We never charged for "research." We considered that part of the cost of doing business. We also "pro-rated" our time. The book labor rate for a carb rebuild is an hour, we always charged a half-hour; again a part of doing business in a small town with a depressed economy.
Must be a very depressed area when they can only charge basically $66/hr!
The "we" aspect varies all over. The "we" in me, charges by the minute, but I dont have a clock, and flat-rate times are just poor time scores acceptable to the masses.
Would you pay $66, plus parts to have a carb rebuilt? No, buy a new carb and save some $$$.
At $33 plus parts........new carb in many cases, is cheaper.
Always charging half and hour....in a town with a depressed economy...........ripping people off.
Businesses exist to make money, and some are even there to provide employment to others, all with a cost associated to it.
Thankfully the OP found some of the other "we".