#1  
Old 03-18-2020, 09:24 PM
jeff chmura jeff chmura is offline
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Default Recovering price?

Hi guys,
I dropped my '65 interior off a local interior shop.
I supplied all the seat foams, seat covers,burlap for the rear and both front buckets.
I also supplied broken springs,bumpers,etc.
Basically, I am only paying for labor to remove old covers and recovering with new.
What would you think would be a fair price?
I'm asking because my guy is charging me $2100.
Haven't seen them yet, but I know he does excellent work.

To me ,that sounds high, but he has about 30 hours into the job.
Does that sound like a fair price for labor?

Thanks, Jeff

  #2  
Old 03-18-2020, 09:50 PM
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4dblnkldude 4dblnkldude is offline
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I just paid $400 to do the front buckets and rear seat for my 81 TA.

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Old 03-19-2020, 03:35 AM
Redpiston Redpiston is offline
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Seems high. I paid 600 for my 66 2+2 convertible. That was 5 years ago. That included the armrests and side panels for the backseat. He stripped everything, gave me the frames so I could get them powder coated, and then he fixed the springs and finished them.

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Old 03-19-2020, 03:58 AM
jeff chmura jeff chmura is offline
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That price is for labor covering the seats ONLY.... Plus I Supplied the materials......

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Old 03-19-2020, 08:51 AM
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I supplied all the material including the old seat covers for a pattern and had my bench seats redone about 2 years ago. $660.

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Old 03-19-2020, 08:55 AM
69hardtop 69hardtop is offline
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Seems very high; I paid around $600 for labor front & back, I supplied all new parts.
Work done in 2016

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Old 03-19-2020, 09:05 AM
TAKerry TAKerry is offline
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Sounds outrageous to me for recovering with supplied upholstery. I would expect the covers to be custom made for that price. When I did my 77 t/a I did the backseat myself and it came out perfect. I got into a hurry and was very busy at work so I had a guy do the front buckets for me. He was retired and happy to do the job, charged me $100. Not sure about your model, but for my car, I bought premium upholstery and the covers fit great, and for a do it yourselfer was about 7/10 on the level of difficulty. For a pro, he should be able to knock something like that out in his sleep.

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Old 03-19-2020, 09:09 AM
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$2100 divided by 30 hours is $70/hour. These days that's not a very high labor rate.

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Old 03-19-2020, 09:28 AM
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I would think $500-$600 would be way plenty for this. It sounds like he is charging you to stitch up the seat covers for them and re-cover even though you are bringing the covers. I'd shop around for a cheaper price.


Last edited by John Milner; 03-19-2020 at 09:35 AM.
  #10  
Old 03-19-2020, 10:28 AM
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$70 an hour. His it Sue from ass monkey garage?
Around here its $25-$30 and hour.
And that's with their raw material. Not pre-made covers.

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Old 03-19-2020, 12:21 PM
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Chris65LeMans Chris65LeMans is offline
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I'm not surprised that the labor rates some are throwing out are half what you were quoted in New Jersey. Remember that they've gotta pay the employee, rent, insurance, taxes, payroll expenses, all sorts of (I'm sure) New Jersey bogus fees, etc. out of that hourly rate.

I am surprised that it took him 30 hours. I was going to suggest that you shop around, but re-read your post and saw that he already did the work. Did he give you a quote beforehand? Your only hope may be to approach him with "geez - that cost much more than I expected: can you help me out a little bit?"

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Old 03-19-2020, 01:29 PM
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Seams high. I was quoted $900 locally to recover front buckets and rear seat. Same deal, I'm supplying the covers, foams, padding etc.

Was there anything else other than just the rear seat and front buckets? The issue I see is not necessarily the hourly rate, but the fact that he's got 30 hours into those three pieces. If thre's more that's a different story.

You can get on youtube and find tutorials on recovering seats. 2 buckets and a rear bench is not 30 hours of work based on what I've seen for a simple recover.

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  #13  
Old 03-19-2020, 03:47 PM
jeff chmura jeff chmura is offline
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Thanks guys.. it seems high to me too.....I was expecting $500-$750. I would understand "running into problems" and having to pay close to $1500.
I think $2100 is too much. I'm picking them up Friday so I'll get to talk to him in person about why so much labor
Thanks again,. Jeff

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Old 03-19-2020, 04:20 PM
bdk1976 bdk1976 is offline
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If he's that good I would question why it takes him 30 hours in install a set of covers.

I am wondering if there is more to it than 'recovering seats' - why else would you send/mention broken springs? Depending on how bad the frames/springs are, this could be a potentially significant added cost.

I hate recovering seats, but it's not exactly rocket science - just a PITA. For $2k+ for labor only I would DIY for sure - or be looking around for an already completed interior ready to bolt in.

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Old 03-19-2020, 05:20 PM
bluejudge bluejudge is online now
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That sounds like a lot of money just for Labor. That is why I want to try my interior myself. I have to do my buckets on my 69. Not sure where you were taking them but I believe there is a place in Asbury Park. I keep watching the videos on you tube mostly from Legendary. One day I will try it out. The only good thing I think about bringing them somewhere is they would do them a lot quicker than me.

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Old 03-19-2020, 06:13 PM
jeff chmura jeff chmura is offline
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I brought them to a guy I had Do a headliner on my 64 Nova 15 years ago.
I could of did the covering my self, I did the one in the Nova 15 years ago....PITA.... Couldnt get the covers streched right.....
Yes there was a spring broken.... again, bought from out host and had it dropped shipped.
Blue judge.... There's a place in South Amboy that I hear does excellent work. Superior interior.
I would of went there, just used this guy because of previous dealings.
I'll find out more tomorrow when I pick them up

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Old 03-19-2020, 06:41 PM
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Verdoro 68 Verdoro 68 is offline
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Yow, that seems outrageous. I considered having a shop do it this time around and was expecting $500-600 as it cost me about $350 to have my front seats done about 15 years ago. Instead, I recovered them myself. It probably took me 18 hours to do all three seats (two buckets, back seat). At 30 hours, I would expect every hog ring to be expertly crimped, placed even distances apart, and hand polished LOL.

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Old 03-19-2020, 06:51 PM
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Ask him for a detailed estimate on how he arrived at his price.

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Old 03-19-2020, 08:00 PM
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unless he is blasting and painting the frames and replacing the springs and rebuilding the tracks, It seem about double.
Should be able to do this in 20 hours max, BUT there is a few spots where a second pair of hands helps.

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Old 03-19-2020, 09:28 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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I did mine by myself and I would also say it took about 20 hours for two buckets and rear seat. They came out very nice. This is the third different car I've done, but they're all different. I would also ask why so high.

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