I have been 8 years with the biggest independant Saab/Volvo shop in LA, Southbay. And had the top position for the last 6-7 years.

When I started there, the hours was pretty easy to bring in and I made good money.
For the last three years the cars have become more and more complicated with intermittent problems that requires longer test drives both before and after the repair (this is if you care about the customer and really wants to find and fix the problem).

The deal at the shop have always been straight commission with no guarantee pay or bonus in any way (1 hour to the shop, 1 hour to the mechanic) no health plan, no paid vacation, no paid holidays, no 401k, work every other Saturday with no time and a half paid (just the straight hour for hour).

The good thing about the shop have been that he paid a little bit more per hour than other shops, have all thinkable tools and equipment available and three hoist per mechanic.
But with almost no pay for trouble shooting my yearly take home have gotten less for every year and 2002 was the drop that overfilled the bucket.

So I ran a quick calculation, if this trend continues (together with that I'm getting older and more prone to sickness/laziness) I'm gonna have to pay him some years from now just to be able to work there.

It's time to get a piece of the American dream. And if it would fail miserably, I can always go back and work as a regular mechanic again.

I don't really have that much to loose.

posted by 66.229.128...

• Fellow Saab boarders, I'm taking the leap of faith., Anders, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 10:47:49
  • I did the same thing 15 years ago......, jim, Fri, 31 Jan 2003 01:40:09
  • SWEDECAR aka Anders......, 91Aero.jr, Thu, 30 Jan 2003 20:07:14
    • Let me tell you what I give up and what I hope to reach, SWEDECAR aka Anders, Thu, 30 Jan 2003 22:38:25 <-- Viewing This Message
      • Thanks for reply...like i thought.., 91Aero.jr, Fri, 31 Jan 2003 13:31:04
  • Thank you everyone for your support and good advice, SWEDECAR aka Anders, Thu, 30 Jan 2003 11:22:00
  • Hope you prosper, and keep your nails dirty !, dtech, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 23:34:19
  • A few words from the Been There, Done That school,, Doug P, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 22:45:43
  • Said it before: You the Man! nm, michael p, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 18:16:22
  • Best of luck to you. nm, Jim Moncrief, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:55:21
  • where are you opening it?, Dan , Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:48:53
    • Re: where are you opening it?, SWEDECAR aka Anders, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 16:55:28
      • Re: where are you opening it?, Dan , Wed, 29 Jan 2003 18:02:06
  • GREAT news for me, lep, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:37:47
  • Good Luck! You'll do well! :-) n/m, J, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:25:06
  • Good luck Anders, I'm sure you'll do well......nm, zeke, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 14:09:14
  • Best of luck dude!. That said, a bit of advice., Texron, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 13:07:49
    • Re: Best of luck dude!. That said, a bit of advice., Kevin O, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:56:57
      • Oh Yeah! 1 more thing! Best advertising is, Texron, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 16:52:38
  • Re: Fellow Saab boarders, I'm taking the leap of faith., smittyg, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 12:41:36
  • Have fun!, Scott Paterson , Wed, 29 Jan 2003 12:35:28
  • I'm happy for you..., b.flippo, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 12:34:37
  • I couldn't put it better than anyone else has, RS , Wed, 29 Jan 2003 11:47:15
  • Good luck, Ed NC, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 11:31:49
    • Re: Good luck, SWEDECAR aka Anders, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 11:59:52
  • Congratulations, Greg Netzner, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 11:17:10
  • Re: Fellow Saab boarders, I'm taking the leap of faith., Justin VanAbrahams , Wed, 29 Jan 2003 11:16:17
  • Best of luck..., bRAD, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 10:55:51
    • Good luck Anders..., LesH, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 11:52:30
      • LesH, do you know Thomas Steen from the Jets?, Anders, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 12:08:44
        • Saw him play, LesH, Wed, 29 Jan 2003 15:26:35
        • Did you know, Rick D., Wed, 29 Jan 2003 13:17:37

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