New job September 30, 2014, 05:59:49 AM I'm not your dealership guy on the board any longer. I just wrapped up my first week at a new job for an independent, and boy have I got some catching up to do! Still, I think I got lucky with this job, my very first job (first day) was the bosses 06 Mercury Milan (V6) on which I ended up doing an engine pull to replace the rear main, front seal and to remove and reseal the bed plate. No pressure! At least it was a Ford, which made me a little more comfortable, even though everything after pretty much wasn't. No matter which way you look at it, it's a paradigm shift from doing Electrical and AC at a Ford dealer. Quote Selected
New job Reply #2 – September 30, 2014, 09:32:39 AM wow, I cant imagine pulling one of those motors!!! good luck and hope there is more money in it for you!I just started with National Power Corp in june, nothing new here.. same hat different Tshirt Quote Selected
New job Reply #4 – October 01, 2014, 06:12:15 PM Good luck buddy. I hope it all works out for you! Quote Selected
New job Reply #5 – October 01, 2014, 08:59:52 PM Good luck to you. Changing jobs are always scary and delightful at the same time. Quote Selected
New job Reply #8 – November 20, 2014, 06:36:25 PM Well, thank you. Although my complaints are few, those few are more deeply felt in winter. Ex: I miss power garage doors and I miss AUTOMATIC powered garage doors. Quote Selected
New job Reply #9 – November 25, 2014, 09:09:13 PM I'm glad it's working for you man! Manual garage doors, oh the horror!!!! :burnwithfire: Quote Selected
New job Reply #10 – November 25, 2014, 09:42:40 PM First world problems, I know. I get stretches of days at a time where everything seems to want to kick my ass, so that's pretty nice. Quote Selected
New job Reply #11 – November 26, 2014, 07:15:44 PM All jokes aside, our doors are automatic (you pull onto a sensor and the door automatically opens). I'm completely spoiled by them and would not look forward to manual doors lol. Once again first world problems haha Quote Selected
New job Reply #12 – November 26, 2014, 11:44:53 PM Yeah, and also, when we sell a job we don't charge for diag. That one hurts. At Ford, diag accounted for 20 to 30% of my flat-rate hours. So today, I had an hour diag for p0340 on an 09 Saturn Vue Hybrid. Turns out to be a bad intake cam sensor. Diag: 1.0 hours; repair, .3 hours. Guess which we charged the customer. "But you're supposed to upsell maintenance and timing belts to make up for it" Great, and if they don't need or don't buy? Yesterday I had an 01 Expedition that wouldn't idle until you tapped the IAC with a screwdriver handle, drivability diag - 1.0 hours; R&R IAC - .6 hours. Guess which I got paid. Thing is, I understand why they do that. All I really want is to not make less on a job than diag. I don't want to have to cheat the time I quote to the advisor in order to keep from being hosed, I don't want to submit an estimate for a repair that's less than diag while hoping they decline it so I get diag and make more money from them walking out with a diag instead of a repair. If diag pays more than the repair, I want to be paid the diag instead of the repair. The cam sensor took 5 minutes to change, clear codes, and verify counts, I would have done it free if I could have been paid diag. The IAC took 20 minutes to swap out and verify, but it took 30 seconds to diagnose. I would have rather been paid for the diag than the repair. I'm just saying. If the boss wants to give his money back to the customer, then he totally should, but who is he to give MY money away? Wells Fargo holds the note on my mortgage, and they don't care if I'm getting screwed out of 20 to 30% of my pay, Consumers credit union holds the note on my wife's car, they don't care either. Neither does Comcast, Consumer's Energy, DTE, T-mobile, my dentist, or The Grand Rapids Press. I've got responsibilities, and I can't afford to work for free 20+% of the time. [/rant] Quote Selected
New job Reply #13 – November 27, 2014, 09:12:16 AM I imagine a different business model myself. I have never agreed with how mechanic work is sorted out and paid. most places have their issues and I hear some of the oddest stories that it makes me feel bad for even going to a so called organized shop.my business model would be like nothing ever seen before.... no I would not get rich but as the owner I would make a lot of money,, Quote Selected