| 07OregonOutback |
| Ok, it's gotten bad here. I'm lucky to see maybe 4 cars a day come my way, and I'm usually only flagging probably an average of 3 hours a day. The other techs in my shop aren't doing much better. It's been like this now for about 2 weeks. I work at a Saturn shop which I know doesn't help, but I was just curious to see if the grass is greener at any other dealerships/independent shops, and if any other states seem to be doing better as a whole. |
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| CNY_Dave |
quote: Originally posted by 07OregonOutback
Ok, it's gotten bad here. I'm lucky to see maybe 4 cars a day come my way, and I'm usually only flagging probably an average of 3 hours a day. The other techs in my shop aren't doing much better. It's been like this now for about 2 weeks. I work at a Saturn shop which I know doesn't help, but I was just curious to see if the grass is greener at any other dealerships/independent shops, and if any other states seem to be doing better as a whole. | |
I expect to see dealership work go down, and independents (after a bit) to pick up business as folks hang on to their cars longer and need to squeeze more life out of 'em (but want to pay less than at the dealer).
Just my guess.
Given saturn may be on the outs, perhaps its time to at least make some contacts at the local garages?
Dave |
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| 07OregonOutback |
| Yeah I have thought about that, but the only thing is I am at a disadvantage when it comes to experience. I graduated college in 2007, so I only have a couple years in the field. And I know independent shops are looking for ASE certified master technicians, which I'm sure there is plenty of looking for work around here right now. At least at this dealership, I apprenticed here and they expect me not to crank out as many hours as the more experienced guys, and I'm afraid independent shops, or other dealerships would not be so forgiving. I'm thinking it may be time to go back to school... but i have no idea what else I would enjoy doing. :( |
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| bheinz57 |
So what exactly is your degree?
Brian |
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| obsolete |
I have a good friend in college who was a GM dealer mechanic for several years after high school, then said "screw it, this sucks" and is now getting his Mechanical Engineering degree, close to graduating.
Just goes to show you can go back. |
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| keninn |
i think a tech at a dealership is going to be bleak for quite a while. people just aint buying cars now. they have made it too easy to buy a new car, like the housing market, and now a lot of people are upside down. check this out:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/.../16/unsold-cars
about 6 years ago, there was a similar downturn in new car sales. i remember dealerships having "rolling layoffs" where people had to take a week off with no pay each month. service business just sucked for quite a while. even mercedes was laying off techs. |
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| 8kGoodENuff |
Have you tried checking out any local Honda dealers?
The ones by me always seem to be busy, even if it is just a maintenance service.
Andre |
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| 07OregonOutback |
| It is an assosiates of applied science. I would LOVE to go to work for Honda, but I do believe that would require me to go back to school to become a certified tech for Honda, since I was trained "only" to work on GM's, even though I work on other stuff including Honda's all the time. But those dealerships want that little piece of paper saying you are competent to work on their cars. Same thing goes for Subaru I believe. When I do go back to school, it will be for something like what obsolete said, not just another degree to work on another type of car. And it will be a bachelors degree. The only thing stopping me from going back to school is that I have no idea what I would enjoy doing for the rest of my career life. Maybe I could become a beer tester... :7: |
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| tranks |
i'm a tech at a heavy duty truck dealer. we're a little slow but we never really get busy. they also don't advertise much at all and its not uncommon for a customer to tell me they 'never knew this place was here'.
but i'm paid hourly, so when we're slow we usually just go home 1-2 hrs early. |
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| 8kGoodENuff |
quote: Originally posted by 07OregonOutback
It is an assosiates of applied science. I would LOVE to go to work for Honda, but I do believe that would require me to go back to school to become a certified tech for Honda, since I was trained "only" to work on GM's, even though I work on other stuff including Honda's all the time. But those dealerships want that little piece of paper saying you are competent to work on their cars. Same thing goes for Subaru I believe. When I do go back to school, it will be for something like what obsolete said, not just another degree to work on another type of car. And it will be a bachelors degree. The only thing stopping me from going back to school is that I have no idea what I would enjoy doing for the rest of my career life. Maybe I could become a beer tester... :7: | |
Can't go wrong with a Mechanical Engineering degree... ask me how I know... :)
I design HVAC systems and do testing on HVAC/Electrical distribution equipment. I have to admit... it's pretty fun... more so on the electrical side. HVAC gets a little boring sometimes but whatever.
Andre |
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| highest_vision |
For what it is worth I work for a small fleet (utility co) and it's been brisk. Very brisk. I had never worked for a fleet before this job, but the reliability of the work is nice. I also know from when I was in school that fleets are (or were) the easiest to get hired in right out of school, regardless of your experience and certifications. You may find fleets that are primarily GM and that may somehow be to your advantage with saturn experience.
James |
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| 95snowagon |
| I read an article on this a few weeks back. Even junkyards are suffering. You would think they'd be the only ones making profit. People are not only holding on to their old cars but their holding off on repairs as well. Unless its critically necessary people are not taking their vehicles into the shop. Not as much scrapmetal or cars for parts are arriving either. |
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| 07OregonOutback |
Andre- Is your mechanical engineering degree a BA? I'm interested to hear more about the engineering field.
James- Thanks for the advice about the fleet, I hadn't thought about that before. I'll have to check around here to see if there are any companies hiring for fleet work as my shop isn't getting any better. |
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| DonD |
| Now might be a good time to go back to school. You can either go in the evenings or on line. Getting your bachelors degree will probably open doors for you. I know these days even with a BA doesn't mean that much but, it is better than having just an AA degree. That is just my two cents though. Good luck what ever you do. |
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| Jack Foulard |
quote: Originally posted by 07OregonOutback
Yeah I have thought about that, but the only thing is I am at a disadvantage when it comes to experience. I graduated college in 2007, so I only have a couple years in the field. And I know independent shops are looking for ASE certified master technicians, which I'm sure there is plenty of looking for work around here right now. At least at this dealership, I apprenticed here and they expect me not to crank out as many hours as the more experienced guys, and I'm afraid independent shops, or other dealerships would not be so forgiving. I'm thinking it may be time to go back to school... but i have no idea what else I would enjoy doing. :( | |
No offense but it sounds like you don't want to work hard or get certified. I think you are at a disadvantage because of this.
Do what you love and you won't work a day in your life. Kind of a cheesy statement but it kind of makes sense.
Get more experience, keep working hard and get some certifications under your belt-just my opinion. :) |
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| 07OregonOutback |
| Actually I work my a$$ off when there is work, I'm not afraid of hard work or getting dirty. I'm just not as fast as the more experienced techs, but I'm getting there. And no I don't want to get certified, because I feel at this point it would be a waste of time and money. I'm not going to get certified for a dying company. If I was going to stay a mechanic it certainly wouldn't be for GM. I would go back to school for Honda, Toyota or Mercedes. But recently I've decided to go back to school for a Bachelors, and just wrench as a hobby like I used to. So if you think that me wanting to get a Bachelors degree is me not wanting to work hard.. then I guess you're entitled to your opinion. |
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