I need some work advice, Oppo

"Big Bubba Ray" (eganward01)
10/02/2015 at 21:27 • Filed to: None

(Big ol’ post ahead) At the beginning of February I started working for a local carwash. This job has been awesome so far. A ton of work and 40+ hours a week, but totally worth it. There is plenty of money to be made working at a carwash, surprisingly. I nearly have school paid off, which is HUGE. Anyways, I’ve been busting my ass every single day since I started. First one to arrive in the morning and last full timer to leave in the afternoon. My hard work has netted me an offer for a position at my wash’s detail center.

We do minor details at our wash, but the detail center covers everything when it comes to detailing a car. There were only two other employees in the St. Louis area, besides myself, who were offered positions at the detail center.

So here is the dilemma.

Right now I work at an hourly rate of $4 an hour. Ya. $4. That’s it. My income relies heavily on tips and the generosity of our customers. So, on a good day, I can make upwards of $100 in cash tips. This is a wonderful thing and a massive reason why I chose this job over others back in February. BUT, $4 an hour sucks on slow days. Rain days especially. We sometimes have days where I may make no more than $25 in cash in addition whatever hourly pay I accumulated for being there for however many hours. Basically, tips are great, hourly pay sucks ass, somedays I can make a shit ton of money, other days are a bust.

As I mentioned earlier, I was offered a position at our wash’s detail center. The hourly rate for a detail center employee is $12/hr and I’m guaranteed at least 40 hours a week (depending on how much I want to/can work with school). That’s some good, consistent pay. I’ve heard that tips on details do happen, but it’s about a 50/50 chance of getting a tip or not getting tipped. Basically, if I worked on a full detail for four hours, I’d be guaranteed $48 just from hourly pay and maybe a cash tip from the customer.

The bad thing about working at the detail center is that I may not be doing details all day. There may be some days where I don’t do one at all. When I’m not doing a detail, I’m working as a regular line employee (my current position) for $4 an hour and whatever cash tips I receive. The store where I currently work is pretty damn busy all week long, but the store with the detail center is regarded as one of the slower locations in St. Louis. The other downside to working at the detail center is that it’s a bit of a farther drive than what I have now. 10 Miles (detail center) vs. 7 miles (current wash). Doesn’t sound like much, but on a tight gas budget, it adds up!

What do you guys think? Does my half drunk work rant make any sense? My GM wants an answer by next Wednesday at the latest. I’m really torn right now. I want the detail experience even though I know how to do a majority of it, but at the same time, I don’t want to leave my good friends where I currently work. Both the detail center and my wash have their benefits/drawbacks. I’m curious as to what you guys think I should do.

DISCUSSION (14)

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Big Bubba Ray
10/02/2015 at 21:32

Wait so on a slow ass day at the detail center you’d be stuck back at your current position? That’s the killer right there...unless you can be guaranteed to stay at the detail center, I wouldn’t move.

PatBateman > Big Bubba Ray
10/02/2015 at 21:35

Initially, I wanted to say “take the offer”. But how much of those tips do you claim on taxes? How many rainy days do you get where you live? Is steady income more important to you than sporadic big paydays/chump change days?

Svend > Big Bubba Ray
10/02/2015 at 21:38

It’s a tricky one as each has there own pros and cons so I’ll ask where you see yourself in a couple of years time? Detailing on $4 an hour with tips and a fluctuating market or an experienced trained detailer. Is this a job you want to do or is it a stop gap till something else comes along?

Big Bubba Ray > Svend
10/02/2015 at 22:04

I’m glad you chimed in here considering you’re like the detail king of Oppo! Detailing would actually be $12 an hour plus whatever cash tips the customer throws my way.

Working as a line employee (my current position) would be in-between details. Let’s say there’s an extremely slow day, no details at all, I’d be working on the line, vacuuming, washing windows, cleaning wheels/tires and cleaning interiors. That’s $4/hr.

EDIT: Kinja fucked me, so hold on haha

Big Bubba Ray > Svend
10/02/2015 at 22:12

Continued from earlier reply:

If a person set up an appointment for a detail, depending on what has to be done, I could spend a couple hours on it. I’d be paid $12/hr for that work. After finishing the detail, I may or may not be tipped for my work. It’s kinda hit or miss.

My job right now is only to pay for school. I’m currently in school studying Automotive Maintenance Technology. Basically a fancy term for becoming a mechanic. I have no problem right now making $4 an hour because I spend my paychecks (which are pathetically small) on normal life stuff such as beer and gas. My tips (which can be borderline absurd) are used for bills and paying for tuition. I don’t plan on detailing for the rest of my life, even though I greatly enjoy it. I’m only planning on staying at this job for about another year and a half. Maybe two years max.

I’m considering working at the detail center simply because I want the experience in learning how to properly detail a car. I do minor stuff at work and for family/friend’s cars and knowing how to keep your car looking as great as it runs is veeeeery enticing to me.

Big Bubba Ray > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
10/02/2015 at 22:17

Yep. Let’s say it’s super slow at the detail center. Nobody has made an appointment for a full detail that day. I would be on the line (my current position) for $4/hr and whatever cash tips I make that day.

I’m really torn as what to do. Working on the line can be hit or miss. Some days (super slow) I may make $20 in cash and not work a full 8 hour shift. Other days (hella fucking busy) I will work 9 hours and make close to $200 cash.

The money in my current position isn’t at all consistent. Working at the detail center would be more consistent, but that’s not always a guarantee. I’m kinda leaning towards just staying in my current position, but my GM and the regional manager are trying to push me into the detail center because they know how seriously I take my work and that I will do a great job there. It’s a tough call.

Svend > Big Bubba Ray
10/02/2015 at 22:17

Lol. ‘detail king of OPPO’, no I’m a passionate ‘weekend warrior’. I know other weekend warriors, semi-professionals, professionals and product manufacturing directors.

Detailing is a fits and starts business, people like a clean car and happy to pay a few dollars to have it done, very few (but a loyal few) are prepared to spend big money on full details and maintenance packages are key to maintaining a regular turn over.

If detailing is a field you want to get further into and progress in, then ask a few questions to people at the other place and rock face level, not managerial level.

From how I read what you’ve written you prefer the current position but have a curiousity of the other place and want to scratch an itch, maybe ask to do a trial at the other place for a week or so to see if it’s right for you. They’d rather keep a good colleague than upset one.

Big Bubba Ray > PatBateman
10/02/2015 at 22:22

*DON’T TELL THE TAX MAN* but I don’t claim any of my cash tips on my taxes. I have no loans or debt, so claiming them isn’t *required.*

As for rain days, the beginning of the summer sucked so much asshole with rain days. We had rain for almost two months straight. I literally made no money. And by literally, I mean that I made maybe $200 a week. Shit money. The past two-ish months have been KILLER. Making $500+ a week in cash tips.

I play a bit in both fields. I love consistent pay, but I also love big paydays (as in cash tips).

Svend > Big Bubba Ray
10/02/2015 at 22:27

I didn’t see this message as I was spending so long typing out the other message. But as I said in the other message. Maybe ask to do a trial period. They’d want to keep a good colleague than put them in a sink or swim position both employment and financially. There is a massive wealth of knowledge out there that 99.9999999% couldn’t give a crap about in cleaning and maintaining a vehicle in pristine condition.

If there isn’t any work at the other place you’ll be working at the current place anyway so if you want to learn (even though it’s not your preferred vocation) go for it.

Big Bubba Ray > Svend
10/02/2015 at 22:28

Thanks for the advice, man. I really love detailing and as you mentioned, I’d love to do some of it on the side for fun/more money.

I think you nailed it in saying that I prefer my current position but want to try something else. I’ll talk to my GM and regional manager tomorrow about trying out the detail center for a couple weeks and seeing how it goes then basing a decision off of that.

By far the biggest pro of working at the detail center is that it’s indoors! During the winter here I’d much rather be working inside, in the heat, taking my time on each car than freezing my ass of in negative degree temps haha

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Big Bubba Ray
10/02/2015 at 22:29

I’d stay and follow the money honestly...

Big Bubba Ray > Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras
10/02/2015 at 22:33

Svend said I should try a week or so in the detail center and see how it all goes. I think I’m gonna try it out for a few weeks and see how the money/work is.

Thanks for the advice!

Svend > Big Bubba Ray
10/02/2015 at 22:35

Good lad. It can be quite daunting progressing in detailing but remember ‘first do no harm’, start with the least aggressive method and work up, it’s easier to do it this way than trying to correct any damage further down the line.

Listen, touch and see what the car is telling you.

JDMatt > Big Bubba Ray
10/04/2015 at 02:21

Take the promotion. In the future when you apply for a different job you can reference your promotion from line worker to detailer as an example of previous employers trusting you. In the present you get the best of both worlds. $12 an hour during a detail, and tips when there’s no details.