Quantcast
Jump to content

FINALLY: learned first hand- the right tech makes ALL the difference

Jay Huh

By Jay Huh
in General Automotive Discussion

 Share

Recommended Posts

Jay Huh Rising Star

Jay Huh

Posted
Posted

I started out cheap, I price things cheap, and I used cheap labor.... until now. Hired an ASE master tech whom I thought was out of my ability to pay.

Last week was his first week and he knocked out 63.5 hours of work!!!!!!! Previous record to that was like 43 hours? Had the highest grossing week in 2 years of business. I didn't give him 63 hours of work.. HE FOUND IT. My car count wasn't different, still the same customers, just a different attitude.

He brought his prodigy so I took 2 of my old guys to my new shop and hired these 2. We open at 8:30 am and expect techs to get there around 8:20, they show up at the shop at 6:45 am.... I had to give them a key lol

Haven't been excited about my business in a while. I pay him flat rate- he was making $28 before but I got him at $25 and promised him $28 in 2 months. I think a big factor was me being able to hire his friend as well. So far so good. Looking back, cheap labor ended up costing me more money with comebacks and inexperience.

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      Want to End Your Technician Shortage? Focus on Retention!
      By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog
         5 comments
      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”

  • Similar Topics

    • Changing The Industry
      The Basics of Owning An Auto Repair Shop - Balancing GP per Hour and Productivity
      By Changing The Industry
      The Basics of Owning An Auto Repair Shop - Balancing GP per Hour and Productivity
    • Joe Marconi
      What Are Your Top Ways to Attract and Retain Auto Technicians?
      By Joe Marconi

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.

    • Changing The Industry
      Episode 162 - Lauralee Schmidt on Repair Shop Economics and Social Media Slips
      By Changing The Industry
      Episode 162 - Lauralee Schmidt on Repair Shop Economics and Social Media Slips
    • carmcapriotto
      Attract, Develop, and Retain Top Automotive Talent [CC 113]
      By carmcapriotto
      Thanks to our Partner, Technician Find Building the dream team in the automotive industry goes beyond hiring technicians—it's about creating a culture that fosters growth, respect, and development. Join our panel of shop owners as they share their experiences and strategies in building an outstanding team. Topics include the significance of culture, passive and active recruiting, development through apprenticeship and training programs, and retention strategies like understanding employees' goals, compensation, and creating an enjoyable work environment. Want to learn more? Join Chris Lawson's 'Repair Shop Growth Systems Live 2024' May 31st - June 2nd in Mt. Arlington, NJ. https://www.repairshopgrowthsystems.com/ Chris Lawson, TechnicianFind.Com. Chris’ previous episodes HERE Shawn Gilfillan, Automotive Magic, Kenvil and Lake Hopatcong, NJ. Shawn’s previous episodes HERE Russell Crosby, Russ’s Wrench Auto Repair, Clinton, NJ. Russ’s previous episodes HERE Rob Morrison, Morrison's Auto Rite, Jamaica Plain, MA Roy Niemi, A & D Auto & Body Repair, Haslett, MI Show Notes
      Repair Shop Growth Systems Live 2024, May 31st - June 2nd, Mt Arlington, NJ: https://www.repairshopgrowthsystems.com Attracting Employees (00:00:01) Discussion on strategies and stories for attracting skilled technicians and employees to automotive repair shops. Upcoming Summit (00:01:11) Introduction of a summit focused on attracting, growing, and retaining employees in the automotive repair industry. https://www.repairshopgrowthsystems.com/ Personal Stories of Attraction (00:02:26) Shop owners share personal stories and strategies for attracting and hiring employees, including promoting unique employee benefits and culture. Writing Attractive Job Ads (00:10:03) Discussion on the importance of highlighting ongoing training and development opportunities in job ads to attract skilled technicians. Employee-Centric Job Ads (00:14:31) Highlighting the core elements that technicians look for in job opportunities, including compensation, growth opportunities, and respect for work-life balance. Creating an Apprentice Program (00:16:21) Establishing in-house mechanic apprentice program with local institutions and colleges to attract and develop young technicians. Focusing on Personal Growth (00:17:09) Prioritizing individual growth and ambitions, not just automotive knowledge, to attract and retain young staff. Hiring and Fostering Culture (00:18:09) Emphasizing the importance of hiring and fostering culture through team involvement in the hiring process and internal recommendations. Attracting and Retaining Talent (00:19:43) Introducing TechnicianFind.com as a solution for finding skilled automotive technicians and retaining a strong team. Recruitment Strategies (00:21:05) Recruiting individuals with strong work ethic and potential, focusing on personal and professional development, and utilizing mentorship programs. Building a Candidate Bench (00:24:17) Emphasizing the importance of keeping and organizing job applications to build a candidate bench for future hiring needs. Engaging Families and Open Communication (00:29:00) Involving employees' families in company activities, promoting honesty and open communication, and addressing personal well-being through a life coach. Listening and Individual Management (00:31:14) Highlighting the importance of active listening, intuition, and individualized management to improve employee retention. Attracting and Retaining Employees (00:31:57) Strategies for supporting employees' financial well-being and making work enjoyable. Creating a Fun Work Environment (00:32:37) Implementing games, profit-sharing, and unique incentives to make work enjoyable. Recruiting and Developing Future Technicians (00:35:40) Strategies for attracting potential superstars from marginal shops and nurturing talent. Employee Compensation and Long-Term Care (00:40:33) Ensuring fair compensation and care for long-term employees to retain talent. Profit Sharing and Business Understanding (00:45:33) Educating employees about profit sharing and the mechanical perspective of business operations.
      Thanks to our Partner, Technician Find If you are tired of struggling to find skilled automotive technicians for your independent auto repair shop, say goodbye to the endless search and let Technician Find be your solution. We are a 'Single Stop To Staff Your Shop.' http://www.technicianfind.com Connect with the Podcast: -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Join Our Private Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1734687266778976 -Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/carmcapriotto -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on (X) Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Visit the Website: https://remarkableresults.biz/ -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections  
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • Joe Marconi
      Are Your Using Multi Tier Labor Rates?
      By Joe Marconi

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.



  • nptrb

    Understanding S-Corp Distributions and Draws | Are They Taxable?

    By nptrb, in Automotive Industry,

    0 comments 665 views
    nptrb

    Spring Clean Your Finances: 5 Steps Every Business Should Take

    By nptrb, in Automotive Industry,

    1 comment 436 views
    nptrb

    Tax Season Preparation: A Comprehensive Guide

    By nptrb, in Automotive Industry,

    1 comment 563 views

  • Our Sponsors

Main Sections

More Sections

Discussion Forums

×
×
  • Create New...