Saw chain sharpening costs

[94 wrangler]

I retired from a repair shop eight years ago. I have always sharpened my own chains. Now the shop where I worked has closed. What are the average costs of sharpening loops of chain today. Reason for asking, I have been asked to sharpen chain from former customers and since I have been out of the "loop" for quite awhile, what should I charge?
Thanks for any and all suggestions in advance.

 

[ElevatorGuy]

Haven’t had one done in years but last time it was 7 bucks off the saw.

 

[thompsoncustom]

it's 5 bucks off the saw and 1 dollar more on here.

 

[pdqdl]

I charge $8 off saw, and $10 if we must remove the chain. Who can make money at $5 a chain? Even $8 is too cheap, given that you can't hope to do 10 chains an hour.

 

[thompsoncustom]

ya it's kind of surprising the local place here does it in town for that cheap I know I wouldn't

 

[Bill G]

I believe the local stihl dealer is $5 each. Once a year each Fall he runs a special and I believe it is $3 but it might be 2 weeks before he gets to the hundreds and hundreds that are dropped off. He also is much cheaper on new chain. They simply are a family, in a family oriented community, and treat folks like family. It has worked well for them. Others should try that

 

[sean donato]

Some of that $ difference is automatic grinders vs manual grinders. Few of the dealers around here have automatic grinders. They are cheaper per chain then the dealers/home guys doing it with a manual grinder. I've seen prices range from $5.00 to $12.00. Some charge more once you get over a certain chain length.

 

[SCMtnHaul]

Well out in high-cost-of-living coastal CA the local shop tend to charge 50% of what a new chain costs. I think this is partly because they are the only shop serving a large area with many commercial tree and landscape services constantly dropping off items to be repaired plus tons of homeowner stuff. But still, 50% of new chain cost is pretty steep and I'm guessing they mostly get homeowners and the most casual of users.

 

[rancher2]

No idea what a dealer is charging. Two ads on Craigslist in my area one for seven dollars and one for eight dollars and I would think that's for a 16-20 inch chain. Cost of equipment to sharpen chains isn't cheap. Your time is worth something.

 

[Jere39]

My local dealer charged $5 per 16"-20" loop and $ 7 per 24" loop off the saw. That is last year prices, I haven't taken any to him this year. He was very prompt, and if I only had 3 or 4 loops he'd do them while I waited and talked to his shop dog. If I dropped off more, I usually volunteered to stop back next day. I'm sure he isn't getting rich at these prices, but it's a good bet I'd be picking up some bar oil or mix oil at the same time. And, I buy my new loops there. I probably will not need a new saw in the rest of my sawing days, but if I did, I'd buy that there too. My guess, he understands that his customers come to him for all their chainsawing products and maintenance, and he would prefer it stay that way.

 

[Bill G]

I just called the shop and October 7th is the sale date here

 

[Bill G]

It used to be when they had their sale I would buy a couple thousand dollars worth of chain. That was until the Stihl distributor told them to tell me to cool it a bit. I was paying $12 a loop for 20" 33RS-72 and $20 for 36" .404 loops. Man those were great days