The Honda dealer I worked for spent millions on a brand new shop while the techs didn't see a nickel. When I saw that salespeople were driving nicer cars then the techs, I got outta there faster than you could say VTEC.
My dealer owner had multiple dealer ships. Multiple multi million dollar homes. And constantly drove the lasted model g-wagon Brabus. They spent more time out of the country then at work.
@@Lancemechanics Bro, I'll tell you the dirty little secret about my dealership. The service manager would hire hot, young girls to work at the front desk and after hours, would take them down to a meeting room in the basement and offer money for sex. One girl finally pressed charges and the dealer paid her $250,000 to keep it hush-hush. Utterly disgusting they kept him til his retirement.
@@Lancemechanics Bro, I'll tell you the dirty little secret about my Honda dealership. The service manager would hire hot young girls to work at the front desk and after hours would take them down to a meeting room in the cellar and offer money for sex. One girl pressed charges and the dealer paid her $250,000 to keep it hush-hush. Utterly disgusting they kept him til his retirement.
@@Lancemechanics Bro, I'll tell you my Honda dealership's dirty little secret. The service manager would hire hot young girls to work at the front desk and after hours would bring them down to a meeting room in the cellar and offer money for intercourse. One girl pressed charges and the dealer paid her $250,000 to keep it hush-hush. Utterly disgusting they kept him til his retirement.
You took the words out of my mouth. Once I finished my education I left the Mechanic trade. Welding, Machining, Electrical and Mechanical Troubleshooting have served me well in life and I love working on my Harley’s and Old Jeep. Use it as a stepping stone and move on with your life. Couldn’t agree more! It’s always a conversation maker when new friends come over and see my huge MAC Toolbox and all my tools though 😂
Oh my gawd, yes! I LOVED cars, but a decade in an independent shop and a decade at a dealer totally burned me out. Sold all cool shit and just drive a GX I don’t even wanna repair when it’s broken 😅
Same. I went through BMW STEP in 2007 and left the dealership in 2012. Now I am back to enjoying working on my own stuff again. If you like working on cars don't do it for a living.
Never forget. In a dealership the technician is the 58th person in the queue to get paid. Doing 96% work and getting 4% appreciation for making them look good every single day.
💯, we are the lowest of the low in the dealerships where all the new sales guy show up for a cup of coffee and are parking in the service parking lot 1st day.
Thats what I kept telling everyone . Minimum wage workers deserve $14 an hour . And people making $14 ? Deserve $28 . Investors are grabbing 78 cents of every dollar . We deserve to be mistreated if we allow it
I took a large paycut when I left the dealership as a sales manager after almost 8 years and I have no regrets. Normal hours and my life back. No money is worth your time away from family.
Damn 33 is along time glad you finally woke up im going into my 6months in the dealership im at but im not staying a year trying to figure out what else i can get into
You’re absolutely correct I’ve been turning a wrench for 35 years !Owned a few shops retired, got back into it, and absolutely disgusted with everything that has to do with the auto repair industry !!!
I remember wanting to getting into the auto tech industry at 18, no one wanted to hire me because no certs or trade school. Now, they make carwashers and lot porters mechanics.
13 year CJRD tech here, well as of 3 weeks ago I quit the dealer, thank god. The nail in the coffin for me was the idiot, pylon service manager hired 3 more untrained techs just to fill the bays. We were not busy enough to justify hiring 3 more guys just to fill those bays. So obviously these new guys have zero training so they aren’t qualified to fix the warranty jobs or recalls. It is blatantly obvious the pylon manager is feeding the new guys all the customer pay gravy jobs. Guess what’s left for the fully trained veteran techs? Yup, the garbage shit jobs that pay peanuts. Put up with that for about a month, the only good thing was it gave me lots of spare time to go through job ads. This trade is trash, the only people that make money are the thieves and new guys getting hooked up. These dealerships need to get introduced to the wrecking ball.
@@EVS-w1m All these service department managers are all the same, a bunch of spineless yes men for the dealer owner or principal. They want their numbers any way possible and they could care a less how they treat the technicians. Congrats on getting out of the worst industry in modern day history.
Not a lot of people have courage to leave their comfort zone. I am here in US ran into same crap, I kept telling my manager we here to fix vehicles not just put parts in. I got let go from 5 different dealerships on these principles. They want to me to installed parts without any reasonable cause. I left dealer world and started my own shop. I learned so much on my own with less stress, the best part is i feel like i am a better tech now then when i was in the dealership. Congratulations on your new journey.
The biggest trap employers do is try to keep you. Opportunity is always out there. it's just up to you to leave. Most jobs aren't worth staying past 2 years unless it's consistent growth both in pay and knowledge. Always look ahead and never settle.
Same in health care... they make you work 3 different jobs for same pay and understafff. No lunch breaks no raises no compesqtion for working with covid people . F america @DayTwo-w8n
I was a tech for 19 years before I got fed up enough to jump ship. It’s scary when you first make the change but it was totally worth it. The way techs are paid is all bullshit. The guy that’s smart enough to solve difficult problems makes the least money. It’s all about banging out jobs that pay the most time and avoiding any work that doesn’t pay well. Often times the guy making the most is just really good at cheating is what it boils down to. Then you get favoritism between advisors and techs where on guy gets fed all the gravy tickets. It was hard to leave but only because it’s all I knew since high school. Once I got my foot in manufacturing I have been so much happier. I have been out of the automotive job for 6 years now and I will never go back. This was a great video! Very honest and REAL!
I got out 20 years ago. Anything is better then automotive. I’m an engineer on a tug now. Better pay, no BS, equal time off. Let me tell you something about boats unlike cars they actually design boats to be easy to work on. You can walk around every engine, and everything was designed with the way it should be. The best comparison is a 1960s or 70s car compared to a modern one.
Big difference between a recreational POS boat and a 100ft offshore tug. Those recreational boats are an Fing nightmare to work on! We’re talking about stuffing 10 lbs of shit into a 5 lb bag. Doesn’t matter how big they are the designers were more interested in stuffing in an extra stateroom or head at the cost of serviceability. You can’t even stand up in the engine rooms of most of them. Commercial boats are a whole different animal. Even a little 25 foot pushboat has room to work and an engine room that you can stand up in.
Congrats brother. You never made a mistake. Great choice and courageous! I Left Automotive 11/2023 ex Porsche, Benz, Audi technician. There is NOT a shortage of “Good” technicians, there’s a shortage of good dealerships.
I have owned a shop since 77. Never paid flat rate. Techs get a min. or 20% of our sales after the threshold is hit. I never understood flat rate at being a team attitude generator.
Flat rate pits technicians against each other, it's the opposite of a team attitude generator. Usually there's like one or two guys making big money and everyone else barely scraping by. Inb4 someone calls me lazy.. I've paid my dues trust me
There needs to be balance though. Hourly techs aren't good neither, as it incentivizes lazy techs to let the hard workers/good techs do all the work, while they just sit on their asses all day doing nothing, still getting paid as the ones turning hours. I speak this from experience.
I’m from MN and I was a powersports/marine tech for almost 8 years, 6 years full time. And I just left the mechanic industry also. Same thing, salesman and service writers who don’t know a Philips from a flathead making 2-4x more then me when I’m doing all the work. Plus all the shady business practices and getting questioned constantly even tho I barely get any comebacks. Pay has been absolutely garbage also. 1st shop- $14hr with 10% commission in the summer I averaged 25-30hr but In the winter we were dead so it averaged out to $18 for the whole year. Been there a year and a half with no pay raise even tho they raised the shop labor rate. 2nd shop $15 hr and after almost 3 years of being their only certified master tech for BRP I was still only at $22hr. 3rd shop was the only decent paying job which I was at $29hr but no benefits and that was by far the worst shop I’ve ever worked in. Finally after all this with back and neck issues staring to become worse and worse I called it quits. In my opinion any mechanic industry weather it’s diesel, automotive, powersports or whatever, is by far the worst trade to ever get into. I don’t regret it because I’ve learned a ton of valuable skills and knowledge but I will never step foot in a mechanic shop ever again. If any young person is thinking about going to school for this trade industry, I highly encourage you to do something else.
You're one of the few techs on this platform with brutal honesty, the automotive field sucks. There are quite a few shills that prothselitize about how great this field is. Every other trade the worker gets paid hourly, it is just too easy for the flat rate system to be abused by employers, all the short comings of the shop is placed on the backs of technicians, if they don't like you they can just give you no work and drum you out, no unemployment benefits for you.
Flat rate is soooo outdated it ain't funny. About 50 years or so. To top it off, I don't recall anyone making a fuss about it. I "may" have seen an article or two about it, but no follow up.
It's different in certain countries. You can get per hour rates all over the world working in Automotive. There are bad experiences but there are good ones too. I don't know what I would be doing if it wasn't for this industry. I also have had good and bad experiences in workplaces. No more than the creator of this video said, you gotta be a go getter, sometimes that means leaving where you know. I have a lot of friends that left the industry for the same reasons that he did but they were not willing to move and get paid better and treated fairly somewhere else.
@@GerardBurkeBurkesGarageexactly. I don’t like how this man completely shits on the industry when here in California it’s hourly rate and even at places like CarMax they offer incentives like meeting a certain quota of cars sold a week, and then EVERYONE at the dealership gets a percentage of that quota met….
Your story sounds alot like mine. I worked as a Lincoln Mercury Technician from 1977 to 2008. I've always disliked the way we were paid. Towards the later years, I had the opportunity to join a major Corporation that was into Hybrid technology for Medium Duty trucks. What a life changing experience. Salary with overtime, great benefits and lots of travel all over the country. The best move I ever made. Dealership life is for the birds. You're right about the pay. Take my advice. Take your talent and tools and look outside the dealership.
Great video dude! I’m not an auto tech, I’m a heavy duty mechanic. On our side of the wrench world it isn’t bad. I’m glad you’re into heavy equipment now!
When you find a decent employer in heavy duty, it's a pretty good way to go. I worked in automotive for all of 3 months starting out and immediately figured this is NOT for me. Even HD shops with efficiency bonuses can stick it.
I thought it was only “unskilled” workers who were getting lowballed by the powers that be, under the guise that “you need to have a marketable skill if you expect to be paid”. At least that’s what the corporate owners, executives, pundits and politicians always say. You have a marketable(and very lucrative for the bosses and owners) and you still got screwed. It goes to show that the system isn’t skilled vs unskilled, it’s owners and executives against EVERYONE.
I disagree. I was a service technician for 6 years. A writer for six months and a Ford Service Manager for 19 years. I always took care of my technicians. Many times I paid them more than myself. Us Service Managers were getting beat up by dealer principals and general managers wanting more and more revenue. Glad I seen the light and got out of the business after 25 years.
I am a lead tech for the usps. Made over 100k last year working 11 months. Never work hard, not sure what i would be doing to make the money i make doing the easy work i do.
Lead tech shop foreman for Subaru $100k + a year. Had a kid quit and started a Handyman business $250k my 4th year. I’m on my way to $300k this year. Thank the lord Jesus Christ our savior.
Good for you on getting out, I just recently did the same. It’s not just the dealerships, everywhere you go people have champagne taste but a PBR budget when it comes to paying techs. The market has been over saturated for far too long. It’s telling that even with the so called “tech shortage” dealerships are still up to their shenanigans. It doesn’t get any better when you go independent either. People just see us as slaves to the auto industry, and I don’t think it’ll get any better until the last tool box closes.
Congratulations on getting out, too. I personally hope it all comes crashing down. But the average person is going to suffer. We both know the garages will use this as an excuse to raise the door rate as techs become a commodity:/
@@Lancemechanics I don’t so much have a problem with the door rates. It’s more the way the money is distributed, and people’s attitude in general towards techs. In dealerships and independent shops we’re treated like crap by management, service writers, etc… then if you become self employed it just transfers over to the general public. I’m sure you’ve experienced the situation when as soon as you tell someone you’re a mechanic, they automatically start thinking you’ll fix their car for free.
After a decade at a Mazda dealer suffering the same bullshit, all of what he’s described! Constantly getting squeezed for more all while barely scraping by on a 100+hrs check, and no benefits. Meanwhile managers drive free cars and make 6 figures.. , and think pizza will fix morale.. all while you can’t afford the cars you’re working on daily! And also, how long can person grind, your body won’t last forever! 20 years in, I’m fuckin tired, fam. Super thankful to be a union technician for a few years now. Some may think unions aren’t good for various reasons, but my family and I are very happy to support and have the support.
@@markm0000but there is not a influx of intelligence. These kids think they have it figured out… what they don’t understand is that experience is the real learning trait. Just TH-cam isn’t cutting it in the auto industry. They loose focus and composure quick and soon leave to another dealer… it’s not a great world and it should be known that 75% of your technician co workers would have started in the industry enjoying working on cars and, now can’t stand them for what they were to them…
I did 17 years in law enforcement & this is how it happened: Hired - 4 years in - "I hate this job, but I'm vested in 2 years I'd be an idiot if I left before 6" 6 years in - "I still hate this job, but they finally gave us the pay we rallied for & the health insurance & retirement is great but I'm going to start looking elsewhere" 8 years in - Married with kids "I still really hate this job but nobody else offers family health coverage this good" 10 years in - "I'm miserable. But I'm ⅔ vested in two more years, I can't leave before then or I'll lose these past 4 years" 14 years in - Institutionalized "I can't work in an office I'd get fired. Then where would my family be?" 16 years in - Kids are almost grown, divorced, zero tolerance for BS "I swear for Jesus if y'all F with me one little bit I'm gonna catch a charge myself & strip buck nekkid & walk out this bish" 17 years in - They F'd with me over some petty sh*t & I turned in my equipment & uniforms same day. Scared, not knowing what the future would hold, went on to a different career path & for the first time in almost two decades I was happy. I wish I could go back & pimp slap my younger self for not making the jump sooner. Employers act like there are droves of folk that want your job so they minimize the importance of their employees, minimizing them as assets. I treat my people well, because if you take care of your employees they will take care of you. You would think that's simple to understand but to big agencies/companies it just isn't.
I used to deliver parts/drivetrain to all dealerships and shops. A lot of people don’t know the amount of work techs do. They literally rip half the car apart for some bs. And not get paid enough
Interior removal and dash removal is the norm now. Even on low end cars. People buy cheap cars and expect mercedes quality. :/ lots of noise complaints from. Dashes
@@Lancemechanics Cuz they're not educated; car payments with high interest rates, full coverage insurance, and extended warranty/insurance contract plans. They're paying the same for a Mercedes...
I love your honesty. I got licensed in Ontario in 1994, then left the industry in 2004 for pretty much the same reasons you are talking about. I've been in the telecommunications industry since leaving the mechanic trade. I have never regretted the move I made.
6th year in this industry and 2nd year as flat rate, i did ok on my first year, made a couple hundred bucks shy of 100k but really isnt much in BC. Everything u said is right, the stress, the idiotic/uninformed decisions management makes, having to spend hours of my own time combing through all my work orders every few months just to make sure im paid what im owed. Everytime ive checked, im always short paid. Please make another video about the options u've explored or other techs can explore after leaving. Im not very knowledgeable on other fields that want our skillset besides heavy duty.
I am so glad to see somebody finally putting this out in the open. I worked for the same auto manufacturer for 20+ years They are more worried about selling flushes instead of taking care of the things the people come in for. Flat rate for warranty or customer pay is a crime to a tech. We put people on the road with millions of others. Plumber gets $80+ per hr , we put people on the road where no one pays attention anymore. Techs make it happen for the customer not the person behind the desk. So glad I left the industry 10 yrs ago. Best choice I've made. Thanks for putting the truth out there for the techs.
I’m an independent mobile heavy equipment mechanic, I make over twice as much as when I worked for an equipment dealer, it’s not for everyone as you have to be fully dedicated but customers pay for good work.
I was never in the automotive industry but man. When you said those young guys don't want to take the risk of leaving to start another career, I felt that. Because when I was young, I stuck to a job I hated as I didn't want to risk losing the current job to jump onto the next. There were so many interviews in the manufacturing industry I could've gone to if I would have just not showed up to work when they denied my day off.
Man thanks for making these videos, I left the industry after 15 years I’m a train conductor now( which is different stress) much less stress . This just helps explain to my friends and family why I am done in the industry . Thank you for this video.
Everything you said is spot on, I was a master ASE/Honda tech at a dealership for nearly 20 yrs and I left because I was sick of the BS. Best decision for me!! 👍🏼
My buddy got out of prison and was making bank as a manager of a discount shop. I was retired and really out of shape, so he got me a job as a service writer/gs a few years ago. I only did my own work and maintenance prior to that, but no real experience. They asked me to run another shop about 6 months later and I walked out at the end of the next month. Techs were ripping people off left and right and I had no way to discipline them. This chain of shops would move people as disciplinary actions and these techs were driving as far as they possibly could, so they had no more cards to play. It showed me how much opportunity there is out there for mobile mechanics and I branched out on my own after working at Autozone for another 3 months. I want to make an app like uber or door dash for mobile vehicle maintenance where techs can make way more for their skills.
Im glad you addressed stress. Its a very underrated component. Im glad you landed on your feet also. Im getting out in 26’. Will hit my 30yr mark. I work for a large retail tire company and we do free batt test - alignment checks- rotates- some diagnostic. And im done. The odds are just to stacked.
Been working on cars for 45 years. Only a small fraction of that as an auto tech. They wouldn't send me to schools to learn the new stuff yet wanted me to fix it. I bailed. Work on airplanes now and it's starting to get to be the same. Fortunately I'm a year and a half from retirement. I don't want to learn anymore. I'm in neutral waiting for the ticket out. Take care all you young guys. You'll be where I am someday.
Many of the dealers in my area are now 3rd generation. Seems like this is when things go down hill fast. The kids get some college degree in business and get handed the keys to the show in their early 20’s. They never actually worked all the roles in the dealership like a good principle should. Try to implement cost savings measures and push out the best talent. I left dealer life and never looked back. I did work at mom and pop shops and “hobby shops” building classic cars but those present there own unique challenges too. 20 years into the field and now I maintain a fleet of 40) school busses. It’s not glamorous but the pay is great and consistent. The focus is on quality of work not quantity.
I did the same thing you did got out years ago once I realized it was an uphill battle that you will never win not to mention all the money you have to spend on tools, constantly updating software and competing with the other techs in the shop for jobs. Now I work in the AC, no work hazards and no overhead costs just to do my job. A lot of my coworkers did the same thing yours did they get stuck or they think that there’s nothing else out there but if you’re a hard enough worker to do mechanic work, you’re a hard enough worker to do a lot of things.
Thanks for posting. I got out at the age of 48. The Thing that did it was the Micro-Management. The hounding of the Store manager. So in closing Congrats for getting out.
That's exactly why I left the auto biz in 1985. The last straw was when the owner raised shop rate $2 an hr, and CUT our rates by $2 hr. Techs were ALWAYS getting cut. The stress was insane! Back in the 70's, I read an article by the late Smokey Yunick who advised a young guy to NOT going into the mechanic trade. (these wre 1970's prices) "Look kid, You'll end up paying 10 grand for tools, you'll have to learn the trade on your own (it'll take years), You'll make a sub-standard wage, no benefits, th shop owner will treat you like a slave, there's no retirement/ benefits, and everyone will think you're a crook." I bailed out, and sold tools for 15 years, then become a plumber..
I was thankful to be Hourly at a shop that treated techs well when I got out. Pay could have been better but I didn't have to do hours of additional work, just to get paid, like when I was flat rate. My observation (this was 2012) when I left flat rate is that the manufacturers and dealers wanted cheap parts replacers. Diag was a fight to get time for. I have friends in it that are doing better at their respective brands. But they still have to play the game. I now sit at a desk, make more money, and work for a boss that really appreciates our time.
You are correct in many things you have said but there are other options rather than a bad dealership, independent workshops and family run businesses can offer an alternative with a very different approach than a dealership. You can get per hour rates all over the world working in automotive not just flat rate. There are bad experiences but there are good ones too. I don't know what I would be doing if it wasn't for this industry. I also have had good and very bad experiences in workplaces.
As you mentioned you gotta be a go getter, 100% you have to be adaptable and move to where you are valued if needed, sometimes that means leaving the only place you know but it's gotta be done. I have a lot of friends that left the industry for the same reasons that you did but they were not willing to move and get paid better and treated fairly somewhere else. I was willing to move to literally anywhere in the world that provided a better balance and pay. For me it happened to be Oz but I considered all options before leaving Ireland. We are all restricted to our locality as Techs and if you have bad shops around you that means only one option remains if you want a better life as a Automotive Technician. I hope it continues to work out for you, good video for many people to get an insight.
oh 100% I feel i may end up opening my own garage in the future. going to enjoy the heavy equipment world for a bit cause i got on with a company that treats there employees very well! 500 people and they are all mechanics. they do not hire unlicensed people to run things internally and people stay 10, 20, 30 years. Sometimes you just go to move!
Because of the low pay and little respect at dealers, we have no shortage of dealer mechanics who will take on a side job on occasion when needed at our small garage. It also gives us a chance to learn things from the dealer mechanics.
Yep. I was the diagnostician for all diesel driveability work and anything “heavy line” at my Ford dealership for several years and it became exceedingly obvious that the two people who always took it in the shorts were the mechanic and the customer. I got out 16 years ago to a career making less money at first, but quality of life improved greatly. A year later I was making just as much, and within a few years started making more. With a bachelor’s degree I’ve grown into a leadership position. None of this would’ve been possible working at a dealership. I loved being a mechanic (and still do it on the side) but everything else about the dealership life just sucked all the enjoyment out of it. Good on you for having the courage to get yourself out.
I tried off and on since highschool to get into the auto/ diesel tech field. It never seemed to work out because I wasn't "one of the good ol' boys". I see now in the long run, I was spared the misery.
I definitely agree with all that you said. I currently work for an independent after leaving Ford after 5 years. I hate working on cars. I used to love it. It isn’t worth the money. The stress. The pain. Etc.
Ever get a Windstar torque converter warranty recall? Lmao, = 3.4 hours, cust pay around 10-12 hrs. I must've done 20 of those things. Best I could do was around 5.5 hours. (After doing a few, early 2,000 era)
I got out of the aviation field. The completion center used to be a place of pride. Then the company started assembly line where you had one function and the customer had only 5 choices for interiors. Did not care about employees. People left in mass.
I worked one summer as an UnderCar Technician for a major west coast tire dealership. One day I looked at the older guy working in the alignment bay and thought to myself "that's as good as it's ever going to get" and shortly thereafter I resigned. I have recuring dreams about places I've worked but never about that job
I can undercut a brake job by nearly 500 dollars easily, and make twice as much money. F being in the trade anymore. You are spot on with your assessment. Techs are zero cost. And are treated as 3rd rate employees. All the "change lightbulbs" and other such slave labor is ridiculous. I got out 5 years ago, ill put a box on a shelf before i ever consider going back to a dealership.
Many years ago in a high school automotive class, the instructor one day remarked "the level of respect in the automotive trade is one step up from a a garbage man". That quote still holds true with the dealer / shop and the general public in many cases. The worst is when the customer brings in youtube videos on how to "do the job" and the tuber did it in ten minutes. dealer principle = b.s. artists. service managers = wolves in sheep's clothing and suck up to the b.s. artists
yep u tubers even the hi tech guys edit and makes it look simple, i asked several of them to tell the actual time of these diags and none will respond or do that. they are the kings right, they want the views and praises from their audience. if they would state how long it took to make that diag call everyone would benefit, so the customers and people watching would have a better understanding of the cost associated with it. just my 3 cents
First time viewer and you touch on several Great key points of the Dealerahip industry. I made the same move you did, in 2001. Having taking both, gas & diesel programs; I decided to leave VW and work in the school bus (fleet) industry. Since then, I’ve worked in other fields, at different companies that cater to the airlines and in landscaping. These opened up my eyes and exposed me to other amazing advancement opportunities. Which offer new technology and much better pay. I’m happy you are doing better and for sharing your content.
Back in the late 90s, right after high school I went to automotive school and used to work at a local dealership. A lot of guys at the dealership told me to get out while I was still young. It was the weirdest thing to hear at my young age back then. The parts manager was very specific about what I should do. He told me to get into IT. I listened and got into IT. Never looked back. I am thankful for them being brutally honest with me back then.
@@randysavage1997 Another thing I was told was that I could make up to $70,000 a year. Adjusted for inflation, that is roughly $140,000 today. They (school counselors and others) left out some convenient details on that. I wasn't even making $15,000. Yes, you read that right. I worked two jobs to have enough money to buy tools. My second job was a dishwasher at a local seafood restaurant. I wasn't a bum auto technician either, I won awards while in school and literally had customers coming to the dealership requesting that I work on their cars. My name was known around town. I understood about experience and paying my dues and whatnot back then as it relates to salary, but my pay was so low that I literally found an entry level security guard job sitting on my behind and walking around a building once an hour for 8 hours that paid more money than what I was making at the dealer. I used that job to pivot into IT. I loved working on cars (and still do as a hobby), but the money was terrible. If you have an interest in the field and you are a young guy, do your research and take a proactive approach to move around to increase your pay as your experience increases. You do have better tools at your disposal now than I did back then to make a well-informed decision. The workplace politics were off-putting as well. It never went over well whenever I'd diagnose something that others with more experience couldn't figure out. Work was being done behind my back for them to get paid as opposed to me finishing the job. I am rambling a bit, but just wanted to give you insight on my experience back in the late 90s in the auto repair business.
@@randysavage1997im 20 and im ready to leave this behind only being in it almost 2 years i went to trade school for 18 months now 7 months in a dealership every morning on my way walking in i say to my self if i cant live like this doing all this labor for the least pay there’s have to be another way 💯
I would probably be in the same boat. Buttt I am lucky to have a dad that has built something up. We have a family built transmission parts store a tire shop renting one building and the transmission shop my pops started that I left to go work on my own in our 10k sq ft warehouse. I only have two lifts right now but I’m cranking out jobs. I haven’t made any real money but it’s only been a couple of months. I make my own hours work on my own stuff when I want and just enjoy the day. When I don’t have work I can just build transmissions
i can sympathize with you, i know the auto industry definitely sucks right now for technicians. i am the shop foreman for a honda dealer and i can say we recently had all of our fluid mait labor times cut to dam near in half with only minor adjustments to charge prices while also raising general labor rates accross the board. truthfully i feel like i am paid too much to leave at this point but i certainly hear you though when you talk about the struggles in this industry. im in the US too so is sucks all over lol
Oof..I don't know what those times are at but man, the maintenance times are already low everywhere. :( Those new 9 and 10speeds suck to do, and we were only getting .5 to do them
Wouldn’t believe how much your story resonates with me, I was in a ford dealership in Australia for 15 years, it took along time but I finally pulled the trigger and got out, for pretty much the same reasons you are talking about. Always fighting with the dealer principal about pay and workloads. We went from been the number one ford dealer in the country to a back water and well hated operation by many people in a matter of years. Sad reality of big business that are poorly managed. Thanks for sharing with us.
I loves cars my whole life and I loved working on my own. But when they say "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" it almost puts me in a rage thinking I wasted my early and mid 20's being a mechanic and have really only some tools to show for it
You made a lot of great points. I've been a tech for almost 30 years now, never worked in a dealership and never intend to. Luckily I got both automotive and truck license so I've been working in a private fleet based shop for 19 years now and at a supervisor level for 12 years. Unfortunately there is some drama breaking out amongst the staff now, worse than ever before, and a change of job maybe inevitably around the corner.
Nine years at a Ford dealership and I'm totally cooked. Currently searched to escape the automotive repair field and something else a try also. Sad thing is I too discourage every one young person looking to become a tech and tell them its just not worth it anymore. Unfortunately I don't see any real changes in the future either, just more pizza party band-aids.
Forgot about the pizza parties :( yeah the days I can recommend the industry again will be good times. Right now I'm pushing heavy equipment..it's hard work but great pay.
@@Lancemechanics I started out on heavy equipment and semis. Currently in the commercial truck side with Ford. I'll probably just pivot back to working on tractor trailers. Thanks for the awesome videos man, keep em coming.
when i was younger and first figuring out what trade to get into my dad talked me out of auto, i went a different route and today im grateful that i listened to him. i see the lack of care with engineering in my field, i can only imagine how much of a nightmare it must be to work on modern vehicles.
Glad you left and encouraged others to follow. I did 12 years with ford and finally got out of it and went to the city, and now am with a power company. So much less stressful. Glad I learned what I did at the dealer, but will NEVER go back.
This is why there is a shortage of mechanics. Job security doesn't exist when you work for somebody else. If you have the skills, start working for your self on the side & once you have enough customers, (that won't take long when you get the whole pie) dump your boss & open your own business. The only regret I have is not doing it sooner.
Best video I've seen in a while. Wanted to he a mechanic for a bit, figured id keep it in my garage. Welding now and its alright, all just stepping stones
Been there done that. Was a Ford dealer tech for 30 plus years. What was the final straw for e was the dealership I worked for decided to do free alignment checks. Meaning the techs were not getting paid for the alignment checks not the dealer was eating the cost. Won't be long before all the good techs leave. By the way I was voted technician of the year for my dealership the year before I left
The dealer I worked at that did this had Hunter install an alignment checker in the service drive and made the service writers do it on every car that came in the shop. I can't say we sold a significantly higher amount of alignments because of it.
A "svc writer" at the dealer I worked at would toss flour on the drive & roll the car over the flour, lol. He swore up/down that it was the most accurate way, analyzing the tire tread pattern in the flour, lmao!
Pretty soon there's going to be a shortage of technicians, what are they going to do if they can't find people to service the vehicles. I think all of you guys should go independent! I hate dealerships anyway,from sales to parts to repairs. I hate setting foot in a dealership. I wish you great success, hopefully your fellow technicians will grow some testes and do the same!!
You aren't old enough to remember that Chrysler started all of this in 1965. Gave a 50,000 mile warranty and started customer pay and warranty time. We should have all walked out back the. Next step was flat rate hours, different pay scales and pay amounts. They could change dollar signs on flat rate hours and steal money from you. Thank God I'm out of that nightmare after 56 years.
I too have left the automotive field, Dec 2023, and have never looked back! 20+ years as a Ford Master Technician, and everything you have said about the flat rate system is bang on! I too kept a log book with my flat rate times, because there where instances were service advisors didn’t honour what the job paid, or deduct your time without notice! And warranty work don’t pay shit! I commend you for leaving, and best of luck with your bright future! The automotive is a greedy industry, and the flat rate system creates animosity not just with other technicians, but everyone in the dealership.
I guess I got lucky. I graduated college with an automotive degree way back in 1981. After working for min wage in a parts department, I had the opportunity to learn upholstery. Did that for 4 years then jumped into sales for upholstery supplies and never looked back. As I am retired now, I’m thinking of buying an old school car that I can work on. I can do some of my own work on my newer vehicles but not the computer related crap. I don’t blame you guys for jumping ship one bit!
I left in 2020 when covid hit. I am much happier now. I have been saying exactly what you are saying for years, but everybody always looks at me like I'm crazy. Glad to hear someone with a respectable voice speaking up on these things. WE are the money makers, and all they do is beat the shit out of us. I'm never going back, but I'm lucky that I don't have kids or major bills to worry about that would require me to go back.
Totally with you here. I was a Chrysler tech and a GM tech for a little bit years ago and I saw signs then. I ended up going to heavy equipment repair and maintenance for a fleet company and I love that.
Ten years into automotive I did the same thing. Left to fixed other things and made more. I agree the stress outside of automotive is way less. Took two years for me to find my passion in cars again. When I left I could barely stomach looking at fun car builds. Now I feel like I have a ton of new ideas in my head for build stuff.
Exactly true. Work all year. Bust your ass 5 to 6 days a week. sometimes 12 hour days. And in all reality you get about 4 months of all that take home pay.Then you have to pay taxes whenever you buy anything. WTF
I feel you. The same thing happened to me at the dealership I use to work at. They did the exact same thing on wheel alignments. I said later did a career change. I do miss working on cars but I don’t miss the stress.
I'm currently an apprentice for autobody refinishing, not sure it's the same as automotive mechanics but its a pretty rough trade in its own way too. I like it but at the same time don't like it, but am not sure what else to do and have already gone to school for it, bought some tools etc.
good video on safety i did and not one autobody guy is looking out for there long term health. do you wear gloves, p100 respirators ect. is answer is no. gtfo. you won't live long man. I know bodyman who opened detailing shops are doing extremely well. yes still has chemical use but they're able to take the time to be safe. my neighbor is a bodyman at 38 and caughs up blood regularly :(
@@Lancemechanics I do care for my health and always wear a respirator and gloves etc, but I still feel that being around so many chemicals and the dust is bad and contradicts the healthy lifestyle I lead outside of work. A lot of techs Ive seen in shops are older and dont seem to care about health, not wearing respirators etc
Congratulations on getting out!! I did the dealer life for 14 years. I was honestly looking to leave the automotive life all together then a government job came up working for a large police fleet. My stress level went down 100%, you can’t beat the time off, etc….
I feel for you and you did the right thing for you. The customer is screwed first by the price increase for the alinement price, the fee/hr., the price hike for the parts they sell.
Mechanics used to get 50% of the labor rate. When I started in 1982 they would complain to me about the pay cuts down to 45%, them 40%, then flat rate not connected to labor rates at all. Even though I make great money, it could be much better at those days rates. I'd have made double what I did last year.
I’ve pretty much quit, even though I’m not a technician or mechanic in the industry. Considered being a mechanic when I was younger, but since modern vehicles are a PITA to work on, I lost interest. I’ll be a mechanic on the side, but for a full time job? Not really.
The mechanic stories are the same everywhere, labor rates are unreal, the dealerships here have labor rates starting at $280/hr (U.S.), and the starting rate for mechanics at the same time, is $12-$15 hr, what is the quality of mechanics going to be? Beginner mechanics that don't yet have a hearty supply of tools, they will have to depend on the trucks, the $12-$15 is going to go how far?
That was a wise decision to get out while you could. I got out after almost forty years as a Tech. It was different when I started many years ago. The flat rate pay back in the day was good. Now they just treat, even guys like me that have decades of experience like peasants. Cutting back labor times and the hourly pay. They also kept on hiring kids with hardly any experience and payong them peanuts. Then they wonder why the service department quality goes down the toilet. And they lose customers.
Good for you young man. I quit working for others decades ago. The automotive industry has always exploited its labor and it sounds like it’s getting worse.
yeah I'm glad i left, i wonder how a apprentice even starts these days, things in last 5 years are worse then when i got in. i don't think they can honestly.
Too many hands in the pot. If you want to be a technician of ANY kind, always remember this: "Work for someone who writes checks, not excuses." -random truck driver
I spent almost 10 years playing the game. I'm repurposing Cummins diesels for underground use and fixing haulers now. Welding, fabrication, etc. Not glamorous and intend to move up/sideways, but it's hourly and has health insurance. Like you said, the stress level alone is worth the change! Good job getting out man.
You are not the money maker you are still a number. If you ever create a company wink wink it’s not that easy you will learn until then you will still have no clue. It’s not you it’s education and experience. You will get there. “Hopefully”
Good on you if it's not in your heart. Do what's best for you . Then Dealerships wonder why they don't have, good reliable employees to work for them because of their greed.
I got into auto body in 84, loved the trade, but through the years the insurance companies gradually dominated it and called all the shots. With some stuffed shirt in an office deciding how much time each collision job should take, and the majority of replacement parts and panels being illfitting aftermarket junk, I left tne trade a few years ago.
feel your pain i run a collision shop just changed to a 4 day work week dropped all our drps have loads of factory certs and like to think i have a part code for every bs item that pops up. and raised our rates exponentially. still scheduling weeks out and getting the techs paid for what they do. i get every customer involved because if the ins doesn't pay they do. we have had enough.
As of this month after 11 years, I have officially been fed up with the automotive industry. We have been so slow since September that I’m working on my days off just to get hours and I still haven’t seen 40 hours a week except one time in 8 months and I barely hit it. It’s exhausting, my body is sore and the stress level at work and at home due to work is unreal.
@@Lancemechanics I’m actually going back to my original roots which was management at Valvoline. Worked there as my first job for 4 years and had no issues whatsoever. The only reason I left was for the automotive side of it. I actually got hired yesterday, so I’m putting a 1 week notice tomorrow morning. I can’t wait to be out. They told me they’ll have me start first thing if they let me go early.
I got out years ago, I had to. My body wasn't happy with the job, so I worked out my house for a little while. It didn't last long. So now I'm trying to just keep up with my stuff. For the first couple of months, friends would beg me to fix their stuff, but it just hurt too much. Now, when friends ask I offer my knowledge and my tools. But that's not enough. Now, all the projects are all gone, and my car collection is all but sold. I do miss hopping in one of my cars. And going down the track like my hair was on fire. But I do have the memories.
![ILLSLICK - KILLSHOT REMIX [FULL VERSION]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/RIK8RrqIAzE/mqdefault.jpg)
The Honda dealer I worked for spent millions on a brand new shop while the techs didn't see a nickel. When I saw that salespeople were driving nicer cars then the techs, I got outta there faster than you could say VTEC.
My dealer owner had multiple dealer ships. Multiple multi million dollar homes. And constantly drove the lasted model g-wagon Brabus. They spent more time out of the country then at work.
@@Lancemechanics Bro, I'll tell you the dirty little secret about my dealership. The service manager would hire hot, young girls to work at the front desk and after hours, would take them down to a meeting room in the basement and offer money for sex. One girl finally pressed charges and the dealer paid her $250,000 to keep it hush-hush. Utterly disgusting they kept him til his retirement.
@@Lancemechanics Bro, I'll tell you the dirty little secret about my Honda dealership. The service manager would hire hot young girls to work at the front desk and after hours would take them down to a meeting room in the cellar and offer money for sex. One girl pressed charges and the dealer paid her $250,000 to keep it hush-hush. Utterly disgusting they kept him til his retirement.
@@Lancemechanics Bro, I'll tell you my Honda dealership's dirty little secret. The service manager would hire hot young girls to work at the front desk and after hours would bring them down to a meeting room in the cellar and offer money for intercourse. One girl pressed charges and the dealer paid her $250,000 to keep it hush-hush. Utterly disgusting they kept him til his retirement.
I used to work for a Honda dealership. One thing I can say is they do take care of their customers. Their employees, however, they treat like garbage.
I was with BMW for 11 years. Don't do it, if you enjoy working on cars save it for yourself as a hobby and find another career.
Amen. Electrician, HVAC, accountant, civic employee, whatever. So many other more lucrative/less bs things to do out there.
You took the words out of my mouth. Once I finished my education I left the Mechanic trade. Welding, Machining, Electrical and Mechanical Troubleshooting have served me well in life and I love working on my Harley’s and Old Jeep. Use it as a stepping stone and move on with your life. Couldn’t agree more! It’s always a conversation maker when new friends come over and see my huge MAC Toolbox and all my tools though 😂
Yup I keep it strictly as a hobby
Oh my gawd, yes! I LOVED cars, but a decade in an independent shop and a decade at a dealer totally burned me out. Sold all cool shit and just drive a GX I don’t even wanna repair when it’s broken 😅
Same. I went through BMW STEP in 2007 and left the dealership in 2012. Now I am back to enjoying working on my own stuff again. If you like working on cars don't do it for a living.
Never forget. In a dealership the technician is the 58th person in the queue to get paid. Doing 96% work and getting 4% appreciation for making them look good every single day.
I feel that :(
Absolutely this
💯, we are the lowest of the low in the dealerships where all the new sales guy show up for a cup of coffee and are parking in the service parking lot 1st day.
And that is the main reason I got out of being a mechanic I never felt appreciated to all the long hours and hard work I put in
😂❤😊
That's the way I like it 😊❤
The amount of work to pay doesn’t equal out. Chick-fil-A workers got paid more then me and I was working on expensive Lexus vehicles.
Thats what I kept telling everyone . Minimum wage workers deserve $14 an hour . And people making $14 ? Deserve $28 . Investors are grabbing 78 cents of every dollar . We deserve to be mistreated if we allow it
@@ApothecaryGrantwell what are you gonna do about it?
@@ApothecaryGrantmaybe you deserve it.
What’s needed is for the techs to walk away. All of them.
It's happening. Not fast but it's happening...
Unioniza STAND TOGETHER. As an ex ASE tech now union carpenter its disgusting how techs are paid while shops make profits
I'm from South Africa. Have been a Technician for 30 Years. I just got tired of Rushing my Job. Always need to go faster. So i left the Industry also.
@Tar-mairon-re8oi You only make money because you tickle the service manager’s balls and swallow the foreman’s loads.
@@LancemechanicsIt's the warranty work it doesn't pay crap. I work as a technician in a dealership.
I’m so glad people are speaking out against shit like this
yeah, hoping more younger people see this!
This is exactly what needs to start happening, people need to start leaving jobs that aren't worth it.
1 tech at a time
Automotive is one and hvac too..but hvac is on its last leg
Don’t have to leave if u love your job, people need to unite. If all would stand as one it would change quick, but they almost never do 😢
@@DJV94022 here here on the hvac.
They are bringing immigrants who will do any job you quit. Give it 20 years, you wont be able to get a job that you hate.
I took a large paycut when I left the dealership as a sales manager after almost 8 years and I have no regrets. Normal hours and my life back. No money is worth your time away from family.
Jason, your sales management skills were transferable. No one needs the long hours at a dealership.
Left the dealership after 33 years and started my own business. Best thing I ever did and haven't looked back!
Congratulations!
Damn 33 is along time glad you finally woke up im going into my 6months in the dealership im at but im not staying a year trying to figure out what else i can get into
Things were better at the dealership 33 years ago
Hell yeah.
Good for you. May I ask what you are doing now ? That’s my hurdle. I need a job I can head to
You’re absolutely correct I’ve been turning a wrench for 35 years !Owned a few shops retired, got back into it, and absolutely disgusted with everything that has to do with the auto repair industry !!!
I remember wanting to getting into the auto tech industry at 18, no one wanted to hire me because no certs or trade school. Now, they make carwashers and lot porters mechanics.
Yep and now they would want you, but at a discount and same pay mcdonalds workers get :/
That explains the work that comes outta these places nowadays.
A generation of people that had everything paid off has retired recently.
13 year CJRD tech here, well as of 3 weeks ago I quit the dealer, thank god. The nail in the coffin for me was the idiot, pylon service manager hired 3 more untrained techs just to fill the bays. We were not busy enough to justify hiring 3 more guys just to fill those bays. So obviously these new guys have zero training so they aren’t qualified to fix the warranty jobs or recalls. It is blatantly obvious the pylon manager is feeding the new guys all the customer pay gravy jobs. Guess what’s left for the fully trained veteran techs? Yup, the garbage shit jobs that pay peanuts. Put up with that for about a month, the only good thing was it gave me lots of spare time to go through job ads. This trade is trash, the only people that make money are the thieves and new guys getting hooked up. These dealerships need to get introduced to the wrecking ball.
@@EVS-w1m All these service department managers are all the same, a bunch of spineless yes men for the dealer owner or principal. They want their numbers any way possible and they could care a less how they treat the technicians. Congrats on getting out of the worst industry in modern day history.
Not a lot of people have courage to leave their comfort zone. I am here in US ran into same crap, I kept telling my manager we here to fix vehicles not just put parts in. I got let go from 5 different dealerships on these principles. They want to me to installed parts without any reasonable cause.
I left dealer world and started my own shop. I learned so much on my own with less stress, the best part is i feel like i am a better tech now then when i was in the dealership. Congratulations on your new journey.
The parts cannon happens in aviation too, but you can't just fire people.
The biggest trap employers do is try to keep you. Opportunity is always out there. it's just up to you to leave. Most jobs aren't worth staying past 2 years unless it's consistent growth both in pay and knowledge. Always look ahead and never settle.
Yep. Also, having a better offer from somewhere else is a good way to get a pay raise from your current boss 😂
Bad employers are very common everywhere.
This is exposing a bad industry. There ARE some good jobs in every bad industry.
And the auto repair field is the appidamy of bad employers.
Same in health care... they make you work 3 different jobs for same pay and understafff. No lunch breaks no raises no compesqtion for working with covid people . F america @DayTwo-w8n
I was a tech for 19 years before I got fed up enough to jump ship. It’s scary when you first make the change but it was totally worth it. The way techs are paid is all bullshit. The guy that’s smart enough to solve difficult problems makes the least money. It’s all about banging out jobs that pay the most time and avoiding any work that doesn’t pay well. Often times the guy making the most is just really good at cheating is what it boils down to. Then you get favoritism between advisors and techs where on guy gets fed all the gravy tickets. It was hard to leave but only because it’s all I knew since high school. Once I got my foot in manufacturing I have been so much happier. I have been out of the automotive job for 6 years now and I will never go back. This was a great video! Very honest and REAL!
I got out 20 years ago. Anything is better then automotive. I’m an engineer on a tug now. Better pay, no BS, equal time off. Let me tell you something about boats unlike cars they actually design boats to be easy to work on. You can walk around every engine, and everything was designed with the way it should be. The best comparison is a 1960s or 70s car compared to a modern one.
AS IT SHOULD BE. The fact that boats are designed to be easy to work on but cars are not designed to be easy to work on. Flabbergasted
My 1963 Cadillac DeVille is the most reliable vehicle I own….and I own almost a dozen vehicles. It’s incredible
I left to go be a general laborer in a food plant and was making the same amount of money.
I've worked with boat mechanics who would disagree with you, but it probably depends on the type of boat.
Big difference between a recreational POS boat and a 100ft offshore tug. Those recreational boats are an Fing nightmare to work on! We’re talking about stuffing 10 lbs of shit into a 5 lb bag. Doesn’t matter how big they are the designers were more interested in stuffing in an extra stateroom or head at the cost of serviceability. You can’t even stand up in the engine rooms of most of them. Commercial boats are a whole different animal. Even a little 25 foot pushboat has room to work and an engine room that you can stand up in.
Congrats brother. You never made a mistake. Great choice and courageous!
I Left Automotive 11/2023 ex Porsche, Benz, Audi technician.
There is NOT a shortage of “Good” technicians, there’s a shortage of good dealerships.
I have owned a shop since 77. Never paid flat rate. Techs get a min. or 20% of our sales after the threshold is hit. I never understood flat rate at being a team attitude generator.
Its sad to think how much money I would had made at that rate.
Agreed, our shop has never paid flat rate either. I feel that it leads to short cuts, poor quality and unhappy customers.
Flat rate pits technicians against each other, it's the opposite of a team attitude generator. Usually there's like one or two guys making big money and everyone else barely scraping by. Inb4 someone calls me lazy.. I've paid my dues trust me
There needs to be balance though. Hourly techs aren't good neither, as it incentivizes lazy techs to let the hard workers/good techs do all the work, while they just sit on their asses all day doing nothing, still getting paid as the ones turning hours. I speak this from experience.
@@lupavo1738 That's easy, lazy = fired in my shop.
I’m from MN and I was a powersports/marine tech for almost 8 years, 6 years full time. And I just left the mechanic industry also. Same thing, salesman and service writers who don’t know a Philips from a flathead making 2-4x more then me when I’m doing all the work. Plus all the shady business practices and getting questioned constantly even tho I barely get any comebacks. Pay has been absolutely garbage also. 1st shop- $14hr with 10% commission in the summer I averaged 25-30hr but In the winter we were dead so it averaged out to $18 for the whole year. Been there a year and a half with no pay raise even tho they raised the shop labor rate. 2nd shop $15 hr and after almost 3 years of being their only certified master tech for BRP I was still only at $22hr. 3rd shop was the only decent paying job which I was at $29hr but no benefits and that was by far the worst shop I’ve ever worked in. Finally after all this with back and neck issues staring to become worse and worse I called it quits. In my opinion any mechanic industry weather it’s diesel, automotive, powersports or whatever, is by far the worst trade to ever get into. I don’t regret it because I’ve learned a ton of valuable skills and knowledge but I will never step foot in a mechanic shop ever again. If any young person is thinking about going to school for this trade industry, I highly encourage you to do something else.
Thank you for posting this, is someone like me who is 40 years old and trying to find a new caree.r, beside auto tec.
You're one of the few techs on this platform with brutal honesty, the automotive field sucks.
There are quite a few shills that prothselitize about how great this field is.
Every other trade the worker gets paid hourly, it is just too easy for the flat rate system to be abused by employers, all the short comings of the shop is placed on the backs of technicians, if they don't like you they can just give you no work and drum you out, no unemployment benefits for you.
Flat rate is soooo outdated it ain't funny. About 50 years or so. To top it off, I don't recall anyone making a fuss about it. I "may" have seen an article or two about it, but no follow up.
Shills that work at Walmart 😆
It's different in certain countries. You can get per hour rates all over the world working in Automotive. There are bad experiences but there are good ones too. I don't know what I would be doing if it wasn't for this industry. I also have had good and bad experiences in workplaces.
No more than the creator of this video said, you gotta be a go getter, sometimes that means leaving where you know. I have a lot of friends that left the industry for the same reasons that he did but they were not willing to move and get paid better and treated fairly somewhere else.
@@GerardBurkeBurkesGarageexactly. I don’t like how this man completely shits on the industry when here in California it’s hourly rate and even at places like CarMax they offer incentives like meeting a certain quota of cars sold a week, and then EVERYONE at the dealership gets a percentage of that quota met….
@@saulaguiniga2562 There is a lot of good in the industry to Saul, that's for certain.
Your story sounds alot like mine. I worked as a Lincoln Mercury Technician from 1977 to 2008. I've always disliked the way we were paid. Towards the later years, I had the opportunity to join a major Corporation that was into Hybrid technology for Medium Duty trucks. What a life changing experience. Salary with overtime, great benefits and lots of travel all over the country. The best move I ever made. Dealership life is for the birds. You're right about the pay. Take my advice. Take your talent and tools and look outside the dealership.
im in a better happier place too. congratulations on getting out!
Yes vote with your feet
Great video dude!
I’m not an auto tech, I’m a heavy duty mechanic. On our side of the wrench world it isn’t bad. I’m glad you’re into heavy equipment now!
Thanks. Yes loving this industry. Still has the same old salty techs but everybody is way more helpful and cheerful at end of the day
When you find a decent employer in heavy duty, it's a pretty good way to go. I worked in automotive for all of 3 months starting out and immediately figured this is NOT for me. Even HD shops with efficiency bonuses can stick it.
I thought it was only “unskilled” workers who were getting lowballed by the powers that be, under the guise that “you need to have a marketable skill if you expect to be paid”. At least that’s what the corporate owners, executives, pundits and politicians always say. You have a marketable(and very lucrative for the bosses and owners) and you still got screwed. It goes to show that the system isn’t skilled vs unskilled, it’s owners and executives against EVERYONE.
The people at the desks are screwing everybody!
SCREW management, they do nothing anyway
Yep & they can't fix a sandwich in most cases!
Literally all ways the employees sitting on thier ass thinking they should make more than people busting thier asses
I disagree. I was a service technician for 6 years. A writer for six months and a Ford Service Manager for 19 years. I always took care of my technicians. Many times I paid them more than myself. Us Service Managers were getting beat up by dealer principals and
general managers wanting more and more revenue. Glad I seen the light and got out of the business after 25 years.
@@mrjim1973 making their own lunch? That's immigrant work 😅
I am a lead tech for the usps. Made over 100k last year working 11 months. Never work hard, not sure what i would be doing to make the money i make doing the easy work i do.
Lead tech shop foreman for Subaru $100k + a year. Had a kid quit and started a Handyman business $250k my 4th year. I’m on my way to $300k this year. Thank the lord Jesus Christ our savior.
@@handymansolutions7834I’m tryna get like you man
Good for you on getting out, I just recently did the same. It’s not just the dealerships, everywhere you go people have champagne taste but a PBR budget when it comes to paying techs. The market has been over saturated for far too long. It’s telling that even with the so called “tech shortage” dealerships are still up to their shenanigans. It doesn’t get any better when you go independent either. People just see us as slaves to the auto industry, and I don’t think it’ll get any better until the last tool box closes.
Congratulations on getting out, too. I personally hope it all comes crashing down. But the average person is going to suffer. We both know the garages will use this as an excuse to raise the door rate as techs become a commodity:/
@@Lancemechanics I don’t so much have a problem with the door rates. It’s more the way the money is distributed, and people’s attitude in general towards techs. In dealerships and independent shops we’re treated like crap by management, service writers, etc… then if you become self employed it just transfers over to the general public. I’m sure you’ve experienced the situation when as soon as you tell someone you’re a mechanic, they automatically start thinking you’ll fix their car for free.
After a decade at a Mazda dealer suffering the same bullshit, all of what he’s described! Constantly getting squeezed for more all while barely scraping by on a 100+hrs check, and no benefits. Meanwhile managers drive free cars and make 6 figures.. , and think pizza will fix morale.. all while you can’t afford the cars you’re working on daily! And also, how long can person grind, your body won’t last forever! 20 years in, I’m fuckin tired, fam. Super thankful to be a union technician for a few years now. Some may think unions aren’t good for various reasons, but my family and I are very happy to support and have the support.
Good on you bud and the reason they do that kind of stuff is because they can . Until people take a stand, they will keep doing it…
There’s a endless supply of fresh meat coming out of these tech schools waiting to be hired for less.
@@markm0000but there is not a influx of intelligence. These kids think they have it figured out… what they don’t understand is that experience is the real learning trait. Just TH-cam isn’t cutting it in the auto industry. They loose focus and composure quick and soon leave to another dealer… it’s not a great world and it should be known that 75% of your technician co workers would have started in the industry enjoying working on cars and, now can’t stand them for what they were to them…
I did 17 years in law enforcement & this is how it happened:
Hired -
4 years in - "I hate this job, but I'm vested in 2 years I'd be an idiot if I left before 6"
6 years in - "I still hate this job, but they finally gave us the pay we rallied for & the health insurance & retirement is great but I'm going to start looking elsewhere"
8 years in - Married with kids "I still really hate this job but nobody else offers family health coverage this good"
10 years in - "I'm miserable. But I'm ⅔ vested in two more years, I can't leave before then or I'll lose these past 4 years"
14 years in - Institutionalized "I can't work in an office I'd get fired. Then where would my family be?"
16 years in - Kids are almost grown, divorced, zero tolerance for BS "I swear for Jesus if y'all F with me one little bit I'm gonna catch a charge myself & strip buck nekkid & walk out this bish"
17 years in - They F'd with me over some petty sh*t & I turned in my equipment & uniforms same day.
Scared, not knowing what the future would hold, went on to a different career path & for the first time in almost two decades I was happy. I wish I could go back & pimp slap my younger self for not making the jump sooner.
Employers act like there are droves of folk that want your job so they minimize the importance of their employees, minimizing them as assets. I treat my people well, because if you take care of your employees they will take care of you. You would think that's simple to understand but to big agencies/companies it just isn't.
"17 years in" It took me 26 years to snap...
Damn my life story
So many just like this...
Same here. WOW! Glad to know I’m not the only one👍
@@leekazan556 most agencies know if they can lock you in for at least 4, they got you lol. I've come to believe it's designed that way honestly lol
I used to deliver parts/drivetrain to all dealerships and shops. A lot of people don’t know the amount of work techs do. They literally rip half the car apart for some bs. And not get paid enough
Interior removal and dash removal is the norm now. Even on low end cars. People buy cheap cars and expect mercedes quality. :/ lots of noise complaints from. Dashes
@@Lancemechanics Cuz they're not educated; car payments with high interest rates, full coverage insurance, and extended warranty/insurance contract plans. They're paying the same for a Mercedes...
I love your honesty. I got licensed in Ontario in 1994, then left the industry in 2004 for pretty much the same reasons you are talking about. I've been in the telecommunications industry since leaving the mechanic trade. I have never regretted the move I made.
6th year in this industry and 2nd year as flat rate, i did ok on my first year, made a couple hundred bucks shy of 100k but really isnt much in BC. Everything u said is right, the stress, the idiotic/uninformed decisions management makes, having to spend hours of my own time combing through all my work orders every few months just to make sure im paid what im owed. Everytime ive checked, im always short paid. Please make another video about the options u've explored or other techs can explore after leaving. Im not very knowledgeable on other fields that want our skillset besides heavy duty.
I definitely will! Your in bc so you have alot of opportunities. It's amazing.
I am so glad to see somebody finally putting this out in the open. I worked for the same auto manufacturer for 20+ years They are more worried about selling flushes instead of taking care of the things the people come in for. Flat rate for warranty or customer pay is a crime to a tech. We put people on the road with millions of others. Plumber gets $80+ per hr , we put people on the road where no one pays attention anymore. Techs make it happen for the customer not the person behind the desk. So glad I left the industry 10 yrs ago. Best choice I've made. Thanks for putting the truth out there for the techs.
I’m an independent mobile heavy equipment mechanic, I make over twice as much as when I worked for an equipment dealer, it’s not for everyone as you have to be fully dedicated but customers pay for good work.
Hard work pays off when self employed is what I'm seeing inthese comments for former dealer/shop techs. Keep it up!
I was never in the automotive industry but man. When you said those young guys don't want to take the risk of leaving to start another career, I felt that. Because when I was young, I stuck to a job I hated as I didn't want to risk losing the current job to jump onto the next. There were so many interviews in the manufacturing industry I could've gone to if I would have just not showed up to work when they denied my day off.
It's not easy. Which is why I can't fault them. Left the door open for them though
Man thanks for making these videos, I left the industry after 15 years I’m a train conductor now( which is different stress) much less stress . This just helps explain to my friends and family why I am done in the industry . Thank you for this video.
Preach on brother! I just celebrated my 20th anniversary at my dealer and didn’t even get a thank you.
wow not even a pizza party! sorry to hear man, 20 years is a monumental achievement anywhere
no recognition whatsoever is kinda tough
Everything you said is spot on, I was a master ASE/Honda tech at a dealership for nearly 20 yrs and I left because I was sick of the BS. Best decision for me!! 👍🏼
congrats on getting out too!
My buddy got out of prison and was making bank as a manager of a discount shop. I was retired and really out of shape, so he got me a job as a service writer/gs a few years ago. I only did my own work and maintenance prior to that, but no real experience. They asked me to run another shop about 6 months later and I walked out at the end of the next month. Techs were ripping people off left and right and I had no way to discipline them. This chain of shops would move people as disciplinary actions and these techs were driving as far as they possibly could, so they had no more cards to play.
It showed me how much opportunity there is out there for mobile mechanics and I branched out on my own after working at Autozone for another 3 months. I want to make an app like uber or door dash for mobile vehicle maintenance where techs can make way more for their skills.
Im glad you addressed stress. Its a very underrated component. Im glad you landed on your feet also. Im getting out in 26’. Will hit my 30yr mark. I work for a large retail tire company and we do free batt test - alignment checks- rotates- some diagnostic. And im done. The odds are just to stacked.
Good for you! You do well in whatever you set your mind to. I love how stealerships charge $200 an hour for service but don't pay the techs shxx!
throttle clean upsale is a fraud easiest money to make in 1 minute convincing customer to bite the bait and do not even clean it
@@wagyu_killeryeah but that's like selling a car that has head gasket sealer for $2000 on Facebook
Been working on cars for 45 years. Only a small fraction of that as an auto tech. They wouldn't send me to schools to learn the new stuff
yet wanted me to fix it. I bailed. Work on airplanes now and it's starting to get to be the same. Fortunately I'm a year and a half from retirement.
I don't want to learn anymore. I'm in neutral waiting for the ticket out. Take care all you young guys. You'll be where I am someday.
Many of the dealers in my area are now 3rd generation. Seems like this is when things go down hill fast. The kids get some college degree in business and get handed the keys to the show in their early 20’s. They never actually worked all the roles in the dealership like a good principle should. Try to implement cost savings measures and push out the best talent.
I left dealer life and never looked back. I did work at mom and pop shops and “hobby shops” building classic cars but those present there own unique challenges too. 20 years into the field and now I maintain a fleet of 40) school busses. It’s not glamorous but the pay is great and consistent. The focus is on quality of work not quantity.
I did the same thing you did got out years ago once I realized it was an uphill battle that you will never win not to mention all the money you have to spend on tools, constantly updating software and competing with the other techs in the shop for jobs. Now I work in the AC, no work hazards and no overhead costs just to do my job. A lot of my coworkers did the same thing yours did they get stuck or they think that there’s nothing else out there but if you’re a hard enough worker to do mechanic work, you’re a hard enough worker to do a lot of things.
Thanks for posting. I got out at the age of 48. The Thing that did it was the Micro-Management. The hounding of the Store manager. So in closing Congrats for getting out.
Thanks! Yeah it's brutal. Seeing the comments from my other videos. Seems doesn't matter where we are on the planet..it's widespread
That's exactly why I left the auto biz in 1985. The last straw was when the owner raised shop rate $2 an hr, and CUT our rates by $2 hr. Techs were ALWAYS getting cut. The stress was insane! Back in the 70's, I read an article by the late Smokey Yunick who advised a young guy to NOT going into the mechanic trade. (these wre 1970's prices) "Look kid, You'll end up paying 10 grand for tools, you'll have to learn the trade on your own (it'll take years), You'll make a sub-standard wage, no benefits, th shop owner will treat you like a slave, there's no retirement/ benefits, and everyone will think you're a crook."
I bailed out, and sold tools for 15 years, then become a plumber..
I was thankful to be Hourly at a shop that treated techs well when I got out. Pay could have been better but I didn't have to do hours of additional work, just to get paid, like when I was flat rate. My observation (this was 2012) when I left flat rate is that the manufacturers and dealers wanted cheap parts replacers. Diag was a fight to get time for. I have friends in it that are doing better at their respective brands. But they still have to play the game. I now sit at a desk, make more money, and work for a boss that really appreciates our time.
You are correct in many things you have said but there are other options rather than a bad dealership, independent workshops and family run businesses can offer an alternative with a very different approach than a dealership. You can get per hour rates all over the world working in automotive not just flat rate. There are bad experiences but there are good ones too. I don't know what I would be doing if it wasn't for this industry. I also have had good and very bad experiences in workplaces.
As you mentioned you gotta be a go getter, 100% you have to be adaptable and move to where you are valued if needed, sometimes that means leaving the only place you know but it's gotta be done. I have a lot of friends that left the industry for the same reasons that you did but they were not willing to move and get paid better and treated fairly somewhere else.
I was willing to move to literally anywhere in the world that provided a better balance and pay. For me it happened to be Oz but I considered all options before leaving Ireland.
We are all restricted to our locality as Techs and if you have bad shops around you that means only one option remains if you want a better life as a Automotive Technician.
I hope it continues to work out for you, good video for many people to get an insight.
oh 100% I feel i may end up opening my own garage in the future. going to enjoy the heavy equipment world for a bit cause i got on with a company that treats there employees very well! 500 people and they are all mechanics. they do not hire unlicensed people to run things internally and people stay 10, 20, 30 years. Sometimes you just go to move!
Because of the low pay and little respect at dealers, we have no shortage of dealer mechanics who will take on a side job on occasion when needed at our small garage. It also gives us a chance to learn things from the dealer mechanics.
That's amazing in alot of ways. Always said mechanics should be social to others around the city. I'm always a open book when comes to knowledge.
Yep. I was the diagnostician for all diesel driveability work and anything “heavy line” at my Ford dealership for several years and it became exceedingly obvious that the two people who always took it in the shorts were the mechanic and the customer. I got out 16 years ago to a career making less money at first, but quality of life improved greatly. A year later I was making just as much, and within a few years started making more. With a bachelor’s degree I’ve grown into a leadership position. None of this would’ve been possible working at a dealership. I loved being a mechanic (and still do it on the side) but everything else about the dealership life just sucked all the enjoyment out of it. Good on you for having the courage to get yourself out.
Glad you got out man@
I tried off and on since highschool to get into the auto/ diesel tech field. It never seemed to work out because I wasn't "one of the good ol' boys". I see now in the long run, I was spared the misery.
I definitely agree with all that you said. I currently work for an independent after leaving Ford after 5 years. I hate working on cars. I used to love it. It isn’t worth the money. The stress. The pain. Etc.
Ever get a Windstar torque converter warranty recall? Lmao, = 3.4 hours, cust pay around 10-12 hrs. I must've done 20 of those things. Best I could do was around 5.5 hours. (After doing a few, early 2,000 era)
I got out of the aviation field. The completion center used to be a place of pride. Then the company started assembly line where you had one function and the customer had only 5 choices for interiors. Did not care about employees. People left in mass.
I swear the suits think monkeys can do this work, wait until they have no experience left and have to start paying for the mistakes.
I worked one summer as an UnderCar Technician for a major west coast tire dealership. One day I looked at the older guy working in the alignment bay and thought to myself "that's as good as it's ever going to get" and shortly thereafter I resigned. I have recuring dreams about places I've worked but never about that job
congrats on leaving! :)
I can undercut a brake job by nearly 500 dollars easily, and make twice as much money. F being in the trade anymore.
You are spot on with your assessment. Techs are zero cost. And are treated as 3rd rate employees. All the "change lightbulbs" and other such slave labor is ridiculous. I got out 5 years ago, ill put a box on a shelf before i ever consider going back to a dealership.
Many years ago in a high school automotive class, the instructor one day remarked "the level of respect in the automotive trade is one step up from a a garbage man". That quote still holds true with the dealer / shop and the general public in many cases. The worst is when the customer brings in youtube videos on how to "do the job" and the tuber did it in ten minutes.
dealer principle = b.s. artists. service managers = wolves in sheep's clothing and suck up to the b.s. artists
yep u tubers even the hi tech guys edit and makes it look simple, i asked several of them to tell the actual time of these diags and none will respond or do that. they are the kings right, they want the views and praises from their audience. if they would state how long it took to make that diag call everyone would benefit, so the customers and people watching would have a better understanding of the cost associated with it. just my 3 cents
Its not just dealers, its mostly CEOs. Reduce staff by 30% increase price and get a raise 15% for CEO. Thats whats going on and its not fun for us.
yea stop being a cheap work slave that carries the company. Let em rot
So glad i kept auto mechanics and modifying as a hobby.
First time viewer and you touch on several Great key points of the Dealerahip industry.
I made the same move you did, in 2001. Having taking both, gas & diesel programs; I decided to leave VW and work in the school bus (fleet) industry. Since then, I’ve worked in other fields, at different companies that cater to the airlines and in landscaping. These opened up my eyes and exposed me to other amazing advancement opportunities. Which offer new technology and much better pay.
I’m happy you are doing better and for sharing your content.
Back in the late 90s, right after high school I went to automotive school and used to work at a local dealership. A lot of guys at the dealership told me to get out while I was still young. It was the weirdest thing to hear at my young age back then. The parts manager was very specific about what I should do. He told me to get into IT. I listened and got into IT. Never looked back. I am thankful for them being brutally honest with me back then.
Damn so even back in the late 90s techs were fed up with the lifestyle?? Seems I should definitely pick a different profession
@@randysavage1997 Another thing I was told was that I could make up to $70,000 a year. Adjusted for inflation, that is roughly $140,000 today. They (school counselors and others) left out some convenient details on that. I wasn't even making $15,000. Yes, you read that right. I worked two jobs to have enough money to buy tools. My second job was a dishwasher at a local seafood restaurant. I wasn't a bum auto technician either, I won awards while in school and literally had customers coming to the dealership requesting that I work on their cars. My name was known around town.
I understood about experience and paying my dues and whatnot back then as it relates to salary, but my pay was so low that I literally found an entry level security guard job sitting on my behind and walking around a building once an hour for 8 hours that paid more money than what I was making at the dealer. I used that job to pivot into IT.
I loved working on cars (and still do as a hobby), but the money was terrible. If you have an interest in the field and you are a young guy, do your research and take a proactive approach to move around to increase your pay as your experience increases. You do have better tools at your disposal now than I did back then to make a well-informed decision. The workplace politics were off-putting as well. It never went over well whenever I'd diagnose something that others with more experience couldn't figure out. Work was being done behind my back for them to get paid as opposed to me finishing the job.
I am rambling a bit, but just wanted to give you insight on my experience back in the late 90s in the auto repair business.
@@randysavage1997im 20 and im ready to leave this behind only being in it almost 2 years i went to trade school for 18 months now 7 months in a dealership every morning on my way walking in i say to my self if i cant live like this doing all this labor for the least pay there’s have to be another way 💯
@@bushtyga999 yup I think I'm gonna do marine mechanics instead of auto
I would probably be in the same boat. Buttt I am lucky to have a dad that has built something up. We have a family built transmission parts store a tire shop renting one building and the transmission shop my pops started that I left to go work on my own in our 10k sq ft warehouse. I only have two lifts right now but I’m cranking out jobs. I haven’t made any real money but it’s only been a couple of months. I make my own hours work on my own stuff when I want and just enjoy the day. When I don’t have work I can just build transmissions
i can sympathize with you, i know the auto industry definitely sucks right now for technicians. i am the shop foreman for a honda dealer and i can say we recently had all of our fluid mait labor times cut to dam near in half with only minor adjustments to charge prices while also raising general labor rates accross the board. truthfully i feel like i am paid too much to leave at this point but i certainly hear you though when you talk about the struggles in this industry. im in the US too so is sucks all over lol
Oof..I don't know what those times are at but man, the maintenance times are already low everywhere. :( Those new 9 and 10speeds suck to do, and we were only getting .5 to do them
Wouldn’t believe how much your story resonates with me, I was in a ford dealership in Australia for 15 years, it took along time but I finally pulled the trigger and got out, for pretty much the same reasons you are talking about. Always fighting with the dealer principal about pay and workloads. We went from been the number one ford dealer in the country to a back water and well hated operation by many people in a matter of years. Sad reality of big business that are poorly managed. Thanks for sharing with us.
sorry to hear man. seems alot of places are just going down hill. Hope your in a better place now.
I loves cars my whole life and I loved working on my own. But when they say "do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life" it almost puts me in a rage thinking I wasted my early and mid 20's being a mechanic and have really only some tools to show for it
You made a lot of great points. I've been a tech for almost 30 years now, never worked in a dealership and never intend to. Luckily I got both automotive and truck license so I've been working in a private fleet based shop for 19 years now and at a supervisor level for 12 years. Unfortunately there is some drama breaking out amongst the staff now, worse than ever before, and a change of job maybe inevitably around the corner.
Nine years at a Ford dealership and I'm totally cooked. Currently searched to escape the automotive repair field and something else a try also. Sad thing is I too discourage every one young person looking to become a tech and tell them its just not worth it anymore. Unfortunately I don't see any real changes in the future either, just more pizza party band-aids.
Forgot about the pizza parties :( yeah the days I can recommend the industry again will be good times. Right now I'm pushing heavy equipment..it's hard work but great pay.
@@Lancemechanics I started out on heavy equipment and semis. Currently in the commercial truck side with Ford. I'll probably just pivot back to working on tractor trailers. Thanks for the awesome videos man, keep em coming.
when i was younger and first figuring out what trade to get into my dad talked me out of auto, i went a different route and today im grateful that i listened to him. i see the lack of care with engineering in my field, i can only imagine how much of a nightmare it must be to work on modern vehicles.
Thank your dad@ all fields can be stressful but your going to live way longer then a mechanic that's for sure.
This man speaks the truth. I retired from turning wrenches in 2008. Started in 1973. GM Dealerships. Some shit back then.
Glad you left and encouraged others to follow. I did 12 years with ford and finally got out of it and went to the city, and now am with a power company. So much less stressful. Glad I learned what I did at the dealer, but will NEVER go back.
This is why there is a shortage of mechanics. Job security doesn't exist when you work for somebody else. If you have the skills, start working for your self on the side & once you have enough customers, (that won't take long when you get the whole pie) dump your boss & open your own business. The only regret I have is not doing it sooner.
Best video I've seen in a while. Wanted to he a mechanic for a bit, figured id keep it in my garage. Welding now and its alright, all just stepping stones
Been there done that. Was a Ford dealer tech for 30 plus years. What was the final straw for e was the dealership I worked for decided to do free alignment checks. Meaning the techs were not getting paid for the alignment checks not the dealer was eating the cost. Won't be long before all the good techs leave. By the way I was voted technician of the year for my dealership the year before I left
The dealer I worked at that did this had Hunter install an alignment checker in the service drive and made the service writers do it on every car that came in the shop. I can't say we sold a significantly higher amount of alignments because of it.
A "svc writer" at the dealer I worked at would toss flour on the drive & roll the car over the flour, lol. He swore up/down that it was the most accurate way, analyzing the tire tread pattern in the flour, lmao!
Pretty soon there's going to be a shortage of technicians, what are they going to do if they can't find people to service the vehicles. I think all of you guys should go independent! I hate dealerships anyway,from sales to parts to repairs. I hate setting foot in a dealership. I wish you great success, hopefully your fellow technicians will grow some testes and do the same!!
Warranty work can go straight to hell.
You aren't old enough to remember that Chrysler started all of this in 1965. Gave a 50,000 mile warranty and started customer pay and warranty time. We should have all walked out back the. Next step was flat rate hours, different pay scales and pay amounts. They could change dollar signs on flat rate hours and steal money from you. Thank God I'm out of that nightmare after 56 years.
I too have left the automotive field, Dec 2023, and have never looked back! 20+ years as a Ford Master Technician, and everything you have said about the flat rate system is bang on! I too kept a log book with my flat rate times, because there where instances were service advisors didn’t honour what the job paid, or deduct your time without notice! And warranty work don’t pay shit! I commend you for leaving, and best of luck with your bright future! The automotive is a greedy industry, and the flat rate system creates animosity not just with other technicians, but everyone in the dealership.
Congratulations on also getting out. Best of luck too! Ty.
I guess I got lucky. I graduated college with an automotive degree way back in 1981. After working for min wage in a parts department, I had the opportunity to learn upholstery. Did that for 4 years then jumped into sales for upholstery supplies and never looked back. As I am retired now, I’m thinking of buying an old school car that I can work on. I can do some of my own work on my newer vehicles but not the computer related crap. I don’t blame you guys for jumping ship one bit!
I left in 2020 when covid hit. I am much happier now. I have been saying exactly what you are saying for years, but everybody always looks at me like I'm crazy.
Glad to hear someone with a respectable voice speaking up on these things.
WE are the money makers, and all they do is beat the shit out of us. I'm never going back, but I'm lucky that I don't have kids or major bills to worry about that would require me to go back.
Totally with you here. I was a Chrysler tech and a GM tech for a little bit years ago and I saw signs then. I ended up going to heavy equipment repair and maintenance for a fleet company and I love that.
Heck yeah! It's a good change
Ten years into automotive I did the same thing. Left to fixed other things and made more. I agree the stress outside of automotive is way less. Took two years for me to find my passion in cars again. When I left I could barely stomach looking at fun car builds. Now I feel like I have a ton of new ideas in my head for build stuff.
that's great and congratulations on the positive change.
Exactly true. Work all year. Bust your ass 5 to 6 days a week. sometimes 12 hour days. And in all reality you get about 4 months of all that take home pay.Then you have to pay taxes whenever you buy anything. WTF
Thanks 16th Amendment!
@@jeffreycheng5984 yup the founders knew best. Not to levy taxes on income.
I feel you. The same thing happened to me at the dealership I use to work at. They did the exact same thing on wheel alignments. I said later did a career change. I do miss working on cars but I don’t miss the stress.
congrats on getting out!
I'm currently an apprentice for autobody refinishing, not sure it's the same as automotive mechanics but its a pretty rough trade in its own way too. I like it but at the same time don't like it, but am not sure what else to do and have already gone to school for it, bought some tools etc.
good video on safety i did and not one autobody guy is looking out for there long term health. do you wear gloves, p100 respirators ect. is answer is no. gtfo. you won't live long man. I know bodyman who opened detailing shops are doing extremely well. yes still has chemical use but they're able to take the time to be safe. my neighbor is a bodyman at 38 and caughs up blood regularly :(
@@Lancemechanics I do care for my health and always wear a respirator and gloves etc, but I still feel that being around so many chemicals and the dust is bad and contradicts the healthy lifestyle I lead outside of work. A lot of techs Ive seen in shops are older and dont seem to care about health, not wearing respirators etc
Can you teach me? I will pay you I want to learn how to work on cars so I can open my own shop one day
Congratulations on getting out!! I did the dealer life for 14 years. I was honestly looking to leave the automotive life all together then a government job came up working for a large police fleet. My stress level went down 100%, you can’t beat the time off, etc….
Yeah I could never go back. The time off is nice!
I feel for you and you did the right thing for you. The customer is screwed first by the price increase for the alinement price, the fee/hr., the price hike for the parts they sell.
Mechanics used to get 50% of the labor rate. When I started in 1982 they would complain to me about the pay cuts down to 45%, them 40%, then flat rate not connected to labor rates at all.
Even though I make great money, it could be much better at those days rates. I'd have made double what I did last year.
Shops. Happy to raise the labor rates. Come raise time they struggle to find 2 quarters between the couch cushions.
I’ll make $40,000 a month and I would never think of being a mechanic
I’ve pretty much quit, even though I’m not a technician or mechanic in the industry. Considered being a mechanic when I was younger, but since modern vehicles are a PITA to work on, I lost interest. I’ll be a mechanic on the side, but for a full time job? Not really.
I do not trust dealerships at all!!!
Wishing you all the best in all you do!
The mechanic stories are the same everywhere, labor rates are unreal, the dealerships here have labor rates starting at $280/hr (U.S.), and the starting rate for mechanics at the same time, is $12-$15 hr, what is the quality of mechanics going to be? Beginner mechanics that don't yet have a hearty supply of tools, they will have to depend on the trucks, the $12-$15 is going to go how far?
Bloody hell. 280??? Please be a porche dealer or something. I didn't even see those labour rates at bmw
That was a wise decision to get out while you could. I got out after almost forty years as a Tech. It was different when I started many years ago. The flat rate pay back in the day was good. Now they just treat, even guys like me that have decades of experience like peasants. Cutting back labor times and the hourly pay. They also kept on hiring kids with hardly any experience and payong them peanuts.
Then they wonder why the service department quality goes down the toilet. And they lose customers.
It was a good decision. Glad your out too..reading tones of comments and haven't seen a tech who regrets it yet!
Good for you young man. I quit working for others decades ago. The automotive industry has always exploited its labor and it sounds like it’s getting worse.
yeah I'm glad i left, i wonder how a apprentice even starts these days, things in last 5 years are worse then when i got in. i don't think they can honestly.
Too many hands in the pot. If you want to be a technician of ANY kind, always remember this:
"Work for someone who writes checks, not excuses."
-random truck driver
I spent almost 10 years playing the game. I'm repurposing Cummins diesels for underground use and fixing haulers now. Welding, fabrication, etc. Not glamorous and intend to move up/sideways, but it's hourly and has health insurance. Like you said, the stress level alone is worth the change! Good job getting out man.
You are not the money maker you are still a number. If you ever create a company wink wink it’s not that easy you will learn until then you will still have no clue. It’s not you it’s education and experience. You will get there. “Hopefully”
Good on you if it's not in your heart. Do what's best for you . Then Dealerships wonder why they don't have, good reliable employees to work for them because of their greed.
I got into auto body in 84, loved the trade, but through the years the insurance companies gradually dominated it and called all the shots. With some stuffed shirt in an office deciding how much time each collision job should take, and the majority of replacement parts and panels being illfitting aftermarket junk, I left tne trade a few years ago.
Congratulations on getting out too!
@@Lancemechanics where in Ontario?
feel your pain i run a collision shop just changed to a 4 day work week dropped all our drps have loads of factory certs and like to think i have a part code for every bs item that pops up. and raised our rates exponentially. still scheduling weeks out and getting the techs paid for what they do. i get every customer involved because if the ins doesn't pay they do. we have had enough.
As of this month after 11 years, I have officially been fed up with the automotive industry. We have been so slow since September that I’m working on my days off just to get hours and I still haven’t seen 40 hours a week except one time in 8 months and I barely hit it. It’s exhausting, my body is sore and the stress level at work and at home due to work is unreal.
Sorry to hear man. Hope you find something better and it improved quickly for.you
@@Lancemechanics I’m actually going back to my original roots which was management at Valvoline. Worked there as my first job for 4 years and had no issues whatsoever. The only reason I left was for the automotive side of it. I actually got hired yesterday, so I’m putting a 1 week notice tomorrow morning. I can’t wait to be out. They told me they’ll have me start first thing if they let me go early.
I got out years ago, I had to. My body wasn't happy with the job, so I worked out my house for a little while. It didn't last long. So now I'm trying to just keep up with my stuff. For the first couple of months, friends would beg me to fix their stuff, but it just hurt too much. Now, when friends ask I offer my knowledge and my tools. But that's not enough. Now, all the projects are all gone, and my car collection is all but sold. I do miss hopping in one of my cars. And going down the track like my hair was on fire. But I do have the memories.
Enjoy life on the outside!