MAPerformance Labor Rate Increase Effective 4/15/08 - Page 2

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 04-16-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by v8klla

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** · 04-16-2008

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

**Shane@DBPerformance** · 04-16-2008

$200+ in a lot of cities!

HiImBrian · 04-17-2008

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 · 04-17-2008

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. · 04-17-2008

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** · 04-17-2008

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 · 04-17-2008

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** · 04-17-2008

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 · 04-17-2008

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

HiImBrian · 04-17-2008

^looks like I can't play as much anymore

lol

**Goat Blower** · 04-17-2008

I'll vouch for overhead going up as well. I just got a bill from our building manager saying we all owe more for snowplowing costs for fiscal 2007. WTF?

I swear someone's in my pocket every minute of the day and I don't even get flowers and a card.

DSM_421 · 04-17-2008

I think everyone knows the labor raise had to be done and was justified, atleast I do.

I still believe $110/hr is respectable. I just think that some think it is a big jump from the current rate. I mean after all you made your name being the cheapest labor around. Then you got a bunch of local loyal customers who helped get your company to where it is today regardless of how much you may have profitted.

Also I do agree with Brian that is will be VERY hard to compete with DB as far as tuning goes.

Kevin 1G Drummer · 04-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Goat Blower

I'll vouch for overhead going up as well. I just got a bill from our building manager saying we all owe more for snowplowing costs for fiscal 2007. WTF?

I swear someone's in my pocket every minute of the day and I don't even get flowers and a card.

So does that mean if I give you flowers and a card, I can be in your pocket too? haha jk

Sorry to hear about the price hike guys, I hope you don't lose too much buisness because of it.

**JET** · 04-17-2008

I think once you get over $100/hr people's eyes bug out of their heads. This is a strategy for your business, so you do what is needed to acheive that strategy. You guys are thinking long term, and that is good.

**Kracka** · 04-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by JET

I think once you get over $100/hr people's eyes bug out of their heads.

This is true. I think MAP really grew their customer base by having such cheap labor rates compared to elsewhere so its a bit of a shock for some to see a 35-40% increase in one shot. But hell, with LSE gone the competition has been lessened a bit so we'll see if the market is willing to support it.

HiImBrian · 04-18-2008

^I'll be one to say that their cheap labor attracted me. When it came to stuff like changing my clutch, I took to map because it was cheaper for them to do it than for me to waste twice the time doing it. Looks like I'm just gunna be doing more diy stuff when I can.

**v8klla** · 04-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kracka

This is true. I think MAP really grew their customer base by having such cheap labor rates compared to elsewhere so its a bit of a shock for some to see a 35-40% increase in one shot. But hell, with LSE gone the competition has been lessened a bit so we'll see if the market is willing to support it.

I think you hit the nail on the head, this isn't just a labor rate change this is a positioning change. With LSE closing and our limited staff we just cannot handle the increased demand. When we first started I thought we could succeed by offering cheap labor and relying on volume, but I was new to this industry

I didn't realize the stresses involved with a performance shop which range from waiting on parts, to missing deadlines, to warranty issues and beyond. In order to support the demand we are receiving now we would need to expand significantly in regards to technicians and at the $75/hr rate we simply could not afford to do so as said technicians can easily make more than we would be able to offer at the local dealership.

Essentially we were left with no choice but to make this labor rate change and relieve some of the demand. I know it sucks for those that utilized our low labor rates in the past, but we simply did not have a choice.

It is also important to note that we actually like to work on DSM's lol. If you have a project in mind please don't hesitate to give us a call, we can actually offer some discounts for members now!

**Kracka** · 04-18-2008

Does my discount = a $50 Evo clutch job?

I hope it does!

**v8klla** · 04-18-2008

Ha you wish

Like I said if any of you guys are ever in need of some work done don't hesitate to give us a call and I'll see what we can do.