DealersEdge Professional Forums

Next week will mark 39 years for me working in a GM dealership.

Much has changed. An understatement if there ever was one.

I started out changing oil.

I guess I am curious about you and your experience - how did you get here?

I am one that (loves to sometimes ! ?) complain. Although overall I have made a living. Not a great living but better than some - worse than others. The boss has made sure that I got a check every week and it has never failed to cash. I have worked at two dealers, this one for 38+ of those years.

Grateful - yes.

Tired - yes.

Frustrated - definitely.

Looking for something else - maybe.

Going on vacation soon - need to recharge for the summer zoo.

I wish I would have kept a score card of programs over the years - there have been a lot.

Thoughts? If you could go back would you do it again - given what you knew back then - not now. I remember 1979. 18% interest rates and NO jobs......

started in this business in 1957 as a parts driver, became a counterman in 1960, became a parts manager in 1970 with GM until 1987. parts manager with Nissan until 2009, then found something else to do. i enjoyed the people that i had meet, i would do all over again if we could go back to the way i was when i first became a manager. card file for inventory, phone answering machine for ordering parts, then the first teletype for parts ordering, then automated ordering. then GM sticking the nose where it does not belong when they can't run there own supply system to keep the dealers supplied with the parts they need.

Since 1970

Been doing this thing now 35 years, started in a GM dealer as counterman, went to another GM dealer as Asst. Mgr, then became Mgr. when the Parts Mgr. retired. Moved on to a Nissan dealer in 2008 just before the crash of GM in 2009, stayed there till I had enough and was burnt out. Went back to my roots in a Parts store as a General Mgr. stayed there for just about 4 years until Corporate America bought us out and I had to answer to a no faced guy in another state who could run my store better then I could and I went back to a GM dealer as a counterman. No pressure, no hassles and most of all no nonsense. Eventually, took over as Parts Director and am loving my job again. Work for a really great owner who values his management staff, he's tough but listens. Something I haven't had in 10 years with an owner. That's me..

Last month marked 39 years in parts.
I remember it well (after all, it was just yesterday). A girl I was dating had a brother who was a mechanic at a a Buick dealership. They were looking for a parts guy. 2 horse operation. 26 years with one organization. The last ten and counting with Toyota. Love working with Toyota. Couple of years with Nissan late eighties, all other with the General. Fairly large dealerships in major metro areas. I enjoy this business and learn something each day. Some say I'm crazy because I spend about 60% of my weekends a year on the road performing physical inventories nationwide after working all week as a parts manager in a dealership. Not crazy, (maybe a little) but working on a retirement plan since I've yet to work for a store that has anything other than a 401k. If only self employment health insurance weren't so much. We all have to eat, right?
I really enjoy reading this forum and keeping up with what's happening in our business. Lots of changes over the years.

Started as a driver 31 years ago in North Jersey, last 24.5 at my dealership here in NC, 23 as mgr.

New to dealerships, came from retail drug store and grocery store. Started at this dealership in Nov. 1985, started as parts and service consultant moved to full time parts in 1988, took over as manager in 1994 and here am. Counting the years to retirement, had enough fun on this journey.

20 Years. This article I published on my Linked In Profile pretty much explains it all:
https://*www.*linkedin.*com/pulse/twent ... las-plant/
(Remove *'s)

To paraphrase a George Carlin quote. If I had to do it all over again I wouldn't be me; and I like being me.
Cheers friends!

Started in 1972 in Woodbridge, Va. as a driver. Have worked for 4 dealerships, all GM. Two closed. One following the recession during the first President Bush's term, the other following the depression during the second President Bush's term. Never been without a paycheck. The good Lord has always opened a new door just when I've needed it. As Joe Walsh said I cannot complain though sometimes I still do.

.