tokin can you elaborate on this a bit?

like, what can you get for one hour's worth of work?

thanks to all for the replies, i find this quite interesting.
LC
Click to expand...
Usually its $30 for the first hour then $15 every 30 mins after. This of course depends on the attitude of the customer and the mood of the tech lol. This is when i get to use my super ass kissing powers hahaha.
 
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