What does the Mechanic get
01-14-2004, 05:59 PM
#141
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
Roughly 1/14/04 14:16, Will Honea's monkeys randomly typed:
> You have to remember that I'm talking about ancient history - 50s and
> 60s when many service stations were as much about repair as anything
> else. My FIL had a contract to maintain the curtesy fleet for a big
> hotel and was not the least bit bashful about sending work to other
> shops if he felt they could do a better job. There were 6-8 stations
> in the general area that had specialties and mechanics (not
> technicians) who had been with them for years. You don't see that any
> more, but those were simpler times as well.
Different for lotsa reasons. Lotsa GI's coming home with good
mechanical skills. Or just hot rodders getting good training in
Vo-Tech high school courses. Plus a strong preference for
being your own boss even if it meant a bit of financial sacrifice.
And the cars were a heck of a lot simpler. Even then tho,
I used to get referrals as not more than a part time gas
station monkey for electrical stuff, because all the other stations
in Green River knew that I really designed radar control systems and
analog computers for a living.
And lotsa computer service companies used to recruit heavily from
motor monkeys, as it was far easier to teach electronics than it
was to teach good mechanical troubleshooting skills. Some of this
went away as the mechanical printers and such evolved into
microprocessor controlled stuff, but even then it was easier to
teach electronics and programming than mechanical skills. Some
folks just shouldn't be allowed to own screwdrivers.
> You have to remember that I'm talking about ancient history - 50s and
> 60s when many service stations were as much about repair as anything
> else. My FIL had a contract to maintain the curtesy fleet for a big
> hotel and was not the least bit bashful about sending work to other
> shops if he felt they could do a better job. There were 6-8 stations
> in the general area that had specialties and mechanics (not
> technicians) who had been with them for years. You don't see that any
> more, but those were simpler times as well.
Different for lotsa reasons. Lotsa GI's coming home with good
mechanical skills. Or just hot rodders getting good training in
Vo-Tech high school courses. Plus a strong preference for
being your own boss even if it meant a bit of financial sacrifice.
And the cars were a heck of a lot simpler. Even then tho,
I used to get referrals as not more than a part time gas
station monkey for electrical stuff, because all the other stations
in Green River knew that I really designed radar control systems and
analog computers for a living.
And lotsa computer service companies used to recruit heavily from
motor monkeys, as it was far easier to teach electronics than it
was to teach good mechanical troubleshooting skills. Some of this
went away as the mechanical printers and such evolved into
microprocessor controlled stuff, but even then it was easier to
teach electronics and programming than mechanical skills. Some
folks just shouldn't be allowed to own screwdrivers.
01-14-2004, 05:59 PM
#142
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
Roughly 1/14/04 14:16, Will Honea's monkeys randomly typed:
> You have to remember that I'm talking about ancient history - 50s and
> 60s when many service stations were as much about repair as anything
> else. My FIL had a contract to maintain the curtesy fleet for a big
> hotel and was not the least bit bashful about sending work to other
> shops if he felt they could do a better job. There were 6-8 stations
> in the general area that had specialties and mechanics (not
> technicians) who had been with them for years. You don't see that any
> more, but those were simpler times as well.
Different for lotsa reasons. Lotsa GI's coming home with good
mechanical skills. Or just hot rodders getting good training in
Vo-Tech high school courses. Plus a strong preference for
being your own boss even if it meant a bit of financial sacrifice.
And the cars were a heck of a lot simpler. Even then tho,
I used to get referrals as not more than a part time gas
station monkey for electrical stuff, because all the other stations
in Green River knew that I really designed radar control systems and
analog computers for a living.
And lotsa computer service companies used to recruit heavily from
motor monkeys, as it was far easier to teach electronics than it
was to teach good mechanical troubleshooting skills. Some of this
went away as the mechanical printers and such evolved into
microprocessor controlled stuff, but even then it was easier to
teach electronics and programming than mechanical skills. Some
folks just shouldn't be allowed to own screwdrivers.
> You have to remember that I'm talking about ancient history - 50s and
> 60s when many service stations were as much about repair as anything
> else. My FIL had a contract to maintain the curtesy fleet for a big
> hotel and was not the least bit bashful about sending work to other
> shops if he felt they could do a better job. There were 6-8 stations
> in the general area that had specialties and mechanics (not
> technicians) who had been with them for years. You don't see that any
> more, but those were simpler times as well.
Different for lotsa reasons. Lotsa GI's coming home with good
mechanical skills. Or just hot rodders getting good training in
Vo-Tech high school courses. Plus a strong preference for
being your own boss even if it meant a bit of financial sacrifice.
And the cars were a heck of a lot simpler. Even then tho,
I used to get referrals as not more than a part time gas
station monkey for electrical stuff, because all the other stations
in Green River knew that I really designed radar control systems and
analog computers for a living.
And lotsa computer service companies used to recruit heavily from
motor monkeys, as it was far easier to teach electronics than it
was to teach good mechanical troubleshooting skills. Some of this
went away as the mechanical printers and such evolved into
microprocessor controlled stuff, but even then it was easier to
teach electronics and programming than mechanical skills. Some
folks just shouldn't be allowed to own screwdrivers.
01-14-2004, 06:13 PM
#143
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
"L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
news:XGjNb.67081$I06.304842@attbi_s01...
> I dunno. Why *should* someone who spends the years and time
> and effort learning something in great detail be willing to
> give away all of this effort to someone not willing to make
> the same sacrifices?
c'mon now lon be fair....thats not what ive said. im not suggesting they
should work for "free". im not suggesting they should work for "peanuts".
im talking about gross abuse such as those i listed in the response that you
replied to.
--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
news:XGjNb.67081$I06.304842@attbi_s01...
> I dunno. Why *should* someone who spends the years and time
> and effort learning something in great detail be willing to
> give away all of this effort to someone not willing to make
> the same sacrifices?
c'mon now lon be fair....thats not what ive said. im not suggesting they
should work for "free". im not suggesting they should work for "peanuts".
im talking about gross abuse such as those i listed in the response that you
replied to.
--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
01-14-2004, 06:13 PM
#144
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
"L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
news:XGjNb.67081$I06.304842@attbi_s01...
> I dunno. Why *should* someone who spends the years and time
> and effort learning something in great detail be willing to
> give away all of this effort to someone not willing to make
> the same sacrifices?
c'mon now lon be fair....thats not what ive said. im not suggesting they
should work for "free". im not suggesting they should work for "peanuts".
im talking about gross abuse such as those i listed in the response that you
replied to.
--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
news:XGjNb.67081$I06.304842@attbi_s01...
> I dunno. Why *should* someone who spends the years and time
> and effort learning something in great detail be willing to
> give away all of this effort to someone not willing to make
> the same sacrifices?
c'mon now lon be fair....thats not what ive said. im not suggesting they
should work for "free". im not suggesting they should work for "peanuts".
im talking about gross abuse such as those i listed in the response that you
replied to.
--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
01-14-2004, 06:13 PM
#145
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
"L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
news:XGjNb.67081$I06.304842@attbi_s01...
> I dunno. Why *should* someone who spends the years and time
> and effort learning something in great detail be willing to
> give away all of this effort to someone not willing to make
> the same sacrifices?
c'mon now lon be fair....thats not what ive said. im not suggesting they
should work for "free". im not suggesting they should work for "peanuts".
im talking about gross abuse such as those i listed in the response that you
replied to.
--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
news:XGjNb.67081$I06.304842@attbi_s01...
> I dunno. Why *should* someone who spends the years and time
> and effort learning something in great detail be willing to
> give away all of this effort to someone not willing to make
> the same sacrifices?
c'mon now lon be fair....thats not what ive said. im not suggesting they
should work for "free". im not suggesting they should work for "peanuts".
im talking about gross abuse such as those i listed in the response that you
replied to.
--
Nathan W. Collier
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
01-14-2004, 06:47 PM
#146
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
> What were you doing in the cemetary? Most of the locals just go
> down to the State Park by the water plant to make out. Or cut
> down thru the old Missile Base and head down to Crystal Geyser.
I was on my way to Cedaredge, CO, with 5 friends on a bike trip, and ahead
of schedule, so we thought it looked like a good place to kill time. It was.
The State Campground is a good one. Cemetarys are a window on the history of
a place, and this one had Spanish-American War dead, and lots of cool
whirlygigs, and was well maintained.
We saw a house made of stacked railroad ties, a weird trike, the Museum, and
the Nike missile in town.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California
> down to the State Park by the water plant to make out. Or cut
> down thru the old Missile Base and head down to Crystal Geyser.
I was on my way to Cedaredge, CO, with 5 friends on a bike trip, and ahead
of schedule, so we thought it looked like a good place to kill time. It was.
The State Campground is a good one. Cemetarys are a window on the history of
a place, and this one had Spanish-American War dead, and lots of cool
whirlygigs, and was well maintained.
We saw a house made of stacked railroad ties, a weird trike, the Museum, and
the Nike missile in town.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California
01-14-2004, 06:47 PM
#147
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
> What were you doing in the cemetary? Most of the locals just go
> down to the State Park by the water plant to make out. Or cut
> down thru the old Missile Base and head down to Crystal Geyser.
I was on my way to Cedaredge, CO, with 5 friends on a bike trip, and ahead
of schedule, so we thought it looked like a good place to kill time. It was.
The State Campground is a good one. Cemetarys are a window on the history of
a place, and this one had Spanish-American War dead, and lots of cool
whirlygigs, and was well maintained.
We saw a house made of stacked railroad ties, a weird trike, the Museum, and
the Nike missile in town.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California
> down to the State Park by the water plant to make out. Or cut
> down thru the old Missile Base and head down to Crystal Geyser.
I was on my way to Cedaredge, CO, with 5 friends on a bike trip, and ahead
of schedule, so we thought it looked like a good place to kill time. It was.
The State Campground is a good one. Cemetarys are a window on the history of
a place, and this one had Spanish-American War dead, and lots of cool
whirlygigs, and was well maintained.
We saw a house made of stacked railroad ties, a weird trike, the Museum, and
the Nike missile in town.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California
01-14-2004, 06:47 PM
#148
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
> What were you doing in the cemetary? Most of the locals just go
> down to the State Park by the water plant to make out. Or cut
> down thru the old Missile Base and head down to Crystal Geyser.
I was on my way to Cedaredge, CO, with 5 friends on a bike trip, and ahead
of schedule, so we thought it looked like a good place to kill time. It was.
The State Campground is a good one. Cemetarys are a window on the history of
a place, and this one had Spanish-American War dead, and lots of cool
whirlygigs, and was well maintained.
We saw a house made of stacked railroad ties, a weird trike, the Museum, and
the Nike missile in town.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California
> down to the State Park by the water plant to make out. Or cut
> down thru the old Missile Base and head down to Crystal Geyser.
I was on my way to Cedaredge, CO, with 5 friends on a bike trip, and ahead
of schedule, so we thought it looked like a good place to kill time. It was.
The State Campground is a good one. Cemetarys are a window on the history of
a place, and this one had Spanish-American War dead, and lots of cool
whirlygigs, and was well maintained.
We saw a house made of stacked railroad ties, a weird trike, the Museum, and
the Nike missile in town.
--
Paul Calman, Hathaway Pines, California
01-14-2004, 07:02 PM
#149
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
"Barry Bean" <bbbean@beancotton.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9470A4BD6B71Deatmorecotton@207.14.113.17.. .
> "Jerry Newton" <fig@mcttelecom.com> wrote in
> news:4005764b$1_2@newspeer2.tds.net:
>
> >
> > Well, that's not so in most dealerships. The tech gets paid when he
> > is working on a paying customer's automobile. Tech doesn't get paid
> > to clean the house, train the new guy, road test for hours to
> > duplicate an impossible concern, etc..
>
> I have never known a dealership mechanic who didn't simply draw a salary
or
> hourly wage for the time he was at the dealership. Are you saying that the
> dealership mechanics you know are independent contractors who only get
paid
> while they're actualy working on a customer vehicle?
It depends on what part of the country you're in. Many dealerships are still
"flat rate" IOW they get paid what the book says they get paid on a per job
basis regardless of how long it actually takes them to complete the job. The
upside is that it's possible for a technician to "flag" more than 8 hours a
day or 40 hours a week even though he only works for 40 hours.
For example: The Chilton's Flat Rate Manual calls for a heater core
replacement to pay 4 hours so the customer is quoted 4 hours of labor at the
posted shop rate. The technician happens to know a shortcut to get the job
done in only 2 hours of real time but he "flags" the job at 4 hours at his
hourly pay rate. The customer pays for 4 hours worth of work, the technician
gets paid for 4 hours of work but he still has an extra 2 hours to complete
more jobs. At the end of the day the technician's timecard could show him
working 8 hours but getting paid for 10-12 hours depending on what other
jobs he completed.
01-14-2004, 07:02 PM
#150
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What does the Mechanic get
"Barry Bean" <bbbean@beancotton.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9470A4BD6B71Deatmorecotton@207.14.113.17.. .
> "Jerry Newton" <fig@mcttelecom.com> wrote in
> news:4005764b$1_2@newspeer2.tds.net:
>
> >
> > Well, that's not so in most dealerships. The tech gets paid when he
> > is working on a paying customer's automobile. Tech doesn't get paid
> > to clean the house, train the new guy, road test for hours to
> > duplicate an impossible concern, etc..
>
> I have never known a dealership mechanic who didn't simply draw a salary
or
> hourly wage for the time he was at the dealership. Are you saying that the
> dealership mechanics you know are independent contractors who only get
paid
> while they're actualy working on a customer vehicle?
It depends on what part of the country you're in. Many dealerships are still
"flat rate" IOW they get paid what the book says they get paid on a per job
basis regardless of how long it actually takes them to complete the job. The
upside is that it's possible for a technician to "flag" more than 8 hours a
day or 40 hours a week even though he only works for 40 hours.
For example: The Chilton's Flat Rate Manual calls for a heater core
replacement to pay 4 hours so the customer is quoted 4 hours of labor at the
posted shop rate. The technician happens to know a shortcut to get the job
done in only 2 hours of real time but he "flags" the job at 4 hours at his
hourly pay rate. The customer pays for 4 hours worth of work, the technician
gets paid for 4 hours of work but he still has an extra 2 hours to complete
more jobs. At the end of the day the technician's timecard could show him
working 8 hours but getting paid for 10-12 hours depending on what other
jobs he completed.
