Auto dealership ethics and a question

[tmleadr03]

The actual problem is most dealers nowadays have gone to what's called "A-B-C" pay scales......basically, from my past experiences, C labor, which consists of oil changes, rotates, etc, pays say $14/hr. You get .3hrs for an oil change or rotate, which equates to $4. B labor pays say $22 an hour which consists of general line repair. Then A labor which is heavy (engine work, trans overhauls, etc.) pays $27/hr. Warranty pays a flat rate of say $25, no matter what the job is. The problem is the seasoned mechanics that had been there for 20+ years making a lot more than $27/hr were forced to take a pay cut, and to add insult to injury, the young punk fresh out of Lincoln tech that doesn't know a damn thing is making the same amount as you. They've driven out the veterans and the few guys that did stay, are having to babysit, without any extra pay, nothing. And if you have an apprentice, they want you to pay part of his wages. The dealerships have changed a lot over the past ten years, I'm glad I got out and went to an independent when I did.

I would disagree, the actual problem in flat rate. Worst system ever.

[JMBD2112]

I would disagree, the actual problem in flat rate. Worst system ever.

I kind of agree, but then again a 200 hr pay period is always nice

[tmleadr03]

I kind of agree, but then again a 200 hr pay period is always nice

Flat rate is basically incentavising short cuts and outright larceny. That is what I have seen 99% of the time in the shop. Is it slow? Up sell crap that doesn't really need to be done. Base pay on how fast someone does a job and they will cut corners to get the job done faster and the job will be only done "Ok". When I finally hire someone they will be hourly. Decent pay, but hourly. I would rather a slower tech who does the entire job then one who is going to rush and up sell crap that isn't needed. And that last thing I want is to find parts that were supposed to be hung on a car that are tucked behind a tool box.

And I have seen that. Lead tech in a shop who turns 60-70 hours a week leaves for some reason and when he moves his box they find piles new parts behind his box. And those are the ones he stuck back there because he didn't want to try to use them in side jobs or sell online...

[JMBD2112]

Flat rate is basically incentavising short cuts and outright larceny. That is what I have seen 99% of the time in the shop. Is it slow? Up sell crap that doesn't really need to be done. Base pay on how fast someone does a job and they will cut corners to get the job done faster and the job will be only done "Ok". When I finally hire someone they will be hourly. Decent pay, but hourly. I would rather a slower tech who does the entire job then one who is going to rush and up sell crap that isn't needed. And that last thing I want is to find parts that were supposed to be hung on a car that are tucked behind a tool box.

And I have seen that. Lead tech in a shop who turns 60-70 hours a week leaves for some reason and when he moves his box they find piles new parts behind his box. And those are the ones he stuck back there because he didn't want to try to use them in side jobs or sell online...

Yep I've seen it too, we had a guy at a former shop that kept having axle seals, oil pan gaskets, etc coming back leaking, come to find out he was just spraying off the leaks and when the vehicle came back leaking "again" he was warrantying the gasket / seal. The boss caught him on it eventually and he got fired.....good luck explaining that at your next job. The best month I ever had was back last May, pulled off over 350 hrs. I was working from 7am to when they would kick me out around 9pm, Monday - Saturday. All I did then was heavy too, so it wasn't flushes and brakes, and you can't take shortcuts at that point, if you do, you're asking for something to come back and bite you in the ass. My body hated me for it, but I was able to pay cash for my wife's engagement ring.....but I'll never do it again.

[streetglideok]

Flat rate is basically incentavising short cuts and outright larceny. That is what I have seen 99% of the time in the shop. Is it slow? Up sell crap that doesn't really need to be done. Base pay on how fast someone does a job and they will cut corners to get the job done faster and the job will be only done "Ok". When I finally hire someone they will be hourly. Decent pay, but hourly. I would rather a slower tech who does the entire job then one who is going to rush and up sell crap that isn't needed. And that last thing I want is to find parts that were supposed to be hung on a car that are tucked behind a tool box.

And I have seen that. Lead tech in a shop who turns 60-70 hours a week leaves for some reason and when he moves his box they find piles new parts behind his box. And those are the ones he stuck back there because he didn't want to try to use them in side jobs or sell online...

Yep, been there, done that. Those of us who've been in the business a while have seen the greed and scamming from flat rate. There is a local 2 shop business that pays salary, though I don't know how well they pay. Hoping one day I'll land a cozy gig like that. I just don't have the capital to open my own shop, and I frankly don't know if I have the patience for it now. Wish I could get into a little less physical line of work that would bank as good or better money.

[tmleadr03]

Yep, been there, done that. Those of us who've been in the business a while have seen the greed and scamming from flat rate. There is a local 2 shop business that pays salary, though I don't know how well they pay. Hoping one day I'll land a cozy gig like that. I just don't have the capital to open my own shop, and I frankly don't know if I have the patience for it now. Wish I could get into a little less physical line of work that would bank as good or better money.

I could tell you what I would do it if I started again. Capital would be easier then what I did and I would be pulling a paycheck by now.

[streetglideok]

I could tell you what I would do it if I started again. Capital would be easier then what I did and I would be pulling a paycheck by now.

I'll bite... do tell? Here or PMs, doesn't matter. Other than approaching burnout at the moment....

[streetglideok]

I would disagree, the actual problem in flat rate. Worst system ever.

Yeah I've had my fill of flat rate. I'm still on it now, only because there isn't a lot of good options out there. What originally started out with perhaps the best of intentions, has turned into a tool, no a crutch for poorly managed shops to overstaff to the gills, and when a car comes in it becomes a feeding frenzy. Seems to be really common in the chain stores with elevated pay rates to sucker you in. I once was in the $34/hr range, but with 4-5 guys in a shop you did good to make 20hrs a week being legit. The chumps that cranked out work of questionable quality were spoon fed jobs, while the guys who cared were stuck cleaning up the other guy's messes. I did have an ex-employer try to steal me back with more pay, no weekends and return of vacation time. I added... and 40hrs a week guaranteed, to which no response yet.