Generalized Rant

[Bird]

I knew of a service manager at a GM dealership who lost his job several years ago. He was keeping the customers and his mechanics happy. The mechanics were doing the work, but he was just taking their word for how long each job took them and he approved paying them that amount. But GM only reimbursed the dealership their flat rate which was frequently much less than he had paid the mechanic. And, in addition, that service manager was not keeping up with the paperwork to get reimbursed for all they did under warranty.

When my brothers owned a garage and tire dealership, we used the flat rate book for giving customers estimates, and we never charged more than the estimate. But all the employees, including the mechanics, were on an hourly salary, so whether a mechanic was working on a customer's car or sweeping the floor, he was getting the same pay.

 

[timswi]

I have to defend flat rate, to a degree. Do you want to pay an hourly rate for someone who doesn't know what they are doing?

When I was a service manager..I had a couple of guys who could do a clutch in 45 minutes when the job paid 8 hours. However, the new guys could take 12 hrs.. What's fair?..Not really sure. But at least you can give the customer a solid number on most things.

I also made sure that the job was done right...Not gonna live off the fat of the land and let the customer go away unhappy.

FYI most private garages use flat rate for the big stuff. The little things go by the "I'll do it for this" method.

 

[Bird]

Do you want to pay an hourly rate for someone who doesn't know what they are doing?

Why not pay him an hourly rate while he's learning? Of course you don't pay the same hourly rate as the guy who knows what he's doing. But it gives the newer guy something to work toward.

 

[WTA]

I don't think the way things are going in the country that we will ever get better service in any retail store be it a car dealer or a grocery store.
If you all know of good ones then be nice to them and support them. Don't support the business that don't play nice. I think this is the only way to change things. Flat rate does need to go but a lot of dealers do too.
When you look at the minimum wage laws in most states you would be hard pressed to even say flat rate pay is legal. Shops get away with it though labeling mechanics as commisioned salesmen. IF I ever had to pay a mechanic again, and I think I would rather stop driving first, I would not want a salesmen working on my car. I would want a mechanic. A real one that takes pride in his work. Like me.