Good Day/Bad Day at the 'Ol Dealership

[Dobalovr]

Doba, you will love this one. My first MB dealer had a very hard time finding good techs... very seasonal shop. To get enough techs at the height of season they tried all kinds of stuff, help moving and establishing at an apartment complex, sign on money... the thing that worked to help them keep good techs was a contract. A tech had to go to training when sent, his expenses and salary for a weeks training would be owed to the dealership if he left prior to 12 months after training... they tried to send everyone through training at about 11 months. There were guys who quit and thought they were done at the last paycheck. The direct deposit agreement allowed for funds both ways... many dumbasses didn't read the small print and open a second account for DD. When this contract went to court, it was binding. One moron took them to court, the service manager had some emergency and missed the court date. The moron was so outraged by the whole affair that he insisted on displaying the contract to the judge... who ruled against him.

Absolutely we sign retention bonus or moving expenses included contracts all the time and yes the direct deposit works both ways! We have only had to usebit once but when the tech called the labour board to complain they sided with the signed contract and told him he breached it! You would hate the new warranty claim system. If a tech (no matter how experienced he is) hasn't taken the training to complete the repair he is not allowed to do the work. If a repair calls for level 3 then only level 3's can do it. I had a 30 year vet walkout because he couldn't get his level 3 done because FCA only offered the one course he needed to complete one day in the whole year in our province and it was full when he applied. We offered to fly him across the country to take it but by that time he had had enough of the BS. If FCA didn't trust him to fix it right they could go bleep themselves.....I agreed. The weird thing is i've seen 21 year old nerd techs who are level 3 and I wouldn't trust them to change my oil...

 

[Big_John]

I guess I'm used to doing business in New York State... and it might have something to do with not being in the automotive business too. I know that having the employee responsible financially for damage wouldn't fly around here.

BTW, we paid for any education (seminars, training etc.) along with other expenses that we requested or required our employees to take. We got burnt once because the employee took a job where they were being trained. That one just blew our minds. She came back long enough to quit. All the air fare, a weeks worth of hotel and meals was just gone....

 

[cantflip]

Absolutely we sign retention bonus or moving expenses included contracts all the time and yes the direct deposit works both ways! We have only had to usebit once but when the tech called the labour board to complain they sided with the signed contract and told him he breached it! You would hate the new warranty claim system. If a tech (no matter how experienced he is) hasn't taken the training to complete the repair he is not allowed to do the work. If a repair calls for level 3 then only level 3's can do it. I had a 30 year vet walkout because he couldn't get his level 3 done because FCA only offered the one course he needed to complete one day in the whole year in our province and it was full when he applied. We offered to fly him across the country to take it but by that time he had had enough of the BS. If FCA didn't trust him to fix it right they could go bleep themselves.....I agreed. The weird thing is i've seen 21 year old nerd techs who are level 3 and I wouldn't trust them to change my oil...

I haven't seen the inside of how FCA works, I am pretty sure my old passport is worthless. A young guy I knew who was in the middle of a dealer sponsored diesel training worth about 20k got completely reset, as I understand it, once FCA took over... he left the dealer because his training that far had turned useless and farther training was unavailable for a period of time.

I guess I'm used to doing business in New York State... and it might have something to do with not being in the automotive business too. I know that having the employee responsible financially for damage wouldn't fly around here.

BTW, we paid for any education (seminars, training etc.) along with other expenses that we requested or required our employees to take. We got burnt once because the employee took a job where they were being trained. That one just blew our minds. She came back long enough to quit. All the air fare, a weeks worth of hotel and meals was just gone....

That scenario is why many dealers try to "lock in" employees they train. I know a service manager who tries to develop young talent. His pet peeve is that once they get to a certain level his closest competing dealer tries to lure them away with pay, but they don't go through the financial burden of development. I am in a position where I am not allowed to advise him how to solve this...
Big John, you may be surprised how many loop holes there are... especially when "flat rate" pay system is used. I know this varies by state. I had a brief time in a shop owned by Manny, Moe and Jack... my service manager's favorite new trick was to appease whining customers by discounting labor and reducing pay on completed work. Job paid 6 hours when approved by the customer, then the whining about the cost, next thing you know payroll shows 2 hours pay. I documented and went to FL dept of labor... Long time ago I may have spoken to fed people too... finally after many calls and much BS I was told as far as they could figure out flat rate, If I was paid at least minimum wage, they didn't see a case. We went to war corporately, I spent 6 miserable months and made really bad money... I quit as soon as they (2 managers who made this happen) were fired. I may still be used as a example in their manager's training. It was not worth the fight... but I was younger and more headstrong... In the late 90s I had a drinking buddy who had an opinion column in the local newspaper, he was great leverage to keep me employed until the job was done... corporate wouldn't let them fire me.

 

[shooter65]

Worked in corrections for a few years, made me paranoid I guess, key control and security are second nature for me. If I'm out of the car, the keys are with me. If I'm away from the car, the car is locked. My vehicles are locked inside my garages at home. All doors to the house are also locked unless I'm in the yard working, and then only one is unlocked.

Having said that, as my father use to say, locks are for honest people, if someone wants to get in, they will.

That reminds me of a funny story about how, on a whim, I showed my wife how to kick a door, about a year later, she locked herself out on a very cold winter day and kicked the back door to get in. I later explained that a broken window would have been cheaper and easier to fix than a new door and door frame.

 

[Fury440]

Having said that, as my father use to say, locks are for honest people, if someone wants to get in, they will.

This was also quoted many times in our house while I was growing up. For years I seldom locked the house or the car. When I drove GM, you could unlock the ignition and remove the key and that's the way it spent its life, unlocked and ready to go. I remember my Dad having a Chev that he sold to a neighbor. We couldn't find the stupid key so he drove it without one for nearly a year before the key turned up. Nobody had deadbolts, in fact I saw my first one in the mid 70's. With the drug freaks running loose these days the doors have two locks and the house is alarmed and monitored. Crazy world.

Of interest, my '70 Fury has never been locked. I figure locking a convertible is an invitation to slash the roof, so I leave nothing in the car to steal and leave the doors unlocked. I've parked in some pretty scary places with zero damage. I do have a hidden cut off switch for the battery to slow down a car thief. My garage, however, is well protected with dead bolts, security lights, monitored alarm system and contrary to Canadian laid back ways, a 12 gauge Winchester. All this extra security is required to keep the drug freaks out of my beer frig!

 

[shooter65]

a 12 gauge Winchester. All this extra security is required to keep the drug freaks out of my beer frig!

SAVE THE BEER!!!

 

[300rag]

SAVE THE BEER!!!

Well, obviously. The car is insured

 

[Fury440]

Well, obviously. The car is insured

Darn rights, just about exactly enough to buy a hellcat!

 

[3C's & a D?]

Sorry to hear about that Doba, it really pisses me off that we have to be so wary of others. I'm not sure how or what, but something has to change.

 

[Dobalovr]

contrary to Canadian laid back ways, a 12 gauge Winchester

Careful or the High River RCMP may break in to save your house from a natural disaster and find your "Intimidator" lol

 

[Dobalovr]

buy a hellcat!

Did someone say "Buy a Hellcat"? ......Got my lucky pen out press hard 3 copies please....

 

[Fury440]

Did someone say "Buy a Hellcat"? ......Got my lucky pen out press hard 3 copies please....

Down boy, down boy!

 

[commando1]

So, what are the 200 rebates up to now? 65 hundred?

 

[Dobalovr]

So, what are the 200 rebates up to now? 65 hundred?

Ha I wish! The idiots actually took away the $2500 rebate we've had all year and gave us 0% financing for 5 years. Now don't know the demographics of the buyers in Fumbuck County for this car but up here its all Subprime or Old Men with Hats...neither give a rats *** about 0%! The subprimers just want to get bought and the OMWH's pay cash. FCA really doesn't understand their target buyer sometimes....but I digress....We sell the LX for $19998 and the LTD for $25998 better deal than a Dart!

 

[Big_John]

Ha I wish! The idiots actually took away the $2500 rebate we've had all year and gave us 0% financing for 5 years. Now don't know the demographics of the buyers in Fumbuck County for this car but up here its all Subprime or Old Men with Hats...neither give a rats *** about 0%! The subprimers just want to get bought and the OMWH's pay cash. FCA really doesn't understand their target buyer sometimes....but I digress....We sell the LX for $19998 and the LTD for $25998 better deal than a Dart!

If the OMWH were smart, they would take the 0%, provided there are no other costs, and keep their money invested. But I also digress....

The subprime folks seem to be the target customer around here. The ads seem to be aimed at getting anyone financed. The local Hundyai dealer has built his empire around it... and now you can't swing a cat in any parking lot without hitting a Korean car.

 

[shooter65]

IMO the subprime auto loans will end up biting someone in the *** eventually just as the subprime mortgages bit all of us in the ***. Just not to the same extent....I hope.

 

[commando1]

If the OMWH were smart, they would take the 0%, provided there are no other costs, and keep their money invested.

On my recent acquisition, I got the dealer to sweeten the deal by financing thru him, and then splitting the kickback with me. No early payment penalty so I'll just pay off the loan on the first due date.
I already made the deal with the manager but the F&I guy didn't know how to handle it (newbie). Had to teach him how to massage the numbers. Jeeze.

 

[Big_John]

I think I've only made a good deal on financing a car through the dealer once. That was a used Caddy Eldorado and it was less than 2%. That was better than new car rates at the time. The rest of the time I've let them try, but I've done better with a bank or that god awful credit union I used to belong to.

 

[Fury440]

In the old days I used to buy my cars using my line of credit which was typically prime plus 0.5%. However nowadays dealer 0% looks better. Back in '06 when I bought my Jeep, I was ready to write a cheque until the dealer offered 0% financing. I asked for cash discount with no success so I did the 3 year 0% deal. What I learned from that is dealers don't like cash.

 

[Dobalovr]

Today was a good day at the ol' Dealership. This old girl came in for an oil change. All original un-molested....so he says. I do get to drive it and find out so I will report back. Pictures for you all of course.....