Farewell to service!

[ZFAN24]

Well, I managed the service department at the local Nissan dealer for about 10 months. Massive increase in gross profit, broke every record breakable, and walked out Saturday shaking my head.

No one came to work, and the owner was doing the hiring, not myself. The solution to staffing issues was to "write them up."

I was writing repair orders, doing tune ups and oil changes, selling service, closing customers, taking cash...all while babysitting and fire fighting.

So I go in Saturday morning at 9am. I take a walk in oil change at about 9:20, with 2 more on the schedule (ONE tech only on Saturday, and we close at 12:00) one of which was a seatbelt install and some other minor repair. Another young lady walks in and asks for an oil change, and I inform her that we just aren't going to have the time. (I had stayed until 1 - 2 o'clock the previous 6 or 7 Saturdays...and keep in mind I was paid salary, and Saturdays were added after I got on there, so I got paid zilch for weekends...or the extra 2 - 4 additional hours per day I'd been forced to put in.) She goes to her salesman, who had apparently been left "in charge" while the owner was on vacation. He comes back to service and informs me that the oil change WILL be done, if it means I myself have to do it. I nodded, walked in my office, got my things, and walked out. This was after several 10 - 12 hour days with no service advisors, a tech on vacation, a lube tech leaving 2 hours early daily, one tech that apparently assumed he got flagged for standing at the cashier's window talking to the cashier, and the company of some sort of mutated salesman that was obviously under the impression that he was now in charge of my department.

Anyway, I drove right over to a dealer across town and got myself a new job in sales.

Had to rant. Under paid, over worked, and under appreciated. Hopefully the transition to sales will be a smooth one. Wish me luck!

[svrmrg]

Good luck,let us know how your transition into sales goes.

[Old Irish]

What? No two-week notice ???

Just kidding

Good luck with your new job

Cheers
DD

[DEotM]

I'm in the same boat, but in Parts. They want to hire either a 'green pea' or someone part time. In the meantime, I'm stuck working 7~6 M~F, and 8~2 Sat for salary. When I told my boss I'd be requiring more money for the extra 10+ hours per week, he laughed as he drove off to go play golf.

I miss the job links on here....

[scotstrong]

Isn't it amazing how many of these "geniuses" (PHD's) there are running dealerships? I wish more people had the guts like ZFAN24 to call their bluff and just walk out. Refusing to respect the value of ANY employee's time, let alone a department manager, is a catastrophe waiting to happen. Not a matter of IF, but a matter of WHEN.

This is bullying, plain and simple. They are bullying you into working more hours for the same money; and daring you to defy them. Bullies only stop being bullies when someone stands up to them. Would love to hear the phone call when the GM (or whoever passes for the one "in charge" when the DP is gone) makes that phone call to the golf course to advise him that no one is minding the store because the dept. manager stood up for himself/herself and walked out.

They can then find out the hard way two things:

(A) just how "easy" that dept. manager's job is

(B) just how "easy" it is to find a replacement.

Nothing cures arrogance like a healthy dose of reality.

Scot Strong

[GMFXDOPSMGR]

Good Luck,
I am trying to get our GM to explain to me why I have been cut out of several major decisions in Fixed Ops over the last couple of weeks. Seems my Service Manager has made it a point to buddy up with the GM to get rental companies changed without my knowledge. Is the door slowly opening?

Hope your new position is more rewarding.

[jazdale]

Good luck zfan,

Its a bit ironic that your 'last straw' was a sales rep that assumed authority over you to save loyalty with his customer. Ten minutes later, you apply for that same position.

I foresee the proverbial table turning in your new position.

[kcatdeejay]

Good Luck to you, ZFAN24!! I walked out on a PHD once right in the middle of a 'forced' meeting on my time-he was stunned. He also is no longer a dealer. I'm telling you, the PHD's are dropping like flies.

[kcatdeejay]

Did you ever wonder how PHD's work in every dealership department for a few weeks or so and accrue ALL the knowledge that it took us 'mere mortals' years to learn ????

[ZFAN24]

Jazdale,
had the salesman been so kind as to ASK if I would mind changing that customer's oil since our lube tech would have his hands full for the rest of the morning, I would have probably gone right ahead and done it. As it were, demanding something of someone who has been stressed by ignorance for the past 2 - 3 months was enough to send me packing. I hope he was able to find the time to do the oil change himself.
I am very keen on customer loyalty and customer satisfaction. I had bent over backwards time and time again to see that our customers recieved the best possible service we could provide. It was a simple matter of a DEMAND that should have been a REQUEST that burst the bubble.
I appreciate the input and support from all, and glad (unfortunatly) to see that I am at least not in a boat by myself.