Ok guys awhile back I started cleaning reels on the side. I'm really good and everyone has been satisfied but a lot of people think my rates are expensive. I charge 10 dollars for round reels and 15 for low profile and spinning. Do you guys think this is to much? I'm also about to offer Ultrasonic cleaning and what would I charge for that? Your thoughts and opinions are greatly appreciated.

I clean my own, But to me that is a fair
price.

I clean low-pros for $20/ea
Each reel gets a total strip down, level-wind mechanism de-gunked, bearings cleaned and re-lubed, and all internals checked and greased where appropriate.
Takes me about 1 1/2 to 2 hours each reel on average.
No sales tax and no shipping in most cases.
No, $15 is not too much!!

Too cheap 18 to 20 for a basic

Stick with your price. When I take wade fishing trips if someone dunks a reel in salt water. I charge them 50$. Most of the time I just order new bearings and have to soak the reel for a day or two just to get it back to were it was.

If you do it for a living you will not make it 60 days at 10 bucks. It takes about 1.5 hours labor to break down a normal low profile Bait Caster, clean properly and reassemble. There are shop supply's and lubes to pay for also. If you are serious inventoried parts carry overhead also, not to mention 15% self employed tax and other taxes.

I usually go through around 10 reels in a full day's time in the shop if the phone don't ring, reels do not have to be packaged for shipment, invoices don't have to be made, orders do not have to be placed, bills don't have to be paid, or no body comes in the shop that day. So, not withstanding any extra sales you can reasonably make $100-150 bucks a day if you work your butt off. That is why parts inventories, reels for sale, custom rods, upgrade parts, etc is so important. They help pay for some of the inventory. Is it worth making 300 bucks a week to you? Or would 600 be better for 5 day week.

If they think 10-15 bucks is too high tell them to clean them themselves.

Normal rate is around 20-25 bucks for me and I can stay busy 24-7/365 for that rate if I wanted. Offshore reels run up to 45 bucks for like an 80W International or Tiagra. DC's run more and so do the older model Calais from Shimano. Very time consuming on those even if you do not have to press out corroded parts.

This is just on the side. Something I enjoy doing for people that don't know how or have the extra time. I am in no way trying to make a living off of cleaning reels as I do have a full time Rotating shift job. Just want to be compensated for my time. Thanks guys.

I also think it has to do with the area I'm in though. Not knocking Waco but there aren't as many hardcore fishermen around here as there are in other places.

If you excellent quality repairs and offer good customer service,anglers will return over and over and over again for years. We are proof of that for sure. If you want to clean reels for fun, then do it.We use Ultra sonic cleaners and there's no extra charge, part of doing our job. In our shop it takes 2-2 1/2 hour to clean a reel. Why bother about asking fees? It sounds like you just a good guy helping friends out. Like Bender said about the expenses in a shop, folks do not realize all involved with rod and reel repair shop. We charge $25 to clean and if reel really crudy we charge $25 plus parts, plus shipping and handling and insurance to you. If you believe ten bucks is enough for your time, then by all means, charge that amount.in our area in Texas, our sales tax is 6.75% plus products we use plus elect. water, etc...cost goes up..So no way we could ever charge ten bucks, it would be like we paying customer to do his reels. Good luck have fun with reels. I love it and been doing it for 20 years.

I paid $16 + tax at Bass Pro Shop to have mine cleaned. I thought that was a good deal.

I take that back I paid $41 for cleaning & repair of 2 reels

I'm not the lowest price but I stay very busy all year. You will not get rich at this but it can be fun. I started out many years ago doing some on the side and know I'm steady. Come January it will be crazy.

Lots of good people on here doing reels. I have seen many come and go.

Good on you! If your comfortable with your fee's, stick with it.

CAUTION: When cleaning reel side plates/casings, be careful about the type cleaner you use in an ultra-sonic........or finish/paint will be AFU.

Good luck.

Thanks Guys

I think you're seriously selling yourself short if you think Waco doesn't have that many serious fisherman. I have no stake in the reel cleaning industry and think the $25 sounds good.

where r u location