I Have Had Enough of the Auto Business
 

- I'm done. I'm 51 years old, currently a BMW / Euro Technician and still recieve absolutely no lasting respect, full commision only, no sick days or any real benefits. I have owned my own auto repair small business back in the mid 80's and most recently have been through a failed partnership. I consider myself (from my peers) to be knowledgable, exellent problem solver, good at what I do + I posess great people /management skills. In short; I am in demand in my field.

I have seen and survived many ups and downs in this business over the last 35 years but never this bad and it's more than just the economy. It's the evolution/technical progression of todays' automobile and the determination of the business side to remain in the dark ages.

When I was a kid, I could not ever imagine a time where two of the the big three automakers would file for bankruptcy, with the third almost there all within months of each other. The repair side failing right along with it. As long as there are people who allow themselves to be wh*red out by the mangers and owners; business will continue as usual.

In December a sought out and hired a small business consultant, paid him well to advise me objectively on what to do and where to go career wise as well as a few financial issues in my personal life. That advice may turn out to be .................priceless

In a nutshell: Get out of the auto industry and anything retail in general. Look into the only three industrys' that have real growth and will continue so even in bad economic times. 1) Homeland Security 2) Healthcare 3) IT - Use my best traits, skills and interest; figure out where they 'fit' in one of these areas. Then pursue the logical path in training and certifications to break into the career I've decided.

My choice: Electronic Security Technician - I 'm am currently involved in ongoing training and certs in that area. I shoud be 'resume-ready in 6-8 weeks. I'll keep you posted

Congratulations man! Sometimes just making that decision can mentally make you feel like a 1,000 lb weight has been lifted off your shoulders.

Good luck and enjoy the ride!

I think the auto repair business is different on the local and regional levels. The shops I use are slammed busy. A friend started a high-end (Ferrari/Lotus/Lamborghini) shop a year ago and has already doubled in size and added 1000 customers. He is booked a month out. In winter.

Good luck to you. Burn out happens. You might find yourself happier than ever. I hope so!

Professional auto repair has to be a pain. So many drivers see a car as an appliance. They have no idea what is wrong with a car, but they figure the mechanic is a crook out to rip them off.

Good luck in your new profession.

Basically in this industry lots-of-work does not = good income for the tech. Most business owners are taking the advantage of the downturn with their employees. As in less pay, reduced per job pay, increased liability to total loss on the tech, increased hrs on the clock, reduced or no benefits. All becuase they can.

Some would argue that the owners/managers are just being good and efficient at what they do. In better times; good techs would NOT put up with any of the nonsense that currently occours in the industry. They would walk. Not now, there is no where to 'run'

So why not be the owner/manager and take advantage of that disparity?

Good luck. I turned a love of wrenching, although only in high school and college, into IT work. While its not exactly the same, I still troubleshoot, think, design things... but at least I'm mostly clean and work usually has AC. :)

I still do a bunch of side work and get involved in way to many projects to keep my feet wet. Nice thing is I can turn down work I dont want and us it only for fun $$.

Tons of opportunity in IT security in NoVa/DC, especially if your can get cleared.

Excellent move!

I hung my wrenches up 16 years ago for IT. Best decision I've ever made.

Edit: I did EXACTLY the same thing as Vincent, wrenched for GM though college.

Once you see the dark side of a business, its hard to ignore. I left my field 4 years ago. No way I would go back.

Good luck. Smart idea to approach this problem with your mind and eyes open.

The owner side is better, but scary. Sometimes you wonder if you're going to make payroll...

The dark side is right........................been a foreman and manager previously in this business - they are generally more expendable than a good tech. Through the years I've had a good run overall, but I'm quickly becoming a dinosour, already at the back side of 50 and not getting any younger. I'd rather quit the business now and sacrifice for a real career and future than to just fade out like so many other guys are and have been.

A very good friend of mine started wrenching at a dealership, then opened his own shop, then got his dealer's license and started selling used cars, then stared leasing to the poor credit crowd and is now trying to wind up affairs as he is preparing for bankruptcy. He wants nothing to do with cars ever again. The upside is that I'm going to pick up some tools and what not for a good price.

LOL, Grass is always greener.
Most folks who work for someone else have no idea the pressure or stress the owner is under.

There's an old saying: "the worst boss I ever had was when I was working for myself".

In short - the auto business, viewed through young eyes in the late 60's to 70's was a HUGE growth industry. As a kid I remember the first time I saw disc brakes on a domestic vehicle, the shortly after; the advent of electronic ignition - then 'smog' controls/devices. I saw almost unlimited potential.

My approach then and was to gather all the technical schooling and also the business side I could to further my career. That was what really defined me early on. I loved it, I'm passionate about all things mechanical. I not only play one on TV, I am a true hobbyist in the 'off' hours

Today, here and now, I see no real growth in the car industry at all, from where I stand and work. My progressive views and work ethic allowed me a lot of creativity when the manufacturers could or would NOT produce a vehicle that ran proporly. I had many a customer compliment in the 80's/early 90's that their car didn't run that well when it was new. These days = "0"

But, as hard as it is to do, it's time to move on and become passionate about a new career in a growth industry. H&ll - Homeland security has only been around since 2002

Kind of sad to hear because good mechanics are hard to find.

However I feel your pain, worked in Dad's HVAC business for ten years, I knew I needed a change. Options were go back to school or get a contractors license... I could have made a LOT of money as a contractor... but couldn't bear the thought of dealing with customers/the trades/the building department. So now I have a great job but I live paycheck to paycheck.

Such is life.

Best of luck in your new endeavors.

SmileWavy

Problem is most people want, even demand a great Technician, but no one company is willing to sacrifice some profit to pay a minimum, base rate, or gaurantee. If I diagnose and repair the veh correctly the first time, on time I have completed my obligation. But if someone at the front counter p*sses the customer off, or the *****ty parts I install go south, or a miriad of other things go wrong where does that leave me??

If I have completed my task correctly but something else goes wrong, I suffer. This business is the only one where a highly skilled blue collar workers are fully commisioned. All other trades journeyman level electricians, plumbers, finish carpenters. HVAC guys are hourly w/performance bonus. They (in most cases) are supplied with a van, phone, tools, benefits and their companies still turn a profit

My gross income this year is down $35K from mid '07 level

Good plan! I wish you the best!!

My gross income this year is down $35K from mid '07 level too.
As are many working in many different fields.

I also have signed many paychecks over the years. Many of my good technicians were making $80-100K in a franchised dealership environment. Some still are, but some also do not have jobs at all. BTW, I have not worked for a dealership or dealer group that did not guarantee a base. Most bases were in the $3000/mo range. Many technicians also turned 110% efficiency, month in month out. Those were the techs that could make $10K in a great month.

Best of luck asphaltgambler. I got out of being a P-Car tech when the dealers here started working to run independents out of business. What once was a steady, strong relationship between our shop and the local big-name dealer went out like a light, overnight.

Flat rate (piece) work is great when all the stars and planets align, but when the customers don't buy or come in, to what end is the shop responsible? I can tell you in the Washington area the only gaurantee is no gaurantee even for very good / great techs

Great technicians are a shop's strongest asset. Hard to imagine not treating them right. Those shops will eventually feel it.

I'm working on my own sideways move.

Good luck.

I completely understand where you are coming from. I am almost 41, and have been in the business for over 20 years. I still like to spin a wrench, but day to day is becoming drudgery. I can in no way imagine doing this for the next 20 years. I have been working real hard for the last 4 years now to try to open up other doors for myself. Have been really hustling on the rental house business. I have this whole plan set into action for myself, and hope not to be a full time wrench within the next 5 years. I do plan on putting up a nice garage at my home and doing quite a bit of side jobbing ( it is in my blood, and no way I could walk away altogether)
I have always thought that we have one of the most technically challenging, physically hard jobs that require quite a large skill set, and also have to invest a small fortune in tools/equipment/training, and yet, we make half what a good/busy electrician or plumber does as far as blue collar jobs go.
I still like my job but I feel burn out is imminent eventually .
Good luck with your future ventures.

I didn't read the entire thread but after having a wrench in my hand most of my life and it being my career for the last 2 decades I also am getting out. When I am so burnt out that I would rather not drive my coupe because the valve adjustment is way beyond due, it is bad. I hate cars in general.

What makes the consultant say homeland security is such a growth business? Did you check out his sources? I know the governments in this country large and local would like to spend on HS, but around here they are relying on the Coast Guard, FBI, ect, to execute.

I hope the transition goes smoothly. I put down my wrenches after about 3 years, and pretty much all I did was a/c work. Had a business doing mobile a/c jobs in DFW for awhile, but now I sell a/c parts to shops, and provide tech support. We sell radiators too, so in the winter it's fun to land another body shop during collision season. We had about 25% total growth last year, and went from nearly 50K to 375K in a/c sales. I have a boss now, but pretty much do what I want. I'm not required to go to the office, but I do, everyday.

At 31, I traded in lobbying the state legislature to go back to college, turned a few wrenches, and here I am now. I don't much miss what I was doing 4 years ago, but I keep in tune somewhat.

If you're not mad at cars, a/c might be a refreshing side of the business that you'd enjoy, if only as a side job. There's good money in it. I've become pretty passionate about it, and every now and then I dust off the gauges to knock one out.

I wish you well.

Yup, been there also. I was a wrench ( ASE Master Tech ) for almost exacly 20 years before I got out. My revelation was an injury. One day, I broke my leg badly, couldnt work, and almost lost everything. When I came back to work 5 months later, I really started taking a look around and didnt like what I saw. Things I realized in those few months were things like, this is an industry where the better you are, the less you make, (because you get all the problem cars that nobody else can fix, while they get all the gravy service work) the older you are, the less you make, ( cant keep up physically anymore) as the cars keep getting better, the less you make, all while working harder. People who arent in the business can in no way understand the true nature of flat rate. I took me @ 4-5 years to get all my ratings and flight time and do something ive always wanted to do, which is fly commercially. Then, right after I got hired, Sept. 11th, happens and the aviation indusrty takes a major nosedive, but that is another story..

Long story short, I am SO glad I made the switch and got out. I am in contact with many friends still in it, and they keep saying its just getting worse every year. I am fortunate to "work" at a local body/speed shop and still get to spin wrenches when I want, and still get to be involved in some cool projects, but now its more of a hobby which brings enjoyment..

So now, I go to work and fly around and then come home and get to "play" with cars. Kinda have the best of both worlds.

I met a guy (bought some P-parts from him) who did something interesting, but I guess not everyone can make it work. He was a mechanic & get fed up with the wrenching part of it. What he did was become a "forensic mechanic." That is, he evaluated and analyzed mechanical problems for insurance companies and testified for and advised attorneys on those kinfd of things. He said he made a good living doing it & enjoyed it too.

The NSA and FBI are hiring right now....

did those guys read the PARF thread on Putting Some $$ Away?

Buddy of mine owns and operates an indy P car shop........... he and his "few" employees have more work than they can handle, AND very happy, loyal customers.

Why? you ask?

Because he is fair, honest, reliable, trustworthy and they are DAMN good mechanics. Sometimes simple fundamental honerable values and old fashion hard work, actually do pay off.

Seeme to me, there is a class of beemer owner who would appreciate such a set of business services.

I know that when the warranty is over on my cars.......... they never see the inside of a stealership again.

It takes substantial effort, time and sacrifice to build up a customer following. Once you have it, and you treat them fair, no power on earth will pull them away from you.

Good replies all - thanks for the encouragement!! - In the Washington/DC Metro area there is a lot of demand for Electronic Security Techs IF you have the right qualifications. I did much research to narrow down objectively, my skill set to figure where and what area I would fit. Then I googled pay scales and requirements for each until I narrowed the field.

I have a background in IT. In the late nineties there was a gold rush in IT in the Metro area. I enrolled in boot camp style training schools in basic computing and networking, then MCSE (Win NT) I achieved A+ / N+ training and certs as well as MS Office suite ( basic know - how) I secured a position with a large attorneys office in 1999. I started as helpdesk and quickly moved up to network admin and interim director. The IT staff maintained there own network, telephony, IDS (card reader) and CCTV. I was exposed to an immense amount of technology in one place then. I moved up quickly because I tried and worked harder than anyone else to succeed. Then after 9/11 the company was sold and The parent company replaced me - the reason? I my replacement was working for $10K less than I was making at that time,

So in '02 I went back into the auto business but this time soley as a Euro tech - now here we are

Right now, the auto industry is expanding wildly into alternate fuels, hybrid and full electric. The problem is that these technologies will stymie the typical repair person out there.

What is needed are people who can repair THOSE cars and truly auto-knowlegeable people to help those who develop them. The developers are big brain people who do not always get the mechanics behind their dreams. They are thinking in the sky, but vehicles needed a well-grounded thought process to be successful. They need a wrench to make the big-brain ideas really work.

You are only 51. Maybe you should take what you know and jump to the next level with it (hybrid/electric/alternate fuel). You can still dream big and maybe even influence the course of automotive history.

Just an idea, my friend.

angela

Good thought, but thats not going to change the flat rate way of business. Problem is, good techs have made great pay in the past and now they see their income going down every year. If the owners/dealers were to pay by way of some sort of salary, (this had been tried at various places over the years) they would not be happy with the pay. Example is CarMax. Techs who were making 80-90K a few years ago were approached by CarMax to go onto a salary program, but at @ $35-45K. So, it's a double edge sword for the good tech but great for not so good tech. But it all circles back to the good tech working harder and watching their income going down every year.

"Most business owners are taking the advantage of the downturn with their employees. As in less pay, reduced per job pay, increased liability to total loss on the tech, increased hrs on the clock, reduced or no benefits. All becuase they can."

I agree . Seems like businesses everywhere are taking advantage of this recession to squeeze employees to the limit.... and beyond. Even though the economy is beginning to show signs of improvement, businesses will not be hiring any time in the near future. They will continue to push their current employees to work harder, produce more. All the while reducing benefits, trying to break unions, etc. Don't believe for a moment the propaganda we hear about "Small businesses being job creators" .

The business community sees a real advantage to this recession...they can use it as an excuse to reduce staffing and squeeze the remaining work force.

do you see boogiemen around EVERY corner?

Spoken from an employee to be sure. Ask 20 business owners abount the advantages to a recession. Bottom line is if revenue is dropping and bad debts go up your salary is not going to stay the same. These guys are just trying to hang on any way they can.

Explain........please

Good luck!

I did a career change at age 28 and have never looked back. Still, aviation is wonderful but goes up and down and sure could use some stability these days and may start branching off into what else... IT!

Joe A

PS thanks for the second mount! Arrived fine!