Repair Bluebook?

[jason Burns]

I would love to see a current list of average repair prices. I never know if I am not charging enough or charging too much. I have seen older bluebook price lists in stew mac publications but nothing current. Anyone know of anything out there.

[David Houchens]

Just a simple word and then I'm gone on this one. I understand that most amateurs will do work that may not be on a professional level. Some can do it just fine. I had 8 1/2 years training in a shop building world class banjos. Several over $20,000. I started in assembly and worked through every position up to shop production coordinator. I did enough refrets and repair work on banjos and mandolins to cover most anything not electric. I learned from very professional luthiers.
I AM NO AMATEUR. I charge what I feel a job is worth TO ME. If people want to pay more to feel better they are more than welcome to tip.. I've spoke my piece and counted to three. David

[Russell Vance]

Thanks Paul, and thanks all for keeping this alive - I am in the invidious position of having promoted a very divisive subject - if I pussy footed I was going to be ignored and if I used a blunt object I was going to be belted upside the head for being arrogant and opinionated - nice to see everybody playing the ball and not the man and we are getting some good suggestions and case studies here.

I help train the repair guys for the shops in the city here - they are generally greenskins (very keen -but green anyway) with little knowledge of skill sets - they are all floored by the shop rates of $65-90 an hour they have to charge and they are instantly aware that they are underpaid at around $45k a year. They feel this way because they have to work in a high volume pressure cooker where one slip means the customer is unhappy and so is the boss.

For comparison, the guys who sell guitars on the shop floor get $40k for having long hair and black clothes, playing licks to kids and and processing their credit cards -

The shop rate is a necessity if the the repair shop is to make money - I have a Grad dip in business and worked out the real cost of doing business and what the shops needed to make money and that was the figure I came up with. You also don't need a qualification to work out how much you should charge - you need to know how much you need to earn to break even and add 30% to that figure (as a general ballpark figure). Don't forget to put in a superannuation contribution if you are being serious. Hope this helps and please keep this one rolling and tell your off forum colleagues. Rusty.

[jason Burns]

Thanks for all the replies. I find it very interesting how much prices differ from one repairman to the next.
I currently (on average charge the following)
250 to 400 for fret jobs (includes nut and saddle)
300 to 400 for neck resets
65 to 85 for nuts
65 to 120 for setups
broken headstocks 75 to 400
Violin bridges 50
rehairing bows 50 to 65
My hourly rate is 50.00 an hour
I run my business out of a shop and I have all the overhead that comes with it.
I mainly started this topic because a customer told me my prices were more expensive than what he had seen somewhere on the net. Not that I plan on changing my prices(I wouldn't be able to stay in my shop if I worked for any less) I am just interested on what others are charging.
Thanks

[mathieu thomas-guy]

No comments here on the huge difference between guitars and violin repair rates. A set-up for a double-bass can easily reach 800$ (I know from experience...), part of this difference can be relied to the higher value of the intruments, but I mean are we responsible for guys buying cheap guitars?! Education/expectation is certainly part of the difference too, we need to "train" customers to pay for what they got. I have no problems charging 400$ for a neck reset on a 250$ guitar, if thats what the customer want, but I will tell maybe its not worth it, usually they dont complain and get the job done anyway. I can work in a more relax mode and enjoy my work a lot more, as being on a rush is not really fun for me. My points is we should charge the same as violins repair guys without any complex, scraping a violin bridge is no more esoteric science than doing a fine fret job, maybe they get more respect of the trade by charging more. We could get their attention for nice handmade guitars too I guess!