I disagree. Around the Wichita area most shops price an annual by the
plane (Cherokee, Learjet, Ercoupe). Local competition keeps the prices
competitive. I'm no mechanic; but shops always hand me a checklist of
what should be and was checked so the annual part of it is a defined
amount of time. I've owned a plane in Montana and Kansas for over 30
years and have always been given a fixed price for the annual...usually
without my asking. Doing otherwise seems to me a lot like giving them
a blank check. I always tell them to call me with any squawks before
doing anything more than the annual. I almost always okay their going
ahead with other things; but twice stopped an exorbitant fee ($600 to
"adjust" the door seals on my Cherokee 6 and $1200 for a static
system check when I was flying IFR ....that was last time I used that
shop).
Dan Caliendo
Ercoupe Mach 0.14
3658H
On Nov 5, 2009, at 2:15 PM, Jerry Eichenberger wrote:
Bill, et al:
We don't price annuals on flat rate until we have seen the airplane
for a couple of years.
If you get a flat rate, two things can happen, both of which are bad:
1. The IA covers his can and prices it high enough that he can't
lose, or
2. He prices it too low, realizes it, and skimps on the work.
We do it by the hour.
Jerry
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:ercoupe-
[email protected]]on Behalf Of [email protected]
Sent: Thursday, November 05, 2009 2:40 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: SPAM-LOW: RE: [ercoupe-tech] What to look for in a good
coupe?
Hi Jerry,
Perhaps I was not clear. I was giving an opinion on a range just
for the inspection. Any parts and labor for general maintenance or
to fix problems would be on top of that.
Since you are from Ohio and I think I recall that you operate an
FBO, it may help Matt if you told us what you charge (just for the
inspection) of a first time Coupe and also what the rate would be
for the same airplane in future inspections.
Cheers,
Bill
Jerry said: I personally think that a good annual, the first time
that the IA sees the airplane will cost more than $1500. There is
no way to say how much, because, in over 40 years of owning many
different airplanes, bringing any airplane up to my standards costs
money. I assume that you have higher standards too.
