Outdoor Power Equipment
Flat Rate Guide
OPE FLAT RATE GUIDE
For Residential Equipment, Commercial Equipment and their Engines
If you have ever wished for an all-makes flat rate guide which listed realistic repair times for your service shop, then we believe your wish is granted. In 1998, the Ohio-Michigan Equipment Dealers Association (OMEDA) Board of Directors approved funding to publish a guide to help dealers make use of flat rate service charges based on real world situations rather than ideal repair times.
It covers Lawn Tractors, Garden Tractors, Compact Tractors, Riding Mowers, Commercial Walk-Behinds & Riders. It includes internal engine components, drive train components, chassis components, mower deck components, steering components, and PTO components.
Seven engine manufacturers are included: Briggs & Stratton, Honda, Kawasaki, Kohler, Kubota, Onan and Tecumseh.
37 Equipment Manufacturers are included: AGCO Allis, AGCO White, Ariens, Bunton, Case IH, Cub Cadet, Dixie Chopper, Dixon, Encore, Excel Hustler, Exmark, Ferris, Grasshopper, Gravely, Grazer, Great Dane, Honda, Husqvarna, IHC, Ingersoll, John Deere, Kubota, Massey Ferguson, MTD, New Holland/Ford, Power King, Ransomes, Scag, Simplicity, Snapper, Steiner, Toro/Wheelhorse, Troy Bolens, Walker, White Outdoor, Woods, and Yazoo/Kees.
Why Develop Such a Guide?
The OMEDA Board felt that the final product would be more than worth the investment of producing such a guide. There are many objectives that were followed in analyzing the entire program, but the main objectives were as follows: (1) To promote accurate estimates based upon flat rates that are compiled using "real world" data. (2) To promote the use of flat rates in equipment dealer service centers as a distinct billing choice. (3) To enable dealership service managers to make realistic estimates on important jobs without having a great deal of technical expertise . . . open the door to a wider spectrum of management candidates to fill service management/supervisory positions. (4) To facilitate "all makes" service where appropriate. (5) To assist dealers in estimating repair costs on trade-in units to determine trade-in values. (6) To give dealers a fair way to analyze productivity of their own service operations and technicians.
How Was The Book Developed?
Flat rates were derived by blending actual times spent by dealers throughout the Midwest. The data was collected at the dealerships by interviewing service managers and lead technicians. The data was collected on major jobs not small jobs that could be readily sold as "time and material" jobs. One thing that is important to remember is that the times stated in the Flat Rate Guide do not include appropriate diagnostic time which will be sold separately by the dealers as "time" operations.
When Was It Last Updated?
In 2002, and again, in 2009, the OPE Flat Rate Guide received a major updates.
Can I see a sample of what's in the Guide?
Sure. Here's the Table of Contents, and here's a riding mower sample page and here's a compact tractor sample page (PDF reader is needed).
How I You Order?
We ask that you contact your regional or state Association. Most affiliates have partnered with us to distribute the Flat Rate Guide to their members. The guide is available in two versions a 3-ring binder or a CD; or both formats are bundled in the Combo Package with a cost-saving price. We feel it is an invaluable tool when dealers truly try to make their service shops a profit center of the dealership.