u/BrewBoys92

So I just got a call that my bike is ready to be picked up after a full rebuild and they emailed me the final bill. I had the drivetrain replaced and knew I would be spending a lot but this is quite a bit more than what we started with, the initial quote was for $500, then they called and said it would be more like $700 because we are replacing the entire drivetrain (cues shifter, derailer, everything, nothing fancy), and now the final total is $800.

What's bothering me is that they changed the service package in the initial quote from a level 2 service for $174.99 to a level 3 service for $299.99 without telling me about that, and then also are charging me $70 for brake bleeding. I get that maybe a level 3 charge makes sense for everything that was done, but shouldn't that at least include the brake bleed?

Here is what the service packages list as included:

Level 2 package

This package was designed with performance in mind, perfect for anyone interested in a cleaner, smoother operating bike.

Paying special attention to detail, we will give your bike the TLC it deserves, including:

Level 1 Tune-Up plus:

Drivetrain remove + Ultrasonic clean

Wheel tension + true

Headset adjustments

Hub adjustments

Bottom bracket adjustments

Frame & component wipe down

Level 3 Package

The Ultimate Rebuild brings your bike as close to the way it looked when you first picked it up! Perfect for the rider that wants to protect their investment, we pay special attention to EVERY detail, we will give your bike the TLC it deserves, including:

Level 2 Tune-Up plus:

Complete bike strip-down

Detail brakes + all components

Drivetrain remove + Ultrasonic clean

Drivetrain inspection, reinstallation, and fine-tuning

Should I negotiate any of this with them? Is the change to level 3 plus charging for brake bleeds fair?

Had my first interview today after over 50 applications to different HVAC companies. I am a student in a college diploma HVAC program with my G3 and am looking for a co-op for the fall term. The second question I was asked was if we are supposed to get paid for co-op, followed by grumbling about the economy and what's he supposed to do with a student that can't go out on calls on their own.

I was feeling pretty confident about this interview because in my previous career I worked at a brewery that was built by this company and part of my job was monitoring and doing basic maintenance on the low pressure boiler and glycol system. I always got along with their techs that did the real maintenance on our equipment, and it was from talking to them that I decided to make the career change and do the HVAC course. I thought I'd be able to make a connection with the owner/interviewer about working with the equipment that his company installed, and that my work experience and very good grades would make me a good addition to their team.

I don't know what I was expecting out of this interview, but I really wasn't expecting it to focus on whether I should be paid for co-op or not. This isn't just a one man furnace and hot water heater company with a guy that doesn't know what to do with a fresh helper, they are a large (regional), full service, commercial/industrial company with multiple projects on the go and a whole bunch of techs out in the field, as well as a large shop doing all their metal work in house.

I thought this could be a great place to start my career, with lots of paths to follow and different specialists to learn from if I got the job. Now I don't even want to hear back from them because I don't want to negotiate with them to justify even minimum wage. I'm not expecting $25+ or anything crazy, I hope my first job in the field will be a bit more than minimum wage, but I am definitely not working for free.

Edit: my co-op doesn't start till September, I'm really trying to find a job for that but I've also got time in my schedule to work this semester and would like to get working as soon as possible. I'm trying to frame part time summer work as a trial before full time co-op.

Also on top of the G3 I've been collecting all the other safety certifications I can over the last semester. I did ODP, Working at Heights and Asbestos Awareness this past week, and earlier in the semester did Confined Spaces and First Aid. I've also got a forklift licence with lots of experience from my previous work.