Working in the dealership

   / Working in the dealership #31  
I hope it works out for you. I have been self employed for 37 years and would not have it any other way. I bounced around for the first years and would roll my tool box out the door to the highest bidder. I learned fast I always left with the same thing I came with. I have been stuck and it hurt but learned to not let it happen again. I have to pay my bills and the ones I work for have to there's. I make fair money and have always said I could make more working for someone else the problem is I would not better myself I would be bettering my employer. Folks don't realize the investment in tools and information it takes to run a successful operation they are both a killer for me. I will say my tool box don't roll anymore and I own everything in the shop including the building and land. I as soon sit here and do nut'N as work on credit are something that's not worth the repair bill. If I get a new customer I ask up front how are you going to pay me if I don't get the answer I want I tell them how they are going to pay me if that's not up to snuff with them they can move on. ...Waiting to get paid is not a excuse and I don't think it will work with your new employer...

If i were you I would sit down with my new employer and ask him how he want's me to handle prepayment/payment agreements on shop work... I will say every shop I worked in I learned something (and they thought I was stupid :) The local dealers charge a diagnostic fee up front folks stop by and tell me they want XXX amount up front just to look at there car. I tell'em what a concept why did'N I not think of it... I never fall into the trap of cost of repair if someone gets more than I do I want to know how they do it, live and learn is my motto... You are lucky all this wrenching has beat me down physically but has sharpen my brain...
Work less for more pay...

Years ago I needed a shoe fixed (if anyone can remember when they got there shoes resoled) I stopped by the local shoe repair and asked if he could fix me up he said yes it would take a week are so I asked how much he said $5... Humm it was the only pair I had I said I will give ya $10 to do it right now he said I am a week behind If i stop and do yours it will put me farther behind... I said I will give $20 to do it now he gave me the same excuses :( so I ask him are all these shoes you have on the rack out front for sale he said YES they are shoes I fixed they never were picked up. I am going to let you think about this I put another $20 with that at a shoe store up the street and walked out with a new pair of shoes. This guy had plenty of shoes he repaired for $5 that were never picked up but did not have time to take my money at my convinced.

One lesson I learned from the get go I work for the highest bidder and still do... The show will stop if someone comes in the door and willing to pay me more for there convinced. ...Convinced comes at a price.... Any thing after normal businesses hours are holidays is 2X my normal to high labor rate and folks pay it, its the cost of convinced.
 
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   / Working in the dealership
  • Thread Starter
#32  
I guess I haven't screwed up too bad over the last 2 months. I got given keys and the alarm code yesterday, and the official title and salaried raise to go with it today. Now that I have the hat, it's time to wear it. Let the adventure continue.

Brian
 
   / Working in the dealership #33  
I guess I haven't screwed up too bad over the last 2 months. I got given keys and the alarm code yesterday, and the official title and salaried raise to go with it today. Now that I have the hat, it's time to wear it. Let the adventure continue.

Brian

Good Job !
 
   / Working in the dealership #34  
Congratulations Brian. Sounds like a busy shop; I'm sure you'll do well there.

Keep us posted.... I'm certain you'll come across interesting problems to solve, that will be of interest to all....

Rgds, D.
 
   / Working in the dealership #35  
Brian Are you the Service Manager now?
 
   / Working in the dealership #37  
Congrats! Still doing any work on your own, or is this the only gig now?
 
   / Working in the dealership #39  
Yeah, I could sure see that. So you like the steady paycheck better than the freedom but with uncertainty? It seemed like you had a good gig going on there for quite a while, but I understand that things can change on you. Just curious - I know I could never go out on my own, for one.
 
   / Working in the dealership
  • Thread Starter
#40  
Yeah, I could sure see that. So you like the steady paycheck better than the freedom but with uncertainty? It seemed like you had a good gig going on there for quite a while, but I understand that things can change on you. Just curious - I know I could never go out on my own, for one.

It was good and was real close to turning the corner to being profitable and sustainable. My truck breaking down along with my biggest client moving their maintenance in-house was just too much for me to absorb.

Brian
 

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