[asphaltgambler]

I worked as a professional tech under the flat rate system for most of my 40+ career years. 1980 or so most all independent shops paid 50/50 of customer pay rate - here in Northern Va that equated to @$42 per labor hour. Dealerships, even at that time paid "X" to the tech which was a % of the customer hourly rate. The maximum of that was @32% to the highest / best technician.

Today - all that's out the window. Average customer paid hourly labor in this area = @$125.00. The best tech might be paid @$36.00/ FRH. So the math is easy........

FRH - in automotive world ensures the shop always makes bank while the tech is kept in the trailer park. Looking back in history - it was the Great Depression that sparked the 50/50 split in the automotive repair industry. It was a fair and equitable way for both shop owners and mechanics to survive. It was created out of need for survival.

But that system is broken today. There's nothing wrong with and a lot right with having employees on incentives for quality and production. The breakdown and loss as far as techs go is how the labor hours are figured today