The Flat Rate System Woes

[theoldsone]

I'm a student at pursuing a degree in industrial design and working at a shop, its what get the bills payed for now. So I thought I make a thread letting anyone know what the system looks like from the inside, and bring up the good and the bad of it all so others can get a glimpse of what we go through every day at work before they decide to step in the door.
Anybody here on the forum work Flat rate or had at some time? How does/did it work out for you? IMO it's a double edged sword.

 

[clean8485]

I spent 16 years as a flat-rate mechanic. It got to the point where I couldn't afford to do it anymore. I get paid by the hour now, and I can tell you, its WAYY better.

 

[pontiacgp]

if you are doing piece work you make more money if you are quick enough and the rate is fair.

 

[theoldsone]

I just recently moved into the Flat Rate way. I can tell you right off the bat if the service writers can't manage jobs right forget it.

 

[Ribbedroof]

Body guy here, so flat rate(replacement) and judgement times (repairs).

IMO, the guys that have a tough time are the job-hoppers. If you're in a GOOD shop for very long, and you are a conscientious tech, you can make a good living. If you're lazy or a hack, well, things are not going to be good very long.

I spent 10 years in the first shop, and have been in this one close to 12 years. I feel fortunate that these were family operations, I don't know how guys can work for dealerships or the consolidators. We have had several techs that have left for these "great" offers, only to return looking for a job in a few months.

My hat is off to the mechanical side guys, tough way to make a $, but at least there usually isn't a third party (insurers) telling you what you can charge.

 

[tc1959]

Worked flat rate for thirty years. If your shop is busy and you work hard you can make good money. That being said, I have had to put up with crappy service advisors, idiot managers. Dispatchers that play favorites. Techs that steal by charging for work not actually done. Now that I am retired I can say, That I don't miss any of it.

 

[theoldsone]

Worked flat rate for thirty years. If your shop is busy and you work hard you can make good money. That being said, I have had to put up with crappy service advisors, idiot managers. Dispatchers that play favorites. Techs that steal by charging for work not actually done. Now that I am retired I can say, That I don't miss any of it.

Must be nice lol. I agree busy and work hard is the key. I hear stories of mechanics who push out 180hrs a week every week. And I can't wrap my head around that. It sounds fishy.

 

[WordMan]

The guys who come in 10 minutes late, then get a cup of coffee, stand around and drink it, hit the roach coach, stand around and eat that, go take a 20 minute bathroom break, then finally wonder out to grab their first job, never make money, and always complain. The guys who get there early... really early when it's busy, drink coffee while woking on the car, and have two or three jobs going at once, make a good living. My ole man put many a steak on our table. And while I was a tool man, I had to run many a complainer off my truck so I could get to my next stop.

 

[wonderboy24]

i am a residential plumber and we use flat rate system here. i know its different then a mechanic but the customer's tend to like do to knowing the price of front.i put in 60 hours a week. when i am on call i can pull in 80 easy.

 

[xitabl442]

I'm a body guy also, but our whole shop is hourly. Everyone in the shop has a specialty that he does most of the time. We do have two dedicated painters, but they have to fill in as needed also. It's my brother's shop and he made it this way so he makes sure everything that goes out the door is to his standards, nobody has to cut corners to get their job done right, it pretty awesome. If you screw up and break something, he pays for it too. Couple weeks ago I broke a back glass on a Wrangler, he ordered a brand new one, it cost him $300. 100k miles on it to boot. My bad, he was even helping me when it happened.