Hello to all,
I am another tech looking to jump ship. I am 36 years old, have been a Ford tech for my entire professional career starting back when I was a freshman in high school sweeping floors and dumping garbage. I now find myself at a crossroads, I love being a Ford wrench, I just can't stand working for these pathetic, disrespectful, smug, smarmy, pieces of collective crap any longer. I refuse to work flat rate. Don't get me wrong, I like to work at a good clip, but I just don't see flat rate being good for the customer or the tech. I'm tired of being a member of one of the most difficult trades to work in and being paid less than them. Plumbers, electricians, etc, for the most part don't have the investment in tools that we have. Our trade is getting more and more complicated. For instance, compare a vehicle built in 1990 to a vehicle built in 2008, other than four tires, they are not even close. Now, compare a toilet from 1990 to now, whats the difference other than the guy installing/repairing it makes a ton more money to do his job. I live in the San Francisco bay area and I cannot afford to live here anymore. I would like to make a decent enough wage that my wife can stay home and raise the kids, we can live in a modest home in a decent neighborhood , and maybe put a little money into savings. Hell the jerkoff I work for doesn't pay for A.S.E. testing. He doesn't even contribute to a 401k for that matter. I need to find a shop where I can work my ass off and feel like an idiot for doing so. I would love to look forward to going to work again. Hell, I'd like just to make 40 hours a week. How is it out there? Are there any places like this left?