"Vaughn Simon" wrote:

Second, the book is rigged (or can be easily used) to screw the customer. For
example, changing a water pump while changing a timing belt adds perhaps 20
minutes of labor, but they will charge you full "flat rate" for each job as if
they had done each job from scratch.


Oh that is a nasty example. I'd rather hire a good mechanic and pay time and materials.
Unfortunately, to keep money in the budget for metalworking stuff, I gotta fix it myself.

The last car I purchased, I bought the factory service manual set for it.

The next car I buy, slightly used since I drive a lot, will come with factory manuals or
I'm not buying it.

Fixed price quotes are expensive as far as I am concerned. No matter what the trade, deal
with honest people and share the risks inherent with them.

Wes