Ok, like the title says, I got a new job. I got out of the Army back in September and it has taken me until this past Monday to find a job. Seems like no one in Orlando wants to hire a technician with Army experience and a college degree. I kept getting told I was over qualified and the likes. It has been a very frustrating experience. The pay at my new job blows and there is no benefits. I am not complaining, I am actaully thankful to have a job now.
Anyways, I got a job at a local mechanic shop. there is a chain of them here in Florida, and other states I believe. I got a job there as a service advisor. I have been a service advisor before, but a a Mercedes and Jeep dealership. I know the prices were a little higher there, but I thought they were still fair given the nature of the cars we were dealing with there.
I have been both a service advisor and a tech so I know how things work and cost on both ends of the spectrum. At this place I actually don't feel right with myself dealing with these people because of our prices. Seriously, $68 to change a cabin air filter? $90 to change the plug wires on a cyl engine? $400 for a tune up on a 6 or 8 cyl engine. Some times they even charge for a plug wire change on an engine that uses cop's. Those are just a few of the ones that really bother me.
Now, I know there are industry standards out there that we have to follow for prices and time, but I also have a crooked service manager that will over charge and if the customer complains they lower the prices so they think that they won. If they agree to the price, as soon as they leave he puts the prices back to what they should be and takes the profit and shares it with the lead tech. On top of that, he is extremely rude and disrespectful to the customers and if you refuse to do the work on the car he treats you like poo poo and goes back in the shop and flat out ignores them leaving me to clean up his mess.
On the other hand, the owner is a great guy, but I think the is being played by the service manager and the lead tech. When the service manager isn't around and the owner is working its the total oposite. The other techs are cool as hell too and we are all car guys so I get to hang around all day in a shop, talk cars, help out here and there and I stay clean. Lol. Also, I get to use the bays/lift to do my own car work whenever I am off the clock and the other guys are always more than willing to help.
All this being said, I have decided to try and stick out this job until I can get back into shape and get back into the Army.
Sorry this has been so long winded, but I needed to vent a little and I havn't been on much lately with everything I have had going on (new job, moving, family).
Lastly to end on a positive note...University of Georgia ranks #1 in pre season poll!!!!!!!!
Anyways, I got a job at a local mechanic shop. there is a chain of them here in Florida, and other states I believe. I got a job there as a service advisor. I have been a service advisor before, but a a Mercedes and Jeep dealership. I know the prices were a little higher there, but I thought they were still fair given the nature of the cars we were dealing with there.
I have been both a service advisor and a tech so I know how things work and cost on both ends of the spectrum. At this place I actually don't feel right with myself dealing with these people because of our prices. Seriously, $68 to change a cabin air filter? $90 to change the plug wires on a cyl engine? $400 for a tune up on a 6 or 8 cyl engine. Some times they even charge for a plug wire change on an engine that uses cop's. Those are just a few of the ones that really bother me.
Now, I know there are industry standards out there that we have to follow for prices and time, but I also have a crooked service manager that will over charge and if the customer complains they lower the prices so they think that they won. If they agree to the price, as soon as they leave he puts the prices back to what they should be and takes the profit and shares it with the lead tech. On top of that, he is extremely rude and disrespectful to the customers and if you refuse to do the work on the car he treats you like poo poo and goes back in the shop and flat out ignores them leaving me to clean up his mess.
On the other hand, the owner is a great guy, but I think the is being played by the service manager and the lead tech. When the service manager isn't around and the owner is working its the total oposite. The other techs are cool as hell too and we are all car guys so I get to hang around all day in a shop, talk cars, help out here and there and I stay clean. Lol. Also, I get to use the bays/lift to do my own car work whenever I am off the clock and the other guys are always more than willing to help.
All this being said, I have decided to try and stick out this job until I can get back into shape and get back into the Army.
Sorry this has been so long winded, but I needed to vent a little and I havn't been on much lately with everything I have had going on (new job, moving, family).
Lastly to end on a positive note...University of Georgia ranks #1 in pre season poll!!!!!!!!