DealersEdge Professional Forums

parts manager gone service/parts now. i have always put our core money in a pot and used it for lunches for the parts dept. The techs keep it for themselves and so does the shop porter " he collects scrap metal for the scrap man" they have done this for many years now. What is your take on this?

All core / scrap metal should be turned in to parts dept and parts & service managers should handle with the company of their choosing. Money can be used for barbeque's, dept outing etc depending on the amount collected.
Individual employee's should not be involved in scrap metal at all.

The legality of the situation in most states is this: Cores and scrap are the property of the dealership; not any tech or individual employee. I have seen employees fired for theft for selling cores and/or scrap that were the property of the dealership. The administration of this should be handled by a manager or designated employee with management oversight. The most effective use of the monies in this "fund" is usually to provide some additional benefit to all employees involved; such as free lunch or dinner. Worked at one store where we would (once there were sufficient monies in the fund, usually about every 60 days) have a steak fry immediately after work on a friday evening. We had our own grills that techs made from empty 55-gallon drums with legs welded on. You can get a pretty decent price on steaks from a meat store when you are buying 50 or 60 at a time. Amazing how everyone works together to maximize the fund when they get a direct benefit from it.

Scot Strong

[This message has been edited by scotstrong (edited 07-14-2006).]

First, I am always cautious about changing something that has worked for years with no problems. I mean if the dealer is ok with this and everyone treated as a little perk of the job, then I wouldn't struggle with it.
That being said, this has become an issue nearly everytime I've seen it allowed. Either tech gets made a porter for stealing his cat conv and heater core, and porter says he thought it was trash, or it encourages people to take pieces of things home, and then you know how that can escalate.

------------------
** Rob, Editor Dealersedge/WD&S **
Help is only a message post away!
robc@dealersedge.com

I take my core money and put it in 688, and scrap old parts that I can't return to GM (broken QTY, PNC, ect). I do pay the person who controls those parts 10% off the top as a bonus for keeping up with them, dealing with the core and scrap people, ect.

I agree with robc. If your dealer is OK with whatever program and nobody is complaining about preferential treatment etc., then let it roll. A little "play" money can go a long way for morale.
Be glad you don't work for a mega group that says ALL such monies must be turned it to accounting. No departmental discretion whatsoever.

i use the money like richard,

working on things 25 months or older right now. scrap money helps to offset my write offs. i am still cleaning the mess from the previous staff....1 yr and 2 days...as of this posting....3k to go....



------------------

"the dumbest kid in the smartest row"

turbo59

I once worked for a delaer who insisted that the cash be given directly to him and no one else. He would then immediately put it back in my hands and say "Now, go buy pizza for everybody"

A small formality....the point of which was totally understood

Cheers
DD

I just throw it in the trash can. The cans belong to them too. So if they want it, they can dig it out of their cans. This is just another example of tripping over dollars to save a dime. Heres another good one. Stomping ants when elephants are chasing them.

You have missed the point entirely

It isn't a matter of the dealer wanting to 'save a dime'.

Its a matter of "Who does the money rightfully belong to?"

Cheers
DD