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[quote=”Redneckmanwv99@yahoo.com” post=183592]What are your thoughts on a 35/40 hour a week guarantee under flat rate? Surely you can’t have any objections to that? You are still paid more the more productive you are, so you have the incentive to do more, and at the same time it guarantees that the shop can’t screw the techs over and starve them out or make them stand around while there is no work, and they will work harder to make sure that the techs are always busy, so it’s a win/win for the techs and the shop.
Also, I don’t consider being made to stay at work while not getting paid as “winning”, I would rather just be sent home than be made to waste my day at work while making no money, there’s always something I could be doing at home. Also, the hour guarantee system I mentioned above would eliminate this problem.[/quote]
They have to give you at least your states minimum wage for the hours you are at work.
Check out the innova 31703. For the money it’s a really good tool that does have bidirectional capabilities. Or check out eBay, Snap On scan tools are way cheap on there.
Ok, so you are obviously very passionate about this and hate this system, what do you propose as a viable replacement? I have been in the industry for about 20 years now and I have done it all. I have worked as a dealership tech, an aftermarket tech, a performance aftermarket tech, a consulting diagnostics tech, a custom auto fabricator, and right now as a service writer. I have done straight hourly, hourly with a bonus schedule based on billable hours, and flat rate. Now whether anyone likes it or not a business in in business to make a profit. Period. The industry is based on standard book times that have been averaged to be a universal standard. This attempts to ensure that the customer is charged a fair rate for the work done and the mechanic and shop get a fair wage for performing the service. I know, trust me I know there are unscrupulous techs and shop owners out there but I don’t think a valid case can be made that this is a result of the flat rate system. These people will find a way to take advantage of any type of billing system they are involved in. Even when I was a green tech working in a dealership under the flat rate system I was able to book way more hours than I actually worked. I didn’t do it by selling work that was not needed. I did it by following the philosophy that I have heard Eric espouse a few times, your customer deserves a safe and reliable car. That and striving to be as efficient as I can possibly be in performing my work. This way of working not only worked for me in a flat rate environment but also served me very well in working in an hourly shop because my boss felt he was getting his moneys worth with me. I guess to end this lengthy rant in any profession there are going to be people and practices that will frustrate the crap out of you and that you will not agree with on one level or another, the only thing you can control is you and how you handle yourself personally and professionally. If this industry frustrates you to this level you need to ask yourself honestly if it’s for you.