• Welcome to the Yamaha FZ1 Forums. Member registration disables ads and allows you to post and share. Register Here.

Mechanics or Service Techs ?

S

Sebastian F7

Wizard
Joined
Sep 7, 2012
Messages
1,014
Location
TC MI
Visit site
I recently started working as a service tech at a powersports shop. It seems like every time I turn around I end up not being able to bill my time to the shop as long as it takes for the job.
Do you guys get paid by the hour regardless or is it per job.
For example I have a Bruin 350 that needs a carb rebuild. I had assumed it only needed cleaning but still doesn't run correctly so I'm gonna rebuild it. By the time all is done I'll have a bit over 3 hours into it, but can only bill for 2. (Trying to determine where the issue was.)
Today I was at work for 8 hours but only got paid for 6.5 because a few things took longer than planned.

The recoil had also let go. I had it all rewound once but it let go. So now I got like 1.5 hours into it but can only bill for one.
 
A good friend of mine started off fixing motorcycles 30 years ago and he kept going back to school. Now hes a mobile forklift repairman. He is pulling $ 100,000 a year now !!! So there is money in the trade it takes ALOT of tools, school and patience. Good luck Sebastion keep your head up
 
Maybe on the carb they cut the time because they incorporated the clean into a rebuild instead of individual services. They can only bill the customer for the normal labor time.

As far as cutting your weekly pay, I would have paid you and had a conversation to let you know about billing rates. If you have been there a long time you should already know.
 
I thought this was common with mechanics. I believe it's called 'flat rate' -- you get paid the book time for whatever you do whether you get it done faster or slower.

I had a friend who was a mechanic at a Honda (car) dealer and he explained how flat rate worked. He was pretty good at his job and made a lot of money this way. I can see how it would be a disadvantage if you spend a lot of time diagnosing.
 
Yeah. It seems to be flat rate. There is something up with the fuel where this guy fills up. It's one of 2 ethanol free stations in town. Both toys he has brought to us have needed major carb work. He also has a klr or something like that which also quit this morning. I don't know why the carb is sucking air it appeared to be in pretty decent condition just dirty.
I'm also new to doing this full time, it's always been part time out of my garage, so I'm still learning new tricks. I'm also contained to a 20x12 work area and don't have room for all my tools. We are trying to relocate to a new shop closer to my house and much more space.
Another advantage of working out of my garage for myself was. I usually gave rates per job not per hour. Like a recoil rewind I usually charge $50. So if I spend 2 hours or 2 minutes I still made the same.
 
Last edited:
My dad was a ASE mechanic for a long time, and was paid flat rate. Usually it works out fine. It sounds like you are doing the right thing and getting screwed for it, as in cleaning carb instead of throwing parts at it first, and re wrapping coil instead of replacing.

Your doing right by the customer, but this also explains why 99% of the time mechanics will just take the "easy" way out or simplest and most straight forward. I don't blame them, its their pay they are cutting into.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top