GregH Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 I changed dealers about 2 months ago, and let me tell you.... I didn't know working on trucks could be like this! Respect, encouragement, feedback, competitive pay... The benefits go on and on! I came from a dealer in my hometown that was, a few years ago, small. Then they decided to expand their business and move to an old Lowe's building. They increased their square footage by a factor of 10. 50 new cars on the showroom floor and it still looks empty. 70 stalls for 6 technicians. Room to spare, to say the least. But, they lost their soul when they moved. It was slow, and quiet, but many of the things we enjoyed slipped by the wayside. It became more and more difficult to separate home from work. The spouse noticed the changes, too. The answer to "how was your day" changed from "ok" "good" and "not bad" to "over." Management systematically took away everything that made work enjoyable. Even so far as to break up conversations with groups of three or more! Cameras were installed in the shop - not to protect us from customer claims but so management could monitor us. It became a fight with them everyday. Shop meetings became bitch sessions. Internet access was monitored and filtered - no entertainment oriented sites allowed. In fact, we had to fight to maintain e-mail access (for hotline surveys only!) We even got together - as technicians - to lay out a few requests and put them into writing. Things like equipment repair and upgrade, consideration for pay raises, performance reviews, etc. We recieved a scathing written reply saying essentially that they won't be bullied, and if you don't like how it is, hit the road. Needless to say, morale took a hit. It all came to a head when - on a slow day - we observed the service manager playing online poker. Well, it took about 30 seconds worth of discussion to decide to photograph the service manager, and I was elected as the photographer. The picture was taken, all the techs had a good laugh at management's expense, and we all went back to work. Two hours later, a meeting was called, and the manager put me on an involuntary leave of absence until furthur notice. The rest of the techs stepped up and claimed their part in the fun, but the manager didn't falter. I locked my toolbox and headed home. On the way, I made a few calls. Before I got home, I had two job offers, and a full day of interviews for the following day. I went with the one I thought was best. Let me tell you, this place is great! I'm seeing an increase in hours (about 25%) and an increase in per hour pay. Respect - I didn't realize how long I'd worked without it until I got it back. My replies to "how was your day" are ususally a surprised "really, really good!" This dealer is 60 miles from home, but I'm in a carpool.... Lots of time to "decompress" before hitting the house. My advise: Keep your options open. Stay abreast of how the situation is at other dealers. And don't be afraid to change employers. I'm all for employer loyalty - just don't get abused by it. Ahhhh... time to get back to work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gasgasman Posted August 10, 2006 Share Posted August 10, 2006 Wow, you just described the dealership I work at. Management needs to understand that, a happy employee is a good employee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Warman Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 Wow... I thought it was all "gloom and doom" as described on "another" forum. My DP is damned near a prince among men.... If something gets broken during a repair (and who, among us, hasn't had one of "them" days?), tell someone so that things can be made right... no charge - no retribution (unless it's a habit). One of the highest base wages in the province... training at the drop of a hat (three Masters in the shop.... building more)... raises for specialties.... bonus for production.... Downside - only downside - is lot's and lot's and lot's of diesel work. Upside... lot's and lot's of diesel work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted August 11, 2006 Share Posted August 11, 2006 Greg, Congratulations on your new job! It's nice to hear of a new job working out for a change. My situation sounds more and more like Jim's as time goes by. I just passed my 20th anniversary with my employer and my only concern is not knowing what else is out there. I too am fortunate to work with people who respect what we do and even involve the employees by keeping us well informed and even asking us for suggestions. As for pay, they have kept me well compensated over the years and I have been able to concentrate on doing the best job I can and keeping customers happy. We are very busy. May your success be long-lived! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james richards Posted August 14, 2006 Share Posted August 14, 2006 i also have found a dealer who appreciates what i can do for him and myself . good pay . i never worry about whether or not im getting paid . that alone was worth the move here . ride here can take an hour even though its 20 miles . but like others say . it can be relaxing or make worse but i like my job now which i cant say i did at other places Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msta999 Posted August 17, 2006 Share Posted August 17, 2006 Sounds like a few of you have got it made. I worked at a Dealership for two years, the only diesel tech and one of two auto trans techs. All was good and the pay was great. Then I got deployed and went to Iraq. 17 months later I show'd up to see if I still had a job and was told yes it was still mine. My first day back I found out that all the teams were full and they added me on to "my" team as a 5th tech and the diesels still went to the guy that replaced me. Also each team now had an auto trans tech too. Now the shop has 6 Diesel techs and 5 trans techs. I know the shop should have had one of each on each team to begin with, but it still sucked. I lasted about ten months and then went to work for another dealer, which produced only around 40 hrs a week and finally found the job I have now (Union), which is a good job and I should be making about what I was making before I left for Iraq in two years. so much for getting your job back when you get back from serving. It's all good I guess, but I did like working at that place and I got to know the guy who took my place and he is a good guy and I didn't want to say anything that might effect someone elses hrs. It has only been 3 months but I do miss working at the dealer. Got to love them diesels. I don't work on diesels or auto transmissions anymore, kind of seems like a waiste of experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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