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Getting the shaft

2258 Views 13 Replies 11 Participants Last post by  sparkman
So after 14 1/2 years of loyal work at my dealership, 12 as a tech, 2 1/2 as a supervisor, my new 2 week old service manager decides my position isn't needed anymore as of tomorrow. The only job they offered was a flat rate tech position doing GM recalls. Ha, what a joke, I could make more money selling Ice Cream. Looks like I'm looking for new employment as a 48 year old..... So, how's your day going???
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Sorry to read this. The retail automotive industry seems like such a cut throat business. Heck the Sales Piranhas are bad enough when sitting in the Customer waiting room. Key is no eye contact!
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is there the possibility of opening your own repair shop? I have a friend that I used to work with at a large used car chain who experienced a termination much like yours and went into the business he already knew. He does really well for himself. It is most unfortunate that your new manager decided your position wasn't needed.
Sorry to hear about this. But for whatever the reason he must have felt threatened by you. You have been forced out and will stand as an example to others of what can happen to them.

There must be many other dealerships that you could work at in a one hour driving distance from your home. Time to network with some of your colleagues elsewhere and find a better shop to work in.
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that sucks. I deal with co-workers getting out sourced all the time at my work. It is not fun. What is sad is my goal is to make it three more years where I work and I can meet the retirement requirement. So if they decide to outsource me I can take a buyout offer if there is one or just retire granted I would probably have to find another job because my daughter is about go into college and I don't want her to have any student loans but I can at least get retirement benefits from the company when the time comes that I officially retire.

The corporate world is just screwed up right now. Here's hoping you can find another job at another dealer or local shop. There are good places out there to work.
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Sorry to read this. The retail automotive industry seems like such a cut throat business. Heck the Sales Piranhas are bad enough when sitting in the Customer waiting room. Key is no eye contact!
I like to make eye contact and ask them questions I know they can't answer, and watch them lie lie lie to my face.
Only satisfaction I received over my career experiencing hostile takeovers, not once but three times, is that they dumped the people with the highest paychecks just keeping the lower paying ones. All three companies went broke in less than two years.

1972 was a wake up call, none of this BS about buying stuff on time and living from paycheck to paycheck. Wife is concerned now about her job at our local hospital thanks to this affordable health care act. Darn deductibles are so high, people can't afford medical care anymore, F___ you Obama, you A$$hole. Laying off people like crazy. But we have enough reserve to keep us going for several years.

To keep myself busy, dropped down to being an FAA certified tech, was building up quite a business gaining more and more airports. But last year, FAA is dropping all of the ground navigational equipment. Now going to GPS with code stored in flashram, good luck with this. Code for landing is to be done by upgrading important landing data via VHF. How dumb can they get, not only hackable, but very easily interfered with.

Yeah, I am saying this just because I am losing an opportunity that is quickly coming to an end. But what the heck, 77 years old already, maybe time to quit. Certainly can't service this crap made in China and neither could five TV shops in town, they are all history. So much for service related jobs.

Some of the younger engineers got into the construction business, ha, too old for this. With mechanics, rare to see any older ones, just hiring kids that don't know anything. Getting into automotive as an independent with all these stupid esoteric codes they started in 1996, as an independent, would cost you a small fortune to gain access.

Maybe time to relocate. Most of the service managers I met are complete idiots, maybe you should become an idiot.
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So after 14 1/2 years of loyal work at my dealership, 12 as a tech, 2 1/2 as a supervisor, my new 2 week old service manager decides my position isn't needed anymore as of tomorrow. The only job they offered was a flat rate tech position doing GM recalls. Ha, what a joke, I could make more money selling Ice Cream. Looks like I'm looking for new employment as a 48 year old..... So, how's your day going???
I feel your despair, My brother lost his job to a mill closure at 51 years old, he is now an electrician apprentice. I wish you lots of luck, I see that the independent idea has been kicked around here but I just wanted to add my thoughts.

Up here the number of independant shops did fade during the last 20 years when gas stations consolidated into larger stations no longer owned by mechanic families. Now that labour is in the three digit zone per hour there seems to be a revival so to speak. it seems that people are more prone to trust and independent over the folks at large chain operations. Here in Canada, we have the almightly CTC which is know to have questionable evaluation and repair ethics, IOT traffic new parts faster off the shelves for a larger cut of the profit.

At one time a client would be talking to the actual tech, and not the IDIOT SM, so therefore when the tech up and left or was terminated they took some customers with them and was readily established from the get go.

I would consider going independent, for two reason,

(1)OBD is still somewhat standardized WRT sensors and actuators, if the control system becomes the issue then defer it to the factory folks.( what are the odds that the car is coming with a profound control issue?

(2) the basic construct of the car has not changed, nearly all of the wear items are the same, as a matter of fact I am convinced that a few have been added such as the dual mass flywheel.
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I thought this might be about the half shaft recall. Sorry to hear the horrible news. Are there any other dealers in the area to find work? Do you think it might be something personal?
To keep myself busy, dropped down to being an FAA certified tech, was building up quite a business gaining more and more airports. But last year, FAA is dropping all of the ground navigational equipment. Now going to GPS with code stored in flashram, good luck with this. Code for landing is to be done by upgrading important landing data via VHF. How dumb can they get, not only hackable, but very easily interfered with.

WOW.... TLS and ILS being replaced with that. I am only somewhat aware of the limitations of GPS, I can only imagine some of the countermeasures they would have to impliment to keep it as close to a quality landing as possible in all conditions.
WOW.... TLS and ILS being replaced with that. I am only somewhat aware of the limitations of GPS, I can only imagine some of the countermeasures they would have to impliment to keep it as close to a quality landing as possible in all conditions.
Only perquisite to become head of important governmental agencies like the FAA or the FCC is to help the president get elected. Wasn't that bad under Bush, FAA was against GPS for the reasons given, sure changed under Obama, put idiots in charge, not only at the top, but all the way down the ladder. Was thinking about quitting anyway, a lot easier to deal with intelligent people than idiots. Didn't know a darn thing about avionics, more critical on if the grass was cut properly or maybe we should planting some flowers, not kidding on this.

ILS with GS is required for each end of the runway, for major airports had to be inspected weekly, around her monthly. #M system using one VHS antenna can control as many as 28 runway systems, and yes, its a lot cheaper, claim to be maintenance free, but so are car batteries. One terrorist with a simple to make VHS transmitter can jam an entire airport or even cause crashes. Just a minor problem when we have a complete idiot for president. And trying to transmit important navigation during even a not so distant lightning storm is pure insanity.

Suppose to take effect in 2012, but many airports are already jumping the gun, local budgets are seeing a very minor damage. Under Bush, no money for new equipment, but plenty of money to put huge chain link fences around airports. Like some terrorist would swipe a hang glider and crash into the Sears Tower. Had to carry spare padlocks along and my made in the USA bolt cutter just to get in with all those locked gates.

All ground approach equipment lighting or navigation had to be installed with frangible post, then that put a 4" steel post for a fence right next to it buried in concrete. Can you imagine what six miles of fence cost?

Throughout my work history getting laid off, never was canned, thought it was the end of the world, but always found something better. So in effect, was doing me a favor. Sure the OP doesn't want to be told what to do by some a$$hole, would be on his back constantly so he couldn't even do his job right.

Even a long time ago, came to the realize was not living in the land of the free and the home of the brave. With any job, working for a dictatorship, tell you how to dress, how to behave, where you have to be, what time you are expected to show up, have complete control over your life in just about any aspect.

Ha, like to think when I was planted here, was put in what they call a daycare center during WWII, then law required 13 years of school, then drafted into the military. Was almost 25 years old before I could finally make my own decisions with zero experience on this. Only to get a job working for a dictator.

So where is this freedom?

Wife and I are talking about leaving this country if Hillary or Cruze gets elected, had enough of this BS.
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"Under Bush, no money for new equipment, but plenty of money to put huge chain link fences around airports. Like some terrorist would swipe a hang glider and crash into the Sears Tower. Had to carry spare padlocks along and my made in the USA bolt cutter just to get in with all those locked gates."

Stupid stuff like that going on all around the country. Lets give the local sheriff Andy Taylor and his deputy Fife some rocket launchers and tanks. That will make us safe.
I like to make eye contact and ask them questions I know they can't answer, and watch them lie lie lie to my face.
I do the same thing, asking specific questions about engine options, drive options, etc.

Heck, I had one sales guy at a Dodge dealership tell me I couldn't get a Charger in AWD. Idiot. I know if I was a sales guy at a dealer, I would know and study every option etc. that comes with the new cars I sell.

Sucks to hear about that RIXSTER. Best of luck to you.
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