Bench fee at local guitar shop.

[wickenspoet]

There's a local guitar/amp shop near me that requires a $50 fee before they will even look at my amp for any kind of cleaning or repair. Any work they do on the amp will be billed on top of the bench fee.

I was just curious if this is the norm?

 

[Powdered Toast Man]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

Depends on the shop, but yeah it's not uncommon to charge a bench fee for diagnosis. There's a lot of guys out there who jerk techs around constantly. I know a tech and he tells me stories about how he's got amps sitting in his shop for 6 months or more because the owner can't pay for the repairs that they gave the go ahead on in the first place. Other guys just bringing things in like it's a "free consultation" then taking their amp home and doing the work themselves.

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

Very normal and more often than not the first hours is part of that...

FWIW, $50 is a good deal...good techs are $70, $80 even $90 an hour

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

What? You mean you don't work for free?

 

[trevorus]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

Yeah, totally normal, and relatively reasonable. Honestly, the diagnosis is sometimes the hardest part of the whole thing.

 

[nedcronin]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

It's the norm around here too. Good techs are so hard to find that price isn't even a consideration for me anymore. If they do good work and know tone, not just electronics, I really don't care about the price, within reason. I'm more concerned with paying someone good money, they have your amp for 4-5 weeks, you get it back and it either sounds the same, or worse. Lots of guys out there who know how to check circuits or test tubes or what not, but cannot tell if an amp sounds like it should. I don't want a TV repairman, I want an amp tech.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

From the wording of the OP, it sounds like all the diagnosis/repair is ON TOP of the bench fee. In that case they seem like they're having a lend of you.

If the bench fee is for diagnosis as well then that seems reasonable.

 

[gilaltom3]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

I pay $75 for the first hour, even if they fix it in 20 minutes. If they don't it's $75 each hour after.

 

[wickenspoet]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

From the wording of the OP, it sounds like all the diagnosis/repair is ON TOP of the bench fee. In that case they seem like they're having a lend of you.

If the bench fee is for diagnosis as well then that seems reasonable.

Yes, this is what I mean. The bench fee is completely seperate from any work they do.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

We do not even have an amp tech in my city. WTF !!!

The two guitar stores in the city sends it away to either a city 12 or 13 hours away from us.
Two very diff directions too.

I envy anyone who has a good amp tech in their city, regardless of how big the city is.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

I pay $75 for the first hour, even if they fix it in 20 minutes. If they don't it's $75 each hour after.

No wonder some hand build amps cost North of $3000.00

 

[AlexR]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

Yes, this is what I mean. The bench fee is completely seperate from any work they do.

This is effectively you paying them for doing absolutely nothing. I can imagine, as a business model, charging a lot for the diagnosis then a lesser amount for the fixing (to protect against people who want to DIY to save $$)

Hopefully there is somewhere else you can take your amp.

 

[nedcronin]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

The question is, do they have a good reputation and do good work? Might be worth the 75 bucks.

 

[briggleman]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

One of the benefits I get for buying through my local music store (and often they will price match SW or MF) is free tech support. Guitar adjustments, amp repairs, pedal repairs, and lots of advice. I still usually bring in a bottle of good scotch or bourbon for my tech to enjoy. One of his students works for Taylor now so I know I am in good hands. I did have him rebuild a bass (new pickups, pots, wiring, shielding, the works) and I paid for all the parts and he charged me $65 bucks labor....cannot beat that, plus a good bottle of course. The only time I buy elsewhere is on here or new if they cannot get it.

$To the OP..... $50 bucks sounds cheap to diagnose an issue with an amp.....if he is a stranger and you have no relationship. If you do your major business there, it should be gratis and then charge for the repair.

Brad

 

[briggleman]

Re: Bench fee at local guitar shop.

Yes, this is what I mean. The bench fee is completely seperate from any work they do.

Now this I do not get, Usually, the bench fee is then subtracted from the repair if it exceeds $50 bucks....... are you sure??????????????????