Why Mechanics Are Quitting Their Jobs in 2023

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In todays episode I explain some of the reasons why I feel there is a shortage of technicians and why dealerships cant seem to find qualified technicians to hire or let alone keep their technicians.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

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[@grizzlyaddams3606]

Bro, I feel for you. I will NEVER understand how when a company gets SUPER RICH, seems to be when they stop caring. Seems likenthat's when they should REALLY PUT ON THE CARE BEAR. 🐻

[@jordanphilipperris]

What you are saying is so true. There is also the issue of abuse, and just like with animals, there is not anywhere near enough being done to address the abuse Pandemic, cause not only are certain people considered as just numbers, but they are also looked upon as disposable trash that can be kicked around, and the laws here in Canada don't seem to do much at all to protect people from verbal abuse or physical threats, and if you want to take someone to court for said things, good luck not only getting all the proof you need but the crazy amounts of money (Out of pocket) for a chance at justice. The system is whats keeping good people under the boots of others, andsomehing has to be done about it: With my second last boss he was a real master at manipulation (Could be one of the most vicious to one of the most loving people you have even met on the drop of a dime/flip of a switch) and knew how to pull peoples mental/emotional strings, and believe me when I say that I make a really good target especially during some days when I was the first/only one there where at times there were alcohol and beer bottles over the floor and during those time especially he had the kind of rage that literally shook my body and went right through to my very soul. I was mentally/emotionally trapped there for like 8 years and as such I have lots of stuff that I typed about that job/torments as well as a couple videos I made of shots that I took in secret), there was one time in particular where the boss (A strong guy) took a large post and just chucked it at me in a way so it barely missed me… It was no cakewalk in elementary school either: Back in my hellementary school days, there were a few teachers “2 in particular (A couple, there last name being Cole, which was very fitting for their hearts) and as for the other, even though he wasn’t nearly as bad, he was still able to make my list” (And 2 IAs, one in particular who was rarely around but was a much bigger bully) that were bullies along with 4 students in particular who were notably worse then the other bullies. I went through a lot, believe me. To top it all off there was this one time when I went to the principal's office to talk to the vice principal about the bullying from the teachers and other students and I was angry, sobbing and the works and I did not hold back on how I felt or on what I was saying, but little did I know that the system for the entire schools speakers was on, so everyone in the entire school heard everything... Now, some of the things that was done to a good friend of mine (Who has Cerebral Palsy), well, she had an instructional assistant (Same one I had) who at times put the lock of her locker on backwards as she was being timed, sometimes also having her wear an intentionally heavy nap sack when she was walking with her crutches when she already had a hard enough time with nothing extra weighing her down, on the odd occasion had her crutches put towards the classroom door so she had to use the desks to balance herself to get to them, one day she slipped and fell in the mud on her way to one of the portables and she was forced to enter the classroom… (As for me, I have roughly 30 regular sized pages with regular sized font single spaced “I think it was around 50 or so before it was edited for me” of a bunch of the BS that happened to me). Anyways, after the schools PA system incident, the bullying got even worse. It did not matter that mom and dad called and tried to help. No one was able to do anything at all for me, nothing (I was a caged animal with no escape/no way to get any kind of help. Even now, emotional abuse is not something that the cops will typically intervene in)... Then one day towards the end of the 7th grade I just snapped completely on one of the bullies, ripped his shirt, tackled him to the ground and would not stop going completely ballistic on him/just absolutely out of control... The lunchroom/recess supervisor who basically did pretty much nothing against emotional bullying ended up pulling us apart and if she hadn't have stepped in then I would not have stopped... The thing about these days is with the internet, social media/etc it just seems like there is a lot more evil stuff going on because it is a lot easier to uncover it, and kids/teens (As well as adults/seniors/etc) need to be encouraged to stand up to bullies (If they can), and to stand up against bullying when they see it happen and to secretly record if things get bad enough (Recording live stream if possible just incase they get caught.having those recording being recorded to some secret place on the web that the victim can have access to those files when and if they ever need them. Recordings that will never be seen/known by the bullies if they do happen to snatch the recorder, if this advanced type of option is even possible).

[@Acemobilesuit]

The constant tracking of everything digitally.. the service manager making $200000 plus profit bonus and he stealing gas for his whole family sits in a chair watching the cameras saying a guy isn’t moving enough cars in and out never mentioning how the jobs always got done right clean and no one got hurt while making you purchase all of the tools in the shop and breaking your tools and loosing pieces to sets from your tools because the six figure guy has no tools switched to agricultural mech then industrial mech with robots now happy

[@edwinrenemartinez5149]

Bro left Kia dealership because they don't care about technician

[@edwinrenemartinez5149]

What company you working now any videos yet

[@emily38c34]

25 years experience. ASE master certified.... professionally trained.. UTI graduate.... everything you said is spot on....the old timers said it used to be 50/50 door rate....the dealership then figured out to cut the times and raise the door rate....the shop gets it's money while the tech makes less.....and yes... when I found out my service advisor made more than me.... that was the final insult....no training...no formal education...no real skill.... making more than a skilled Master auto tech...then I found out the parts manager made nearly twice what tech's were hell no...I got out and started a mobile repair business

[@johnhenke6475]

I worked at a stealership in the 80's where the detail guy was the highest paid guy in the back.

[@charlesmiddleton3247]

The writing has been on the wall for years. Quit my job with GM back in 2003. You are a lot better than those Bozo's. Find something that makes it worthwhile and makes you happy. Life is too short!

[@markahad6583]

Bottom line, you get penalized for your experience and knowledge. Spot on!

[@kutsbothways]

CouId not agree more. Got compIeteIy away from dealerships and even private owned repair shops in the 90's. Started with company that needed it's own fIeet of vehicles/equipment maintained. My earnings went up and stiII had options. They paid for the tooIs needed to stay updated too, so my snap-on days were over.

[@strattuner]

it used to be 50/50 it stopped in 1978,remember it well,by 1980 they come out and told us we had to specialize,no more cleaning the tickets,CP AND WARRANTY never evened out,i put up with dealership nonsense for 10 more years,went to sullivan educational centers and graduated in HV/AC,NOT for working on buildings or doing service calls,i went to start my own business in texas,best move i ever made,went from 1300 a wk to 5900 doing nothing but ac on cars,they come to you,plenty of parts houses there,now i go down every april to october,and take the rest of the year off,YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE WORTH TILL YOU LEAVE YOUR HOME TOWN,never leave untrained

[@TylerRivera635]

We lost two of our best technicians because they were told to leave if they don’t like their pay. They are now making double at another dealer and our shops a mess because we only have about 2 guys that can fix things correctly the first time.

[@kawaplays2616]

Sounds like my dealer right now lol

[@Mac-mu9cs]

Dealer ships will screw themselves if they can make a buck. Letting people walk over pay 1.they where not producing enough 2. The skill to pay was not there Anyhow been at this 30 years all make experience . Went looking for a different place and I can tell you the dealers I went to do not want anyone with experience. They want young and dumb and train the young tech to do just a few things.

[@TylerRivera635]

@@Mac-mu9cs that’s what it feels like unfortunately :)

[@Chris-iz2zh]

Dont worry theyll just fill the spot with independent contactors that talk all day

[@zzbudzz]

Shitty management chase good employees away...and they are stuck with employees nobody else wants. Once the word hits the street that the place doesn't pay well or it sucks to work for because of management ...then it's all down hill from there! My employer is feeling this right now. They just put a "impact study" to everyone and pushed everyone to fill it out. The survey was asking employees how are things going and the general attitude ...I heard they got back the worst feedback ever! I'm not surprised

[@armyjeep4]

Noise complaints are the worst.. "My car makes this noise but only on Tuesdays and only when it's raining "

[@Severed89]

After 8 years Oi quit because of that. Just got tired dealing with people man now I’m a plumber apprentice. No one is going to tell the plumber how to do their job. Us mechanics are never appreciated

[@00zero11b]

I heard it once 2 weeks ago and you have to be going highway speeds for 20 miles.

[@xiongej]

Because there are better jobs out there with better paying rates

[@turbro7185]

Where bro I need to know so I can go there instead

[@scribecypress]

@@turbro7185 anywhere.. it's an employees market right now. Take advantage of it!

[@scribecypress]

@@turbro7185 I found my last 4 jobs on indeed

[@turbro7185]

@@scribecypress what kind of jobs is it in the automotive industry or something else

[@jackm6133]

I just applied for auto tech program at my local community college, now after reading the comments I’m second guessing the decision 😂😂

[@judodavid1]

Two quick thoughts: People don’t quit bad jobs they quit bad managers. Good mechanics are problem solvers. When the boss becomes the problem…

[@salvadormonella8953]

Managers shouldn't be called managers, because they seldom manage anything. They're grifters, and they should be called such.

[@romannabong6804]

.... they know how to make it look like an accident...

[@michaelmurphy6869]

Exactly!! Had a service manager (last one) who moved up from being a service writer to the manager position. She was a fairly good service writer, could sell work. When she became a manager she went from being called the "B" word to the "C" word really quick!! Almost overnight. At one service meeting she told us " you have to make me money!! If you can't I'll find somebody who can and you will do what your told! " Shortly after that meeting i quit, short time after i left many of the techs started quitting. A few months after i left the dealership i had ran into with one of my ex-coworkers (at the time unfortunately he was still there) he said that corporate had noticed the exodus of techs in a short time period and wanted to know why. He didn't what was said, but she was offered a deal. Either quit or be fired or go back to being a service writer at a different dealership. She took the latter one. When she was manager the overall moral in the shop was at the lowest ever basically making it a very hostile environment. A short time later the store closed, because i feel it was the entire management team (sales,service,parts all were just number crunchers) and corporate "overlords" that ran that once highly profitable store into the gound. Like he had said we were just numbers on a spread sheet. I dont recommend any young person to pursue a career in auto repair its not worth it.

[@judodavid1]

Exactly @@michaelmurphy6869. Fortunately I have worked for a couple of good managers. Both of them made you want to do better. They ran good shops where moral and productivity were good and achievers were rewarded. There is to much work out there to be in a bad shop. The third time I talk with a manager about a problem will be to inform him of my new job.

[@michaelmurphy6869]

@@judodavid1Years i was in dealerships i can only recall a couple of managers that were actually good about incentizing training, hourly bonuses and care about the techs they managed. Happy techs produce profits show up everyday and strive to fix it right the first time along giving great customer satisfaction. They and we wanted the repeat business and new customers just by reputation. If you do that, never tell them where your going. It is better just to quit then give notice. They're just starve you out. I do fleet repair (School buses aka "big yellow pintos" 38 of them)now, hourly and steady work. Not allot time restraints.

[@gwall1789]

Started in mom & pop auto shops and never worked flat rate. I would have starved because I’m thorough and treated every vehicle I worked on as if it was my own. Eventually moved into diesel fleet. Best thing I could have ever done. Fleet is a whole different mentality. You work on the same vehicles for years, so pay attention to the details like wire wheeling bolts and applying never-seize. Always make it easier for the next guy, because the next guy may be you.

[@jjthefed]

My uncle goes through anti-seize by the bucket full!

[@289hipo]

Truth. Did 5yrs on diesel/truck, 13yrs as a forklift road tech, both with dealerships but always hourly. Also would have starved on flat rate; as a road tech you had to do "One and Done", 2nd trip is free otherwise. Do it right the first time even if it takes longer

[@slapshotjack9806]

I was barely hired as a tech assistant for a collision repair place in my area and I remember looking at one of the work orders and it said that they would pay 5 dollars for the technician to resolder severed headlight wires FREAKING ELECTRICAL WORK instead of replacing the headlight and wiring harness they just made him somehow figure it out for 5 dollars

[@donjuan8124]

Sounds like you should not get certs so you can stay on the easy jobs 😂

[@cubiczirconiabeard5366]

As anapartment parking lot midnight auto mechanic, I applaud your use of >>>ANTI-SEIZE

[@casey896]

As a former technician, leaving the industry was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. I worked for an independent repair shop for almost a decade and had nothing to show for it and made maybe 2 or 3 more $s an hour than a retail clerk or fast food worker. I now pay my old yearly salary in taxes now, it’s sad. Newer cars are more complicated to work on, require specialized tools/ scanners to work on and you’re always paying tool bills every week for the life of your career. You’re basically over worked, under appreciated, under paid. Not to mention you’re exposed to all kinds of cancer causing materials like brake dust, and nasty toxic fluids, grease, oil, and antifreeze. Most of the senior mechanics I knew had at least one hernia, or were alcoholics, or were just generally miserable and complainy all the time. We basically busted our asses to line the shop owners pockets, as he would have a new super car from dodge each year, including 3 or 4 vipers, and a six or 7 car garage, all the while I couldn’t afford to rent an apartment. Unless you’re in business for yourself, and have the passion and desire to work on vehicles, this career sucks and I completely understand why people are walking away from it

[@michaeldunagan8268]

But Burger King worker do not have to start from jump street purchasing thousands of dollars in tools and cabinets.

[@XRyder24]

@@michaeldunagan8268 FACTS!

[@Jaymilli2387]

I’m a mechanic, and every day I go to work, I use an insane amount of mental capacity not to ignite the torch tanks and blow the place to hell. I hate being a mechanic I wish I would’ve never told people I knew how to work on cars and I am now working towards becoming a welder fuck working on Cars

[@XRyder24]

@@Jaymilli2387 damn is it that bad I’m going to school for diesel mechanic currently

[@magnumjohnson9628]

​@@XRyder24do something else

[@Sellarmusic]

Excellent advice! I worked as a mechanic until I was 30. I finally realized that everyone I worked for was doing great and no matter how hard I worked, I would never get ahead. So I called it quits and went back to college for Electronic Technology. I had a job with a well know company before I even graduated and made back the money I spent on college in less than 5 years. My mechanical background turned out to be just as valuable as my degree over the years with this company and they paid me well for it. I was able to comfortably retire at age 55 to enjoy my family. Look out for yourself. If it isn't working, move on.

[@hawkboy000]

When I was working for a big Volvo dealership, they tried to get me to do some management…absolutely brutal. Customers crying because there truck isn’t finished, not enough techs to do the work required, long hours, I was still getting paid the same… it wasn’t worth it. I rather work on 1 truck at a time and go home. This trade is strange. You have to do your own work outside the shop. Otherwise you just get used like a machine until your body gives up on you.

[@picklerix6162]

We may have gone to school together. Yeah, I left HVAC to get a degree in electronics technology. It was the best decision that I ever made. Unfortunately, a lot of colleges have dropped electronics technology from their curriculum.

[@chiplangowski3298]

I did the exact same thing. I just retired last month at age 58. I graduated from college with an AS degree in Electronics Technology in 1990. I doubled my pay with the first job I got out of school. I was a mechanic until age 25.

[@wendwllhickey6426]

Well people will bounce and close up then

[@warrenpuckett4203]

I did the same in 1982. I worked in and around electronic tech until that got flooded out in the late 90s in CA. Then aerospace folded up most of their tents and moved on. Everybody aerospace body wanted to be the IT tech. I moved to another state and sat in a forklift seat for 50% more and lower cost of living. Well working like smokey the bear and putting out IT fires is not steady work. 50 hours weekly in a warehouse vs maybe I may find another fire to put out. I never liked the environment of office work. That meant I could straighten out most of the IT glitches before corporate could send in a tech and stay punched in. Until the one of the corporate bosses kids whined about it. Cuz that was his job. That corporate office thing, again. Makes more sense to be job fluid instead of gender fluid. Now I have to worry about refilling my wife's closet with things she can wear. Again. That never ends. But retirement. Well after you have seen the same TV episodes 4X... Sitting in the back yard and watching the birds and squirrels fight over territory is not as boring. That's life.

[@icecream_2987]

Man....the world is just not fair. I just want to thank all he mechanics out there, I appreciate you and all the work you guys do. I work on aircraft in the military and it SUCKS so I can relate a bit.

[@joebrenner4428]

Working on cars isn't all that bad but when you have unreasonable customers sitting in the waiting lounge while warranty claims people are raping you in the ass it becomes a living Hell.

[@icecream_2987]

@@joebrenner4428 its literally the same concept in the military. lol

[@markomark9587]

Are you a crew chief?. I was weapons systems. Regardless maintenance work gets tough on you no matter what. That's why you learn something worthwhile

[@darrenomalleyy]

Im a civil aircraft tech, I left during covid when the MRO companies were cutting already terribly crap wages...Lots of people left..... Best decisiin of my life... Im a Mechanical facilites tech now earn more, Less workload, Tools supplied, Better fairer contract and salary....... I had to purchase my own personal tools which I left myself in debt for from the aviation industry...But they in my garage at home now and are used to do work on my family and friends motors on the weekends as DIY mechanic.... so so much happier now and have my own personal garage now....win win now, Definetley leave the industry techs are the lowest of the low..... Maybe the overpaid managers and directors & afmjnistration staff can throw on the overalls and pick up the shortfall from underpaid underappreciated techs leaving the industry.

[@kingcr3b]

I literally quit when you uploaded this lol and the amount of stress relief I'm experiencing is mind boggling. The auto repair industry is honestly dying and I feel bad for the kids who hear shit like "there's a shortage of skilled people to work on cars." That phrase never gets elaborated on because if they followed up that statement with the reasons why NO ONE in their right mind would go to school for this shit or become an apprentice. I just got tired of all the broken promises and the reneging on agreements I've had with service managers. It's always overpromise and underdeliver and then come up with some bullshit excuse as to why. I always felt for every step I made forward I was pushed two steps back. The service manager I had was constantly bringing in people from the old dealership he worked at who were all buddies of his. So you get the fat fuck shop foreman (and is the dispatcher btw) who can't turn his own wrenches and has had an apprentice for two years (the apprenticeship is only supposed to be 6 months) make his hours for him. Then you get the golden boys and the buddies that need to be fed too. Then everyone else is fighting over scraps or getting taco'd on some bullshit car that they lose their ass on. Or you get stuck doing oil change rotates flagging .5 hoping that the fucking writers can sell shit so you can maybe turn that ticket into a 4-5+ hour ticket. Of course they never do. It's a fucking joke. I decided about a month and a half ago to go back to school so I'm pretty stoked about that.

[@ballisticrigs2987]

Sounds like you’ve just worked at shit shops lol not every place is like that. That’s just life in every industry there will be shitty jobs and shitty people

[@BigEvan96]

What kind of school are you going to now?

[@k20castro]

Bro same. I left the industry a week ago. It was my passion. But that is no more.

[@unknowdefender]

I went to school for this, got my two year degree in High performance motor sports/automotive, got into this ford dealer that hired me on as a service tech, train with one tech for 3 months even though I was suppose to go to a different tech every two weeks, get asked to help in quick lane by my service manager because some guys are out training, they get back. One of the guys goes to main shop because his dad knows the shop manager and his license has too many points so he can’t drive customer cars, he worked at Midias for a year and got there a month after I did, they put him on salary, a week after I was in quick lane they put me on flat-rate over bs. My 40+ hours a week went to 16 the first week, 18,27,29,20. After making less than minimum wage the first week and I really did try the rest of the weeks but they never sell anything I recommend, they give the hourly guys that have been there for longer brake jobs and shit while I’m stuck doing waiters with .3-.6 hour tickets and I spend all that time if not more because I’m trying to sell shit so I can actually make money. I wasn’t hired as a lube tech, switched me straight from 20/h to 20 flat rate

[@BigEvan96]

@@unknowdefender So what are you doing now?

[@michaelleonards6678]

I have been buying my vehicles and having them repaired at same dealer for years. I followed two two mechanics for 30 years to whatever dealership they worked at. When they quit for good it was because everything you said is true. They both said the same. These guys were honest and hardworking and yet the dealership did not care about them. I no longer go to that dealership for repairs. Thanks for bring this to light.

[@rustyshackleford6637]

LF Robinson 2B Polanco 3B Pujols CF Edmonds 1B Martinez SS Renteria RF Perez C DiFelice

[@DJV94022]

Dealerships is just sell n sell

[@Ka_Gg]

In terms of ASE, I have a family member that's been a mechanic for decades. Few years ago, they asked him if he'd be willing to take the tests and become certified. He said sure and asked about a pay raise when he gets it. They said there wasnt one!!! He laughed in their face and told them he wasn't interested. The shop just wanted to brag about how their techs were ASE certified to the customer.

[@keithwiebe1787]

I've been an ASE master tech for probably 35 years or more but mine runs out today and I won't be renewing it (only missed a couple questions 5 years ago when recertified). I've worked at Carmax the last 5.5 years and they just recently did away with the ASE testing requirements for advancement.

[@alexlopez5800]

ASE are a way to gatekeep the bad diagnosis jobs that no one wants.

[@Ka_Gg]

@@alexlopez5800 you mean they give the crap jobs to the ase guys?

[@alexlopez5800]

@@Ka_Gg Yup, gatekept Complicated jobs just for the certified guys. Kind of shooting yourself in the foot if certified, now a days.

[@stans5270]

While going to auto tech school [NJ], I worked pumping gas making minimum wage. The owner found out about my schooling and for weeks tried to get me to do mechanic work off on the side of his office. I asked him about what he would pay me. He said the same. I declined, walked out of his office. He then tried to get my co-worker to talk me into it, which failed. The NERVE of some people. Know your worth.

[@codywinkle2303]

I agree with how independent shops and dealerships are from my experience in the last 10 years. I decided to open my own automotive shop in Huntington Beach and honestly, my first full month I made 3 times as much compared to anywhere else without any BS.

[@AiiRiiCK]

Whats ur rsn?

[@Louis-qi1gz]

Yes exactly 👍

[@victorpadilla6964]

I live in Orange County, and looking for an honest mechanic for the future. What’s the name of your shop?

[@michaeldelarm1630]

10 years from now theres gonna be a guy at your shop, working for you feeling the way you did. producers and consumers.

[@krol9181]

How hard was it to get a shop setup? Did you already know good mechanics youd hire or you get lucky with your workers?

[@Corvette_Z51]

Nick is 100% correct! When they say "there's a shortage of skilled people to work on cars" TRANSLATION: They can't find someone for what they are willing to pay. I'm old, learned in the 80's to just get experience at a dealership and move on. The ultimate goal is to open your own shop.

[@joebrenner4428]

21.1 million people in the U.S. with a BA or higher in science and engineering that don't want to fix junk for free either.There is no shortage of people capable of doing it for money only a shortage of idiots to do it for free and cheap.Its a wage suppression scheme.

[@joebrenner4428]

I have 8 billion free jobs if anyone is interested.

[@Minicoup58tv]

Where are the comments?

[@joebrenner4428]

I started out at age 19 in 1985 for 50% of the $27 an hour shop rate.They are capping world class master techs at 25% max now.I just seen a rat hole dealer charging $180 an hour trying to pay $16-20 an hour and California has a law requiring anyone providing their own tools be paid twice the minimum wage($15.50) so at least $31 an hour.They bypass the law by putting a tackle box in the middle of the shop.The $20 an hour was for someone that has completed a 2 year AS in automotive and the schools require the students to provide their own tools.They are fully blown scammers and should go straight to fucking prison!

[@joebrenner4428]

Taco bell directly across the street will pay $15.50 to pick up cigarette butts in the parking lot and give you free tacos.

[@woodpurposedmechanic8299]

I started in dealerships at 18 in 1973. Watching your video, it appears that nothing has changed since! I was good at diagnostic and was the lowest paid tech. In retirement my nightmares are about being back in a dealership. I ran my own shop for 25 years and running an independent isn't easy but still much more preferable.

[@Richard4616]

My story is similar. 19 went to dealership in 1974. Did a lot of troubleshooting. The dealer only wanted to pay me for the repair. If I try to get diagnostic time from GM, they would make me write down what I actually done and what actually fixed the problem. They usually paid me half the time. Then they would come out with a bulletin how to repair and set the time you could get paid for. Their engineers would get the credit for a revised electrical part to repair and I made less money than the mechanic next to me. He did regular service work. Moved on after 13 years. And , yes I have retirement night mares over it.

[@gen.arnavpoe4633]

You went from getting screwed to screwing people....aaahhhh the American way !!!

[@stans5270]

Me too. After going to tech in 1976, I started as a mechanic in 1977 and GM dealerships in 1980. In the first dealership I was hourly "B" that got non-paying recalls and warranty work that usually barely broke even on time. After 2 years I was on par and doing the same as the "A"s with clocking in 55/60 hours at flat rate times. They wouldn't budge on pay, so I found that other places would do better, and 2 years later was making almost twice as much.

[@stans5270]

@@Richard4616 Retirement nightmares? Out of 12 places that I worked pre-1984 8 places did NOT contribute into Social Security and have went out of business so I get no benefits for those years even though I paid in.

[@rustedhorsepower5132]

22+ years at 1 chevy dealership, I became THE GO TO electrical tech, and eventually saw others getting better work and making better hours while I was stuck on the problems no one could fix. This dealership was plagued with not just newer greener guys getting easy hours, they had veteran techs who were in good with management getting fed. I warned mgt I wasn't happy and their response was "we don't want you to go!". 4 months later I looked around, saw the same crap and I left. The dealership I went to didn't hold me back, or pick what jobs I could and couldn't have. I tripled my pay, until a v.p. at this new dealer started tightening up and starving veteran techs like me. I stayed there a year and a half, used my vacation pay I'd just earned and left. I decided no more dealerships, no more retail, 2 were enough. I'm In fleet now, and a whole lot happier. It's not just mgt that makes or breaks the dealer, it's the automaker behind it. I believe how techs are taken care of also depends on what brand they work for. It's never too late for any skilled te h to leave the dealerships, its just a mindset. They want you to feel trapped, it's to their benefit. Good video, and good for you for going to fleet.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Wow man that says alot coming from someone with 22 years! From the comments ive read fleet seems to be the choice. Seems like anyone who has gone fleet says its the best choice they made.

[@gaiustacitus4242]

A friend of mine is a technician at a Toyota dealership and he suffers from the same problem you've been subjected to. The experts are saddled with jobs that others cannot fix, but this doesn't allow them to make a fair income for the hours worked.

[@keith38able]

same here and the problem is always management butting in where they shouldn't

[@rustedhorsepower5132]

@@gaiustacitus4242 its a no win situation. And before long a new dealership WILL pop up and offer you much better. But chances are, that dealership will likely do the same to you after some time. Upper managers talk to each other, they tell each other what tactics make them money. If you dont mind jumping from dealership to dealership taking the best they can offer for however long go, for it, this just wasnt the way i wanted to live. I once heard a manager say "no matter where you go, once they see what you can do...its go to be the same thing". He said it about someone else, but that in a nutshell, is their mentality.

[@comment5398]

You warned them? oh I'm so sure that made them shake in their boots

[@warrenself]

Low pay, high hours, weak benefits, expensive tools, lack of supplied shop equipment, “warranty pay,” hourly vs salary vs flat rate. I’m almost done with my associates degree in automotive technology and decided to start selling my tools and get out while I can. Looking at the service side of the industry rather than wrenching.

[@christianwagner4928]

I was a mechanic for 37 yrs. It's great to see a tech speaking out on a large forum to expose these dealerships run by suits who couldn't change a spare tire if their life depended on it, let alone tie their own shoes. The techs are the smartest guys at dealership not the pencil pushers !

[@D3AThCAl2DS]

soo true at my last job boss told a lube tech. to put wd40 on a door hinge cause it squeaked and the customer was there. said what cause he didn't hear him so he started screaming. He then bought his boss an entire box of wd40 and told him do it himself...still can't believe he had his job after that lol

[@FreonChugger]

A lot of the HVAC technicians I work with were ex-mechanics who got exactly what they wanted when they switched. Less tool cost, better hours, and the work is less laborious.

[@elgoog7830]

That's hilarious. HVAC is brutal. Attics, crawlspace's, during heat and cold swings. Rain, sharp edges, awkward positions and worst of all, dirty homes/buildings and homeowners/business owners. All trade work, is hard work. Done them all. Big family that owns/owned all sectors of building construction.

[@coopersloan3938]

@@elgoog7830 HVAC isn’t brutal at all. 90% of it is changing filters at commercial buildings.

[@TechieTard]

@@elgoog7830It’s annoying, not laborious.

[@DJV94022]

@el goog hvac is brutal you walk alot too versus cars everything is within 10 steps but it's the bolts that are in compact spots that make it hard, I think the guy who made the statement Is just talking about those government jobs or hospitals that hvac people on spot to change filters and if the units go bad then they don't do the work they just call a crane to switch out the units

[@coopersloan3938]

@@DJV94022 you have no clue what you’re talking about

[@jamesborek8125]

I backed off a lot of heavy work. I was doing big jobs constantly and getting killed. I ended up leaving that shop and marketing myself as a "mid" level guy, took a on paper pay cut but used the speed and skills I've built up to be fast and turn hours by volume. Honestly it's a lot easier.

[@mariopetrucco5602]

You hit the nail on the head..I'm 48 master ase certified and been doing this my whole life..just finally got the opportunity to get out of automotive and that's exactly what I am doing..got 6 weeks of training I need to complete and am guaranteed much more money and full benefits company paid to start. I'm out and will finally be able to just work on my own drag car and enjoy it and not be burnt out and just not want to deal with it..Wish me the best..I feel like I have waisted 25 years working for these companies..only thing I gained was knowledge.

[@LynxStarAuto]

Knowledge gained, is NOT time wasted. Good luck to you. Btw what field are you transferring to?

[@kathyj1391]

My son is 33 and wants out. He is fed up. May I ask what did you become with the 6 week training? I keep suggesting technology. I want to show him your comment. Thanks!

[@kruiseorbruise]

You can’t just buy experience so it did a lot might seem like that, I regret wasting almost 2 year of my life at a warehouse learning nothing just a gear in the system

[@KiranSharma-yl5pt]

I’m 20 years old and I’m going through the process to join the USAF, in the meantime I decided to work at a dealership. I’ve only been there for a month and you have literally described how a dealership works word for word 😮

[@davef.2329]

Any relation to D. Sharma?

[@michaelwright1602]

Stay out of the military, it is a hot mess in there. And yes, I know plenty of folks still serving and a lot more that left in disgust. Don't do it, I'm a vet too, for what it is worth.

[@Agbahizzal]

@@michaelwright1602 Im a vet, n I disagree. Know Know KNOW What u want, what they are asking for and what they are offering in return. Don't join unless ur MOS matches the career u want 4 ur life. With 2 yrs, u will know if ur staying in our not. If ur getting out, go to medical n dental. Ull thank me when ur done.

[@unpopuler]

I wouldn’t suggest joining the military no point unless you need to go to college if you absolutely can’t get grants any other way. I wouldn’t work for a country that has to gate-keep basic social services other 1st world countries give as a birth right. Say no to shitty bosses!

[@rafaeltorre1643]

@@Agbahizzal Healthcare. 100% correct. Get a career that is recession proof and is always in demand. You will have employers fighting over you. No matter what you will get a job.

[@wcjcnc]

I’m a small engine mechanic. I grew up working on automobiles. I have 40 years of experience twisting wrenches. When I looked for a job at commercial small engine dealerships the pay they offered was absolutely laughable. I started my own shop at my house and work alone and it’s so much better than working for someone else.

[@cw5220]

I've been a small engine tech since abt 2005 and currently work at a john deere dealership but have often thought of opening my own shop. They just raised the hourly rate but everyone's wages are the same. They threw in bones to to and distract guys from realizing they arnt getting raises but it only worked for alittle time. Guys like my self that have been there 8 years get the crap jobs. Even though I get paid hourly I still get paid like a flat rate tech. When there are no jobs or work to do my pay suffers cause I can't punch on to nothing and not make any money for the company cause it hurts numbers. When I can finally pack up my tools and leave will be a day I won't regret expecislly when I lose hrs during the winter due to no work.

[@williamvaughan1218]

I do the same.

[@joebrenner4428]

The local Kabota dealer will pay $20 an hour and they have robotic tractors now the bicycle shop across the street will pay $30.

[@TTGTO288]

Plain and simple, An automotive technician job SUCKS. They start you at next to nothing for pay compared to anything else, it's one of the harder trades to learn and get good at, then dealerships try throwing flat rate at you and all the while you are getting screwed while their labor rate is $100+/hr. It doesn't work in the tech's favor. I don't blame people for leaving. Awesome video and truthful.

[@FXDKF]

You nailed it bro most of the subjects you talked about I experienced the same exact thing and it 100% led me to leave the dealership. I’m now in aviation ground service equipment and its one of the best career decisions I have made!

[@elrober707]

After the pandemic I left the automotive repair industry. I was thinking what else could I do with the certifications and skills acquired for the past 10yrs. I applied for an industrial mechanic job where we build turbines and generators. I am very happy with my new career. Thank you Nikko for your videos!

[@joebrenner4428]

Mobile bicycle mechanics are only charging $125 an hour.That auto biz is for fucking losers!

[@tylerangle1990]

I remember the dealership got offended when I left just after getting almost all my certs done. The more certs I got the worse the paycheck got. I personally love taking on the nightmare problem children cars but I also have to get paid for my time. Those problems are usually hours of diag. and when you aren’t getting paid for those hours it’s hard to feel good about going to work in the morning.

[@al-eteos-imhotepheru-bey3271]

That last sentence hit so hard! Yes it's difficult because we're always underpaid. Even when you're doing everything right, you still have to wait for parts, advisors to get their info correct, and etc. We get paid in knowledge and experience more than money.

[@nickgeusebroek1210]

As a recently retired tech of 40yrs it sounded like i was hearing a echo of myself.I have talked with and told many younger techs to get out while they can,the crooks in the shop get rewarded because their numbers are good,it goes on and on.To many people getting a cut of a repair in a dealership,writers,porters,parts,managers,the guy doing the repair is the least in the chain with his own tools of which he doent get compensated for.YOU made the right move.

[@lewisland3695]

BMW lured me in with a great flag hour rate, but when it was slow they steered all the work to the lower flag rate guys. Left me doing recalls and standing around waiting for work. They just needed my ASE Master Tech + credentials for their training requirements.

[@TidalSnow1]

All spot on. Our service writers at my last shop were all clearing 100k a year, while the top techs were making 55k range which is totally unacceptable! Nobody talks about the body sacrifice a tech is making as well. Service writers don’t go home with cuts bruises and injuries like techs do on a weekly basis

[@joebrenner4428]

They will pull a writer off the wash rack and pay them an average 20k more.

[@joebrenner4428]

No investments in school or tools and they pay them an average 20k more to answer a phone and make an appointment.

[@joebrenner4428]

Then the pieces of shit think they are the puppet master with the flat-rate.

[@joebrenner4428]

That whole business model is retarded.They are not the product there,we are.People are not paying for hot air.

[@EnriqueReyesJrREALTOR]

I’ve been doing real estate for 20 years, before that I was in automotive for over 30 years. (I went to Los Angeles Trade Tech in 1975). Your comments were all right on. For 10 of the 30 years, I had an independent Porsche shop in Glendale CA. I had 5 technicians, & two assistants. Yes I made money, but my shop get getting broken into, until a 18 wheeler came in & cleaned my shop out. I switched to Real Estate because I didn’t need my own inventory. It’s basically the same business, it’s a people business. The tools just changed, it’s using contracts instead of hand tools, but it’s all about customer service. I still have all my snap on tools ;-). Other realtors think I’m rich because I drive classic Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, gen 3 Toyotas… I just like the older non plastic cars, & I can keep them running. ;-) Never give up, never stop learning.

[@johnle6141]

You covered all the main reasons why I left the automotive industries. I was auto tech for 7+ years and was a master Honda tech. One thing that always ticked me off was one, they didn’t want to pay us what we’re worth and two, service advisors made more money sitting at the desk than techs busting our ass fixing in the back.

[@denis4072]

The reason service guy in the front makes more is that most of them have the skills to sell more services than car saleman can sell in a month.

[@garypedigogaeu5787]

That’s two things. Being able to count allows you to demand more pay.

[@vilefly]

@@denis4072 A skilled mechanic can sell more because he actually knows the product. Old proverb: Hard work will keep you honest. (because you won't have time for bullshit)

[@vilefly]

​@@Raven-777- Don't care. I do both. I fire stupid, price-shopping customers, because I haven't time for bullshit. Our current customers are rather well educated, and know what they want. We keep them educated about automotive icebergs and in the loop. They appreciate that. You used the word "was", which is like saying, "I USED to be a mechanic". Why did you quit?

[@TOM515515]

@@Raven-777-

[@bethcook8582]

I need to tell you guys one thing once and for all. I was a master tech from 1975-1999. I worked at many shops and dealerships and it was tough work. I had thousands of dollars in tools, certifications up the wazoo and fixed many cars no one else could, or didn't want but in 1999 I got so fed up with the business, I left for good and never looked back. I can tell you horror stories that would fill KZbin. I got so tired of poor wages(flat rate is fart rate), poor benefits, and poor management. My wages being so bad my family suffered. From what I'm now hearing from you young guys its still the same way. There was a mechanics shortage back then.The automotive field HAS NOT CHANGED ONE BIT. Get it through your head- it never will! You can offer all the solutions and ideas you can muster but ITS NOT GOING TO CHANGE. Take my advise- in 2000 I changed careers and it was the best thing I ever did. Its said, "A wise man learns from his mistakes, but a wiser man learns from the mistakes of others." Wake up guys and move on.

[@Wavetheory85]

i am not a car guy, but feel like it might make sense to be a tech for a couple years when you're young so you can do the maintenance and much of the repairs on your personal vehicles down the road and potentially make money on the side flipping vehicles.

[@Jay-mk8vx]

@@Wavetheory85i def good for experience and business

[@ivanrod533]

What career path did you take? I’m thinking about leaving the diesel tech life

[@Eyeballeverything]

Spent 7 years as a factory trained tech for a German brand, flat rate. A LOT of truth to all the points you brought up. Went to heavy duty diesel for another 7 years. Best job ever as a mechanic/technician. No longer in the industry and switched trades but I still feel for the techs/mechs out there. KNOW YOUR WORTH! These dealerships who have made money hand over fist for years owe it to their work horses. Thanks for the video!

[@sonofmontezuma3732]

Am seeing more techs leaving and going into different line of work all together. There is a lot of meat on the bone but management wants it all , so they cook up all kinds of ways to do exactly that

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

i was a tech for Beverly Hills Mercedes Benz. they had water pipes with warnings painted "non potable" on them. The manager was so cheap that he stopped buying bottled water and hooked drinking fountain up to those pipes for us to drink. i can honestly say that was the best dealership i worked for.

[@AMindInOverdrive]

I've always thought that the guy doing the hard physical work should be paid more (in ANY area of work). You're right, the guy actually DOING the work is more valuable. Honestly, mechanics are really needed, so I wonder why more mechanics don't work out of their own garage. They'd keep more of the money. I know guys who started out on their own and they're always super busy. Treat your customers well and they will return over and over

[@thommysides4616]

Well, it does take some funds/tools etc to get started and you have to build up a customer base....which takes some time. Not easy but it can be done!

[@joeysanchez5926]

Can't stand the service writers and service managers

[@Mistakes_Were-Made]

This is a great topic and you have nailed the problems with the system. I've been a diesel fleet tech for 20yrs now and know quite a few guys that have given up their jobs to do mobile service. Can make their weeks pay in just 2days. A lot of people are looking for a cheaper alternative to dealer rates with the current economy. Diesel dealer rates are around $220/hr in CA. If you can offer repairs at $110-$150/hr they'll jump on it

[@ChatBot1337]

Its been a handful of years, but I was a service manager for a 30 bay commercial truck dealership. I was out, and so were a lot of techs, when they decided to switch to flat rate. While many techs ride hourly and cost wayyy more than thry make, I do not agree with flat rate whatsoever. The times given, especially for warranty work at the time, was absolutely laughable (13 hours for a complete big bore swap). The day they announced it, six techs and myself gave notice. In the few months afterward, being friends with plenty at corporate and virtually every tech after I left, more than half had quit and the place spiralled from $400k per month to sub $150k. Two of the five locations in my region are now closed and all I hear now is how miserable the company is to work for.

[@JayDLC123]

You sir hit the nail on the head! Ive been in the dealer for 13 years and i've gotten all my manufacture certs including hybrid, diesel, and ASE masters. Im just feed up with it all to be honest. All the things we as techs have to do on day to day basis just to work on cars is ridiculous. It's at the point where the burden of proof falls on the tech and its up to us to prove and document every single little thing. The constant up hill struggle of flat rate has just become too much. Starting every single day at 0.0hrs and having to generate an income is beyond stressful. It's not healthy to live your life under constant fear of your income being in jeopardy day in and day out. Forget about depending on your coworkers to do the right thing, since they all take "blindly" from each other. You cant even take time off without fear of loosing income and making less while you're not there. Its pretty hard to have any kind of hope, moral, or even positive outlook on things when you're just constantly under pressure and dealing with unfair circumstances. Its at the point where this "life" effects your personal lifestyle outside of work and as a whole in general.

[@narcissistinjurygiver2932]

yep. constant fear. i went to work every day in fear.

[@nathandeaner6965]

I did what you did 15 years of working on cars at a shop and took a chance and made a move to a heating and air company of all places working on company vehicles and company equipment making 3 times as much and couldn't be happier

[@letsgroove2230]

Alot of mechanics are going to HVAC. 2 of my friends have done that and they are making 2 to 3 times the money they ever did, and these guys could get jobs anywhere, they are A level Techs. There is little to no chance they will ever wrench on cars again. The industry can't compete, but I also think the industry brought this on itself, and techs are starting to realize this.

[@jimmyfleetwood1118]

That's interesting they went to HVAC--I have a friend in CA who left HVAC due to low pay and is now doing trade show set-up for a great deal more money.

[@MeekMillisbendingoverrn]

My roommate was in HVAC for around 10 years and hated every second of it…instead of a garage you’re in someone’s attic…and he didn’t make any more than $45k a year if that

[@jimmyfleetwood1118]

@@MeekMillisbendingoverrn Right about the working conditions. I had a talk with the person I mentioned a week or two ago, and he was saying the hourly (in N Ca) is $45-55 an hour. The trade shows were paying better, still. The downside was the pandemic when the shows were canceled. Did HVAC to tide things over. Happy Fourth.

[@MeekMillisbendingoverrn]

@@jimmyfleetwood1118 yeah in Cali I can believe it but the other 49 states are pretty brutal lol

[@jimmyfleetwood1118]

@@MeekMillisbendingoverrn Brutal here, too-Just different---the cost of living is high. To rent a 1 bedroom (w/o roommates) requires $65.00 income per hour.

[@siezethedays]

I just left an Infiniti dealership about 3months ago and switched to diesel heavy duty fleet. Absolutely the best choice. I’m still young, the dealership had a lot of favoritism, and the service writers had their favorites so when there was a short amount of work only some got fed. And mechanics are doctors. We fix vehicles and machines so people can get places, and things can get built. The pay has to reflect that sooner or later otherwise there won’t be much new mechanics out there

[@siezethedays]

@SCMongooseT4R yup!!! I have no weekends also. Less wear and tear on the body. Yes things are heavier, but a lot less work loads. Also raises and unions are more openly talked about in the work place.

[@edbuckley1670]

I'm a diesel mechanic I work with plenty of guys with 10 or 15 years experience that only make 30 or 35 an hour it pays a little better than automotive but not too much there's always the opportunity for lots of overtime though.

[@tekworldauto5487]

I don’t miss my Nissan/Infiniti days. I know you won’t miss doing all of the warranty motor work either.

[@siezethedays]

@@tekworldauto5487 haha nope I don’t, I don’t miss the ridiculous complaints. And I don’t miss the insane drama

[@siezethedays]

@@edbuckley1670 yea my shop pays about that and the overtime is always there. People really are able to make their own schedules

[@CoreyWhite792]

People dont quit jobs they quit managers

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Very true words.

[@molenz1960]

I feel for you guys working flat rate, it must suck big time. I work as an auto technician (30 years experience) in New Zealand, I get paid a good hourly rate for 40hrs a week, Monday to Friday. I get paid the same no matter how I spend my time during the day, from sweeping the floor if it's not busy to diag work, warranty work, accessory fitting, servicing etc. Every workshop in the entire country works this way. Unfortunately it is hard to find good technicians in this country and there are always positions to fill at dealerships and corner garages.

[@KIKW100]

I've been an apprentice in New Zealand for a year now, what advice do you have going forward based on your experience?

[@LynxStarAuto]

Kiwi's know how to fix cars? 😂 I kid, but I've heard what a disaster the auto industry is in NZ. Lots and lots of scammers I'm told.

[@GasSoakedRag]

When you get paid hourly you can actually worry about doing the job right.

[@Boney010]

For me, I wasn't moving out of luber good fast enough. I switched over to indy shop and it was the best decision I made. More mentally stimulating and better pay.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

I feel that. Independent seems like you get a lot more variety to work on.

[@jasonw2696]

I have been a tech / mechanic for 20 + years . Worked at a lot of different shops . The best shops i have worked for were the mom and pops shops . But the pay still sucked . Ultimately I would always quit. Finley decided to do my own thing just out of my two car garage at home. Came to discover I can make just as much only working 20 hours a week then working 40 hours a week for a shop. Picked and chose what I did and made good currency. And had ample time to spend with my children and my family. I've had job offers offering me $30 an hour to do nothing but hot rods in muscle cars . I turned it down. The owner knew I could pull a motor out of an old car in two hours which would equal $60 of income for me. But out of my own home, I could charge $400 for an engine pull . Why the hell would I go there and literally have my pay cut into less than half. I told that shop owner. He's welcome to bring his muscle cars to my house and pay full price or find somebody else. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@Zubawoo]

Amen to that I been thinking the same I believe every mechanic is to one day own their own shop

[@peterl2017]

So you would charge $400 for 2 hours?

[@mr.c8682]

It wouldnt matter if he could do it in 1 hour. Youre paying for the experience, toolset, skills to remove an engine without fing anything up rather than how long it takes

[@peterl2017]

@@mr.c8682 Not going to get into it, long time professional mechanic as well.

[@zachdewitt1455]

Exactly. That's I started my own shop in my barn.

[@johnnyseemore456]

Mechanics have allways been looked down at by the dealers but the relationship you build with the customer is what counts. When you run a private not public business, you pick your customers.

[@wendwllhickey6426]

That's why people don't go to dealership to have work they just put on paret and hope they work if they don't you have to pay anyway and car still not right

[@ghostwrench2292]

I left dealership life recently after 12+ years for almost all of the reasons in the video but especially flat rate pay. I’m now an hourly tech at a small performance shop. Different frustrations (like getting parts for some of these cars) but most of the cars are the owners “toys” and not daily drivers. So far, this is way better than flat rate dealership life!

[@haydenduncan474]

Biggest piece of advice for getting into your area of the field?

[@ghostwrench2292]

I have always prioritized my quality of work and thorough diagnostics leading to correct repairs over beating the flat rate clock. The lead tech of this performance shop and I worked in the same dealership a few years ago. I would say always strive for excellence and be a good co-worker. I’m glad he thought of me when he needed help building and working on fast cars.

[@ryurc3033]

I worked in a shop that was mostly exhaust work on hot rods and muscle cars. After the original owner died, his brother took over. And we ended up starting to take in alot more normal cars and less old stuff I enjoyed. When your the diag dude, ya get f***ed. It was Just little hole in the wall, shop with only 3 employees. And both guys I worked with were retirement age. We all hated having to do normal new car crap rather than building cool old cars. Wish it would have lasted a little longer, but I couldn't take it anymore. Now I do mobile service. Let's me pick and choose a little compared to the shop life.

[@JoeyJig]

My dad worked as an auto mechanic back in the 1960's, Pontiac. The service writer can make you or break you. I listened to the same concerns you are expressing here as a kid.

[@ironase1822]

Left the independent shops and dealers 10 years ago. Fleet maintenance is where the pay is. Hard to get in the specialty jobs but well worth it for pay and benefits. I started late so don't think it is too late to switch. 40 years ase master auto and med/heavy

[@populisttrope9385]

Me too, 20 years in a dealer and then got a fleet job with a major telecom. Union pay and insane benefits, time off and retirement. 40hrs, no weekend bullshit. It's The best decision I've ever made.

[@Larry_Fish]

I left the industry two years ago and became a mechanic at a factory and honestly this job treats me way better than the dealership lol the pay is way better and they give out pretty good bonuses at the end of the year I definitely don’t miss the dealer life

[@martinschulz9381]

A repair shop that I recently started going to is a mechanic who worked for dealerships and got fed up with it. The building was an oil change place that he converted into a shop and there's cars and customers everywhere. The city is mad at him because there's suddenly so many cars parked around it blocking things. He seems to be pretty good at repairs and has a likable personality. (everything helps)

[@douglastaylor8039]

Probably the dealers called the city on you. You were probably doing an honest business.

[@SpanglishMechanic]

That’s exactly why I left the dealership. It’s like you get penalized for being the most qualified with warranty work and diagnosing all the cars that others can’t figure out. Blessed to say I had the opportunity to work for the school district as a mechanic best decision ever . With annual steps/raises with out even having to ask for them .

[@Dan300c]

I started watching you after I got hired on by Toyota. Been about 2 months as lube tech no experience and I'm honestly enjoying it. I live in the east NC we only get 17$ flat rate. Switched from being on a manufacturing line in a warehouse to a lube tech I def make more money and feel satisfied.

[@isorozco511]

If i could go back in time, I would've gone a college, gotten a degree in nursing, or IT, since those salaries are higher with a consistent pay check. Flat rate is so dependent on someone else to make your paycheck, writers not trying to sell, customers having money or not in this economy, warranties not paying any diagnostic, parts being backordered, why should I suffer financially because of something out of my control? Why should I make so little when my skills are so high? It's no wonder the older heads in my job told me 10 years ago to back to school. Now Im 29 and I say the same to others.

[@aaronr1926]

Im in the same sinking ship as you

[@Ka_Gg]

I've been thinking about going into this industry. I'm in my 30s and worked on cars quite a bit. Everything you say is what every other mechanic says. I know some make really good money, but so many talk about how much of a joke it is. Also, just about every place in my area pays nothing it seems. I was making far more money delivering food than starting pay at my local dealerships. What a joke considering they charge $150ish/hr. I've heard a lot about favoritism and getting screwed. I know of guys that just do a few odd jobs a week as self employed mechanics and do almost as well as some mechanics at dealerships.

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Yea just take what people say with a grain of salt. including myself. I can only speak for what I have gone through and seen. But I have seen far more negative toxic people in this industry vs positive achiever mindset people. It all comes down to the individual.

[@Ka_Gg]

@@LetsDriftMedia I was affirming what you said. "I've been" should have been "I was". I have no interest in being a mechanic at a dealership after hearing the ppl talk.

[@michaelmurphy6869]

One thing you didn't mention was parts availability and lack there of. Where you were at it probably wasn't a big problem. Allot of dealerships have gone corporate (Autonation, Lithia, Kendall, Corwin, etc fewer independently ownered dealerships) after experiencing a corporate take over, one of first things they did was reduce (aka gut) the parts inventory severely, increase the labor rate and not give any techs raises. With the reduction in parts you couldn't get the jobs done in a timely matter in order to flag the hours especially on big jobs sometimes it took days or even weeks to get everything you needed to complete it. It seemed like if it wasn't an oil filter they didn't stock it. Very frustrating when you had to order almost 75%-90% of your parts and you had done the same job three times before with in a period of a few months. Corporate won't allow the parts manager ( couldn't get them from other dealers because the markup wasn't enough) to stock the parts because he had to keep his inventory costs down. Especially when he had to flip almost his entire inventory every 60-75 days or get charged back by corporate which in turn affected his paycheck. Eventually the parts inventory had kept getting less and less just adding to the problem of getting the jobs done. So glad I left when i did, even now its still a problem getting parts. The day can't come soon enough i won't have to deal with that crap anymore.

[@GasSoakedRag]

Dealerships are a dead end job. Almost everyone i know got out of the business. I'm only in it still because i'm at a specialty shop. Hourly pay, low stress, no waiters, no team leaders hoarding work and no shop politics. With all that removed it's quite enjoyable.

[@marchenri2906]

Exactly what you are speaking of happen to me at Acura. I left in 2016 and got my CDL.

[@C6Z06J]

Grew up as a mechanic. Helping my dad work on cars since I was 12. He did auto body. I did mechanical work. I chose to become a maintenance electrician so I could keep cars my hobby I enjoy. No regrets. Electrical work pays better with less stress too. Worked automotive jobs in high school and college

[@goldentrucker7921]

I left at 21. Was making $45k a year. Got my Cdl A, and doubled my salary in my first year. Now I'm making 3x what I was as a dealer tech.

[@xpicklepie]

Me too. I was 35, back was sore, was still getting double-sheeted and verbally abused by the owner's smart-ass kid, so I hit the road. Been 21 years now and I've never looked back.

[@goldentrucker7921]

@xpicklepie the owners pain in the ass kid. Everyone has that at least one in life. That's the best part of trucking for me. Not having to deal with a boss looking over me all day. I run alcohol out of the northeast. NJ,PA, NY. Snowstorm in the morning. Hopefully, everyone stays on the road.

[@gatheringwolves8267]

Some of these dealerships set up a lot of technicians to fail, they wanna pay the least amount for maximum work, I’m constantly harassed by my manager because they expect me to flag a ton of hours from warranty jobs that don’t pay much. Every year gets harder and harder to fix these damn cars I swear.

[@Tachyon836]

As a mechanic who quit, it's quite simple. There's no money anymore and it's not worth buying all them damn tools. Almost everyone I knew who was new to it quit, two of our lead techs had quit within months of me joining and for the same reason as me. They could make more doing something else. I don't even get the flat rate pay scale, no other job is like this I don't think.

[@johnsmith9161]

You are wrong there has never been any money being a Mechanic I quit over 40 years ago. A terrible job, terrible pay and terrible conditions. And not forgetting the stress.

[@tomkruger3496]

So true across all trades. It's not that often you hear of someone just saying "I didn't like working on cars anymore". It happens but usually people leave for the reasons you outlined.

[@bigedslobotomy]

The biggest problems at dealerships is that everyone is a salesman, trying to upsell you as much as possible. The “multi-point inspections” are mostly just looking for high value items that “need” to be fixed. I don’t go to dealerships any more (Toyota) because I could NOT walk out of there without paying $500! I much prefer small shops where the owner is also a mechanic (so much less overhead!). I do as much as I am able (which is not as much as in the “olden days.”

[@jeep2nv92]

When I got into the business back in 1995, the dealerships were like you said. If you don’t like the pay, go somewhere else. Back then I worked at a GM dealership. Now a work at a Chrysler dealership and there are 2 of us that are top techs. The owner came up to us and bumped our pay generously. He obviously knew techs were dropping like flies and didn’t want to lose us.

[@douglastaylor8039]

Or were you just loading the customers cars with expensive parts ???

[@thommysides4616]

I'm glad for you!

[@guitartube77]

So true bro.. I went to school for automotive technology… my dream was to work for a dealership as a tech. Now i kind of regret now because they don’t care about techs.. how parts and service writers make more than us. When we are the ones doing all the work

[@grudgex.]

Yes we are like slaves .

[@timramich]

It's more than just the auto industry. Industrial mechanics are getting even harder to find. Because no one wants to pay them for their skill.

[@UpperZenith]

After 10 years working in one space, it's time to graduation to being a certified mech shop owner

[@robertclark2714]

Spot on. I worked for a dealership and this is all so true.I fixed my father's Chrysler 300 in 1968 and I have been fixing my own stuff ever since. I attended two years of Auto Mechanic school in the 70's. I quit working on other people's cars because there were too many "middle men" making money off my hard work and the customer wasn't getting a fair deal either.

[@ayliniemi]

So pretty much the warranty work you will get done on your car is at dealerships from underpayed Newby mechanics?

[@BruceLee-xn3nn]

Boomers are the last great workforce

[@te1ephraq]

Receptionist is actually making money for dealership. When free 2 years for my new Toyota expired I showed up and was given a quote by receptionist for some easy oil change & tire rotation service: $300 - minimum, $400 standard and $500 "optimal". "Optimal" includes exhaust pipe polishing if I not mistaken. So the actual work brings only $30-50 for dealership for oil change and tire rotation and $200-400 if the receptionist sells his exhaust pipe services to a customer.

[@asteptoparadise3896]

Just want to say I’ve had no previous experience in cars at ALL but I deciddd I needed to do something with my life and enrolled at an automotive technician school, been there for 3 months about to go to a Toyota dealer on an internship in a few weeks, and man have your videos helped me out a lot!

[@jayszn6612]

Going to school was probably your worst mistake you learn more at a dealership than a school start as a Lube tech and work yourself up from there it’s worth it

[@asteptoparadise3896]

@@jayszn6612 maybe for someone who’s a little handy and into cars, but I have no prior experience at all and this school is pretty good in not paying much for it plus the teachers are great 👍

[@haydenduncan474]

@@asteptoparadise3896dudes kinda half right take that with a grain of salt. School isn’t necessary but it gives you a big ass advantage

[@LetsDriftMedia]

Thanks man appreciate it!

[@beastfromtheeast9318]

It depends on the school but usually vocation schools such as automotive is expensive and not worth it. But starting off as a lube tech at a dealership is the best way to start because usually dealerships have their lube techs do more than just oil changes, they have you do tire mounting, alignments, and minor campaigns and you can hang out with the senior techs and pick their brain on the cars they are working on. And if management sees your potential, they will pay for your training and certification. Get into a dealership apprenticeship and work your fucken ass off, be the first one in and the last to leave.

[@QuackyTack]

Pops up as I’m thinking about quitting 😂😂 was scrolling through indeed and this popped up

[@LetsDriftMedia]

😂😂😂

[@garyschiffli1043]

Found your channel recently and this video hits home. I’ve been working at a dealership for a year now and have seen TWENTY FIVE technicians service writers and one GM come and go. One technician with fourteen years of experience walked because our new GM refused a three dollar raise,no sweat off their brows. We are now short of technicians and management is screaming about customer wait times and poor work quality. In our state there’s no flat rate guarantee so bad weeks really suck, some weeks are better than others though.

[@alvint.6055]

I use to be a Toyota tech for six years. Started back in 2004 and stop wrenching in 2010. I was in a team flagging system. I hated the flat rate system. In 2017 I went back as a tech for Lexus. Then it reminded me why I left Toyota. I think Lexus was a little better than Toyota to work for even though it’s the same. Now I work as a fleet mechanic for a municipal. It is less stressful and you don’t have to worry about your paycheck. Plus more holiday pay, vacation, sick leave, pension, and benefits.

[@durdurify]

What certification or schooling did yoy get for this? I am currently looking to get school done as a mechanic but seeing all of this it seems fleet work is better? How could i eventually end up in fleet work as well?

[@beastfromtheeast9318]

It’s the warranty. Warranty doesn’t pay shit and most cars that come in are warranty issues. It’s hard to make a living on those hours. Tune ups are a thing of the past, brakes fucken last forever now.

[@Chewyzard]

Yeah a hybrid prius brakes would probably last till 80k

[@ashwiniphatak2746]

my camry brakes are barely broken in @ 99k. should go to 150k atleast

[@thekatprincess]

Not really. Even shops like Firestone and Brake Check pay shit. They’re greedy.

[@ro7879]

Good points. I became a mechanic in 1977. Left the trade in 1984 for another career. Wise choice. Vehicles have become way too complicated (often complicated for no good reason). Pay and level of respect is low for the knowledge and skill required.

[@charliecasseday8886]

The ev stuff need to stop

[@LetsDriftMedia]

It’s not going anywhere unfortunately.

[@JimmyMakingitwork]

Most shops/Dealerships want to give mechanics a small chip off the top and pile up the rest for themselves. Consider that a server at a restaurant is supposed to be tipped 18-22% of the ticket, for taking your order and bringing it out, keeping your drinks topped up. No tools, no cooking, no dishes, no food prep...they don't even seat you. But a mechanic does all those things and more, start to finish and supplies the tools, cuts and bruises, sweat and knowledge it takes to do the job. For what is expected we should make 40% of the ticket, parts and labor or 60% of the labor. We are lucky to make 18% of the ticket, or 30% of the labor. They are running out of people who will tolerate it.

[@timhall2304]

I have been a Mechanic for 40 years now and everything said in this is true, I can think of four good service managers in that time. The pay is stuck in the 1980s and the benefits have gone to nothing. Thankfully I am a shop owner now and don"t have to put up with the B.S of dealers anymore.

[@johnlewis8156]

I'm literally at this point right now. I worked in dealerships for a while, and watched guys who were not that good get feed tickets all day long, and make 60+(weekly) while I was diagnosing strange warranty pin tension problems and fatigued/ broken wires that was warranty. I have been doing this since I was 20 and now I'm 41 looking for something outside of the industry. Thanks for this video!

[@midwestron8576]

Get a job as an engineering technician for some large company in R and D. It's the gravy train.

[@davef.2329]

Consider aviation. A lot of your knowledge and skills shoe-horn right into that field.

[@johnlewis8156]

@@davef.2329 That's a thought??? Dobbins AFB is 15 min from my house (with traffic). Thanks for that thought!

[@davef.2329]

@@johnlewis8156 Glad to raise the thought. It worked for me. Now wish I'd bypassed the automotive circus altogether and gone straight into aviation, as my dad advised, and he did himself, fresh out of the Air Force. I peaked in aviation as the chief flight engineer at a FAR part 121 worldwide cargo airline flying 4-engine heavy jets, made a damned good living, and had a helluva lot more fun doing that.I'd love to hear if, and how this pans out for you. Brgrds.

[@robc8468]

You might try industrial maintenenance most manufacturinlg equipment is heavily controlled by sensors PLC's and factories always need good electrical people and they are hard to find. Pay and working conditions are usually very good.

[@flipthadon4276]

Excellent video topic!! My automotive journey was similar to yours. While attending automotive school got hired as a Toyota tech, worked my way up to lead tech in 5 years. Left Toyota and went to Honda dealership for 4 years. Left there an went to Lexus, quit Lexus 8 years later of being a team leader. The extra stress of dealing with customers, lazy mechanics and service advisor wasn’t worth the pay. At this point I was feed up with car dealerships and sick of working 100% commission. Got hired as a hourly Sr. GSE mechanic @ FedEx. I can honestly say fleet maintenance is the way better than working commission. Worked as a GSE mechanic for 4 years , while attending A&P school for 18 months. Got accepted to the aircraft apprenticeship program after finishing school. Long story short, been a aircraft mechanic for the last 7 years and love it. Best decision of my life!!!

[@LordsUNfilteredHoney]

Hows the pay as an aircraft mechanic?

[@flipthadon4276]

@@LordsUNfilteredHoney aviation salary is great! Never thought I’d be making this much turning wrenches.

[@josesegura2170]

I left the industry back at the end of 2020 , went back into construction. The construction pay grade right now is higher and it’s a consistent check than being stuck on a electrical nightmare. The dealer I was at was really good but I got the short end of the stick when they shifted mangers during the pandemic. The team I was on was lacking guidance towards me, I got my hours shrunk and got stuck on cars that were over my head at the time . I got a job offer to go back to landscape construction for the same hourly wage I was getting at Mercedes 💀. I wish I left the trade sooner , but at least I can work on my own stuff now. Bad thing is that I regret going to college for because I ended up going back where I first started but at a higher wage .

[@ricksanchez7459]

Same here. Got job as a lube/tire grunt while going to college. Started finding out what the elders were making, was less than what I made welding as a boy.

[@josesegura2170]

@@ricksanchez7459 I was working in the landscape installation field before I left it to work at a dealer. I was making 930 and then I got to the dealer I only made like 438 being a lube tech. Totally played myself at the age of 21 🥹🥹🥹

[@assassin-gr3up]

I use to work on the dock at a freight company, I transferred over to the fleet shop with 0 experience. I was trained and I could say with 3 years of learning I can say I’m happy working on trailers,tractors,forklifts for good pay. All the senior mechanics say I had it good from the start. Most jumped from company to company.

[@abochavez]

Honestly, my new manager is a pos who smokes drugs in the parking lot all day long and can’t get fired because he’s good with the district manager. I can’t freaking believe it. And trust me, I have been looking, but can’t seem to land the right job.

[@ktriebol]

The situation for auto technicians is a difficult one. You described it well. These technicians have a high level of training across a wide range of disciplines. Unfortunately, they are not paid accordingly. Part of the problem is that auto owners already feel they are paying far too much for repair services. I don't know what the answer is, but tipping the technician for a job well done seems to be a good gesture.

[@joebrenner4428]

These shop owners keep raising the shop rates and their gross margins which makes more difficult for the techs to flag hours.Their margins should be in the 30-40% range and averaging about 36%.I am seeing shops charging $180 an hour now trying to pay $16-20 an hour which is 900% over cost and a 90% margin.They have been criminally colluding as a cartel through NADA and NADA has given them directives to push at least 72% margins on labor which is insanely high but they are trying to force the service departments to cover the entire cost of the whole dealer so their sales are pure profits.28% of $180 is $50.40 an hour and the fucking creeps won't even pay that.They belong in prison!

[@tyronesmith3812]

Customers always feel like they're paying too much. Not just in auto repair. When they say that just tell them to fix it themselves or take it to someone else and move onto your next customer.

[@joebrenner4428]

@@tyronesmith3812 Assholes have jacked the shop rates so high then they want to cut my labor times to make up for it.That shit is nuts!

[@michaeldunagan8268]

You think,...?¿! I was quoted eight hours of labor to do a rear motor mount on my 1999 Toyota Solata the Dealership in December 2022. West suburban Chicago going rates for dealerships are $135-175/hour. $1000 for the part and labor! It is 6-hours to pull the engine!!! 1mzFE. V6.

[@douglastaylor8039]

The parts in cars are crap. Yes the customers are getting killed at the dealers for repairs. You don't fix anything. Just change expensive cheap parts. The cars have planned parts failures sometimes it fails before warranty. The customers should get discounts for their time they spend at the dealer especially for defective the manufacturers know about and fixed free. Why are so many cars in the shop ??

[@foneboy]

I started as a dealership tech in 1977 and worked my way up with training, experience and ASE certification along the way. I tried a short period as a service manager ( hated it) another short period as a service writer (hated it). Most of my time was spent as a technician. I have worked in a team environment where we split the total hours flagged equally...it can work if all team members work hard..but obviously it can be miserable if you have a poor performing member. Most of my time was straight flagged hours, no guarantee. Starved some weeks and did good others. I did work at a few dealerships for an hourly wage and that was good except if you had a bad week the service manager would give you a warning (always pressure to perform). Good techs were always hard to find (the ones that could be depended on to fix it right). Once I got to the top it was always hard to get any extra money as the cost of living would go up. The best solution I found was to find another dealer that needed help and they would usually offer more than I was currently making to sweeten the deal. I think the longest I worked at any dealer was 7 years. This is not a profession for an aging guy; I decided to find other work and at 40 years old started a completely different career. I used the electronics training I had to get a job in telephone and communications....best thing I ever did. Auto mechanics is a viable profession, I fed my family for many years. You are giving an accurate description of the job.

[@josephpinal2434]

This story sounds so familiar to me ! ( I didn't last as long as you did ) I attended an accelerated vocational school and at 18 years of age I got my AS degree in automotive technology plus a smog license. To accomplish this your hours in high school were 07;30 am to 4;30 PM. That same year I started at a BMW dealership that was 1978 . The favoritism was the norm . I was making $11 ish flat rate . Some weeks you could make some really fat checks . Other weeks you starved . The worse part was the blatant favoritism when the work was being handed out . Not to mention the ever present pressure to sell " unnecessary " service . I HATED IT! I was so unhappy that after putting almost 2 years into this miserable job I quit this job and hired on with Pacific Telephone , they started me at $213/ week . You do the math! It was the best move I ever made . After a wonderful 42 year career I recently retired . The lesson here is if you are not happy "GET OUT " . Just make sure you get your ducks in a row and find something that makes you happy .

[@foneboy]

@@josephpinal2434 Yours was a good move to go to communications. I stuck with the auto industry too long. Recently retired from AT&T with 23 years.

[@jp78191]

Class solidarity is something so many people need to learn.

[@robpuchinsky762]

After 4 years of being in dealerships from VW, to Hyundai, to an Independent, to Kia. I got out and became a longshoremen and more then doubled my salary and now working on cars is fun again and don’t see ever going back. Especially after talking to mechanics who are master certified and shop foreman’s and hearing what they make and the amount of stress on them.

[@Kaabosurron]

It's the same In the body shop industry. The new body tech always gets the gravy bumper repairs while other 15 year guys get quarter replacements. So some guys move to dealerships they pay more and tickets are usually doubled. I work in the paint shop so I see this

[@danielgreen7159]

I retired several years early because I was sick of it. 40 years was more than enough. ASE Master , I'm told I was one of the first graduates from UTI in Phoenix in 1972. If I had it to do over, I wouldn't. Little to no appreciation. About the only advantage is that I repair my own vehicles still . The rest can go to hell.

[@ike4160]

It’s amazing how things have changed in the trades. I started out as a helper in 1982 working for an oil company and watched the local steel mill lay 10,000 people off and had to listen to my old boss say “quit your complaining, there are 12 guys waiting in line for your job”. After spending 40 years in all areas of hvac, residential, commercial, and industrial I never had to worry about being out of work and made pretty decent money along the way. It was however hard work! Retired now, whew!

[@mikesawyer4707]

My father had his own garage. He worked alone for over thirty years. He loved his job. Word of mouth kept him very busy.

[@scientist100]

Did he make enough money to save for retirement? I feel like a lot of small shops don't make enough to retire but who knows.

[@1FiftyOverland]

I left the dealership and industry all together in 2022 after 14 years at the same Ford dealership.

[@ZacharyCastro]

Been working at the dealers for 5-6 years. Everything you said pretty much sums it up. Just landed an equipment mechanic job for the city. No more dealer bs!

[@ducky1496]

As a 31 year retiree I completely agree!! I was a SAAB Master, Volvo Master and ASE Master. The more you know, the more you get screwed. Dealers suck!! Good luck in fleet services, I think that is a great move. I wish I would have done it.

[@janeenjohnson8039]

That’s all companies motto. Car sales are dropping demand for mechanics are about to soar. Start your own business

[@robertreynolds1044]

I remember an ad campaign in the early 70's, a magazine print ad of a picture of a mechanic's hands deep into a project, with the caption "the future belongs to those willing to get their hands dirty ",and I took that to heart. I became a Teamster in Las Vegas in the convention racket and absolutely loved it. Building, then dismantling exhibits, but the BS that you have to deal with can be tough. My name is Bicycle Bob and I approved this message.