Chris maybe you need to work out a deal with Your boss to run the operations and you pay him a certain percentage of the profits. You don't want to screw yourself of course. When does he want to be out of the business?
New job time!
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The public can be tough to deal with, especially people who are not educated about what makes there vehicles go. About 2 years ago in McKeesport PA a one man auto repair shop owner was shot to death by a customer who was not happy with a repair.
At least if you work for the crane company they will be contracting to other businesses and you will be dealing with customers who are professionals.
At least if you work for the crane company they will be contracting to other businesses and you will be dealing with customers who are professionals.
Your boss is a smart and lucky man. People are not good to be around, but sometimes you have to, to pay bills. Best of luck, OP! If you do end up running the business, I am curious to see your thoughts in the coming months and years. Misery loves company and all that, lol!
Yes. I briefly worked at Oreillys part time. (Fun job, but managed to find a career oriented full time job shortly after.)
Aside from the kids coming in for detailing supplies or accessories and the shade tree guys doing their oil changes, the customers were genuinely mad they had to spend money on their car. I can’t imagine being the ones doing the actual work on the car.
Best one was when the mean mom from the Goonies came in because she needed a new tierod end. They had used it as a tow point on their Jeep. When I asked if I heard the story right, she said “Well it’s metal ain’t it?!”
Sorry to hear that. Best of luck!
Best of luck to you Chris, I went through a similar ordeal when the owners of the Hot Rod Shop I had worked at 15 years decided to sell the business. And included shop equipment I BOUGHT in the sale.......Then the new owners wanted to slash my pay.
Worked for a general auto repair garage for @ 9 months while I built my own shop on a piece of property I bought years ago. Took about 80K to get it built & opened up......Best decision I ever made!!! But it's not for everyone & I spend too much time doing paperwork.....That's what I'm doing right now at 9pm!
It's a hard thing to start all over again late in your working years especially after working at the same place for so long! Did I read correctly that you have a 6 month slow season?? You may need to diversify a little! Drivability Diagnostics & Electrical Troubleshooting is a yearound business as is "Heavy Line" Engine & Drivetrain work......Especially in places like California & Texas where a lot of older vehicles are still in service.
Worked for a general auto repair garage for @ 9 months while I built my own shop on a piece of property I bought years ago. Took about 80K to get it built & opened up......Best decision I ever made!!! But it's not for everyone & I spend too much time doing paperwork.....That's what I'm doing right now at 9pm!
It's a hard thing to start all over again late in your working years especially after working at the same place for so long! Did I read correctly that you have a 6 month slow season?? You may need to diversify a little! Drivability Diagnostics & Electrical Troubleshooting is a yearound business as is "Heavy Line" Engine & Drivetrain work......Especially in places like California & Texas where a lot of older vehicles are still in service.
Yeah that's what I was thinking, do a few other things in the winter like brakes or something. Have a special in the winter when it's not busy, special goes away in the summer when it's busy. Should probably do something like offer him 10-20k. If he wants more, make him hold a note on the difference for 3-5 years. Then do a 5-10 year lease so he doesn't jack up the rent on you.
There is a local shop ran by two brothers, called Edd's Generator here in the south hills of Pittsburgh (on Rt 51). Neither brother is named Edd, so I guess it was there father or previous owner who was named Edd. They specialize in R&R starters, alternators, and batteries, and also do AC work and will trouble shoot and repair electrical problems with vehicles. They rebuild starters and alternators right there in the shop, and are know by all the repair shops as the place to take starters and alternators to get them rebuilt when those shops R&R one for one of there own customers. They have a jig with a variable speed electric motor that they use to spin alternators to load test them after they rebuild them to insure that they run proper. The reliability of there rebuilt starters and alternators is better than any auto parts place remanufactured ones, which is why all the local independent repair shops take there starters and alternators to them. They stock Interstate batteries, and have a wall with special shelves for the batteries. The local Interstate truck stops at there shop regularly, and keeps there stock full and up to date.
Chris142, if you do buy the AC vehicle repair shop, branching out into starters, alternators, and batteries may be what you need to fill in the slack time and keep your business busy when AC work is not in high demand.
If you do get into R& R vehicle batteries, an absolute must is a good supply of water with at least one hose connected up to be use to spray yourself or anyone requiring it to remove battery acid. It is rare, but batteries do explode, sometimes when you have done absolutely nothing wrong. I personally saw it happen once when I was watching a neighbor form my couch through a double sliding glass door, as he jump-started his truck. The acid sprayed up and some of it hit him directly, and some bounced off the bottom of the open hood and hit him. He ran into his house and got under the shower. Later when I talked to him, he said that he had the polarity correct and when he made the last connection it blew up. I did not ask him if that last connection was to a ground on the engine or frame far away from the battery.
One of my grandfathers lost one eye from acid from a battery falling down into his face while he was working under a car. He had 6 kids when that happened, and lived to have 5 more after that. Later in life that eye got cancer and had to be removed, but it had not spread, and he lived many more years.
Anyhow, the local shop, Edd's generator is a successful business and usually has a day or two waiting list to get a vehicle worked on by them. One of the things they do is that they have a big board on one wall by the cash register where local businesses tack up there business cards. Almost any kind of business that has a vehicle has a card posted on that board.
Chris142, if you do buy the AC vehicle repair shop, branching out into starters, alternators, and batteries may be what you need to fill in the slack time and keep your business busy when AC work is not in high demand.
If you do get into R& R vehicle batteries, an absolute must is a good supply of water with at least one hose connected up to be use to spray yourself or anyone requiring it to remove battery acid. It is rare, but batteries do explode, sometimes when you have done absolutely nothing wrong. I personally saw it happen once when I was watching a neighbor form my couch through a double sliding glass door, as he jump-started his truck. The acid sprayed up and some of it hit him directly, and some bounced off the bottom of the open hood and hit him. He ran into his house and got under the shower. Later when I talked to him, he said that he had the polarity correct and when he made the last connection it blew up. I did not ask him if that last connection was to a ground on the engine or frame far away from the battery.
One of my grandfathers lost one eye from acid from a battery falling down into his face while he was working under a car. He had 6 kids when that happened, and lived to have 5 more after that. Later in life that eye got cancer and had to be removed, but it had not spread, and he lived many more years.
Anyhow, the local shop, Edd's generator is a successful business and usually has a day or two waiting list to get a vehicle worked on by them. One of the things they do is that they have a big board on one wall by the cash register where local businesses tack up there business cards. Almost any kind of business that has a vehicle has a card posted on that board.
if this crane place is so hot to hire you why are you getting bottom rung wages.. thats 40k with CDL and working some OT?
in CA??
a job not working with the public is worth considerable though.. big++
but those are 21year old starting wages
Any chance of negotiating a better starting wage? if not use the CDL for awhile until something better comes along?
in CA??
a job not working with the public is worth considerable though.. big++
but those are 21year old starting wages
Any chance of negotiating a better starting wage? if not use the CDL for awhile until something better comes along?
We/I do all kinds of stuff in winter like brakes,starters,shocks to stay busy. All shops here slow way down between Halloween and the first of the year. Always has.
We have advertised. Sent out mailers etc. Nothing works.
We have advertised. Sent out mailers etc. Nothing works.
Sounds like the best thing happened to you. A chance to change up , make more money and move away from toxic customers. Win win. I would not take the business if free personally.
I understand maybe AC not needing done at that time of the year, but everything else? Just seems odd since the general public doesn’t normally get to pick when their car needs work.
With your electronics experience and troubleshooting skills....
Maybe medical equipment repair / field service for a manufacturer ?
I cant stand electrical stuff! Hate it!
I think there is too much competition. There is a shop or 2 on every corner. Same with Taco places.
Not many shops do AC right but most can fumble through general repairs.
no heating oil allowed in Ca. Plus I don't have Hazmat.
You live in Apple Valley. There is a Walmart DC there. Apply to be a trailer mechanic there, seriously. I'm a diesel tech for UPS and explored moving to Cal and working for Walmart. They pay their top truck mechs like 34 an hour and trailer mechanics proabbly do good, too. We have had a few mechanics come from Walmart and from what I hear, Walmart will hire anyone because finding anyone with truck or trailer experience is nearly impossible. Plus they are a light duty shop, not a full service shop that does major repairs. They will probably hire you despite their glorified requirements. Apply and get an interview, seriously.
https://careers.walmart.com/us/jobs/9252000191CP-diesel-truck-trailer-maintenance-technician
https://careers.walmart.com/us/jobs/9252000191CP-diesel-truck-trailer-maintenance-technician
Interesting. I did not know they fixed them at the distribution center.
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