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Date:         Thu, 3 Feb 2000 10:33:50 -0800
Reply-To:     BRENT CHRISTENSEN <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         BRENT CHRISTENSEN <bchristensen@INFOGENESIS.COM>
Subject:      Re: In defense of Dealers, was: Dealer ripoffs
Comments: To: mike barker <mariner4@SNET.NET>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Knowing several dealer mechanics, I can tell you that the more senior they are, the more they get to pick their jobs. I don't remember who's post it was that referred to this "cherry picking" but they were absolutely right. The new guys get the crappy/dirty work (which in many mechanics' opinion may be anything having to do with a Vanagon). This is why the work is often shoddy.

Also, I have to disagree with Bulley's comment about their income potential. If a dealer mechanic knows how to pick his jobs, he can make upwards of $100/hour on "flat rate." In other words, he learns which jobs he can actually do in 1.3 hours that quote 4 hours in the Mitchell manual (which is how you are billed, BTW). Normally they achieve these "quick" jobs using some pretty scary shortcuts. In this example, if he is making $24/hour flat rate (to use Bulley's number), then he makes $96 for a job that he only spends 1.3 hours on. That comes to about $74 an hour of real wages. I know several mechanics that make close to $80,000 or $90,000 a year working for dealers. (In fact one of them drives a 911 and his wife drive a Volvo 850 Turbo).

IMHO, this rush to finish is also why you have this common situation of them telling you everything is "all set" when in fact, it may even be worse. (Been there, done that). I can't believe it is simply that *all* dealer service managers are idiots.

Brent Christensen '89 GL Syncro Westy Santa Barbara, CA


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