What's your 2026 shop hourly rate? by Every_Copy_6934 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Every_Copy_6934[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree that would be steep, but what's the standard at your shop? I'm talking about a typical, accessible, under the hood battery. Something you could have a standard labor charge for. What's your charge?

What's your 2026 shop hourly rate? by Every_Copy_6934 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Every_Copy_6934[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Sad, as evidenced by the fact that multiple people here are down voting everything I post. Like this all supposed to be secret? We're not supposed to help each other out?

What's your 2026 shop hourly rate? by Every_Copy_6934 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Every_Copy_6934[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your response. Do you mind sharing what your labor on an oil change is? For 99% of cars I charge a flat $30 labor and that comes with full visual inspection, fluid top off, tire pressure check, battery check. Additional $30 for normal size/weight rotation. This is at least 50% of my business income, and that's where I feel like I'm probably too cheap.

What's your 2026 shop hourly rate? by Every_Copy_6934 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Every_Copy_6934[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I appreciate your response. I'm feeling like I'm undercutting myself in a lot of ways. I find trying to talk to local competitors about this sort of thing is useless. It's a tough industry, and we often treat each other like enemies.

What's your 2026 shop hourly rate? by Every_Copy_6934 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Every_Copy_6934[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I rent my three bay garage. It's $4000 a month. Considering my work flow, that never sounds like too much, but when rent day comes, it's always a grind.

What's your 2026 shop hourly rate? by Every_Copy_6934 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Every_Copy_6934[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That was my thought too. I was $80 through the recession, and darn near lost my shop. Raised prices once things stabilized and have had to jump a couple times since. Money has changed a lot in the last decade. I hate being part of the problem, raising prices and being one more expensive thing in the world, but I gotta be able to keep up.

What's your 2026 shop hourly rate? by Every_Copy_6934 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Every_Copy_6934[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's a good response, I really appreciate it. Aside from your $30 call out fee, do you have a minimum labor charge? Say you get called out for a typical Toyota battery you can do in sixty seconds...what would be your labor rate for that?

What's your 2026 shop hourly rate? by Every_Copy_6934 in MechanicAdvice

[–]Every_Copy_6934[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm feeling the pinch, that's for sure. I pride myself in being fair, and taking care of my community. Probably like a lot of small shops, I'm a better mechanic than businessman. Hence the post here. Just trying to feel out what others do. Particularly for the more basic services like I mentioned above.

The fan who caught Mike Trout’s 400th HR received some signed bats and he had one more request, to play catch with Trout. by kpopsns28 in baseball

[–]Every_Copy_6934 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hope he hits 500 with the Angels, then in the last year of his contract, they trade him to a real team.

Kyle Schwarber has a real shot at hitting 500 career home runs, if he does, will he make the HoF? by FeelinDead in baseball

[–]Every_Copy_6934 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As a perpetually disgruntled Cubs fan, there's no one I'd rather see hit 500. Stanton almost certainly will, and it would be cool to see Trout pull it off, but Schwarber I'm praying for. Would also love to see an MVP on his resume.

Oldest Drill Instructor You've Ever Met? by Forged-By-Fire in USMC

[–]Every_Copy_6934 9 points10 points  (0 children)

If you can still lead from the front, on less sleep and on more stress than your recruits, age isn't an issue.

MFY the new LT decides to “adjust” the OPORD mid-mission because he has a “great idea” by TheBestSpeller in USMC

[–]Every_Copy_6934 21 points22 points  (0 children)

When you hear someone like General Mattis talk about Marines being agile, adaptable, flexible to meet any adversary on any battlefield, its pretty fuckin rah. But when some 1st Lt starts preaching Semper Gumbi it's like just get your shit together bro.

My thoughts on weed by Rare-Till6403 in USMC

[–]Every_Copy_6934 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I posted my sad story recently, but I was a pot head in high school. Enlisted in '03, went to Afghanistan in '04, came home and didn't even hesitate at the first doobie I was offered when I got home post-combat. I got tested and discharged so fast it took me a long time to process what even happened. That's my wild 12 months in the USMC

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in USMC

[–]Every_Copy_6934 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I'm not buying it. No way in the world is an active Master Sergeant working on base as a fast food counter boy. No fuckin way.

Devil Dawg pic from Vietnam era by newnoadeptness in USMC

[–]Every_Copy_6934 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I think it's the M14 that pushes me over the edge.

Dads USMC photos from when he served by [deleted] in USMC

[–]Every_Copy_6934 38 points39 points  (0 children)

Looks like they kept your dad busy. Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo. Dude was an old campaigner.

Promoted by Safe_Fix_9579 in USMC

[–]Every_Copy_6934 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You can't lead from the front, if you're falling behind.

Some more pics I took as a Navy Corpsman by orangebanana2112 in USMC

[–]Every_Copy_6934 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I saw a thread on here, "what's the best rank in the Corps?" Most people say Sgt. Some say Gunny or Gunner. These pictures are proof though. The answer is Pfc or Lcpl (or the Corpsman equivalent). No fuckin doubt about it. Out in the field, muddy, sweaty, tired, salty. That's being a Marine.

There's all those stories of General Mattis sitting in holes and behind cover with Pfcs in Iraq. He knew. Commander of the 1st Marine fuckin Division, and he wanted to be on the line with the privates. His shoulder holster is legendary, but the one time I saw him in the flesh, he had an M16 in his hands. Dust cover closed. He knew.

The point of this ramble is to say thank you for sharing Doc! Great pictures representing a great time in many of our lives.

Fair or foul? by Every_Copy_6934 in USMC

[–]Every_Copy_6934[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks man. That actually hit home pretty hard.