men over 40.

[mike phillips]

For the most part we don't.

You'd be shocked to know how service departments really work. The tech's see very little of the $90 per hour door rate, but we're the ones with the knowledge and $30K worth of tools.

Someone's getting rich and it sure isn't me.

funny how people think that. models change every year, alot of times its a whole new technology. new specific tools that might be used for only one model year. todays tool prices are out of sight. yup someone is gettin rich and he wears a white shirt and is totally clueless.



b.a.m. member #1bassists against management

 

[toytech]

Flat rate is definatley not fun if you work on domestics, for us import guys it can work out well in the right situation. Maybe you just need a change of scenery. The beauty of being a good auto tech is the portability of your job, never ever forget why they put the wheels on your box, sometimes you gotta use em.
Chris

 

[Mike N]

Flat rate is definatley not fun if you work on domestics, for us import guys it can work out well in the right situation. Maybe you just need a change of scenery. The beauty of being a good auto tech is the portability of your job, never ever forget why they put the wheels on your box, sometimes you gotta use em.
Chris

I've thought about it, but I have 20 years in at my current shop and hate to lose that.

I've checked out some other shops that friends work at, and it's kind of the same thing. The SM's, DP's etc all have their favorites, and they get the gravy while others get the bs. Every shop has a few gravy grabbing flush kings, and I am not one, nor do I wish to be. So I can't see starting over somewhere else for the same bs I get now, and be the "new guy".

Overall I make ok money, but alot of days the politics and general shop bs make it tough to take.

Imo if they got rid of flatrape you'd have happier techs and less stress in the shop. You'd actually see guys that want to work together and not stab each other in the back.

 

[steamthief]

Selling wrenches and/or diesel equipment? Before I started college at 25, I used to swing a shovel for a living, and I never in a million years thought I would end up in sales - I perceived the field as "bugging people." However, I discovered 90% of sales is building rapport and relationships with the customers, and your technical experience would help you build it quickly. Plus, as a hard worker, the harder and smarter one works, the more money to be made.

 

[steve66]

I am going to be 40 this year. I worked as an automotive mechanic for several dealerships, from age 18 - 22 so I know where your coming from. Not easy work. I decided to give it up when I moved to Florida. I did alot of of the computer wiring, removing, working on dashboards. It was so hot working in those cars, I would get nose bleeds.

I gave it up and became a Deputy Sheriff at age 22 - 35 and worked in Corrections. I was tired of fighting everyday. While I was there, I started taking computer classes and got a bunch of certifications. I ended up doing 12 yrs there and retiring

I used my previous automotive computer knowledge and MCSE certifications to land a job in the computer field. I was a Technical Lead for a major terminal server software company. After burning out on that position, I then decided to become a Account Manager for the same company and give up the technical piece of it. No pressure anymore, and I enjoy working at a normal job that doesnt require using my brain.

You need to decide to move on and decide on what you want to do. You still have a good 20 - 25 yrs to work. There are easier ways to make a living without busting your tail.

 

[mike phillips]

its hard to start a job that pays what i make. not to mention our medical benefits. then there is mortgage, your usual bills and all the bills associated with bein a husband, father, home owner. its not easy to walk away. in my mind i have done it a thousand times. like mike n. i have alot of years that i would hate to loose. our shop is not the problem. my boss is awesome. his boss is awesome. neither forgot where they came from. the other boys at the shop are like my brothers. we all help each other. look out for each other. we are like a family. its just the work that is gettin to me. right now my legs and back hurt so bad. i had to use my hands to get my knee to bend gettin up from the supper table. this aint no way to live. but i gotta do it all over again tomorrow. thank you for all your suggestions. it sure is good to hear from other mechanics. why do they call us techs when the pay us like grease monkeys?

 

[Petebass]

.....I have yet to see any evidence that Kiyosaki has successfully done anything other than sell product....

That is certainly the consensus in Australia of Kiyosaki. The running gag is that he's so good at selling books, his going to call his next one the "Harry Potter and the Da Vinci book of rich dads". He's also criticised for not re-writing the books for foreign markets. A lot of his ideas don't work outside the USA simply because there are too many differences in culture, taxation systems, and business law.

OK back on topic - aches and pains taking the joy out of your job. I am seriously contemplating teaching myself to play bass left handed. Why? Because after 20 yrs of playing right handed, the repetative movements are taking their toll on my joints and muscles. I'm not ready to retire so I figure switching over will be like starting again with fresh fingers and wrists and with muscles I've never used before. Hopefully ther will be no pain to eat away at the enjoyment of the job.

Sounds good in theory, so what's the mechanic's equivalent of this idea?

 

[mike phillips]

That is certainly the consensus in Australia of Kiyosaki. The running gag is that he's so good at selling books, his going to call his next one the "Harry Potter and the Da Vinci book of rich dads". He's also criticised for not re-writing the books for foreign markets. A lot of his ideas don't work outside the USA simply because there are too many differences in culture, taxation systems, and business law.

OK back on topic - aches and pains taking the joy out of your job. I am seriously contemplating teaching myself to play bass left handed. Why? Because after 20 yrs of playing right handed, the repetative movements are taking their toll on my joints and muscles. I'm not ready to retire so I figure switching over will be like starting again with fresh fingers and wrists and with muscles I've never used before. Hopefully ther will be no pain to eat away at the enjoyment of the job.

Sounds good in theory, so what's the mechanic's equivalent of this idea?

i dont know. as a mechanic we use both hands just as much. sometimes you are in a position to get it with your left hand. other times the right hand gets it. it just depends on the job. cool thought though. good luck in learnin to play lefty. hope the pain goes away.

 

[Mike N]

Selling wrenches and/or diesel equipment?

I considered being a Snap-On dealer, but the start up costs are HUGE.

 

[mike phillips]

I considered being a Snap-On dealer, but the start up costs are HUGE.

then once your established and makin money they kill you on warranty stuff. not wantin to pay and other issues. it happen to our tool man. after 10+ years in the business he told them to kiss his butt. he now sells insurance.

 

[Matthew Bryson]

My mri results came back and said my discs are degeneratin, some are buldgin. damn, im so confused as to what to do.

I work in management in a very different industry, but in my line of work, if you have injuries that are a result of your work - even if they are not the direct result of any particular accident or incident, and are simply old injuries that have been exasperated by your work duties or even repetitive stress injuries or strains from regular heavy lifting in the course of performing your duties the employer is obligated to pay your wages while you take as much time off to recover as is needed. We also have to pay for all medical bills associated with the injury claim - office visits, surgeries, physical therapy etc.

I understand that even if you can get your back fixed and have your wages paid while you recover, that still doesn't change the fact that it's tough getting older while working a physically demanding job. I also understand that in certain jobs, it could be "career suicide" to go off on medical and stick the employer with the bill - but really, your employer should be responsible for injuries caused by your work and you should be able to get some medical attention for that bad back.

 

[Mike N]

then once your established and makin money they kill you on warranty stuff. not wantin to pay and other issues. it happen to our tool man. after 10+ years in the business he told them to kiss his butt. he now sells insurance.

Our Snap-On guy does ok with warranty stuff, and has no problem honoring a warranty item. He shows up every week no matter whether we're buying tools or not. Too bad every tool dealer couldn't be like him.

Our Matco dealer is another story. He tries every excuse to not warranty things and/or just won't show up half the time to avoid warranty items. Last time we saw him was after one of our SM's called Matco corporate to complain that we hadn't seen a dealer and had lotsa broken stuff. Reluctantly he showed up and took care of what he had to, but we haven't seen him since (probably because no one wanted to buy a new toolbox from him).

Our Mac dealer simply doesn't exist.

 

[Chunk-O-Funk]

I considered being a Snap-On dealer, but the start up costs are HUGE.

My brother did it for Mac. He will be filing for bankruptcy in the next month or so. It's a competitive business with a huge nut to crack at the end of the month. The only people who are doing well with it right now are the reps that have been at it for a while and are no longer paying a loan at the end of the month.

He actually did really well with it and was pulling six figures when he first started about ten or so years ago. I know he has a couple of awards from Mac for being top sales in his district. Then the auto industry started to take a dive. When techs aren't pulling in the hours they use to they don't buy to many tools. When they do buy that new $350.00 impact wrench, they only want to give the tool guy $20.00 a week for it. There are also a lot more hours per day involved than you might think. Not to mention you're a privet business with no health benefits or paid vacations. If you're not out there schlepping tools you're not making any money.

It can be a lucrative business if you have the start up capital but right now is not the best time to be in that business.

 

[mike phillips]

100% correct chunk-o. our snap on man was awesome. snap on didnt credit him back on broke stuff. thats why he quit.

 

[Mike N]

My brother did it for Mac. He will be filing for bankruptcy in the next month or so. It's a competitive business with a huge nut to crack at the end of the month. The only people who are doing well with it right now are the reps that have been at it for a while and are no longer paying a loan at the end of the month.

He actually did really well with it and was pulling six figures when he first started about ten or so years ago. I know he has a couple of awards from Mac for being top sales in his district. Then the auto industry started to take a dive. When techs aren't pulling in the hours they use to they don't buy to many tools. When they do buy that new $350.00 impact wrench, they only want to give the tool guy $20.00 a week for it. There are also a lot more hours per day involved than you might think. Not to mention you're a privet business with no health benefits or paid vacations. If you're not out there schlepping tools you're not making any money.

It can be a lucrative business if you have the start up capital but right now is not the best time to be in that business.

You're right, guys aren't buying tools like they used to. I've bought easily $30K worth of stuff off the tool trucks in the last 20+ years, but you won't see too many new guys buying that much. Alot of guys are buying used stuff off eBay or out of the classifieds. Also, you're seeing more guys using Craftsman and SK tools, simply because they're cheaper and come with the lifetime warranty.

There are even the guys with the el cheapo chinese tools straight from Harbor Freight. Believe it or not, the cheap stuff has come a long way. For s***s and grins a year ago I bought a $15 1/2" drive metric impact socket set. I've been beating the heck out of them for a year and have yet to break one. Not that I would scrap all my Snappy stuff for the HF stuff, but they've come a long way.

For the price of the Snappy/Mac/Matco stuff, and how crappy the economy is, this isn't a good time to be a tool dealer.

 

[mike phillips]

on a freightliner the nut on the alternator adjustment rod is 15/16. real close to the radiator. you need a 15/16 stubby wrench. snappers price $52. that was years ago. sears had a set on sale up to one inch. i bought the whole set cut the 15/16 down to the size i needed all for $31. hey how about the prices on an empty tool box $5000 and up to the skys the limit.