Observation of Mechanics and their tools...

[DuckRyder]

Wow...

This guy did take some unwarranted heat in that other thread...

People have opinions/idiosyncrasies some reasonable, some not. I have some myself. Were it up to me I would never hire someone who showed up in a Mercedes with cheap tires. It is probably best it is not up to me.

I know a guy who used to say his two favorite teams are Auburn and whoever is playing Alabama. I know some real smart people who graduated from UGA, it is quite possible you are doing yourself a disservice with that rule.

I was always taught it was bad form to show up MORE that 15 minutes early to a scheduled event, including an interview or dinner party, so you might consider if your requirement is in alignment with normal etiquette (if it matters to you).

I learned early on that tools are what make you the money, not the toolbox, but still if you can't find your tools you can't be efficient. You might consider looking for balance. I do know some really good mechanics who have huge tool boxes and make their employer quite a bit of money. They have nice cars, dress well and they show up.

 

[Donald]

Many jobs have probation periods so you do not need to judge a book by its cover. A probation period gives one the time to judge someone by their abilities. Give it 30 or 60 days and then decide to let go or permanent hire.

 

[Jmoney7269]

Originally Posted by ToadU
Almost 25 years owning a full service high volume repair shop and towing company has taught me without fail when a "mechanic" has a fancy HUGE tool box stuffed with exspensive tools he's paying weekly or monthly for he probably truly su*ks as a mechanic. It's the case every time. Every decent mechanic I have had has old worn tools and nothing fancy. Just what's needed. A basic tool box ect. It's 99.9% fool proof. I even ask mechanics when I interview them to tell me about their tools. I just pass on the guys w the fancy boxes and set-ups. I want to hire the guy that's used a chop saw to cut the end off an old craftsman wrench and then welded the head onto a bar and made his own tool to get to the power steering pumps on the old FWD GM 3.8s where GM hid the pumps up against the firewall at the bottom of thr engine.

Almost every mechanic is a drunk, druggie, smoker or all of the above. Not all so don't flame me but again 25 years has taught me it's almost a certainty.

Just some thoughts.

All of my tools I have built up or upgraded over the years. I consider myself to be a mechanic and not a technician. Mechanics find problems and fix stuff while technicians just throw parts at machines....... I'll take paying 2x the price for a snap on tool because the tool man comes every week to fix whatever I may break. Coming off the truck is like a bunch of dogs sniffing the new dogs butt to see what's up and what they got..... in a manner of speaking. I use dang near anything as a hammer, tip picks and cotter pin pullers as seal pullers, sockets as seal and bearing drivers, you name it...... I'm hard on my stuff and the piece of mind I get that no matter what I do that may break something, it's just a phone call away and at most 6 days. The convenience is worth it to me. To me the mechanics that you say are real mechanics I feel are slow and sloppy. They take forever to get the job done because if their LACK OF TOOLS. For instance as a joke in the shop, some of those youngsters that would buy Walmart and home depot impacts trying to get off 15/16 lawnmower nuts and they couldnt do it, guess who they came to with those "overpriced" tools? So I would give them my little 3/8 impact with a 15/16 socket and they would look at me like I was crazy but they would go over and pop it right off...... but I also have my own compressor with high flow hose and fitting and run at 150-175 psi while the shop compressor is only 90-120 psi or it pops the junky PVC fittings and then literally I'm the only one in the shop with air. Also none of their tools will match up to my couplers since I have the high flow stuff. Tools are just like medical devices, modernized and allow the job to be done more efficiently. To categorize all mechanics as druggies or drunks just as bad as calling someone a N-bomb........it ain't cool dude........ some of us actually take pride in our work and tools that make a living for our family. I think that people run others down to build themselves up, which is petty

 

[GMBoy]

My associate, whom we share auto shop work amongs ourselves, is a pure Snap-On junkie. The Snap-on truck is there every week and he is making payments on all his tools. Me, I own a mix of tools, a few Snap-on, but mostly other quality brands. My tools are all paid for and never have I had to warranty a tool. He needed a simple OBD2 scanner to plug in just to quickly check I/M monitors. I showed him a few under $100 units that work well. He went an paid $400 for a Snap On unit that was nothing more than a re-branded Actron or Innova unit. Good unit, but he could have paid a fraction just buying from Innova themselves or ebay. I don't get it....paying more for nothing.

 

[eljefino]

Wife is a professional and makes 32% of what the company bills her out at. She's also a partially-vested stockholder (non-public shares) on her way to partner so they have it set up to share profits.

When I busted tires I made 15% of my billable rate and there was no profit sharing.

Now I work for the government and it's nirvana. I hope we're a positive upward influence on conditions in shops within our commuting vicinity as we keep sniping people from them.

Labor and management both need to remember that half the people are going to get paid above average. Labor shouldn't sell themselves short if they're good. If someone wants to start a business and thinks, well I'll just undercut my competition and get some cheaper employees, they're signing up for a mountain of headaches.

 

[Silk]

In 1984 I was on $10 per hour, the charge out rate was $20 per hour, I had 10% of the workshop profit and a company vehicle. We are no longer so highly valued.

 

[Shannow]

Biggest tool in this thread started it...

 

[Silk]

Mechanics are humans, so are employers...there are good and bad in both. I once worked for someone who talked himself up....I lasted 7 days, 5 mechanics left in a 5 day period. A mechanic who worked for me worked there once too...I asked him how long he lasted. He said 4 hours, he took his tools home at luchtime. We need to get some of his former employees in and tell us how it was.

 

[Shannow]

Self proclaimed "pillar of the community", denigrating those who are making him (presumably) wealthy.

Cotton Plantation mentality.

 

[4WD]

Originally Posted by Trav
What a bunch of crap.


I know ... You and Clinebarger and several others that have learned diagnostics and pulled some wrenches make this site far better than it would be without experienced people ...

As for tools? As a young machinist I bought a Kennedy three piece roller spread - and through payroll deduction and my first credit card from Sears I filled that big set with tools and instruments.
Decades later ... (and with the help of spray lubes) ... I'm doing my DIY mechanic work from those drawers ... While much of my overflow of tools go into smaller boxes for my vehicles and boats ... The good stuff is still in that brown stack up ...

 

[Silk]

I have the biggest toolbox at work...I'm also the oldest, that's how it should work. A different mentality here, we don't have as much money, and tools are very expensive, there is no tool truck coming every week, mechanics are not in debt with thousands of dollars worth of tools. We buy stuff with money saved, or get it through the workshop account and pay it out of our wages every week.

My toolbox is getting fuller, and I'm not buying stuff ! The SM gets stuff I ask for, then gives them to me to keep, he says then he always knows where they are. On our last day yesterday he gives me a new cam locking tool I asked him to get for the workshop. I might never use it, but I'll let the other guys borrow the workshop tools.

 

[Y_K]

Yup, in Florida you all suck. Hows that?
It's all about you

 

[hatt]

Originally Posted by ToadU
I stared this thread to point out all show and no go "mechanics" are a problem in the industry.

Why are you employing them?

 

[hatt]

Originally Posted by Y_K
Yup, in Florida you all suck. Hows that?
It's all about you

Only like 36% of FL residents were born in FL. We get everyone else's suck.

 

[GON]

Interesting thread.

First thing hit me was Florida. I was transferred to Florida from the Midwest in 1982. What I noticed was Florida was the "runaway" state. Seemed most everyone I knew moved to Florida because they were running from something. Felon, divorce, etc. That is what I knew of my neighbors and people I dealt with in Florida. On top of working full time in Florida, I went to college full time, and also worked part time in a full service gas station. I fell asleep working 3rd shift at the gas station and woke up just in time- the transient person at 3am in the morning was about to wake me up in a very violent way.

Many of the professionals I have met in the Midwest, like Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas have been awesome to deal with. I can't say the same of the professionals I have met in transient states like Arizona or Florida. There are exceptions to every rule.

You want to live in beautiful sunny Florida- the trade-off is high crime, lack of common trust, and lack of generally accepted courtesies. There is a reason "Cops" filmed so many episodes in Florida. I get transferred every two-three years and see a lot. The issues I saw in Florida in the early 1980s I now see in places like Denver, and even LDS heavy Salt Lake City. I last lived in Central PA, one of the most unexpected safest and trustworthy places I ever lived. We never ever locked our doors, everybody said "just send me a check" for payments...Who would of guessed. Of course we had some challenges in PA, the local hardware store closed at 1130am on Saturday, and reopened on Monday morning. Had to drive an hour to buy a bottle of wine. I don't smoke, but I suspect it would be hard to "bum a cigarette" where we lived in central PA.

Want trusty and loyal people to work for you- might want to consider living somewhere other than Florida.

 

[Jmoney7269]

Originally Posted by eljefino
Wife is a professional and makes 32% of what the company bills her out at. She's also a partially-vested stockholder (non-public shares) on her way to partner so they have it set up to share profits.

When I busted tires I made 15% of my billable rate and there was no profit sharing.

Now I work for the government and it's nirvana. I hope we're a positive upward influence on conditions in shops within our commuting vicinity as we keep sniping people from them.

Labor and management both need to remember that half the people are going to get paid above average. Labor shouldn't sell themselves short if they're good. If someone wants to start a business and thinks, well I'll just undercut my competition and get some cheaper employees, they're signing up for a mountain of headaches.

That's actually what I did..... minus the cheap employees. I'm a simple DBA with a tax ID. I charge $65hr, free estimates, $3 loaded mile delivery..... and I have more business than I can stand! My precious employer was phenomenal to work for and I made $27hr commission @ $79hr shop rate. We made money hand over fist and so did the shop. There were only 3 employees on this pay scale and us three cleared over 1000 work orders in 6 months, now the shop is lucky to clear 300 work orders. They got greedy! What happened was the Christian owners I went to church with sold the company. They just wanted to retire and relax, do some really nice things for their sons houses and businesses and set them up good down the road. New ownership immediately came in and raised the rates to $99hr and 1 hour minimum for estimates, $5 loaded mile delivery..... they took away our commission pay and threw us three on $20 hr flat rate and $9hr incentive bonus if over 110% efficiency. Between all the meetings and paperwork we were never able to make that 110% even though we were billing 130-150%.
I said screw it since I was losing money to open my own shop and it's been smooth sailing ever since. I'm supposed to meet with my old employer at the first of the year for rehire terms and salary because they want me back bad...... I said sure but its gonna cost ya!

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted by eljefino
Wife is a professional and makes 32% of what the company bills her out at. She's also a partially-vested stockholder (non-public shares) on her way to partner so they have it set up to share profits.

When I busted tires I made 15% of my billable rate and there was no profit sharing.

Now I work for the government and it's nirvana. I hope we're a positive upward influence on conditions in shops within our commuting vicinity as we keep sniping people from them.

Labor and management both need to remember that half the people are going to get paid above average. Labor shouldn't sell themselves short if they're good. If someone wants to start a business and thinks, well I'll just undercut my competition and get some cheaper employees, they're signing up for a mountain of headaches.


You do realize that the Government has added costs beyond what gets paid out, right? There is a fully-burdened man hour rate, a semi-burdened overhead rate, and then what one gets paid. Depending upon how the organization defines their stabilized billing rates and what the pay setup (steps/grades) are, the government is no different in that the employee only gets a fraction of their billable as take-home. So it's not entirely clear why you would bring the percentages up - perhaps to vilify a business for trying to make a profit on hard but only semi-skilled labor?

Keep in mind that government doesn't always get competence or highest performers. And getting rid of them after is VERY expensive.


Originally Posted by GON
Interesting thread.

First thing hit me was Florida. I was transferred to Florida from the Midwest in 1982. What I noticed was Florida was the "runaway" state. Seemed most everyone I knew moved to Florida because they were running from something. Felon, divorce, etc. That is what I knew of my neighbors and people I dealt with in Florida. On top of working full time in Florida, I went to college full time, and also worked part time in a full service gas station. I fell asleep working 3rd shift at the gas station and woke up just in time- the transient person at 3am in the morning was about to wake me up in a very violent way.


Florida, like every state, has a lot of beautiful places and great people, but this has been my observation as well unfortunately.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted by JHZR2
Originally Posted by eljefino
Wife is a professional and makes 32% of what the company bills her out at. She's also a partially-vested stockholder (non-public shares) on her way to partner so they have it set up to share profits.

When I busted tires I made 15% of my billable rate and there was no profit sharing.

Now I work for the government and it's nirvana. I hope we're a positive upward influence on conditions in shops within our commuting vicinity as we keep sniping people from them.

Labor and management both need to remember that half the people are going to get paid above average. Labor shouldn't sell themselves short if they're good. If someone wants to start a business and thinks, well I'll just undercut my competition and get some cheaper employees, they're signing up for a mountain of headaches.


You do realize that the Government has added costs beyond what gets paid out, right? There is a fully-burdened man hour rate, a semi-burdened overhead rate, and then what one gets paid. Depending upon how the organization defines their stabilized billing rates and what the pay setup (steps/grades) are, the government is no different in that the employee only gets a fraction of their billable as take-home. So it's not entirely clear why you would bring the percentages up - perhaps to vilify a business for trying to make a profit on hard but only semi-skilled labor?



Brought it up as we are a large employer for the area and competing with private industry for talent. "A rising tide lifts all boats." I feel the scenario/ industry I was in treated its workers unfairly (underpaid and underappreciated) compared to the traditional "Professional" one. Surely stuff like worker's comp insurance is a little more but the industry treats its employees as disposable, which is my counter-point to OP.

 

[mattd]

What a self righteous [censored]. Your attitude and your assumptions are the majority of your problem. I have been turning wrenches since I was 15 and are none of the things you mentioned "all mechanics" are. I'm glad I've never had to work for anyone that thinks the way you do. Open your eyes and get a clue. Don't expect quality mechanics when you don't offer a quality place to work.

 

[Vikas]

Somebody said this thread was vaoporized but I guess not. Frankly, I am completely shocked that this energizer bunny is still going and going and going ...