> That said, I value what these guys do and
> want to keep that door open. With that in mind, just wanted to get a
> POV on all this. I can already see that this kind of thing may be very
> "normal" given the circumstances.

For me the issue is less what the rate is than how the hours are figured. i had a (former) mechanic who charged the book rate for everything. That's how they did it - period. If the book said it's four hours, they would charge 4 hours (even if the car was ready three hours later).  

I started to dislike this approach when the book rate was clearly wrong. I was told pulling the door panel off my Eurovan was going to be several hours - and that's what I would have had to pay - approved in advance.  A quick search on the internet revealed that the panel can be removed in less than 5 minutes, even by me.

My current mechanic charges me for the actual time worked. I recently had him replace the half shafts on my Jetta. I think he charged me $100 labor (I provided the parts). His labor at $100/hour is worth every penny.  I'd still think it's worth it at $125. 

Unfortunately, while he really knows vanagons, he does not want to touch them. 

_____

As a self-emloyed person for my entire adult life, I can understand the need to adjust rates - sometimes more than once.  Perhaps he hired a new employee who required more pay.  Or perhaps he found out that he was not in fact making money at the old rate. 

Peter Krogh
Author, The DAM Book, Digital Asset Management for Photographers
Second Edition May, 2009
www.theDAMbook.com