Exactly. When you have your car serviced at any dealer, any car, they each charge a rate ... usually posted, per hour. MINI is about $105. Similarly, you go have granite installed, they know exactly how many hours the job is going to take from practice.

If a pulley job takes one hour and he charges $300 labor, its a ripoff if $100/hour is the going rater. I dont know the exact going rater for laying granite But I know I got different quotes. If the going rate was $100 and it takes 5 hours, then $500 is about right. This INCLUDES the $20 for the laborer and the rest for all their overhead. If they charge $1000 ... its a ripoff.

There is NO difference between what any installer shop charges in any industry. The going rate includes the overhead. Charging $300 for a $100 job is a ripoff (if it takes 1 hour).

Then he is taking advantage of market conditions. If, in fact, a dealer charges $600, thats a ripoff too. But I'd like to see the actual bill of whoever had a $600 pulley installed

The fact remains that there is a going rate for labor (and that includes overhead). Exceeding it is just sucking more money from the customer.

 

There is a fine line there though. If, in fact, DCMM "sanctioned" the invite, then yes, thats not cool. However, if a bunch of ppl got together just to make it happen, the fact they are also members of DCMM is not relevant. DCMM has no say in what individuals, who also happen to be members, buy their products.

This is no different than say going to a local German independent specialist shop rather than LDG simply because of convenience. Its not like LDG is the "only" independent in the area working on MINIs.

 

Since this is the case, this thread should be moved into the Mid Atlantic Forum please for further discussion, should anyone want to.

DCMM does do events with LDG and encourages members to take their business there. DCMM has no policy on where other people take their business.

 

Here you go. I not sure if he will still honor this though.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=64224

 

I think the price has changed slightly. Not sure of the exacts, but I know it is lless that $400. I'm thinking it might be in the $250 range now. I do know it will cost more for a pulley (over their base cost) on an 06 MCSC because of some changes to the wheel well area.

 

Moved.

 

MINI n. scottsdale charges 785 for a pulley installed. And every client leaves saying that that is the best 785 dollars they have spend on there car.

$400 for a pulley installed is the best bang for the buck out there.

I want you to understand that i do I do understand what you are saying in regards to dollar/hour. I wouldn't pay someone 200 dollars to put an intake on, and nobody would... unless it was beyond there skill level and they felt it was worth the money.

Bottom line, this all goes back to simple Econ. You can only be sucessful if you price your products with what the market will bare. If you charge too much you will go out of business. And it seems that Randy is doing quite well.

Again, i am NOT a fan of Randy, so it pains me to support him.

 

Holy crap! you West Coasters are being ripped a new one! I would never pay $785 for a pully and install, let alone $400. How much is an oil change, $350?

 

about 80 bucks

 

Which is exactly what happened the last time that Randy came to town... DCMM wasn't involved in that, although DCMM members were... as is their right. Please don't think I'm advocating an organization like DCMM dictating to their members where they should make purchases. What I was pointing out was that as an organization, the organization needs to be carefull not to upset the local vendors who support them by doing something just because "it would be fun."

However, with the thread being moved to Mid-Atlantic I think that point has already been made, and I think we can stop flogging this dead equine....

 

Yes, I agreed that if any club supported a local business, it wouldn't be wise to not upset them. DCMM has to be careful as an organization

By moving the thread to mid-atlantic, it "implies" that discussions in the DCMM forum are "blessed" by DCMM. By Jen forcing that issue, I have to assume that it is the position DCMM just took as policy ... that is, anything written concerning any kind of event in the DCMM forum is "backed" by the club as the precedent is now set. If thats the position taken, then so be it.

 

That's awfully fuzzy logic - Jen clearly states "DCMM has no policy on where other people take their business."

Jen is wise beyond her years (few) and bears no malice and I believe she was asking for the thread to be moved sothat WMS could seek a wider audience and a better chance for a successful pulley party.

BTW:

Granite countertops run from $28 -49 per square foot depending on type, quality, thickness and edging selected and normally includes a kitchen sink
and installation

 

AT CENTRAL COAST COOPERS a pulley installation is $350.00-which includes an alta/M7/Craven 15% pulley,
(customers choice if they have a preference)
California sales tax ( a fee LEGITIMATE CALIFORNIA BUSINESSES MUST COLLECT) and installation. I would also point out, this includes liability insurance coverage should there be any issues with our workmanship, which is paid for from the proceeds of operating this business.

 

NAM as a courtesy gives a free space to clubs to facilitate their event communication but the space is NOT reserved to the club members in fact a password is necessary to access NAM and one can post in any discussion group as he/she pleases. The club shold not be behind any event unless is a CLUB sponsorized event and the event is reserved to club members. This is an important issue for insurance purposes, too.

If someone puts together a pulley party or as it happened a couple of months back a tinting party so be it... It's not a club event and unless its contrary to the club rules - which according to the byLaws there are none - the club should stay away from making decisions (move, cancel the posting etc) and comments (good, bad ).

 

"DCMM does do events with LDG and encourages members to take their business there."

Huh? This sentence clearly states a position of DCMM, especially when spoken by the President.

By moving to mid-atlantic ....

If it was to get a wider audience ... excellent idea.

On the other hand, I read it to be ...

DCMM endorses LDG therefore we dont want to discuss Webb in this forum. If I misread that ... my perception of what was written is what I read and then the positions are conflicting.

I agree and hence I do not understand the movement of this thread to mid-atlantic since it "implies" a DCMM position/policy.

 

Shoot, I was almost done and I accidentally hit the back button and lost it. If this doesn't read as well, the first one was much better (though I am writing in textpad now)...

What I was saying, I had stopped checking this thread as I got the info I had originally asked, but out of curiosity, I checked back today and was even more amazed. I just wanted to make a few comments and I will be done.

First, to Jenn and Edge, thanks for requesting that this thread be moved and for moving it. It was not my intention to put DCMM in a bad position with their supporters by posting this at all. It simply was me trying to see if there were people in a similar position that would be interested in seeing if we had enough people that we could consider a pulley party somewhere in the vicinity of the DC-metropolitan area. The specific reason that it was posted under the DCMM thread was because it seemed to me that we may get the highest density exposure, to people in this geographic region who would be interested in attending. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that it would appear to be a DCMM sanctioned event, as it obviously wasn't a DCMM organized post. Nor did I think that it was inappropriate to post non-DCMM sanctioned ideas in the forum. If I had realized that it was going to stir up this much trouble, I probably wouldn't have posted at all. Honestly, I've never actually even checked under Mid-Atlantic to see what was going on, that might just be me, but I figured people anywhere near DC look to DCMM to see what's going on. Nevertheless, if I had thought that it was going to put the club in some kind of issue due to DCMM supporters, I either wouldn't have suggested at all, or would have posted it there. In any event, thanks for taking care of it, obviously I meant no ill will to the club or anyone affiliated with it. I personally don't believe that it endangered the relationship with DCMM and their supporters, but if it is strongly felt (as it apparently is) that it is most appropriate to be posted somewhere else, then I am OK with that.

Second, I think it's kind of ludicrous to read the way in which my "it might be fun" statement was quoted, actually several times. The way it reads to me is that I "think it would be fun" to snub local businesses, just to be amazingly naive or vindictive to those who have been supportive of DCMM over the years. If anyone has interpreted this statement as anything remotely similar to that, the interpretation is simply not correct. As I said, I have been to LDG before and thoroughly enjoyed spending probably 2 hours talking to John in his garage. They are a great shop and I highly encourage people to use them. But, they are about 4 1/2 hours from me, Helix is even further (and just to be safe there may be some other great shops in the DC area). I simply thought this might be an interesting way to spend a day, at someone's garage with other owners who were getting something done to their car. I am a reasonably smart person and realize that it does take a lot to get a business to be a strong supporter of the club. But to me, it didn't seem that this would pose a significant threat to their day-to-day operations, as long as it was held at a reasonable location. As it was pointed out by some, it is a difficult trip for some of us to get to these shops during the week when they're open. Actually, I suppose it could be argued that it may even help their business, since for so many; the first mod is just simply one step in a never-ending list. But that is not my point. I thought it would be fun to be at someone's house on a weekend, when people who otherwise will keep putting off modifications, can get together and get something done, no different in a lot of respects than going to the Dragon and finally having Helix or M7 or whatnot put a pulley on, etc. Those who are already best served by LDG or other shops would obviously not have much incentive to attend, which is great for them. I wish it were more convenient for me to have a nearby shop, but I do not, and as a result do the work myself or wait and wait until the stars align and I happen to be passing by at a time when they are open. A pulley party (and specifically by Randy) seemed to be something that so many on NAM seem to thoroughly enjoy and it would speed up that waiting period for me and presumably others.

That being said, it seems there was very little interest, almost none, in fact, so it is a moot point anyway. But thanks to all of the extra posts, it seems I am now pricing out granite countertops as a possible option instead of a pulley.

I am a DCMM member and I plan on attending future DCMM events, and I am not going to feel like, nor will I be "the guy" who tried to push a pulley party on people or take away business from other supporters of our group. DC is a big place, the MINI community is pretty strong there, there were no ill intentions with this post and personally I think it got a little carried away but anyway, that about does it for me.

Thanks again for moving it, sorry for stirring up such a mess.

And finally, just to be clear, Randy Webb's name has gotten drawn up in this because I posted a message that he had put up on his forum. God (and Randy Webb I guess) only knows if he would have even come here to do a party, the whole thing was just an idea. So, to Randy, if your name has gotten mixed up in this all for nothing, I am truly sorry. Everyone can debate whether the post should have been moved or not, I intend to let it go with this post. The problem with the internet is that in real life, we'd just walk away, on the internet, we walk away, then log back in and fire off another salvo. I guess now I am guilty of that too, but since I started it, I think I should at least get to clarify this one final time.

 

This is where I bought my granite counter tops. They were good, fast, and less expensive than home depot or lowes and the granite retailers. They had a large selection of granite and undermount sinks at a wide variety of prices to choose from. I highly recommend them. oh, the website is not so good though, it would be better to see the showroom and warehouse.

http://www.graniteforless.com/

 

To try to clarify my position, since it has been mentioned, regarding things posted/not posted in the DCMM forum.

The DCMM is forum is public space.
Some events posted there are DCMM offical events.
Some are not.

I believed this post needed to be moved to this forum because it was not DCMM planning the event at this time and it was more appropriate to be here for a wider audience.

Should a number of club members decide they want to host Mr. Webb in the DC area, then a post will likely be made about it on our club forum too.

I have absolutely no position on where people take their business.

DCMM has absolutely no position on where people take their business.

And you know what, if I was wrong to suggest that it be moved, a suggestion that others had also made, then I am sorry and can we please for the love of God move on now. I am willing to admit when I am wrong!

DCMM does have a policy to support our local dealerships and businesses who work with us. LDG is one of these. We would encourage members to look at LDG as an option and consider it seriously, but we cannot tell you what to do.

 

You did not put DCMM in a bad position. We have no position!

I appreciate that our forum does get different traffic than the Mid Altantic Forum. But for right now, I feel that this posting is better here until interest is more firm.

If a number of club members want to do a party with Mr. Webb, we likely will have it as a sanctioned DCMM event and post it there.

It is not inappropriate to post non-DCMM event ideas in our forum. We are always looking for event ideas. However, this particular discussion I felt was getting too intense and onto topcis best handled in a more general forum where others might see and participate

See post above

PS I know a great granite guy through work!

 

Since I used granite as an example, I was actually talking about granite in a foyer ...

If you want some granite laid down in your foyer ...

Funny how that somehow got changed to countertops but if you want a countertop link, I got one of those too

 

(scratching head)



I missed something didn't I?

I shouldn't post things when I'm half asleep.

 

I have a whole crew of stone folks all over the hotel this week.....sometimes much easier to deal with than conflicting opinons on NAM.

 

LOL!