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I feel like my dealer ripped me off on a tire swap. Their posted rate is $98 per hour.

I stopped in a couple weeks and asked the service guy the cost to remove and replace the tires on my bike if I brought the bike and the new tires in. He said about $100. No appointment necessary.

When I brought the bike in on Saturday morning he said they weren't doing any services that day because of their "party" (found out later they had an open house at 3pm), but I was welcome to leave the bike and tires there and he would get to it first thing Tuesday. I asked again on the price and this time he said $120.

On Tuesday, after not hearing from them all day, I gave them a call at 5pm (they close at 6). He said he was just finishing up and about to call me. I get there at 5:30 and the bike is ready, but now the price is $180. When I mentioned he told me two different prices earlier he said that $100 was for the wheels off the bike (not what he originally said) and that he mistakenly said $120 and must have been distracted because of the party. I'm not buying it.

He said the invoice would break down the time and cost. Though all it basically had was "Tire R&R - $170" and "Parts - $10". No idea what parts they needed and no mention of actual time.

By the way, when I picked up the bike he and another service guy were the only people around. No one in the sales area, though the doors were open.

Was I ripped off?

So it looks like what they are saying is that it took them 2 hrs to get 2 wheels off remove and replace 2 tires and then reinstall same. Hum, seems like slow workers to me?? Seems like that should be more like an hr ?? I know my local bike mech in his little shop could do it while you have a cup of coffee and read a bike mag, prob hr?? Sooooo

Keep in mind "about" 100.00 could be 90.00 to 110.00 so I'd round it off at 100.00 give em the cash and ride away with my bike.

I just got a front tire replaced last Saturday day and they charged me $55. They quoted me $45 on the phone but charged me an extra $10 because I didn't buy the tire there. There was a screeching noise coming from my rear end so they had to remove the rear tire anyway and grease a rear bearing. Then I bought a pair of 11.99 sunglasses. The total was still only $112. So yes, I would say $180 seems excessive.

Was it a sealed bearing they greased? I'd like to learn how to do that.

Dealer charged me 116.20 with 9.30 misc parts, wheel weights for the balancing I think. Remove and replace two tires I supplied. I thought mechanics charged the time out of a book of procedures that are timed and not really the time spent doing it.

Most I ever paid is 70 bucks, with them taking the wheel off the bike. 50 dollars for me doing the wheel removal.
Now I have access to a tire machine so I do them myself for free

*It usually is but not always, we charge $20 for a car tire.

There all sealed bearings in the wheel, only thing I grease is the axle lightly to prevent rust and making it easier to slide through the bearings. I believe they are all sealed caged ball type too, no roller bearings back there.

Wow. I buy the tire form my local shop. Usually cheaper than I can order it myself. I remove my own wheel and pay them to mount the tire. The last time it was $10.00. Out the door $95.00 and 20 minutes of my time for a Bridgestone Spitfire front tire on the bike.

Many shops dislike installing tires you bought elsewhere,and you pay for their dislike. Really 2 hr.s for the whole job is not to far off.

I always take the wheel off my self since I can. The dealer I use will always beat anyone's price including fitting so its a no brainer really. Last Tire I got was a Michelin Pilot activ. Bought from the shop, fitted and balanced $168.00 NZ. All I had to do was re-fit to bike.

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts and bearings that make high pitched noises.

I've always bought tires from the dealer and just brought in the wheels. The install and balance were included.

Thats about right. They charge an arm and a legg for mounting etc. Had a buddy do the same with a cough cough harly tire. They charged him 90 just to mount the rear tire. Had he bought from the dealer it would have been included W/ the tire. So ... thats my 2 cents