How To Beat Flat Rate Pay System without Screwing Customers

How many mechanics are paid is on a Flat Rate system. Paid for the job no matter the time it takes to complete. If you want to make money as a mechanic you have to beat flat rate. The way I beat flat rate was to work smart AND hard to get work done. And the biggest part, NOT SCREWING PEOPLE and ripping off customers. Here are tips on beating the flat rate pay system.

Since most people won't read this part, I will put it in multiple spots. I DO NOT think that flat rate is the BEST pay structure. But I found ways to be successful, and I am sharing that with you. There are parts of the pay structure that are broken and need to change. BUT we can either sit back and whine and wait for it to change, change it by moving to a new job, OR do both and make some money while doing the world catches up.

~~~~ Support the Show ~~~~

~~~~ Recommended Tools ~~~~

~~~~ Playlists ~~~~

~~~~ Follow all the projects ~~~~

[HumbleMechanic]

I DO NOT think that flat rate is the BEST pay structure. But I found ways to be successful, and I am sharing that with you. There are parts of the pay structure that are broken and need to change. BUT we can either sit back and whine and wait for it to change, change it by moving to a new job, OR do both and make some money while doing the world catches up.

[carrieisabelle]

I went from a lube tech to used car tech to a line tech in about two years. I was learning how to work multiple vehicles as a lube tech(and continued that habit at every level). The service manager's response to this was to task me with line work while I was still a lube tech. This guy rode my ass on a regular basis, I learned how to multitask like a master. When I was moved to a used car tech I had 2 bays and access to space outside, I had between 4-6 vehicles in and around my area on a regular basis. The number increased as a line tech. When the new manager came in, he began starving me out. I ended up leaving. Despite all of my hard work it wasn't enough for this guy. The manager used the flat rate system against me. Flat rate is crap, I won't do it again. Heavy all the way!

[JerseyTom]

8:11 Doing the job correctly the first time never takes any extra minutes... that's simply how much time doing it right takes.

[earlturner]

Mechanics should be getting 50-50 commission like they did up until the late 1970's. Good mechanics deserve 40 to 50 bucks an hour. The problem is that most mechanics are not business men. They still have the blacksmith mentality and won't stick together and demand more.

[dave]

Lol, on my documentation on work orders I'd get accused of writing novels, but i, like you, wanted EVERYTHING documented. That way, if there was a issue later, I had my proof of what I did on paper.

[flatratemaster]

Great Video Charles!! I preach efficiency!! Another point to mention in addition to smoking is running off to the store for those energy drinks or drinks in general, get a cheap mini fridge and stock it with water etc. Also coffee bring a thermos so you are not running to the coffee maker

[DrB]

Great advice for any career. I'm a software developer, and it still applies. "Waiting for the oil to drain" = "Waiting for the program to compile"...

[alessandropru]

I'm a DIYer but i still enjoyed all nearly 17 minutes of this glimpse into the techniciam world.

[tdlaustralia]

I was surprised when I found out the dealer pay structure there. Mechanics are in a field that always run into problems. The deeper you dig into a car the more problems you find.

[ryanwolfe]

I'm one of those that absolutely HATES flat rate. I believe it's singlehandedly responsible for why the general public thinks we're all crooks. It turns otherwise good technicians into hacks that cut corners out of necessity just to make a paycheck, and increases the amount of unnecessary things being sold to a customer. And yea, you're right, I hated it, not because I wasn't making money, but because I felt dishonest about it. I believe in quality over quantity, oh, and for the record FUCK warranty work. I did what you suggested, I moved to a private government fleet and I haven't looked back. Now I get paid by the hour, if I want more money, I simply just work overtime, but I can 100% guarantee my paycheck will be at least 40 hours, week after week. I will never go back to flat rate.

[tracydiller]

I never worked flat rate but for the right person from what I hear from my other tech friends that you can make a good living working flat rate.So my hat off for them guys and gals working flat rate.Great video Charles so keep them coming.PEACE

[JRC]

How to beat flat rate. Work on more than one car at a time.
Step 1. Pull a car in and write it up for service, give it to the sales advisers to sell to customer.
Step 2. While he's selling the job, pull in another car write it up and repeat.
Step 3. Start fixing the first car, then when waiting on parts start fixing the second car.
Step 4. Bounce back and forth car to car when u have down time on them. U end up finishing more than one car at a time.
The key is definitely organization and working at the pace that works for u.

[christophersiber]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video, I think Im going to take what you said to heart and do my best to use this as a tool.

[jhuntosgarage]

Great advice! I think up to 50% of my time is looking for tools and/or parts. Organization is key. Downtime is a great time to organize and generally sharpen the axe.

[Iceyguides]

Awesome video, totally agree with you on how flat rate can be great or terrible depending on the situation. When I was a Dodge/jeep/ram tech I loved it I always found a way to book at least 40 even on slow weeks. Now I'm at Maserati/Alfa/Fiat and I can see the system failing there is not enough of these cars on the road and to keep all the techs happy sometimes there is simply no work. I'm lucky enough to also be the main used car tech but some of the guys really have to struggle for hours!

[jcarey]

I am OCD when working on my car I don't think I could work at a shop or even be on flat rate if I did haha. I have much respect for anyone that does work on this structure 4 sure.

[michaelblacktree]

I used to work as a building maintenance technician, and much of this sounds familiar. It's a different profession, but the basic concepts are the same. I also stacked jobs, figured out "hacks" to finish jobs faster, etc. Not only does it streamline your work flow, but it also reduces the amount of frustration.

[brandonsitzman]

Great tip on keeping notes on repairs!! I can’t even tell you how much time I’ve wasted trying to recall every test step I performed during a repair or how many times someone else in the shop has asked me about a repair I did a few months ago and I couldn’t recall what the fix was. I’ll definitely be giving that a shot!

[bradleypreston]

I recently started as a lube tech, my first job in a shop setting. My first full week with my own bay I did 39.5 hours. I will only go out to smoke when there are no cars up front to work on. Right now we have a ton of downtime unfortunately as we are right smack dab in the middle of a ton of road construction. It's definitely hurting our business. I've found that a good thing for efficiency and accuracy is to create a process that works for you and stick to it. I like the flat rate system from the standpoint that it rewards those who really bust ass vs making the same paycheck as the guy facetiming his wife doing nothing all frikin day.

[mechanicalgamer.]

After 10 years in the business, I didn't learn anything new.
But for guys starting out this is great advice, good work.