My Detailing Job Rant and Rave

[S&S Detailing]

:buffing::buffing::buffing::goodjob=NO RAISE :sosad:rules::argue:grrr

So If you don't want to hear about my job rant stop reading now!!! I do detail cars so it's sort of a forum related topic.



So I started working at a local Honda dealership about 2 years ago. When I started I could tell they were very unorganized, they didn't have a detail guy for about 6 months and the guy they just hired was a bit of an idiot. To tell you what went on there, they didn't even have a wash bucket when I started working there, they used a pressure washer and dried the cars with a towel, no mitting whatsoever (If you can imagine the kind of scratches they were creating in BRAND NEW CARS) :wow:. So after I started I began cleaning up there procedures and kind of taught the other guy who worked there how to do things, basically set up their ENTIRE system that they have now. I even did there scam paint protection schemes for free (usually with my experience, you should get paid extra per car that you do, similar to paint correction, which they also won't do, so i dont do them) So after I worked there for about 3 Months I asked my boss what the procedure was on raises and he told me that after 90 days i would be evaluated, I went and found out I had been working there that long and so he said he would talk to the owner. After about a month I asked him about it and he said the owner wasn't doing anything about it but he had been bringing it up every meeting. Long story short, 2 managers later (about 5 months ago) the new sales manager brought us into his office and told me and the guy I work with (a new guy I told them to hire, a buddy of mine) that after another 3 months he could see our work ethic and then get us an evaluation (which is fine). Needless to say I STILL haven't received even an evaluation, its just so da*n frustrating, I work hard every day, never am late, and the problem now is that I have a hectic school schedule and can only work specific times, so it limits my options for finding a new job. I contacted a lawyer and I can't to cr*p because im an "at will employee".



Anyone else have any dealership detailing issues, it seems to me we are kind of the bottom of the barrel at dealerships?



Thanks for reading!!!!!!

 

[rdorman]

Bottom of the barrel crap dead end jobs... been there. Look at it this way, you will most likely be MUCH happier when you do graduate and get out of there. I was! Now stories about jobs like you have now are just amusing old stories to me. Hang in there, finish school and work hard. Some day hopefully you will find a place that recognizes what you have to offer.

 

[Dan]

The only way to make money at a dealership is to be on commision, that means mechanic, service writer or salesperson. They are stringing you along on purpose. Worst case, you quit and are replaced quickly.

 

[JCastro1085]

The only way to make money at a dealership is to be on commision, that means mechanic, service writer or salesperson. They are stringing you along on purpose. Worst case, you quit and are replaced quickly.

Bottom of the barrel crap dead end jobs... been there. Look at it this way, you will most likely be MUCH happier when you do graduate and get out of there. I was! Now stories about jobs like you have now are just amusing old stories to me. Hang in there, finish school and work hard. Some day hopefully you will find a place that recognizes what you have to offer.

Both are "real truth be told in your face" pieces of advice and I particularly like what rdorman said, perhaps a new quote? (I'll be going back to school in the spring also, why not the Marines are paying for it)

 

[S&S Detailing]

Ya it's definitely not something I would do my whole life, thanks for the comments, the whole thing just frustrates me a lot, especially when money is tight

 

[Dan]

Ya it's definitely not something I would do my whole life, thanks for the comments, the whole thing just frustrates me a lot, especially when money is tight

Don't get upset, pimp the system. Getting upset makes you not think, and it keeps you where you are. Create a plan, and outsmart them at their own game.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Anyone else have any dealership detailing issues, it seems to me we are kind of the bottom of the barrel at dealerships?

Pretty much everybody is at the bottom of the barrel at a dealership, you're all expendable (what have you done for me lately?)

 

[ThatGuySkye]

I was once in the same situation... although i just wanted to be on commission because I would have made 10x as much... but heres what you do... make all the salesmen love you, manager mainly... make sure you never have a complain, ever, and do a good job with the sold cars, ask if they need anything. Don't work for service... work for sales... thats where the money is in detailing. Once they love you go tell the sales manager that you need a raise or you will quit... if nothing happens then quit, but keep in touch with the sales manager and hopefully he will offer to hire you on at a higher rate of pay. I ended up quiting after trying to get more money and a month later the sales manager was beggin for me to come back. haha Its been about 4 years since I worked there and they still ask me to come back when I drop in, until I tell them to match my current pay. LOL Then they lol and ask if my job is hiring. LOL!

 

[S&S Detailing]

I agree that is the way to get it done, but i have been doing that for the past two years, the problem isn't the sales managers or the salesmen, it is the owner, it is his honest and true opinion that EVERYONE can be replaced like people above have been talking about, no matter what. Appreciate the advice but I don't really know how far that would go:work:

 

[imported_Jakerooni]

Or.... You can do what I do.



Go get your legit buisness liscense. Some insurence and then walk in there and tell them you quit but would be happy to continue doing the work under your own business. I do it and get paid much better than anyone else actually working there. Because I get the full amount. They all get $35 for a full detail I get about $140-$160 depending on what it is. I train the guys to detail. That brings in another $400/wk in training fees. I use all my own equipment and products. (I've been making them buy the same stuff so we're all on the same page) Anytime I put a polisher to paint it starts at an extra $100 for a once over and goes up from there. But in the past 2 months since I've arrived they've had ZERO customer complaints and Zero comebacks. The quality has risen well above expectations so they have no issues giving me what I want... for now... I realize it is a dealership and it could all change at any given moment. And I plan on doing my own thing come spring... But this is fun through the winter.

 

[S&S Detailing]

That sounds like a heck of a deal :idea, Honestly though the owner is such a tight a$$ i don't know that he would go for it, I may try it though, Thanks for the advice

 

[David Fermani]

I do it and get paid much better than anyone else actually working there. Because I get the full amount. They all get $35 for a full detail I get about $140-$160 depending on what it is. I train the guys to detail. That brings in another $400/wk in training fees. I use all my own equipment and products. (I've been making them buy the same stuff so we're all on the same page) Anytime I put a polisher to paint it starts at an extra $100 for a once over and goes up from there. But this is fun through the winter.

At that rate Jake you’re making more than the Salespeople. Hmmm, let’s see…..10 vehicles per week(that’s a pretty low number) @ $150 = $1500 / + $400 training fees / + buffing 25% of the vehicles @ $100 = $250 / ===$2150 per week ~~~$111,800 per year. I say you’re stretching the truth unless you show us a paystub. There’s no way in the world a dealer is paying that much for a detailer? If so, I’d stick it out way past the winter.



EDIT:

You have this posted on your website:



2007 Corvette Vert

Another one of those dealership trades. And yet another one they didn't want anyone else touching but me. The before pics are a little shaky and rough. Still using my camera phone. But I think the afters are of better quality. Not too much of a write up here on this one. Just basic before's and afters Been swammped to no end lately. Basic 2 step on the paint. (205 followed by UF) Waxed with Meg's Gold Class paste. hyperdressing on the rubber and trim. I did the full inside but really didn't get any pics of it. The Used car manager said it was my "Test" car and if I did a bang up job he'd bring me his porsche and more private sector work. Which is good because I'm not exactly thrilled I did this with my own stuff for $35. (all they pay on their own vechiles)



You did this 2 step for $35. Sounds like you gave yourself a pretty decent raise in just 2 months? :nixweiss

 

[fergnation]

Man, I feel your pain since I have been there too plenty of times. But let me throw out some sobering advice. At this moment in our wonderful country that is run by the most honest and hard working politicians, I don't really think asking for a raise is a smart decision. Especially at a car dealership. Man you are lucky to even have a job. One more thing, you have one more job than 95% of last years college graduates.



Now if people wise up and give us some real change in 2010 and vote in some adults that have a freaken clue, I would just be thankfull that there is a pay check to pick up on Fridays.



But there has also been some good advice give. Your best bet to increase your pay is to go out on your own. There is a huge risk but maybe you can try to develope a client list while you work there.

 

[imported_Jakerooni]

At that rate Jake you’re making more than the Salespeople. Hmmm, let’s see…..10 vehicles per week(that’s a pretty low number) @ $150 = $1500 / + $400 training fees / + buffing 25% of the vehicles @ $100 = $250 / ===$2150 per week ~~~$111,800 per year. I say you’re stretching the truth unless you show us a paystub. There’s no way in the world a dealer is paying that much for a detailer? If so, I’d stick it out way past the winter.



EDIT:

You have this posted on your website:



2007 Corvette Vert

Another one of those dealership trades. And yet another one they didn't want anyone else touching but me. The before pics are a little shaky and rough. Still using my camera phone. But I think the afters are of better quality. Not too much of a write up here on this one. Just basic before's and afters Been swammped to no end lately. Basic 2 step on the paint. (205 followed by UF) Waxed with Meg's Gold Class paste. hyperdressing on the rubber and trim. I did the full inside but really didn't get any pics of it. The Used car manager said it was my "Test" car and if I did a bang up job he'd bring me his porsche and more private sector work. Which is good because I'm not exactly thrilled I did this with my own stuff for $35. (all they pay on their own vechiles)



You did this 2 step for $35. Sounds like you gave yourself a pretty decent raise in just 2 months? :nixweiss

Dave Dave Dave... Always trying to start crap.. Tis ok I'll play your little game for the moment.. and explain. I only detail the cars they don't want their people touching. Right now it seems like it's right around the $50,000 mark. give or take. so that 10 cars a week you say. Not even close. Not even 10 cars a month go through me. The Vette was the last straw. And I went in and negotiated. Now this is where it might get a little confusing for you... I know I know I'll keep the big words down to a minimum. I train the employee's of a company called "Detailing Beyond" they are part of another company franchise called "AutoQual" AutoQual is the contracted company to detail the cars at Toyota of Greer, D&D Ford, Hundyi and Kia as well. It's run by a guy that has been cutting meat for the last 20 years and thought he'd get into the car care business. Franchised himself in... Thought he'd get some training.. Apparently it wasn't the case. (still with me here) So I train the Autoqual guys at $10/hr * 40 hours a week paid to my company.... (ok ok... don't need you getting stressed here... that would equal $400 for training) this is where 95% of my time is. I kept getting pulled aside whenever any of these "special details" would come and was told (after seeing the vette and the mustang) that only I was allowed to do them per the request of the owner of the dealership. So I talked with the guy that owns Detailing beyond and told him about the situation. Then after we came to an agreement (which should come into play in springtime) I told the dealership on these "Special vechicles" only I would do them at the same rate they pay Autoqual but paid out to my business. Now since the vette there's only been 2 more that have come through me. I'm not making a gajillion or anything smart a$$ but it's better than what they are making there as detailers... Make sense Sh*t starter???

 

[David Fermani]

Right now it seems like it's right around the $50,000 mark. give or take. so that 10 cars a week you say. Not even close. Not even 10 cars a month go through me. The Vette was the last straw. And I went in and negotiated. So I train the Autoqual guys at $10/hr * 40 hours a week paid to my company.... (ok ok... don't need you getting stressed here... that would equal $400 for training) this is where 95% of my time is. Now since the vette there's only been 2 more that have come through me.

There’s really no need to go into the fetal position any time I ask you a question to one of your posts. I’m really trying to see how much of what you say is actually credible/accurate. I tried doing the math & can’t seem to follow how you come up with the $50K figure? I understand where the $400 per week comes in to manage the detail department. That equates to $20,800 per year. How do you come up with the remaining $30K? Didn’t they just start paying you full tilt on details and only managed to give you 2 of these jobs in the last month or so? You’ve only been working there for 2 months so I don’t know how you can baseline any kind of average near that figure in such a short stint.

$20,800 + ($ amount per job X # of jobs) = $50,000





Plus, you’re advice to the OP is somewhat reckless at best. Why would anyone risk their job to “walk in there and tell them you quit but would be happy to continue doing the work under your own business" not to mention why any dealer would cave into anyone making selfish threats/demands by a disgruntle employee. I’m sure you have enough experience to know that won’t fly for a minute and they’ll see you to the door faster than you can take your next breath. Great exit strategy after the OP invested the last 2 years of his career there all potentially thrown down the tubes over potentially listening to an irrational suggestion. I can see that going over well at his next job interview when they ask why he left his last job.

 

[Envious Eric]

i dont think he is talking about the $50k being his income, but rather the $ amount of car that the dealership doesnt want the crappy detailers to touch...



<50K joe blow can detail it

>50K Jake is the only one detailing it





am I right???

 

[David Fermani]

The discussion has been related to income, not the value of vehicles. An 07 Vette and/or Saleen Mustang aren't over $50K.

 

[S&amp;S Detailing]

Man, I feel your pain since I have been there too plenty of times. But let me throw out some sobering advice. At this moment in our wonderful country that is run by the most honest and hard working politicians, I don't really think asking for a raise is a smart decision. Especially at a car dealership. Man you are lucky to even have a job. One more thing, you have one more job than 95% of last years college graduates.



Now if people wise up and give us some real change in 2010 and vote in some adults that have a freaken clue, I would just be thankfull that there is a pay check to pick up on Fridays.



But there has also been some good advice give. Your best bet to increase your pay is to go out on your own. There is a huge risk but maybe you can try to develope a client list while you work there.

Thanks for the advice, and yes I know I'm lucky to have a job



As far as doing it on the side I've actually been doing that, it's been working out great, but my clients are people I know, or referrals from people I know, it's been going well though, ever one that I've done so far (about 10) have been in shock and awe :wow:, about there car when I bring it back, I made about $600 in October :2thumbs:. So I'm hoping next summer I can dive fully into the deal and make 10x as much as I do working at this dump!!!!