Views Of
The Business From A Lifer
This is a crazy business. You have
to be nuts to do it for a living.
First, you have to invest years of study and practice as well as many
thousands of dollars in tools and equipment.
Then you must be willing to continue to devote substantial amounts of
time keeping up on changes in technology and improving techniques. The tool expense diminishes, but is a
significant part of your budget for as long as you practice. As compensation for the effort, you embark
on a body-punishing journey punctuated by poor working conditions, lack of
respect, questionable pay schemes, and frustration.
I consider myself one of the lucky ones. I have had decent pay systems,
benefits, vacation, and 401K. This is due partly to my own emphasis on
high-tech diagnostics, which allows me to choose my employer. Unfortunately, this is not the common
situation.
Cancer
Since the general demise of union representation, various pay schemes have
come about. One of the most notorious
of these is the Flat Rate System. There
are variations of this, and many shops can implement this system in a way that
is a benefit to both customers and employees.
The nature of this system, however, lends itself to abuse. Under this system, the technician is paid by
the job, as a percentage of what the job is sold for. The pressure here is to sell more and do it as quickly as
possible. This often results is serious
degradation in customer service and quality of workmanship. Many techs find it hard to resist the
temptation to cut corners and sell services that are not required. Those that take the time to be sure the job
is done right, and only perform needed services, generally make less under this
system. Many shops will abuse this
system as well, and hire more techs than can be supported on the work
available. That way they have the work
force when work is heavy, and it costs them nothing if there is not enough
work. Techs can find themselves
starving in this situation.
Let’s just say I wouldn’t want my doctor on Flat Rate. As a repair customer, I would want to know
how the techs working on my car were paid.
This would be just as important to me as their qualifications, and a
primary concern in choosing a shop.
The Flat Rate system is a Cancer on the industry. Many young techs entering the field who are smart enough to learn
to work on these technological marvels we drive, are also smart enough to
realize their intelligence and skills can be more profitably put to use in
other areas. This is a brain drain on
future wrenches, and if it continues, will destroy the industry. We have to make this profession rewarding
and respectful to retain and nurture a viable work force. We also must have a work environment where
the seasoned veterans can mentor and train new entries into the field. This would be a place where the quick buck
is replaced with a longer-term view of profits and service; a place where a
person has a stable pay system and can concentrate on improving skills and
customer service. Shops that have this
long-term view will attract and hold qualified techs and customers, thereby
achieving a position, which will be hard to compete with.
The only way to cure this cancer is by making the Flat Rate pay scheme
unprofitable. This will only happen
when an enlightened consumer population starts choosing more wisely. A shop with a just and equitable pay system
may appear more expensive at first glance, but when your repair dollars are
focused on what YOU need and not how you can help the sales numbers, you can’t
lose.
So, ask how a potential service facility pays their employees who will be
working on your vehicle. If they use
the Flat Rate scheme, you might want to keep looking. Don’t say you were not warned.
Tom