Study finds auto upholsterers are underpaid

[TheHogRing]

Hotrod & Restoration magazine recently published its annual automotive industry statistics. The nationwide survey found that auto upholstery shops, on average, charge far less per hour than mechanic, paint and body shops.

This raises an important question:

Why do we charge less per hour than other sectors when our skills are just as specialized as theirs? You can even make the case that we're more highly specialized, as there are fewer trim shops than mechanic and body shops, and only a handful of auto upholstery trade schools in the entire country.

Check it out: http://tinyurl.com/6mwwttc

[kodydog]

They needed a survey to figure that out? Auto mechanics have a standardized price list that most shops use. Plumbers and electricians are protected by licensing. Have you ever seen what it takes to become a certified electrician. Not an easy task and they protect each other.

It seems like with upholstery, furniture anyway, everyone is trying to undercut each other. Any yahoo with a staple puller can open a shop. I'm at a point where I stick to my price and if someone under bids me so be it. I can survive a slow week or two. But I feel sorry for someone just starting out.

[mike802]

If your car wont start you cant get to work, if your seat is ripped you can still make it.

[sofadoc]

Does this survey factor in all the "Mom & Pop" trim shops? If it does, the numbers would be difficult to verify. What they actually charge, and what they say they charge on a survey are probably 2 different things.
I put absolutely no faith in any of those "national average" surveys.
All I know about those surveys is "They didn't ask ME".