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It’s been a little over a month now since I quit working in the automotive trade. I got hired as an industrial electrician. I make 19.50 an hour instead of $32 flat rate. The stress is way lower, the work makes me feel satisfied at the end of the day, and I don’t wake up every morning worrying so much about the day that I dry-puke into the sink.
My paycheques are SLIGHTLY lower than what I was making as a journeyman in Calgary at 24/hour. $24 an hour in Calgary, or this province (Alberta) is a slap in the face. I did my research before moving to Red Deer, AB regarding the Toyota dealership. It wasn’t until I was there that I discovered how bad of a reputation it had and why business was so slow, despite what I was told during my interview. I REALLY don’t understand why they hired me. They didn’t need me. I worked for them for four months. In four months, five out of nine techs have quit. Two out of four service advisors have quit. One service manager. One parts manager. And more from other departments. Keep in mind, this is not a big dealership. I think it was a blessing that I got hired there to confirm my feelings about my line of work: it depressed me, and forced me to return to my original love in the construction industry.
The only downside is that I have gone from journeyman to 1st year apprentice again, and the apprentice pay scale is not as good as a mechanic’s, even though at the end, a journeyman electrician makes significantly more an hour than a mechanic and without the stress level or bullshit.
Reading through some other posts about some of you making $18 an hour makes me sad. I can only hope that the cost of living is significantly lower than where I’m at. As a tech, I think I met TWO people who still liked working on cars after doing it for more than ten years. The majority either don’t like it, hate it, or don’t even think about it. That’s no way to live. You spend the majority of your life at work. Do something that doesn’t make you want to puke every morning. Being flat rate made me want to puke every hour, and I could only dull that with alcohol. Most electricians I know or met still like or love what they do after ten or more years of doing it. Hope I’m smart enough to make it through the apprenticeship. The training seems tougher, but looking at the job, the auto technician job is WAY tougher. It takes a stronger man than I to be a tech.
For those that still love working on cars, thank you. I hope that love stays with you. The world needs good techs who love their work. You guys kick serious ass. I’m sorry I couldn’t hack it, and help improve its reputation.
It’s been a little over a month now since I quit working in the automotive trade. I got hired as an industrial electrician. I make 19.50 an hour instead of $32 flat rate. The stress is way lower, the work makes me feel satisfied at the end of the day, and I don’t wake up every morning worrying so much about the day that I dry-puke into the sink.
My paycheques are SLIGHTLY lower than what I was making as a journeyman in Calgary at 24/hour. $24 an hour in Calgary, or this province (Alberta) is a slap in the face. I did my research before moving to Red Deer, AB regarding the Toyota dealership. It wasn’t until I was there that I discovered how bad of a reputation it had and why business was so slow, despite what I was told during my interview. I REALLY don’t understand why they hired me. They didn’t need me. I worked for them for four months. In four months, five out of nine techs have quit. Two out of four service advisors have quit. One service manager. One parts manager. And more from other departments. Keep in mind, this is not a big dealership. I think it was a blessing that I got hired there to confirm my feelings about my line of work: it depressed me, and forced me to return to my original love in the construction industry.
The only downside is that I have gone from journeyman to 1st year apprentice again, and the apprentice pay scale is not as good as a mechanic’s, even though at the end, a journeyman electrician makes significantly more an hour than a mechanic and without the stress level or bullshit.
Reading through some other posts about some of you making $18 an hour makes me sad. I can only hope that the cost of living is significantly lower than where I’m at. As a tech, I think I met TWO people who still liked working on cars after doing it for more than ten years. The majority either don’t like it, hate it, or don’t even think about it. That’s no way to live. You spend the majority of your life at work. Do something that doesn’t make you want to puke every morning. Being flat rate made me want to puke every hour, and I could only dull that with alcohol. Most electricians I know or met still like or love what they do after ten or more years of doing it. Hope I’m smart enough to make it through the apprenticeship. The training seems tougher, but looking at the job, the auto technician job is WAY tougher. It takes a stronger man than I to be a tech.
For those that still love working on cars, thank you. I hope that love stays with you. The world needs good techs who love their work. You guys kick serious ass. I’m sorry I couldn’t hack it, and help improve its reputation.
I give up on stuff that make me miserable… or if it conflicts with my principles. I gave up a job I loved (in the army) after eleven years, because I suddenly realized my government wasn’t worth serving anymore.
As for dealerships, I don’t know. I LOVED working for Lexus and was proud to work for the one in Calgary. Not sure if I’d be so happy now, but it was a very positive environment and good techs were respected and rewarded.
Being flat rate, you have the chance to reap the rewards, but you will always be at risk to get some nasty jobs. And we’re not all perfect, so comebacks are just a part of the job. It’s a part of the job I can’t hack anymore, though. I don’t have a lot of comebacks, but I worry that every car I touch will come back. I am being overly paranoid, but I just don’t know how to relax as a mechanic.
I give up on stuff that make me miserable… or if it conflicts with my principles. I gave up a job I loved (in the army) after eleven years, because I suddenly realized my government wasn’t worth serving anymore.
As for dealerships, I don’t know. I LOVED working for Lexus and was proud to work for the one in Calgary. Not sure if I’d be so happy now, but it was a very positive environment and good techs were respected and rewarded.
Being flat rate, you have the chance to reap the rewards, but you will always be at risk to get some nasty jobs. And we’re not all perfect, so comebacks are just a part of the job. It’s a part of the job I can’t hack anymore, though. I don’t have a lot of comebacks, but I worry that every car I touch will come back. I am being overly paranoid, but I just don’t know how to relax as a mechanic.
So I’ve been flat rate for over three months now and I officially hate it. This job is stressful enough as it is to be dealing with flat rate bullshit. Even when I’m really doing well, it’s stressful. The knowledge that you might have to do a really nasty job and lose lots of hours on it sucks. Dealing with come backs… yeah, we’re mechanics and it’s a very tough job. We screw up on occasion. Everyone screws up. The only difference between us and other trades, is that WE pay for it when we’re flat rate. I’m fucking done with this shit. Especially the amount of times that I’ve CONSIDERED being dishonest, which has never happened before. It’s way too tempting, and I won’t do it. I’ve seen techs calling brake pads at 5 mm. That’s bullshit. My version of dishonesty is seeing a leaky seal that would pay 2 hours to replace, but take me five to six hours to do (rear axle seal on a Toyota Sequoia), so I’d clean it up, and pretend the problem was never there. Top up the fluid if it’s bad.
Tech advice: DON’T call a rear axle seal on a Sequoia with air suspension. You’ll be sore for days. And if you do, install that seal with precision. If it comes back, you’re gonna want to shoot yourself in the face and pray that the person who has to do it instead is someone you hate. It sucks that bad, no matter how simple it looks. Well, it sucks mostly [i]because[i] it looks so simple :silly: Or maybe I just suck at this job.
So I’ve been flat rate for over three months now and I officially hate it. This job is stressful enough as it is to be dealing with flat rate bullshit. Even when I’m really doing well, it’s stressful. The knowledge that you might have to do a really nasty job and lose lots of hours on it sucks. Dealing with come backs… yeah, we’re mechanics and it’s a very tough job. We screw up on occasion. Everyone screws up. The only difference between us and other trades, is that WE pay for it when we’re flat rate. I’m fucking done with this shit. Especially the amount of times that I’ve CONSIDERED being dishonest, which has never happened before. It’s way too tempting, and I won’t do it. I’ve seen techs calling brake pads at 5 mm. That’s bullshit. My version of dishonesty is seeing a leaky seal that would pay 2 hours to replace, but take me five to six hours to do (rear axle seal on a Toyota Sequoia), so I’d clean it up, and pretend the problem was never there. Top up the fluid if it’s bad.
Tech advice: DON’T call a rear axle seal on a Sequoia with air suspension. You’ll be sore for days. And if you do, install that seal with precision. If it comes back, you’re gonna want to shoot yourself in the face and pray that the person who has to do it instead is someone you hate. It sucks that bad, no matter how simple it looks. Well, it sucks mostly [i]because[i] it looks so simple :silly: Or maybe I just suck at this job.
I moved to a different city late May to work for a Toyota dealership. My first time doing the flat rate thing. I told myself when I quit the independent side, that I’d only be happy as a tech if I was working for Toyota. I have confirmed my suspicions: I no longer enjoy working on cars and am looking to try something else. I am making better money for sure, but being a mechanic is stressful. Being a flat-rate tech is twice as stressful, and I think I’m done with this shit.
There is ONE good thing about being flat rate, but so many other things wrong with it. I’m glad for the experience, even if I had to spend over ten hours once on a totally crappy job that paid 2.8 hours.
I moved to a different city late May to work for a Toyota dealership. My first time doing the flat rate thing. I told myself when I quit the independent side, that I’d only be happy as a tech if I was working for Toyota. I have confirmed my suspicions: I no longer enjoy working on cars and am looking to try something else. I am making better money for sure, but being a mechanic is stressful. Being a flat-rate tech is twice as stressful, and I think I’m done with this shit.
There is ONE good thing about being flat rate, but so many other things wrong with it. I’m glad for the experience, even if I had to spend over ten hours once on a totally crappy job that paid 2.8 hours.
The only way to really learn quickly is to get a job as a tech. Maybe look for a weekend, part-time job at a quick lube place, since that’s what you’d be doing at a real shop as a newbie. That and tires.
The only way to really learn quickly is to get a job as a tech. Maybe look for a weekend, part-time job at a quick lube place, since that’s what you’d be doing at a real shop as a newbie. That and tires.
Auto mechanics have UNIONS in the USA??? Holy crap. How does that work? I’m not one for unions, but if there was any trade needing one, it’s ours. I even heard that German mechanics don’t have to buy their own tools. Blows my mind!
As for flat rate, here in Calgary, Canada, flat rate techs make way more than I do as an hourly tech. The few flat rate guys I worked beside during my time at the dealership (when I was apprenticing), were mostly pretty good and honest about what they did. Being a Toyota dealership, there wasn’t much warranty stuff for them to deal with.
Auto mechanics have UNIONS in the USA??? Holy crap. How does that work? I’m not one for unions, but if there was any trade needing one, it’s ours. I even heard that German mechanics don’t have to buy their own tools. Blows my mind!
As for flat rate, here in Calgary, Canada, flat rate techs make way more than I do as an hourly tech. The few flat rate guys I worked beside during my time at the dealership (when I was apprenticing), were mostly pretty good and honest about what they did. Being a Toyota dealership, there wasn’t much warranty stuff for them to deal with.
My advice to anyone starting out in this trade is to avoid dealerships. Unless you want to be a specialist, avoid dealerships until you feel comfortable with a general knowledge of vehicles. I started out in a non-dealership, worked there for ten months, went to school, and was offered a job at a Lexus dealership. The money was too good to not do it. While I made great money, I was learning nothing (all I did was oil changes and tire stuff). After that, I went to a normal Toyota dealership. Again, I learned very little. By the time I went to an independent shop, I was into my third year as an apprentice, and THEN I started to learn. Working on every kind of vehicle, mostly crappy ones, is when my education really started to take place. I hope to go back to a Toyota dealership someday (for the money and relative peace of mind), but not until I feel comfortable in my abilities. I will be a journeyman about a month from now, but if I don’t feel comfortable with that qualification, I’m not going back to a dealership.
I went to school with a BMW apprentice a couple years ago. He seemed like a fine technician, but that was only because of his total enthusiasm for the trade, not from his experience at the dealership. He complained that the only thing he did at the dealer was oil changes and “fit batteries”. To this day, I have no idea what a “battery-fitter” does, or what it entails.
However, the really good thing about being a dealer technician is that you have up-to-date knowledge of the industry, which is ever-changing. Techs need to keep up with the technology for sure, but they need a solid foundation of knowledge in the trade in general before worrying about the incredible changes in the industry.
My opinion. Others might think otherwise. Good luck with your apprenticeship!
My advice to anyone starting out in this trade is to avoid dealerships. Unless you want to be a specialist, avoid dealerships until you feel comfortable with a general knowledge of vehicles. I started out in a non-dealership, worked there for ten months, went to school, and was offered a job at a Lexus dealership. The money was too good to not do it. While I made great money, I was learning nothing (all I did was oil changes and tire stuff). After that, I went to a normal Toyota dealership. Again, I learned very little. By the time I went to an independent shop, I was into my third year as an apprentice, and THEN I started to learn. Working on every kind of vehicle, mostly crappy ones, is when my education really started to take place. I hope to go back to a Toyota dealership someday (for the money and relative peace of mind), but not until I feel comfortable in my abilities. I will be a journeyman about a month from now, but if I don’t feel comfortable with that qualification, I’m not going back to a dealership.
I went to school with a BMW apprentice a couple years ago. He seemed like a fine technician, but that was only because of his total enthusiasm for the trade, not from his experience at the dealership. He complained that the only thing he did at the dealer was oil changes and “fit batteries”. To this day, I have no idea what a “battery-fitter” does, or what it entails.
However, the really good thing about being a dealer technician is that you have up-to-date knowledge of the industry, which is ever-changing. Techs need to keep up with the technology for sure, but they need a solid foundation of knowledge in the trade in general before worrying about the incredible changes in the industry.
My opinion. Others might think otherwise. Good luck with your apprenticeship!
Hi everyone, I’m Johnny.
I wanted to be a philosophy professor, and earned my degree in philosophy. After graduating, I decided the trades was where I wanted to be, since I was absolutely useless with my hands. I’ve done brief stints as a carpenter, electrician, pipe-fitter, but decided that auto technician was the best choice. I started the trade in ’05, but got out in ’07 to go get shot at and nearly blown up in Afghanistan (I was a reservist). Came back to the trade in ’10 and have been aggressively learning as much as I can. I am currently in school for two months to finish up my four year apprenticeship. Hope to be a Journeyman about a month from now (I think that’s the equivalent of an ASE Master Technician).
I’m a Canadian tech with Toyota dealership experience, but I’ve mostly worked at independent shops. Our apprenticeship program sounds very different than the American ASE one. Legally, you must be registered with the government to work as an auto tech up here, starting out as an apprentice. It’s a four year program where you work for ten months, and attend school for two months every year for four years. It’s pretty intense training, and I’d say ten times more difficult than your average university degree, but the pay off is more valuable for sure.
Looking forward to future discussions 🙂
JC