MAPerformance Labor Rate Increase Effective 4/15/08

[Shane@DBPerformance]

To be completely honest we are expecting a significant decrease in labor based on this change, however it will free up time for us to pursue other sources of revenue that are far less stressful on our staff lol.

Trying to do more dyno work won't help with the stress. :) You get to try to fix mechanical problems on cars(I don't know how many timing belt jobs we have done to cars still on the dyno), while trying to keep track of your plan of attack in the tuning, while not blowing the car up and trying to reach the expectations of a customer who wants a 200% safe tune that makes more HP than someone's they saw on the internet, while trying to figure out why the car doesn't make the power it should, and do it all without costing the customer too much and before the next car comes in. A lot of people don't like to hear that they have the wrong parts on their car or that their setup is untunable or they actually need to install an aftermarket fuel pump after you just spent 2 hours getting the car running and tuning part throttle. Thank god there are Evo tunes to make things go smoothly once in a while, they usually just have boost leaks or improperly installed intakes. Doing a clutch or pulling a motor on a DSM becomes the most relaxing thing you can do. :)

[v8klla]

Amen to that, the only upside to the tuning aspect is the fact that $150+/hr is an acceptable rate lol.

[Shane@DBPerformance]

$200+ in a lot of cities!

[HiImBrian]

I guess I can see both sides. Obviously, I'm going to have a somewhat bias opinion considering I'm the customer, but I have always looked at map as the best deals in town hands down. Now I feel like you're on an even level as the other shops in town. But it seems like you realize that and that's what you want. My personal opinion is, it's gunna be hard to compete with db as far as tuning goes. Shane is a pretty popular guy and a lotta people refer him to others. Whatever happens, I wish you the best of luck. I'm also hoping I successfully replace my oil pan so I don't have to bring it in haha.

[craig]

wow prices are going up, good thing I work on my own car cause I couldn't afford that otherwise. Alot of shops are just coming to the point where they know that doing performance mods to cars just isn't profitable. On the other hand any thing to do with cars isn't anymore, good luck with the price hike.

[Matt D.]

While reading this thread I was hoping to see Shane respond and I'm glad he did. The one thing everyone needs to remember is you have to pay to play. Good work costs good money, and in the end you get what you pay for.

MAP and DB are two of the few good shops we have in the area that cater to our interests, we should feel lucky that they are as fair to us as they are.

[v8klla]

I'm glad you guys can understand where we are coming from. The last thing we want to do is drive loyal local customers away, as such we are sure to offer labor discounts and specials very often, but we simply cannot handle the demand we are seeing at this point and as Shane said costs of operation are continuously rising. On the upside, if you need to get something done ASAP we will likely be able to accommodate :)

[blageo23]

I have liked you guys from the start. Best place to get ANYTHING. I feel like you guys tried your hardest to beat anyones price and to be the cheapest around and to bring in as much customers as possible. With this I feel like you are driving out the local customers. I realize the cost of operations is high but lets say you drive out most of your labor business, does the loss outweight the profit from the hike? I realize that you guys know more about your company then I do. As for me, I will continue to buy parts from you guys and work on my own car.

[v8klla]

As I said before we are expecting a substantial decrease in labor. It sucks that we had to make this change, but as I said we need to pursue other sources of revenue as we simply aren't getting anywhere with the current labor rate in the back shop. We will still continue to offer the absolute best prices on parts, and hopefully down the line everyone can benefit from our ever expanding inventory which is right in your back yards! It is also very possible that we will be offering our own line of performance products in the very near future! I just don't have enough people to do it all and remain the cheapest option :(

[niterydr]

Suburban chev is $128/hr, hell most dealerships are $100+hr. Labor is going up, either fix it yourself or pay to play.