Another chapter of "As The Dealership Turns"!!!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Another chapter of "As The Dealership Turns"!!!

73SC · A Poncho Legend!

That is one accommodating owner. How many times can one guy come and go? I am sure it feels very liberating to see his back end. Good Luck there Carl.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

It really feels good to close this chapter.

I feel bad for this guy because he has not enjoyed coming to work for a while and it showed. I don't have to tell anyone here that it's not fun working with someone who doesn't want to be there.

I am thrilled to have direction finally, even though it's going to be a tough ride next year. Our busy season really hits about the start of March and I may be training someone at that time.

Anybody want to move to small town Manitoba and take on a parts job? We honestly do have a ton of fun and work hard.

65sssd · Poncho Master!

With my construction back ground I have trained over 50 guys. I could have 20 guys working for me at any time. I just learned to lower my standards. Out of the 50 plus I can remember maybe 5 good ones.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

I'd love to join ya Carl but the commute would kill me!

Pontiacanada · A Poncho Legend!

69Laurentian wrote:

I'd love to join ya Carl but the commute would kill me!

Todd, you could always drive the Laurentian with the big block in the back (for extra traction) and have a Manitoba "drop it in" party. biggrin

Carl, all the best. Even though it will be tough (once again) for a while, the new guy or girl might be more enthusiastic about their job.

-- Edited by Pontiacanada on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 06:59:40 AM

Turn2Stone · Poncho Master!

Good luck! I've had my employment ups and downs too, but the last two years have really turned around! Hang in there bud. Sounds like you have a more-than-reasonable man to work for.

68post · Poncho Master!

65sssd wrote:

With my construction back ground I have trained over 50 guys. I could have 20 guys working for me at any time. I just learned to lower my standards. Out of the 50 plus I can remember maybe 5 good ones.

Those numbers sound about right- 10% stand out hmm

Delta Tango · Guru

I used to go through people problems, repostings and non-vehicle stress when I was a service manager @ a bus garage. I quit my job, got a job as a plain old heavy duty mechanic and just prefer to be "the Guy in the Back". No stress, always needed, and a day that ends at 3:30 PM everyday. The best thing for a guy over 50 biggrin

.

Perhaps just being a parts guy would be the life!?!?

Good luck, and enjoy a "no traffic jam" lifestyle by the sounds of it.

Professur · Guru

What kinda pay scale are we talking?

03cts sport · Uber Guru

Yeah, things change. Freedom 55 in our household now refers to the year 2055 LOL!
However, I'd rather have jobs and investments falling on us rather than bombs. (Imagine how many old Pontiacs would be sacrificed if there were car bombs going off here!)

Elroy · Poncho Master!

Oh to do parts again ! I really enjoyed my years as partsmanager. i have to admit though, once I got out I felt I was let out of jail as I am on the road a lot and not confined to a building. Hope things work out Carl, I know , one bad apple really makes it a challenge for everyone else !!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

LOL, I just sent you a PM about this and while I was doing that you posted on my thread!

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

Elroy wrote:
...once I got out I felt I was let out of jail...

Purrrrfect line!!!
I did my time in the car business/dealerships too, sprung and enjoying freedom for 20 plus years now!.
Who here beside's Todd and Carl are still in the jailhouse?.

~ smile

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Our jailhouse closed early today! Gotta love a snow storm!

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

I did my time, got out of jail 2 years ago and now I'm busted again!!!

I had 2 years of worry free counter/phones and loved it....

I've only promised them 2 years now.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Lucky dog!

69Laurentian wrote:

Our jailhouse closed early today! Gotta love a snow storm!

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

Glad to see you have direction, to base your final years on..

I almost left work in 02, as a employee (my assist) was stressing me out...
He quit in fall of 02(as I was almost gone) and went to Toyota..

The stress level dropped, and I stayed 4 more years!!

He was hired back and sales went from 1.7 million to .7 million and store is losing 100,000 a year now...

and are you ready They can't figure out why????

StriperSS · Poncho Master!

I've been self employed for years now, but the last couple have been so up and down, that I'd gladly take a full time job. Although I was in parts in the early 70's, I'd have to be retrained now. So I have to try and ride out the storm.
But from the number of inquiries I've had, it looks like 2011 will be busier.

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Been there & done that, Carl the automotive industry is one up & down ride!! I was Parts manager at one of the biggest Toyota dealers in Canada located in Toronto. Fell into the position when the parts manager was "caught" taking "kick" backs from suppliers. I had been a Parts manager at other dealers,but came there to get away from the "pressure"!! 2mths. after I took the "reins" I was told on Monday that we were moving to another location the following wknd. Made the move but almost had a nervous breakdown doing it, then had to tell the "Parts 'staff of the dealership we took over they were all "without " a job [fired] when they showed up for work on Monday morning!! Not a "nice situation" but had to do it. Had a staff of 15 good people & things went smooth untill service manager stuck his nose in, I had split the staff to work 1/2 on Tues. night & the other 1/2 on Thurs. night, but service manager thought I should be there both nights as he had to work it. I asked the dealer if there were problems with parts dept. he said no, nothing, running smooth, but if service manager worked both nights, so did I, I said I wasn't going to do it, he said he acepted my resiganation, I refused to do it so I got fired, took my car right on the spot, & drove me home, then I had to drive all the way back to Toronto to pick up the "EX" [that was in the 80's] Couldn't see working 2 extra nights for no extra pay [salary per wk.] when everything was going smoothly!!! Best move I ever made, finally got out of the "pressure cooker" JOB

-- Edited by dualquadpete on Tuesday 7th of December 2010 05:35:40 PM

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Not much has changed Pete. We are always under the microscope. Everything we do is tracked- hours per repair order, effective labour rate, total hours sold, discounting, repair order count, upsells tracked and parts to labour ratios. If my parts to labour ratio is under 75%, I lose money. If my effective labour rate is below $84 per hour, I lose money. If our customer satisfaction is below the "zone average", I lose money. Don't sell enough Pollen filters (every 16k or not, regardless of how clean they look ("they trap bacteria"), you hear about it!

November was so busy three of us five service advisors (us three are the busiest-I've been the top advisor this year) have had angry outbursts more than once-whether it be with each other or with a technican. It's a real pressure cooker. We service at least 100 cars a day. Throw in the odd problem customer (or unstable!) and it can put you over the edge. I had a customer last week (who for some reason has never heard of soap) make all sorts of crazy demands (eg: shuttle me home and come back after 10 minutes and bring me back) because he "hadn't p*ssed off enough people today". We kicked him and his beat up Sienna out of the dealership..

Now that we've closed early for the last two days, the pressure will be on us to get the numbers back up to "forecast". The hours are long. I start at 7:15am and leave work between 5-5:30.

4SPEED427 · A Poncho Legend!

Boy, when I read the last two posts by Todd and Pete I realize I will NEVER have a right to complain about my job...

427carl · A Poncho Legend!

They would both be better off moving to Morris.... before they get rolled out of the dealerships on a gurney.......

Todds dealership is owned by a quiet non stressfull fellow from Duboi Dobii?

gparis7 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I haven't sold auto parts since my summer job in University back in the 70s. But I have to say it was the most enjoyable job I had while I was a student. I'm sure the pressures are much greater when you're in charge, and when you're processing so many customers & vehicles. My dad was a service manager at a Canadian Tire back in the 60s. He had his share of challenges with that I know, even in those 'simpler' times.

MorePower · Poncho Master!

69Laurentian wrote:

Not much has changed Pete. We are always under the microscope. Everything we do is tracked- hours per repair order, effective labour rate, total hours sold, discounting, repair order count, upsells tracked and parts to labour ratios. If my parts to labour ratio is under 75%, I lose money. If my effective labour rate is below $84 per hour, I lose money. If our customer satisfaction is below the "zone average", I lose money. Don't sell enough Pollen filters (every 16k or not, regardless of how clean they look ("they trap bacteria"), you hear about it!

November was so busy three of us five service advisors (us three are the busiest-I've been the top advisor this year) have had angry outbursts more than once-whether it be with each other or with a technican. It's a real pressure cooker. We service at least 100 cars a day. Throw in the odd problem customer (or unstable!) and it can put you over the edge. I had a customer last week (who for some reason has never heard of soap) make all sorts of crazy demands (eg: shuttle me home and come back after 10 minutes and bring me back) because he "hadn't p*ssed off enough people today". We kicked him and his beat up Sienna out of the dealership..

Now that we've closed early for the last two days, the pressure will be on us to get the numbers back up to "forecast". The hours are long. I start at 7:15am and leave work between 5-5:30.

I do not miss those days.Never work at a Stealership again. lol...I dont know how ya do it brother.....the stress, the quotas, Bitchy customers.....my hats off to ya. My job is no better. But no stress.