Comparing Bodywork Prices
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IT is considered that for cvery five new vehicles put into service, two of them have bodywork which has been specially built for the operator concerned. If the body required resembles a standardized pattern, differing in only one or two minor features, then the bodybuilder, when ,submitting his estimate, knows full well that his price for building the body will be compared with that Of the type which is produced in quantities. When the operator is himself a manufacturer, he will readily understand the difference in price and may be agreeably surprised to find that the extra cost entailed is not so much as was expected.
On the other hand, if the body in question is to have several novel features and an outline of distinction and style, how much will it cost?
Estimates are invited from two or three concerns and comparisons made. There is, perhaps, a wide variation in the prices quoted. The task of comparing the estimates is simplified if the customer has supplied the design and specification, but, as a rule, except for a few leading particulars, • details of design and construction are left to the bodybuilder.
Is the job a fair price at £150 and is £300 really outrageous? All the specifications submitted may agree in general outline as to the materials to be used, but all of them will probably be somewhat brief. The drawings which accompany the specifications should then be examined. Perhaps the choice will lie between two -of the designs submitted and preference be given to that concerning which the greater amount of informatiOn is supplied and which is estimated to cost, say, £210.
There will always be considerable variations in quoted prices when the specification of the article concerned includes a wide range of materials and manufacturing processes. Estimating is not yet an exact science. Some have greater ability than others in compiling the list of costs. Sometimes conditions are favourable, such as a good organization and experience to deal with the class of work concerned. In other instances there is a large stock of material which has been purchased when prices were lower, or overhead expenses are below the average. • Assuming that the operator be not prepared to furnish his own specification, in fairness to the bodybuilder the latter should be given as much detail as possible of the proposed body. After a quotation has been accepted, extra items are often wanted. These, whenever possible, should form the subject of a supplementary estimate, so that the operator will know, before the completion of the body, exactly how much it will cost.
Transport in Isolated Districts
I N numerous scattered areas throughout the country, residents have to suffer the inconvenience of lack of transport from their homes to the nearest railhead, and in consequence have to walk, whether it be raining, hailing or snowing. Suggestions that the nearest large operating company should alleviate the position are sometime met with the obvious answer, that it would be uneconomical.
In many of these cases, the sufferers have been sufficiently numerous to interest local operators, who would be prepared to run passenger vehicles at times to meet the needs of the public, but any proposal of this type is usually strongly opposed by the bigger operators, who are not interested in running such services.
Whilst we can appreciate such an attitude, it does seem that something should be done to overcome the difficulty and provide better facilities for those who are unfortunate enough to form the nuclei of the new towns which are growing up increasingly far away from the cities.