Life Of A Mechanic (My Story, Why I Quit)

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

I cant thank everyone enough for making this my most watched video on my channel so far!!! THANK YOU!! P.S…yes i know that was WAYY too much RTV on that transmission 😅 just needed to get rid of a tube of RTV and needed some filler footage to fill in the gaps on the audio…and yes im going to reseal it… THANKS TO EVERYONE AGAIN!! Also i think i fixed the transmission! Check it out! kzbin.infos92gt0Ld2oo?si=gZLswySANbrFvBpF

[@geraldjlemoine]

Did you replace the damaged yoke seal before installing the transfer case on the vehicle?

[@Lees_Automotive_36972]

I’m 20y old I graduated from my auto mechanic school not too long ago I love working on cars But idk Any advice?

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

@@geraldjlemoinei havent installed it yet its getting new seals and opened up again its also a FWD transmission

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

@@Lees_Automotive_36972learn as much as you can from the seasoned techs around you. don’t get attached like your job is your family. And if your up for the challenge set yourself up to work for YOU. Being your own boss can be a challenge but at the end of the day you call the shots whatever that may be! Good luck out there

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

@@geraldjlemoinei havent installed it yet seals are going to get replaced its also getting opened up again and resealed its also a front wheel drive transmission

[@Karrpilot]

I was a dealership mechanic for 22 years. I was trying to get out of it for years. Most places were the same circus, just different clowns. I was even going out on job interviews and putting in applications on my days off, it was so bad. I even wanted to change careers. However, fate, chance, destiny, landed me a government fleet job. I'm still a mechanic. Only now I'm hourly, get off on time, occasionally I see overtime, and no flat rape.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Great solid advice!

[@0tt0z]

I hope its better. It sounds like it is. Anyway, all the best to you.

[@johnpapa8681]

I stopped being an auto mechanic because late model cars are so crappy I don't care if they run or not.

[@gradyhernandez4699]

They do it on purpose

[@RustyZipper]

Best to lease a vehicle and stay in continuous debt. You should always be employed until your funeral so as to avoid drawing Social Security. Consumerism is the key to happiness according to Jeff Bezos.

[@ianmangham4570]

Yup

[@joemueller4738]

@@johnpapa8681 I know what you mean. I worked in auto repair in 1980’s and most cars I worked on were made in late sixties and 1970’s. Most repairs for me ( I’m not the best or brightest) were a challenge but I could do them fairly easily. Vehicles now are so crammed together and complex and expensive that I can’t do much anymore. And I truly feel sorry for mechanics today trying to make a living working their butts off on these mindless designs by “ engineers “ who never worked on a car in their life.

[@johnpapa8681]

@@joemueller4738 I was raised by a mechanic to be a mechanic. I overhauled an engine for a customer when I was 14 yrs old. I graduated highschool in '75 and became a Ford driveability mechanic. I've seen cars become overcomplicated, overpriced, undependable steaming piles of doggie doo. I don't buy any cars now that didn't come from the factory with a carb. My friends ask me why, because I can work on them. Yes, I can work on them, but I don't get paid to work on my own cars, and I still have to buy parts. Four years ago, I bought a 1985 Ford f350 4x4 pickup. I brought it home, spent $200 on it, and have been driving it ever since. Two months ago, I bought a 1978 Ford f350 dually work truck. It needs some work, but when I'm through, I'll have a good winch truck. You can work on late model cars and trucks all you want, and you'll still have a turd on a roller skate. I do have a 1989 f250 4x4 as well, but it's fuel injected and for sale!

[@joemueller4738]

Auto mechanics are the most under appreciated workers there is. The service they provide is one of the most needed service there is. Keeping everyone moving in order to get to their jobs. It’s one of the hardest jobs possible. To make good money you have to be smart, hardworking. It’s physically demanding on your body. And I’m grateful for anyone who enters this profession.

[@TDubsKid]

Was a mechanic for 12 years then left the industry, I love still having all my tools and skills!

[@GumbootsOnBackwards]

The biggest take away any young person should be paying attention to from this video is to never compromise on your safety. You only live once. You can have 100 different jobs through your career. Don't die on your road to retirement.

[@rainmant5724]

I did it for 5 years in the late 80's/90's. When the most senior people tell you to get a different career, I listened. I had a higher hourly rate at Best Buy part time than a full time mechanic after 5 years.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Smart move!

[@robertstout6980]

As a former mechanic, 45 years ago, welcome to construction. Out of the frying pan, into the fire. Now that I'm pushing 70 I know what I want to be when I grow up, RETIRED!

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

And i hope you enjoy a beautiful retirement!

[@rickdacosta9727]

That output shaft seal is giving me the willies.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Its getting replaced i just messed around with the transmission for some filler video

[@kenneth6382]

Thanks for putting this video together…. I see WE arent alone.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Not at all

[@loganyang1207]

-Grew up helping friends and family working on cars -Realized how much I loved it so tried it as a career -Woke up and decided to stick to flipping cars instead 😂

[@Randy.E.R]

Thank you for your video. I really enjoyed it because it's always nice to hear about this line of work from a different perspective. After what you shared with me, I can't say that I blame you for getting out while you can. When I hear from other mechanics (I am old enough to still use the old term) who are considering another line of work, I tell them not to put it off like I did or it will turn into a 41-year career like it became for me. I started as a lube mechanic at our local Ford dealer in 1983 right out of high school. I was an 18-year-old married Father in need of a job. This is a small town in the middle of the Mojave desert without many opportunities, so when I was offered a job on the lube rack, I took it. It was a small dealership where everyone that worked there from the general manager down went to the same high school. It kind of had that "good ol' boy" vibe which made it enjoyable. I didn't plan on staying but went through enough classes and took on bigger jobs until I became a mechanic. I enjoyed working there and had decent benefits which made it hard to leave because I had a wife and child to take care of. Around 1989, interest rates went through the roof and new car sales plummeted. They weren't about to get rid of salesmen, but they had no problem firing the service manager who had been there since the 1960s just to make room for one of the salesmen. They did the same with the parts manager and service writer/dispatcher. Since new cars weren't selling, people were dumping money into their existing cars which kept the shop busier than ever. But, we had salesmen running the service and parts department. I probably don't have to tell you how bad it was getting. Still, I stayed around. As the 1990s progressed, Ford started building better cars which made service and repair work take a dip. The dealership flirted with the idea of going from 5 mechanics to 4. But which one of us would go? We had all been there more than ten years. The place became cutthroat. Like I said, this was a small town and guys were digging up whatever dirt they could get on each other to make other mechanics look bad. Eventually, one of the mechanics got fed up and left on his own. I thought about jumping ship, and wish I had. That would have been the time to find another career but I stuck it out. Finally, in 2003 two of the other mechanics left and opened their own shop which actually did quite well. Instead of hiring seasoned mechanics, the general manager hired a friend of his son and another one of his buddies who knew nothing about cars, but they were getting fed all the gravy work. After 20 years at the dealership, I left and took a fleet mechanic job at a public utility, just as you did. Since it was in another small desert community about an hour away, we moved from my hometown. Our daughter was grown and meth was becoming a problem in town anyway. It was time to go. As you pointed out, working for a public utility is a whole new world. This company has 41 garages spread all over California, and this shop is the smallest with only a foreman and a lead tech. It has been no easy job because this garage is in a very remote part of the desert and covers an enormous area. I work a swing shift from 3pm to 1am four days a week, and then every other Friday I work noon to 9. It is a 9/80 schedule. However, I get about another 15-20 hours of overtime every couple of weeks through callout repairs. Some of these entail a two-hour drive one way just to get to the breakdown. Because it is a union job, the pay and benefits are great but my chances of promotion were stagnant since it is a two-man garage. Unexpectedly, my foreman had a heart attack about three years ago and had to quit. Since then, I have been working as a foreman and lead-tech because they haven't been able to fill that spot. It has gone out to bid more than once, but who in their right mind is going to leave the city for the desert? The position went to the street twice, but no one wanted to work a swing shift. After 41 years in this line of work, I will be retiring in the next three years. Since working for the utility, I was one of the last to get on the pension plan before it went away with the last contract negotiations, but I have also dumped every penny allowed into my 401K. Yeah, I will be retiring with only 25 years with the utility, but my wife has her retirement with the school district. I don't want to say that this line of work will be good for everyone. I started in a different era when things were a lot different. Cars today are nothing like they were in the 1980s. I would never survive as a young mechanic today. I have a lot of respect for people like yourself who decided to leave when you felt it wasn't right. I put it off when there were several red flags telling me to flee. Before I knew it, 41 years had passed.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Ive really enjoyed your story, thank you for commenting. Its so hard to respond to everyone like i wanted i never expected this video to do so well. I really want to get stories like yours across to the mechanic feeling trapped and WAY past the mechanics who think if you aren’t boot licking and grinding your fingers to the bone for your boss your a lousy mechanic. I hope your retirement comes soon and you enjoy every day of it!

[@anchorsaweigh9893]

I don’t regret being a mechanic (1998-2004) Did the quick lube to minor repairs to fill line tech. Did an apprenticeship and went to school and got a AA Degree. I learned a lot and acquired skills that have served me a lifetime. Once I finished my Education I left the field. I don’t regret leaving the field either.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Smart move sir

[@anchorsaweigh9893]

@@BobbyBeltzyt You have some great skills that will serve you well. You will have a lot of success in any endeavor you pursueZ Best yet! You can work on your own hobby stuff. My hobby is Harleys. It’s actually fun when you’re not trying to put food on the table doing it.

[@smokeskull]

I got my ticket in 1985 and worked at 2 GM dealers and both were complete bullys. They cheated there employees and customers. I saw one woman get an egr valve changed and paid nearly $500. She paid cash and got a small handful of change back and she was so upset she threw it at the cashier. I knew i wouldn't last there. Sure enough i made it less than a year and they lay me off. My knees went bad at 45 and i left the trade at 50. I never worked anywhere again. I am broken with severe depression from both my career choice and our garbage health care system

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Hey man don’t give up, We are here for you. There are alot of techs in this comment section alone that share your story. And at the end of the day there is always hope!

[@johnnytacokleinschmidt515]

Fellow tech. There's a saying in the.... Let's call it the truther conspiracy world that the powers that be pulled a magic trick and bankrupted the middle class in their current standard of living. I'm growing tired and sore myself, but I want to see this country on a right and virtuous path and I'm trying to live long enough to see it happen. Or shove my foot in the ass of the last Scumbag who's trying to destroy me and US. That's what will have to keep me going. God Bless!

[@normcameron2316]

Thank you for this. I hope it gets better but I have to say after 40+ years a Heavy Duty Mechanic, it didn't get better for me. I finally lost it two months ago, I quit and am now retired. The problem is politics in the workplace. One of my favorite sayings is " I don't have a problem doing my job. The problem is letting me get my job done". The "Incompetents" always seem to get into positions of authority, and they resent anyone who is not incompetent. Once you understand the game it might get easier, or not.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

That is a amazingly good saying! I have one similar for poor management its “screw up, move up”

[@tommak6516]

Sometimes workers are overly sensitive too. Just as the workers should not have to kiss the boss rear end, the boss shouldn't have to kiss the worker's. Were you a union environment?

[@normcameron2316]

@@tommak6516 Last job no, but I have worked in two union jobs for a total of about 20 years and my non union for about 20. Different but the same. Losers always try to migrate up, in the union or management and sadly they do.

[@falcorthewonderdog2758]

I did the GM dealership flat rate treadmill for 40 years. If you take training and are good at what you do auto repair is a good career. If you're good you will never worry about your job or pay. I had skill level that allowed me to threaten to walk away if i got screwed on a job. A quick conversation with the shop manager would usually work out the details. The times it didn't work out i proudly walked off the job. Had a new position within days with better pay. Like i said if YOU'RE GOOD you'll find people beating a path to your door to hire you. It's not an easy job but if you have skills and the passion to fix things you'll do well.

[@Viper81766]

Scan tools and scopes are a massive investment now too .

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Agreed! You be the leverage not them.

[@iankerr1549]

@@falcorthewonderdog2758 as long as you show you’re a hard worker you’ll get in the door anywhere. You walk into most shops nowadays and there ain’t a swingin dick in sight

[@Marashm]

Glad I came across this video man. I thought I would become a great mechanic one day myself. Worked at Oreillys, learnt about parts, got an ASE. Worked at a mom and pop shop (same experience), moved to a dealership as a lube tech hated the rate style pay. Just pretty much walked away from the desire to chase it anymore. I still wrench on my own and friends car but that’s about it. Subscribed!

[@jasonkoplen2554]

This industry has been screwing mechanics since the Model T rolled off the assembly line. Many moons ago the auto industry realized that a lot of cars on the road would create a high demand for mechanics and that would mean mechanics could demand a high wage that would cut into dealers profits. So ford introduced the flat rate pay system to suppress mechanics wages and it also gave dealers the ability over saturate their workforce without affecting their bottom line. We’ve all been there, 6 guys in the shop for the day and about 10 billable hrs worth of work on the lot. What other trade does this? Not to mention buying $20k-$30k worth of tools without being self employed. Trade school recruiters and talking heads have been fluffing up this industry with bs like “ techs in high demand! “ and “ techs will be earning 6 figures! “ for decades. When in reality all this industry will get you is bad knees, a bad back, and a box of tools worth pennies on the dollar of what you paid. When I got into this hellscape of a trade all the old timers warned me to get out and I didn’t listen. Don’t be like me!

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Beautifully said I honestly had no idea. Ford started the flat rate system. It’s a damn shame.

[@Jared_Albert]

Moved from the shop floor to the parts department. Make about the same on commissions but finger nails are clean at the end of the day

[@RustyZipper]

You don’t miss the melting salt running down your neck and Rusty bit’s breaking off? 🤷‍♂️

[@kevinrandall8327]

I’m a retired mechanic spent most of my working life in the heavy transport industry. I earned good money paid all my bills, lead a reasonably comfortable life style, I never imagined retirement when I 1st started work. Retirement seems to come quicker as you get older and I looked forward to it. The unfortunate thing is when you stop working all these work related health problems pop up their ugly heads, like knee pain, back pain, lung issues, caused by breathing in asbestos dust and diesel fumes, Carpel tunnel syndrome in both hands, been operated on both hands 3 times, my nerve damage is that bad I’ll never get full feeling back in my fingers. I have a crook heart, pacemaker and type 2 diabetes I’m not saying that they’re work related but I’m certain that my job had something to do with it. I enjoyed my life as a heavy truck mechanic, but my retired life has been pretty awful, so all you budding mechanics out there look after your health and wealthfare because you may end up like me a sick old man.

[@shermanbird3248]

Well said. After 48 years doing it, I'm just as sick as you! And it IS all work related!

[@kevinrandall8327]

@ is’nt life a bitch, this is the reward for over 50 years of hard work. I’m not religious I was brought up as a catholic with Very religious parents, I struggle to believe in life after death but if there is I hope that I will go straight to heaven, because I reckon I’ve served my purgatory on earth.

[@lolatu8255]

Sometimes I see the younger guys trying to muscle a transmission or other heavy part around. I tell them to use tools for that cuz their bodies may not appreciate it in a few years. 35 years in, I am good but I exercise and do a bit of yoga to keep things together. Also I do sauna to sweat out the toxins we absorb at work. I wish you the best!

[@coldfinger459sub0]

You summed it up perfectly. Many think 🤔 they just need to eat it and grudge on like a good little boy worker (ant) 🐜 Especially when you work for Mechanically, clueless, technically, clueless, white shirt, pencil, pushing finger, pointing idiots . That’s why I started my own business 30 years ago. Life been excellent ever since not working for maggots who can’t do the jobs they ask others to do for themselves living off your back doing the work where you’re the one actually producing the money and they’re the ones sucking your life blood out of you. Never work for maggots or parasites

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

I highly agree. I’ve had people told me to suck it up. Take it stop being such a snowflake but seriously I don’t like abusive relationships. Lol

[@fatfalcon3434]

Yesterday I did my own front brakes on my car, and it confirmed a theory that I had from the beginning: Do I enjoy working on cars? Yes. Will I enjoy being a mechanic? HELL NO

[@IROC-Z28]

Aman!

[@ExAnimoPortugal]

I love working on my own cars. After doing some jobs for friends I realized how much I hated being a mechanic.

[@JR-bj3uf]

I studied diesel tech in high school. I loved it but my parents insisted on a college degree. I worked a series of mechanic related jobs while in school and after graduation. These jobs culminated in a 4 year stint as a mechanic at a motorcycle dealership. I loved it. The shop changed hands. The person who bought it was a rich fool who ran the place like his personal hobby shop. It was clear that I couldn't do my job or make money so I ran to the big city to seek my fortune with my college degree. I worked mostly in online marketing and sales and I did OK. Before retirement I worked in a heavy equipment shop as the shipping and receiving parts guy. I loved it. I loved the people. These were my guys and I was the guy that made sure they got their parts. I loved the banter and the bs. It made me wonder if I had made a mistake in my career choice. Sure the shop was wicked hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Sure there was dirt and grime as well as heavy lifting but over all satisfaction was high. I chased jobs with good pay all my career. The techs with lift truck experience or JLG boom crane experience were courted with good pay and benefits. I can see how front facing auto repair can have it's own pitfalls but the heavy industry side seemed to be a lot better.

[@robertcronin6714]

Wow did this video hit home with me! starting in the late 60's. I worked for a number of small shops, a large dealership and a large corporate chain. I saw the light early, I had enough by my late twenty's. Through a friend I landed a job with a machine shop that manufactured specialty machinery from the ground up. They hired me to do the initial assembly of the machines. I had found my niche but they were bought out, the new owners fired everyone. I found a similar job with a shop that produced food packaging machinery machinery. The work itself was good but there was no respect for the workers. It took awhile but I landed a job with the Post Office as a mechanic doing breakdown maintenance on their mail processing machines. Almost thirty years later I retired, that was 15 years ago. My message to any one willing to listen is if you can find a job that offers security, benefits, and retirement benefits grab it. Remember its still a job it will still have its ups and downs but the big pay off will come in the end. One last word put money away for the future save, invest, you will need it !

[@Dannysoutherner]

Todays cars are crap. I worked as a wrench years ago. I left the field when so much went front wheel drive that it was no fun. I was making 35 an hour commission then. I learned recently that commission has not changed much in 30 years. Glad I work for myself. I choose my own jobs.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Good for you that’s the way to go!

[@NPC-1776]

its sad how much mechanics are needed, yet no one treats us with the proper respect or value for our work. were seen as just another grunt worker. when we do much more. it takes alot and years to be a mechanic. alot of both physical and mental work. I work as a heavy diesel mechanic and these issues apply to most places ive worked.

[@bluegrassman3040]

Another problem with the diesel field I encountered, is that there is not many people willing to teach or provide training.

[@Veemteem]

Us mechanics are the most used people. Employers, customers, friends, family, they all have no respect for the hardships we go through.

[@nickgustine5830]

Being a mechanic is definitely tough. Working at a dealership is absolutely miserable. Went back to a small shop where I still am today. Hopeful to own my very own performance shop one day. Just got to keep your head up and keep eating the shit.

[@lisaredman2423]

Great video my husband has been a mechanic for 45 yrs, he mentioned about the diesel in the tanker, he is currently working on roadtrains here in Australia, a driver he knows was having fuel guage problems in the truck, it was outback Aust 45 deg day very hot the fuel tank was nearly empty he put a bit of fencing wire thru filler neck , created a spark it blew up sent him to the other side of road with 70 percent burns. He survived but has hearing loss and a scars from the burns.

[@randybloomfield5090]

Side work is where the $ is. I can make more on a Sunday than the rest of the week

[@Howard-dv4vo]

That's right. And customers are hungry for a mechanic they can trust!

[@NVRAMboi]

God bless you, brother. I guess if you're done, you're done. That's a shame. We use a local independent shop here whom we respect and are loyal to. Good people, great work, fair fees - all with good communication from the shop to the customer. Wherever you find yourself next, stick to your principles. In the long run, you'll never go wrong being honest and doing the right things.

[@LesReeves]

Now I am retired I have found a very good independent shop & will stick with him either until I die or he retires (my money is on me dying )😅

[@billledbetter740]

I spent 45 years as an industrial machinery mechanic. Compressors, pumps, engines ,generators etc. Working on cars is a nightmare, can't make any money doing it.

[@ianmangham4570]

True, most simple jobs turn into nightmares 😅

[@bigjake352]

I grew up in this business. If you want to make money unfortunately you have to sell things people don’t need. This is why we never made much money, too honest.

[@Jpilgrim30]

There’s another way to make money these days. I worked at an independent shop doing strictly diag and passed the work to the wrench turners. We all made big bucks. The business treated us all with respect and sold NOTHING that wasn’t needed. We grew a great rep and stayed busier than any shop in town until they sold off the stores in this area after the old man died that owned them and the kids took over. I’ve moved on to working for another guy that owns multiple small dealerships and do strictly diag, programming and cloning used modules, etc. The big money these days is in electrical/driveability diagnostics. It’s getting harder and harder to find good techs who know their way around a scope and a wiring diagram or how to diag a network issue.

[@alro2434]

Mechanics used to get almost half of the hourly or flat rate charge, now it seem to be about 20% at most, and they're charging another 15-15% on top for shop supplies that you won't get a part of. A 1/4 inch bead of gasket goop around a machined case that oughta have .005 thou outa being straight/flat at most. Nice job.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Not running it like that…. Needed to get some b footage and had a RTV tube that i needed to get rid of

[@deant876]

There's an old saying that tool boxes have wheels for a reason. I've been lucky, I've been the only mechanic for a small truck fleet for 19 years

[@g56787]

Thanks for speaking up and telling it how it is.

[@RIDEreviewRELOAD]

I did ten years at various shops. Quit at 28 years old and started over square one working in warehouses, got my CDL 2 years later. There are way too many variables working as a technician. Not to mention flat rate, terrible hours, hard, dirty work, oh don’t forget about shop politics!

[@KNR6292]

Fellow former mechanic now truck driver. I tried parts counter, landscpaing self employment & electrician. Shops seem joyful and kind after working construction as an electrician. Jobsites are full of the dumbest meanest most miserable and jealous sacks of crap anywhere. So much anti woman, anti gay, anti intelligence, racism. Its disgusting

[@1crazypj]

@@KNR6292 I spent over 10 years working on construction equipment after quitting dealerships. Money was far better and conditions not a lot worse plus brilliant job title 'Site Service Engineer' Sucked when you had to dig machine out of a snowbank though or try welding in middle of a thunderstorm. I did get a lot of freedom and got crazy fit though (I was in my 30's so young enough to do it)

[@MikePeters-x1v]

Started in the dealerships also, dead end. Have been with fleet of trucks for 30 yrs and has been rough the entire time. I enjoyed my work but it came with the same problems as you have stated. Done in 1 year and glad its everyone else's troubles

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Hang in there buddy and enjoy retirement! You earned it double over.

[@jasonw2696]

I love that about shops. They always tell you there's a ladder to climb here. It's invisible, and you have no idea where the first rung starts . And you come to find out later you're already at the top of the ladder.🤷🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️. Hence, why I walked away 🤷🏻‍♂️. I work for myself as a private contract mechanic.

[@jeffreyjeepman3599]

I have owned my own garage and autobody for 36 years 8 years before that fleet mechanic on tractor trailers and I can't wait to call it quits! It's never been this bad can't get parts -everyone in a big hurry and don't understand what it costs to keep the doors open and no respect!

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Wow! Its interesting to hear it from a small business owner, sorry.

[@cindygardner350]

Thank you so much, for the glimpse inside all the work you’ve done, hopefully it gets up to the rest of us, God bless you and your family

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Thank you! And thank you for watching!

[@andrewread154]

Mechanic - great hobby, terrible occupation.

[@jimrockfish1875]

This sums it up perfectly

[@KNR6292]

Im the best mechanic ive ever been after finding a new field. The industry isnt set up for training, learning or mentoring. Its all about the dollar. Flat rate rips off the mechanic, all other dealer staff are salary w commissions or hourly but not you!! Now that i only work on my own stuff, i have replaced an engine, done my Ducati valve service, done HVAC work in the car, total suspension & brake overhaul, you name it. I really like my vehicles and appreciate the engineering that went into them, i actually care, plus i set my own pace & use the parts and tools i want to. Its actually fun to plan the projects and execute. But as a job? Holy crap its one of the worst jobs possible. Its all the downside of self employement & all the downside of a W2 job with almost no benefit of either. Make a living elsewhere, and work on your own stuff for fun. You save money & know you did a good job.

[@Dcalvert92]

I’m a heavy equip field tech, 7 years experience. 150k this year, love the work.

[@kevinbishop1323]

I was coming up in the field. I was moved from hourly to flat rate. At the shop I was working at this was the first step foward. I went around and asked all the master techs for a piece of advice. They all said the same thing. "Find a new career" so I did.

[@andrewslagle1974]

I love it and got rich by doing it !I bought my own shop at age 20 and still have it .

[@tikitavi7120]

I was a heavy equipment mechanic for ten years before giving it up to work outside as a landscaper. No regrets.

[@kwashelby2010]

See, the problem is, if you're getting in it for the money.... 32 years a mechanic here, 15 as a tech and then bootstrapped myself to shop ownership. I still diagnose cars, work on cars, deal with customers, order parts, the whole 9 yards. The best days are weekends when its just me and I can work on cars and enjoy playing with my tools. If you dont have the passion to be the best you can be at it , it aint for you.

[@Sharkmane25]

Yeah as bad as it is to work on certain cars you have to be built for it. However the flat rate pay structure is a huge deteiment to staying at service centers

[@jimmyroos1677]

You almost described me, after hours and Saturday is the best time to be left alone, and get working on engine assembly and automatic transmissions rebuilding.

[@flamingfirewolffpsgames6692]

Currently a heavy diesel mechanic and i see heaps of red flags on a daily but i need the money 💰 Our own fleet of trucks and trailers but the boss is apparently tight on money so we pay for it in the workshop (limited supplies). I told my supervisor about a month ago that one of the trucks has a blown head and/or gasket but he told me its fine and he will send it.... 4 days later that engine hydrolic locked and he is now blaming me and saying that he had no idea that it was using coolant (i had already given him my diagnosis report but he discarded it) I am also the only one left of my original crew.... i started 8 months ago.... and i have seen over 40 mechanics come and go. Fkn red flags all over the joint

[@RustyZipper]

40 people smart enough to leave …

[@newmarkettruckandautoservi7650]

I run my own shop and highly recommend to not to. Over 10 years had 12 techs and apprentices come and go, the go part was a huge relief that saved me from firing all but 1. In a high liability environment there is a very slight chance that you can land a tech or apprentice that can be relied on. Constant adrenalin, bad for the heart.

[@stevemino142]

There is no money in it...and with all the tools most licensed mechanics need its a dying sector

[@ericanderson2987]

I was an Automobile Mechanic for about 3-4 Years. I Worked at 2 small Shops and a Toyota Dealership. I NEVER had the opportunity to get into Schooling to obtain Certification for complex Work. I would NEVER want to Work on Today's Vehicles- even though i had good Computer Hardware and Software Skills. Oddly, i Worked mostly on i kid you not, Alfa Romeos and Ferraris. I still Have all my Tools and their Storage. It WOULD be nice for a reasonably sized Auto Repair Shop to Supply a complete Set of Hand Tools and Storage. I absolutely HATE Flat-rate Hours type of Work environment, which forces one to skimp Checks to meet the Rate and get Work done.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

And whats worse is the people defending flat rate and calling you a bad mechanic because you don’t rush a job like they did

[@geralderdek282]

At my first job out of Lincoln tech for auto mechanics in 1975,I went to work for woolcos auto shop. Managment wanted me to sell as much parte as posible needed or not. After I told two sweet old ladies they neeed an idler arm replaced that wasent really bad,they tipprd me ten dollars!! I felt terrible about that,and when they wanted to transfer me to another location I quit and got a job as a factory maitenance mechanic where the machinery didn't change as frequently as cars do. Still at the same company same work 47 years now. Some of our machinery is quite old like a kellogg american air compresor made in 1962 when the company started and still running!

[@glenbenton4855]

It is absolutely criminal what they are doing, the government too demanding such high tech for better fuel economy

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Yea right?! Its over engineered garbage thats overpriced and doesn’t last

[@3beltwesty]

Hvac stuff has become this too..ever changing new refrigerant gasses. Thinner coils so transfer heat better and fail quicker too.. an old R22 system eons ago would last for many decades. .today's ac units have a mess of electronic boards that are easy to zap and are expensive to replace

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

@3beltwesty probably cheaper to make and distribute and in hopes of it breaking and you buying a completely new one

[@Viper81766]

​@3beltwesty True on all electronics and appliances of yesterday too .

[@jayprosser7349]

All that tech for little to no gain in mpg

[@mikeellis9720]

45+ years in the Restoration/ Custom Paint business that I loved and the chemicals ruined the nerves in my legs. I should have bailed decades before...now I drive a wheelchair. Beep Beep!

[@M.TTT.]

Dang, sorry to hear that. Did you wear a respirator and all that?

[@mikeellis9720]

@M.TTT. I sure did! And P-95 Masks when I was sanding. We had a nice Safety-Kleen spray gun cleaner and even though I wore gloves, the chemicals soak through your skin and contain heavy metals, which all collect at the lowest point of your body - the feet.

[@M.TTT.]

@@mikeellis9720 oh dang, I didn't know that. I only work as a hobby-ist, but better start taking this a bit more seriously.

[@mikeellis9720]

​@@M.TTT. Just be safe, think about the stuff that the materials are made of and be careful. As a Hobbyist, youll have much less exposure to the bad stuff. Enjoy the Hobby, and Take Care of yourself.

[@paulvincent3280]

Don't be afraid to fire your boss! It took me almost 20 years from the beginning to realize that as a professional I wasn't content with being average, I wanted to be a top performer/earner. I was lucky to have a couple of good jobs early on working with really good people. But when conditions changed, I pivoted other directions and now had to learn what it was like in reduced integrity environments. In time I learned that "I" had value and that was empowering. Now, my biggest problem was to not overplay it. Power is an aphrodisiac and I didn't want it to corrupt me as it had many of the managers that I had seen over the years. In the last 20 years it has served me well. Make yourself valuable but don't be a fool. Almost done with it all now. Hope it helps somebody.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Thanks! Its def a good to put your ego en check! And good luck and enjoy retirment

The best real mechanics, not parts changers, will start their own shops, and a six-figure income is still possible. Get really good, learn to fix things other shops bugger and just can't get right, you'll make PLENTY of money. Or you can whine and quit. I've been a mechanic (among other things...mechanical engineer, fabricator, machinist, bodyman/painter, electrical/electronics specialist, aircraft A&P, etc.) for over 5 decades now. I'm "retired", but I still work as a subcontractor to two shops, one building high-end hot rods, and one servicing/repairing vintage and exotic cars. I still love the work, and have finally found good, decent, honest people to work with. I'm wrapping up my last two customer jobs, and will shortly be working on nothing but my own 12 vintage vehicles, in my own fully equipped shop. If I can do it, anyone who loves machines and has a decent amount of smarts and mechanical aptitude can. PS: I admit the business has changed, most dealerships want to pay chump money while they charge the moon and stars, then wonder why they can't hire and keep really good mechs. And THAT'S why you start your OWN shop, get REALLY good, and make a ton of folding green.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Good advice. I think that starting your own business is the way to go, but you have to be smart and do it correctly or else you can go flat broke real fast

@@BobbyBeltzyt It's definitely harder to start an independent shop now than it used to be, as a lot of locations have become much more restrictive in what kinds of businesses they'll allow, and if you want to grow beyond a one-man shop, good luck finding anyone to do the work, even if you train them and deliver exceptional pay increases as their skills improve. Both shops I subcontract with could use several more people, but we can't even find entry level floor sweepers who want to learn more...and the "experts" that apply are invariably hackers with very little actual knowledge, who talk a big game but can't do diddly. And this is in the suburbs of a major city in the Southeast.

[@franknukemcomegetsome2744]

You wouldn’t happen to have a brain tumor because you literally sound like my clone!!!👍😹

[@david63390]

Good video man. I worked at a Firestone many years ago. I definitely was not happy with the practices there. I went on to do aircraft work. It was much better but layoffs happen way too often. I only got hit once but that was enough after working at a startup jet company. Then I got into medical device r&d fun job but in 5 years a 72 cents of a raise was not enough. I got into facilities work for a good bit and now I'm back to a r&d environment. My point is we put blinders that we can only do one type of job and it's not true. Networking is key and always learn everything that you can. I love working on my hotrods, but I would not want to do it for a living. Good luck man!

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Thanks! Thats an awesome mindset man the skills of a mechanic aren’t just a narrow path they can be applied in many directions! Glad you are figuring it out.

[@david63390]

@BobbyBeltzyt Thanks! I'm definitely in a happy place. I feel for those that feel stuck in a job or profession. Truth is just start bugging people where you want to go. I bothered the first aircraft job for a year before I got a interview. Funny part was I made 50 cents less than a new guy with a A&P license and didn't spend 40k for school. I just want to see others forge their path and be happy.

[@gregmercil3968]

Watching this video reminds me of why I got out of automotive before I even started working in the trade. Over a decade ago I went to school for it, but after hearing and reading so many horror stories (such as this one), and after many salty grizzled mechanics telling me to avoid it like the plague and how it’s not worth it anymore, I gave up on it. Fast forward a few years, I got into the HVAC trade, and now work as a commercial/industrial HVAC service tech for a really good company that I plan to be a lifer at. It is a vastly different and better world in this trade. One of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

[@johnd4348]

Did 30 years as hvac tech and had more jobs than fingers and toes. Normally left after 3 years. Longest gig was 9 years. Put in 48 years and retired. Got tired of the BS, bad coworkers and owners. Retired and learned a bad day in retirement is better than good day of work. If you see you in a bad deal get out and find something you enjoy and not being mistreated. Your body and mental health will think you

[@daleolson3506]

Putting that transmission together way way way too much silicon. Output seal toast.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

I did notice the output seal! Yea shes getting changed

[@zentex8877]

LOL. Way, way too much silicone.

[@danjam2955]

As an old roughneck, mechanic, construction worker,etc, who only has my social security now to rely upon, if you don’t know what leaver A is, leaver B! I let it be!

[@BWTECH0521]

I like how you picked out what you learned from each job even though you didn't have good experiences. I think that's the best way to take life. You can't control the world but you can control how the world affects you! Thanks for sharing your story Bobby, I hope your channel grows so big that you can quit your job!!!!!!

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

That is true! You just gota roll with the punches do be beaten down just for a paycheck! And lets hope man! Lets hope we can make it big!

[@handsfree1000]

In the UK all mechanics supply their own tools. The shop only supplies the larger equipment. I was only a mechanic a few years I left that trade and retrained and became self employed. Best thing I ever did.

[@riderinsanjose337]

If you don't mind my asking, what did you retrain into ?

[@kwslife116]

Same in the US. never seen a company buy tools. only specialty stuff.

[@v1-vr-rotatev2-vy_vx31]

Back in the 70s 80s used to make 50% commission at Ma and Pa shops,,, big corporations have bought out most mom's shops and now have to pay their CEOs and we are relegated to a 15% Commission Now,,, so glad I am retired and don't have to waste my life away anymore...

[@GenderSkins]

As someone that started working in a two bay full service gas station as a mechanic in high school, and later went on to a trade school to “learn to work on vehicles” which is really code for over paying for asc certifications. I can honestly say, some times it is better to start your own shop and hire someone to handle customers than it is to work for someone else. But when you go off to college to learn to do work you’ve been doing for years, and suddenly start seeing red flags at the school do what I did and get out and get out fast. As it will only get worse. And getting certifications does not make you a good mechanic, or the place you work at a great shop. I’ve been working on cars since I was 16, and I am now 56 and the only time I use a scanner is to clear the codes. I listen to what the car is telling me is wrong, not what some code on a computer that a book says is what’s wrong as a code does not tell the whole story.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

We can learn alot from seasoned guys like you! Thanks for your story.

[@kenneth6382]

AMEN BROTHER🫡

[@ngauruhoezodiac3143]

I bought my first car when I was 15 years old and repaired cars until 2012 when they became too complicated and parts were too expensive. I would not buy any of the new cars because of maintenance costs.

[@Dancing_Alone_wRentals]

What I noticed is that mechanics need to deal with the cheap quality of parts coming from auto part supply houses. That would drive me crazy.

[@jasonalward4720]

I’m 53 been in this shit for 38 yrs. Was a mechanic then in 2015 I switched to autobody tech. I’m really good at both I’m in one of the biggest companies nation wide. After 2 years here (well 5 yrs. I worked at the shop this big company bought out from private to corporate) no raise. So I spoke to the regional manager and he agreed I was up for a raise. 6 weeks and 5 unanswered emails I went to the next guy up. Forwarded all my emails and and asked him to step in. That next day I got the raise with 6 weeks back pay. I got really sick was hospitalized for a week then 6 weeks of daily trip to hospital for iv antibiotics I collected paid family leave for 12 weeks. I talk to my boss for enrollment in December and they are forcing me to go flat rate. I don’t want the headache there are too many delays w parts. Wrong parts. Damaged parts. You get it! They know I don’t want flat rate. I’m definitely good n fast. Hired at hourly, can they force me to go flat rate. If anyone can chime in. Please do? Thank u. Good video!!

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Sorry to hear that man I pray that you get better. in terms of what you can do I’m not too sure about the dynamic of your shop whether you’re under a contract or you have a union, but I would look into these options and hold out as long as possible. Flat rate was rough 10 years ago when I worked for a crappy dealership the fact that nobody can get parts, not even me walking into the parts department for a spare key for my Miata would make me be terrified of being a flat rate mechanic

[@FarleyMan151]

My brother-in-law has been a mechanic for Toyota dealerships since the late 60s. He is in his 70s and still @ it. That's insane.

[@chriscave4774]

I think i needed to hear that. Thanks bro

[@geraldc.37]

Retired 5 yrs now after a 40+ yr career in auto and light truck dealerships. Seen many hacks and some great techs. Three dealerships over most of that span, 19yrs at the first one. When leaving the 1st, gave 2wks notice & was told ,see ya. Total burn out with the drive and people. Last job was best, but it was hourly, with only 3 percent annual raises, as long as you put in the hours you knew what your pay was. I remember coming up from installing a corvette brake booster and saying enough. Micro pack terminals were also very to release with degrading eye sight. Nuff said.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Destroying your body ain’t worth it

[@edfarley4560]

You are working for trump type people , your worthless but they are worth more alway, fool start your our shop

[@hkr321hkr]

25 years and I walked away. Nobody wants to pay...

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Yup! They do not!

[@haircut2015]

As a customer I now realize why I had to go through 3 bad repair shops to find one Good shop... Scary!!!

[@ml4te5ch4]

Still a mechanic. Make good money. Bothered by the amount of RTV used here.

[@SFMCOLLECTIVE]

Same lol

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Oh then you’re really not gonna like this… kzbin.infos92gt0Ld2oo?si=xYTNGpR1IEq0XLhO

[@Jeffreyconnor-x6y]

I graduated college with a heavy equipment degree ferris state university. I went right to work for ford as a traveling service rep right out of school. the year was 79. then by 81 I was laid off in one of the biggest down turns in the auto industry. I moved to Colorado following the oil shale boom. I got a job at a dealer in Colorado and was a great job. I got sent to ford's school called the assets program. I married wife needed to finish college in another town. so we moved. I wound up being a fleet mechanic for ups. I was a traveling mechanic to cover centers with vacation and sick... I never thought I would be still bending wrenches in my 50.s after starting in management.. on my trip thru this business. good mechanics were hard to find. it's a young man's job and the technology has outpaced most mechanics. it's a shitty business to start in. pay sucks for the knowledge

[@theephemeralglade1935]

Thank you for posting this video.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

You're welcome

[@frankthetank1256]

Watching the way this manual transmission is being reassembled is criminal! Terrible workmanship.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Not as terrible as this! kzbin.infos92gt0Ld2oo?si=gZLswySANbrFvBpF

[@frankthetank1256]

@ hey man way to go. Good for you for having a good sense of humor. Well done. 👍🏼

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Lol thanks i realize alot of people didnt read the pinned comment on the story of the transmission so might as well make a joke about it!

[@magmomwise]

I'm retired now. Most of my working career was as a mechanic/ shop foreman. Most places I worked for were Good to Great. I still enjoy the diagnostic challenge as I always did. Every employer and co worker is different. I found it best to focus on my work and avoid the drama and always be ready to defend your reputation. Would I pick another profession if I could start over again. Most likely not.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Thanks for the info. Enjoy retirement.

[@jimmyroos1677]

I've been a shop owner and" on the bench" qualified mechanic for 35 years now, and the modern German cars are really crap. But there's a lot of money to be made if u specialize in certain fields, professional engine & automatic transmission rebuilding makes a lot of money if done properly. But boy there's a lot of hurdles to overcome with these modern cars.

[@mikethemechanic7395]

Been a Diesel mechanic for 23 years. I enjoy my line of work. Dropped out of college half way to become a mechanic. Was told to stay away from Automotive in 2000. No one was hiring then. Things have changed a lot over the years. The hard reality is most shops don’t have shop foreman anymore. You can only become a Lead or Manager. That’s it. I was not expecting to be in the floor all day long at 49. I do almost every job. With the shortage we have to do it all. Gone are the days of gravy work for the old timers. I made sure I never lifted anything to heavy without help. I don’t have any injuries or knee or hand problems. Only issues I have is lifting my hands above my head for long periods of time. Fleet work is pretty laid back. Once you get 15 years of experience in my field. You are left alone. I have full autonomy at my shop. I don’t have somone yelling at me to hurry up. My employer knows I can get a job the next day. The best mechanics are the ones who work on cars from time to time on their days off. I always say this. “ Look at a mechanics car. If it’s old and not taken care of. They are not a good mechanic”

[@joeschlotthauer840]

I haven't heard the term "gravy" in 25 years.

[@Michaelfay441]

Some of us are still wrenching cause we don't have options

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

There are plenty of options. The skill of being a mechanic opens the door to many other hands on trades.

[@johnd4348]

I worked in maintenance at a prison for about a year when I was called to Assident Warden office and threatend with being put in handcuffs because a room was too warm because the hvac unit was broken down. I said nothing, walked out to HR office and told them I quit and then got in my car and drove away. Dont take other people crap. I heard they fired her 3 week later. Comment

[@donaldmerrill3357]

Been turning wrenches for 50 plus years. Yes,some shops out right suck! That is why when things did not go my way, I started my own shop. This is not all butterflies and rainbows. Having your name out there is not for the faint of heart. Lots of the general public have this pre-conceived thought that you own a business, you must be RICH!!!!That thought could not be further from the truth. It was only after 2 heart attacks, surgery and my Cardiologist telling me YOU ARE DONE! Next time the Doctor might not be able to save my life. That is when I closed up my tool box and thought about my future. It has been 5 years now and I still miss the excitement of the shop life. It is not for everybody, this life as a mechanic. But their is a feeling down deep inside that gives me a sense of pride when you can take what someone else has written off AS JUNK! And you able to see that others are wrong, and you are able to return this Junk back to its rightful owner, working. Not many other professionals can see that, or do that.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Wow! Yea at the end of the day your health is more important then anything. i got a friend who owns a shop and yea its not all butterflies and rainbows its tough!

[@mechanicMase]

One thing I know from experience is working at the dealership sucks. Never will I work at one again. Most of the guys in the shop are miserable assholes, then there is the favoritism, and backstabbing, and low pay. I am enjoy working on cars still and have made alot of money. Enough to have no problem paying my rent, owning three cars, save alot of money, and travel when time permits. It all depends on where you work. The most money I ever made in one day at my job was $800 in 8 hours. If you are fortunate enough to work in a shop that pays commission, especially if it is like 20% and is very busy then don't ever leave.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

I agree NEVER AGAIN will i go and work for a dealer.

[@barneysievers2888]

Left the trade when cars were starting to become more and more complicated. It is a thankless trade that receives very little respect even though mechanics have vast knowledge of electrical and mechanical principles conjoined with the ability to repair those systems. I moved into custom industrial machinery which is so much better then vehicle repair.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Good on you! Congrats!

[@dddevildogg]

Unless you play along with the management of a dealership- your career will be very short there. Remember: the main undeniable goal of a dealership is, and always has been, to make piles of money- but not for you If you don't care about ethics,morality,common sense or fairness- you'll do well in a dealership If you can take gobs of abuse every day from the management and loyalist co-worker brown nosers and keep your self-worth and sanity thru the endless Bull shyte you'll do well in a dealership Otherwise,don't be $40k in debt to the Snap-on guy- and make sure your tool box has wheels, There are well run dealerships Some of us just never found them-most car buyers never find them

[@VF1Skullangel]

I'm in the same situation with HVAC and with my recent cancer diagnosis and how they're trying to take me off FMLA so they don't have to pay my insurance is the final straw for me. When I'm able to work again, I will not be returning to the trade. I hope to get me a comptia + and go into IT work or become an aircraft mechanic. I can't work for a company who looks at me as a number or in this case a liability.

[@youKnowWho3311]

Prior A&P. Now Masters in IT. Bad news. The description here is fairly constant across almost every discipline. If you don't understand why the United Health Ceo was just eliminated, you need to look harder at the societal situation.

[@VF1Skullangel]

@@youKnowWho3311 I understand why people went after him but what my company is trying to do with me is a moral issue. Has nothing to do with his death. A lot of non union companies will try and screw you over especially in states like here in AZ were you have no employee rights. They will try and find loopholes any chance they get.

[@davop4919]

I spent 39 years as a Mechanic/Technician and I just loved popping the hood on a vehicle at 7am just when the customer sneaks in and starts bitching about how much money he's spent and how many times his car or truck has been into the shop....My thought to myself was I didn't buy it you did....My next thought was please leave my work area....If that customer continued to bug me I left and started working on a different vehicle 😂😂😂

[@kirkedwards365]

If a customer walked back into my area, which they were NOT allowed to do, I would have fun with them. A small squirt bottle of ATF and squirt it into the intake somewhere, then back away from it real quick and plug my ears. The customers would start a panic and run to the managers office. A few minutes later the manager would come out to my stall and ask what happened. I would reply "what are you talking about? I'm just fixing the man's car. He doesn't need to worry about me. I'm a professional. If he knows better about anything when it comes to the car tell him I'll no charge the ticket and he can leave, otherwise don't worry about things." The manager would belly ache and tell me the yada yada. I would just keep working. But I did enjoy myself.

[@Mason-cd3wr]

I would recommend anaerobic sealer on the transfer case

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Its going to get open and re sealed i just needed some B footage and also needed to get rid of a tube of RTV

[@JR-bj3uf]

My old boss used to say as a mechanic "you will never get rich but you will never starve ether."

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Ive herd that before

[@luvcheneywasalegend9168]

In tech school, the instructor said to get used to eating hot dogs and baloney sandwiches. I knew right then I wasn't gonna pursue it.

[@JR-bj3uf]

@@luvcheneywasalegend9168 Maybe for a newbie.

[@wesleybrown863]

It is sad to hear your story but not uncommon. Companies want profit over content long term techs. It is prevalent in many sectors of the mechanical trade industry. I was a tech all my life and a John Deere service manager for the last twenty years. The dealership always had problems to keep the techs up to the speed of engineering changes that were constantly being introduced. Good luck to your future ventures.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

They’re just gonna keep on beating this dead horse until it stops coughing up money I guess…

[@BobJury-lf6bb]

Did 40 years, mostly hated it!

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Sorry to hear that

[@jimmyconn7314]

This is jimmy and daisydog Mobil mechanic.my dogs on all my jobs sites. This my last retirement as of 4 days ago. I found people will beg you too work on their cars if your honest ,good,and reasonably.priced.doing the little extra things that no shop does. So something to ponder.good luck.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Hey thats awesome! Congrats on retirement!

[@frankfitz3421]

Mechanics became technicians when computers became cars.

[@varmint243davev7]

But Mike Rowe says all the time about how there are all these fantastic, great paying jobs in the trades...... I worked in the trades for about 10-15 years and moved on, never looked back

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

What do you do now?

[@varmint243davev7]

@@BobbyBeltzyt IT stuff - SysEng/NetEng

[@unwired1281]

@@varmint243davev7I have something for Mike Rowe. 🖕

[@matthewgriffiths527]

The trades need cheap labor, that's it.

[@jerryfarmer5989]

As a former "meat n taters" tech yep as a rookie or vet your fucked as a tech. Un real hours worked, shitty pay and no benefits for the most part. And no I never worked where tools are supplied. I'd say up to 50% of my monthly net went to tools. You have to have them and some jobs can not be done without special tools for that job. And now a days it is better to be a garbage collector over being a mechanic. I quit back in '96 because of all the electronics coming into play.

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

You got out at a dam good time!

[@Matthew-i3h]

From my exp the happiest are fleet mechanics at big companies, Trucking companies

[@markhuyette8509]

I been a certified master automotive technician for 40 plus years and you speak the truth I will tell you two stories about two different places I worked one my boss told me to not put anything under a rear of a car with a independent rear suspension I told him to put something under it he didn't and it fell on my foot he was more worried about getting the job done then my foot another place I worked the boss told me to finish the engine job the kid started I told him he broke the plastic fuel line he said for me to repair it and get it running he said it would only be temporary I did what I was told and he told to drive it around the side of the building and let it run but he wanted me to work on something else and run back and forth and check on it but it caught on fire 🔥 I hear what you are saying my mom told me to go into the Air Force and I have a pension now and working at Boeing they hire out of the military and I would be ready to retire from there 😢

[@BobbyBeltzyt]

Ahh thats terrible man! It sucks that you were hurt from someone’s ignorance

[@Dannysoutherner]

Your safety comes first every time. If your boss ordered you to be somewhere you knew something could fall, tell him to get stuffed.

[@enlighten2seven605]

When I was younger everyone told me not to be a mechanic, I worked at a shop then a dealership… They all said the same thing, not only that, they looked miserable and drove junker cars.

[@katiecooley8688]

It can be rough if you don't get the right job, it takes time to build up experience, I've just retired been mechanic over 40 years, you're right it cane be a rough job, I read that some people were saying they could make better money at Milky D's , I don't know about that ,I was making 38.50 hr. , yes you have to put in the time , and fine the right job, and don't quit to soon , it's good time though, every body's needing mechanics and there paying , so sell yourself , lot of places are giving sign on bonus

[@bryansenulis7242]

Been there still doing it. Made 24.00 hour at 23years old at 41 make30.00 hour...have big box with 100k in tools yet no growth..and want me to train people to get to almost same pay as me yet the guys training are idiots with no common sense....wish i could find different line of work im 41 now and still poor

[@sethallison5682]

I did it for around 6 years. I got out when I realized that lifetime techs were making $3 more an hour than I was… here I was a 24 year old and someone who’d been wrenching for 30 years was making barely more an hour than me. That was at a dealership. I do survey now and I make around $30/hr. It’s not much pay but I work soooo much less. It’s about 20% the stress and physical strain of wrenching.

[@RustyZipper]

Meanwhile dealers are charging $140 an hour paying you $20 and you have to supply tools 🤣

[@lolatu8255]

@@RustyZipper The dealership I work at charges $200/hr. Many times I will quote a job for let's say 3 hours. The writer will say "We can't charge the customer $600 for that!!!" They want me to drop MY labor to make the customer happy? DROP YOUR LABOR RATE