how do you make good times as a mechanic being paid flat rate?

It's called paying your dues in the business. New guy will always get the crap work.You haven't proven yourself yet.

The other guys have been there a while and if they are good the shop will feed em to keep em.

They have a lot more experience so they can handle the bigger jobs and know the tricks to beat the time.

As the newbie, learn all you can, be positive with the manager, take those little jobs and start learning how to do em faster. When it's seen you are doing a good job and doing it quick and you are always there for em you will start seeing better jobs and more of em. Management gets paid on the shops performance, so who do you think is going to get fed, the better performing techs.

Don't bite the hand that feeds you. Keep being the go to guy, the one who's always asking if there is something else the manager needs done. They remember stuff like this, and when that little bit of a gravy job shows up you may get it in appreciation of what you do.

Learn all you can, ask if you don't know. And a flat rate shop can be a bugger, each tech is pretty much an independent contractor, so to say, so they aren't going to be helping out someone who might be taking the money out of their pocket.

Read everything you can get your hands on about the job, see it there is training available, take every class you can get.

It's not something that is just handed to you, you have to work at it.

My techs can make 120 hours a week without even braking a sweat. They know the job, they've done it enough, and know the tricks.

A tip for you, look for the tech in your shop who's making the big hours. You'll find two types, one who looks like a pig and so does his stall. He's the one you don't want to know as he's a slob and so is his work.

The other one will be in a spotless uniform, his tool box and stall will be clean enough to eat off of.

He's been there, done that, and knows his job. And his work will be just the same.

He's the one you want to chummy up with. Techs like this have a respect for the job, themselves, and the work that gets turned out. And they have the tips/tricks that work.

For the most case they are the ones who don't mind helping out someone who wants to do the job right the first time and will share those secrets. As often they are the ones who have to fix what the other techs screwed up in tying to go fast and not doing it right.

Hang in there, it will get better. And best of luck to you.

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RE:

how do you make good times as a mechanic being paid flat rate?

i work as a tech at basically a used car dealer for nissan suzuki hyundai and saab, and we get to inspect and go over trade ins and perform repairs and also inspect new cars before they go to the lot..

now ive been a tech for maybe 2 months now, and Ive consistently made 65-75 hours with 85 on...

Flat Rate Pay

When the flat rate calls for 8 hours and you get it finished in 4 you have an extra 4 hours. Work 5 days a week and get one of those each day you have 40 hours of pay for 20 hours of work. That leaves you another 20 hours to work before even getting into overtime.

I learned long ago not to work on everything that comes through the door. Pick my items to specialize in. Invest in tools to get the jobs done correctly. Then be proficient at it. Only working 2 months is not much. I had 3 years experience and another 2 dealer specific before I started making anything to speak of. In the end I decided it was not really worth it to be a dealer mechanic. Do a lot better elsewhere.

>>> Fact is those who are there longer are going to take the easy money for themselves. I went through it as do many others. The more seasoned mechanics at one shop would filter through the work orders and choose the ones they wanted and the others were assigned to the remainder. Management didn't care as it kept their longer term techs happy. Especially when they had to pay for them to go to certification each year. The lower paid new guys are much easier to replace.

When I was getting paid minimum wage and the dealer was collecting full shop hourly rate do think the dealer was really interested in getting me elevated to the veteran mechanic's pay? Until I got to the point they were paying for my annual certification to collect their manufacturer warranty money it did not change. Of course, I helped them reach the decision to make that change.

Most likely the lender will call to get a verification of employment a few days before closing to make sure nothing has changed and he still works there. If they find out that he's switched to commission there may be an issue with the closing. See if you can move the closing up to before he switches or see if his employer will wait until after the closing to switch his pay.

stop working at 75 hours, or learn to work faster. pick the brains of your mentors. your only at it for 2 months, how long are they there?

I worked with a tech that got paid 75 hrs for working 40 on a regular basis. the last thing, I saw him do was bet another tech that he could do a 40 hr job in 20 hr. he was wrenchin so hard on that car, that I thought it was gonna fall off the lift.

Your mentors are taking advantage that you are new in the business.... That's how you learn and then become a big fish... Keep your head up and work hard man, it's worth it a the end

Your "mentors" are stealing your hours. Contact the EEOC.