by "I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker" (qaaaaa)
Published 12/07/2017 at 23:42
by "I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker" (qaaaaa)
Published 12/07/2017 at 23:42
Tags: Questions
STARS: 0
So, here’s a question about work quality and pay. Say there’s a job that normally pays 3.5 hours, but as warranty work, pays 1.5 (I really think this is shitty. Charge customers less, but still pay the mechanics...). In reality, the job takes 3 hours. Would you say if warranty work comes in and you actually want to get paid, you would rush the warranty work so you can get to more profitable jobs? Or, does a minimum hour clause in your contract (get paid 32 hours minimum if you’re at the shop 40) motivate you to do quality work all the time?
Thanks!
"E92M3" (E46M3)
12/08/2017 at 00:09, STARS: 1
I’m not a professional mechanic, but the ones I know seem to rush everything. It’s not uncommon for one of them to get paid for 80 hours of billed work, when he actually worked 40 hours.
That particular mechanic has an advantage. His wife assigns the work, and they know which jobs are easy to complete in half the billable time (or less). I can’t believe how long she’s cherry picked his work without someone raising the “conflict of interest”. Still, he busts his ass to get cars in and out so he can move on to the next one.
"SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media" (silentbutnotreallydeadly)
12/08/2017 at 05:37, STARS: 0
Very different system in Oz...very. I’m not a mechanic but I sure as heck would prefer to work here than where you are. Under those circumstances, I’d turn the warranty work down.
"brianbrannon" (brianbrannon)
12/08/2017 at 11:47, STARS: 1
In every situation you can expect how it effects their pay to effect how they work. My dealership wants me to put software in every car for free. That means I actually lose money instead of making it.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
12/08/2017 at 12:19, STARS: 2
This comes across as a loaded question, but I will trying to answer anyways.
What I get paid for a job doesn’t affect my quality of work, because I can usually make more than 100% efficiency during a pay period and because customer satisfaction is extremely important. I don’t want unhappy customers, I don’t want cars coming back for the same problems, I don’t want cars coming back for new problems because I did shoddy work. My pace is my pace. But not every tech works at the same pace. Some can actually work 80 hours but only earn 50-60, regardless of the types of work they do. Most techs only work around one pace and rarely speed up or down. A good tech is a good tech. A bad tech is a bad tech. Someone who rushes warranty work is probably going to rush customer pay work too. A good shop will cover a tech’s time beyond what warranty pays if the disparity is egregious and the actual time spent is justified and reasonable. Any questions, just ask, I’ll do my best to answer.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
12/08/2017 at 12:21, STARS: 0
Being fast and efficient is not the same thing as rushing.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
12/08/2017 at 12:22, STARS: 0
This sounds like a shitty dealership to work for and that sounds illegal.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
12/08/2017 at 12:23, STARS: 0
We can’t turn down work unless we want to risk our jobs. Most of us would love to go to a salaried or hourly pay structure as used to flat rate. Even people like me who generally do well with flat rate.
"I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker" (qaaaaa)
12/08/2017 at 12:42, STARS: 0
Thanks, and sorry if it seemed loaded. From my point of view the “pay less for warranty work” method makes no sense and seems like it would encourage poor work quality, as the work would take the same time in or out of warranty. Just trying to understand how it goes for mechanics.
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
12/08/2017 at 13:24, STARS: 1
You wouldn’t believe how many questions people ask about how we’re paid and how wrong it is that we charge customers more. So I go into those questions thinking they’re loaded these days. Manufacturers can fuck themselves for most of their times. They’re bullshit. Especially considering the red tape we have to do just to get paid that bullshit time. But on the other side of that, there are warranty jobs they pay extremely well. On the whole, it should average out for most competent techs. But without those raised customer pay rates, most of us would earn about the same as your average burger flipper. I don’t think you want someone making 20k per year fixing your car. Oh wait, that’s how jiffy lube exists. Can you imagine if those people were chasing down electrical gremlins or doing heavy engine or trans work?
Out of warranty work can definitely take more time, just think of rust and seized fasteners as cars get older. Or people who’ve worked on things themselves and installed incorrect bolts or routed hoses and wiring incorrectly in such a way that it makes something else more difficult. Usually these things are much less prevalent in warranty work. Good shops go to great lengths to make sure our customer pay rates are fair, and evaluate them regularly. There’s so much more nuance to all of this than people outside of the industry consider. But like people, every shop is different. But some shops attract the highest caliber employees, and if you can find one of those, stick with it (dealership or not).
"brianbrannon" (brianbrannon)
12/11/2017 at 10:52, STARS: 0
I’ve only been here six months and the service department doesn’t turn a profit...
"AMGtech - now with more recalls!" (amgtech)
12/11/2017 at 13:18, STARS: 0
Jeebus. I’d consider moving on if I were in your shoes.