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Anyone factory tech full time ?

Fish

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If it is at a O.P.E. dealership, that mainly sells lawn care Equipment, you would be better to not say that you work on saws, trimmers, etc.
I was hired in at the largest Stihl dealer in Louisville as a "Stihl" guy, and was the lowest paid guy there. It didn't take long to find out why.
 

pro94lt

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Factory? Not me but I have to keep my 20 saws going and 2 dozen other pieces of equipment going for my tree service. Theirs always a dull chain, worn pull rope, bent bar, dirty air filter, rim sprocket that needs changed, or a saw out of tune do to the temperature swings lol. Everyone asks why do you fix all your own stuff and my reply is I can have almost anything fixed before I could drive to a dealership and back. Keep an assortment of wearable parts on hand and I’m usually fine...
 

Fish

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The guys that worked on the ZTRs were the highest paid, and managed to get all of the "bonuses". The "labor dollar" stats were posted every month, and the two morons that were the "Stihl guys" were always on the bottom.
 

Fish

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Most of my day involved tearing down $130 new trimmers, writing up estimates, and calling customers. Every estimate was well over $100, so I rarely fixed any of those. Also all of the sales guys snuck back to me for help, because I was the only one there with any general knowledge of the equipment and business, was the only one that could go and make an oddball loop of chain, and could also help them look up oddball part numbers, etc.
So the owner hated me, thought that I was useless. Also saddled us with loading the stupid Franzen as well.
 

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If it is at a O.P.E. dealership, that mainly sells lawn care Equipment, you would be better to not say that you work on saws, trimmers, etc.
I was hired in at the largest Stihl dealer in Louisville as a "Stihl" guy, and was the lowest paid guy there. It didn't take long to find out why.


As I am senior tech (read: only mechanic) I work on literally every single unit that comes in. From a $50.00 trimmer to a $40,000.00 Diesel ZTR.
 

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Most of my day involved tearing down $130 new trimmers, writing up estimates, and calling customers. Every estimate was well over $100, so I rarely fixed any of those. Also all of the sales guys snuck back to me for help, because I was the only one there with any general knowledge of the equipment and business, was the only one that could go and make an oddball loop of chain, and could also help them look up oddball part numbers, etc.
So the owner hated me, thought that I was useless. Also saddled us with loading the stupid Franzen as well.


Same, my parts and sales guy borders on useless. It's not his fault, he has never worked in the industry before last March. Old retired hog farmer, but he is a good salesman and at least he is willing to learn.
 

Fish

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Right before I left, I "went to lunch" with the Gen. Mgr..
Asked him to let me move to the ZTR work, and let their top ztr Tech move to working on the Stihls{ They set him up to be their Stihl Gold Tech, btw}, and I promised that I then would be his "Top earner", as it would be easy to do.
He politely declined.....
He asked me to be patient on my getting a raise.

I wasn't....
 

Stihl working Hard

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I make $13.50/HR plus 20% of every hour billed (we charge $80/HR). I have to look up and pull my own parts and handle all of the warranty claims. By the time I do all of that i am lucky to bill six hours out of 10. Plus I buy my own tools, including all of the factory specialty stuff. The kicker is the Human Resources guy thinks I am overpaid.
You should get your HR officer down out of his ivory tower as a TA and see how hard it really is
 

stihl_head1982

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Right before I left, I "went to lunch" with the Gen. Mgr..
Asked him to let me move to the ZTR work, and let their top ztr Tech move to working on the Stihls{ They set him up to be their Stihl Gold Tech, btw}, and I promised that I then would be his "Top earner", as it would be easy to do.
He politely declined.....
He asked me to be patient on my getting a raise.

I wasn't....

Sadly many in management in various industries no nothing of the 'basic workings' of the processes (most don't even care). I worked in the fabrication industry most of my life. Started at the bottom as a young man and eventually ran the entire shop. So I knew quite a bit more than the guys who were 'desk-jockies' in the front office. I'm not sure there is a way to practically over come the divide between employees and some management. Having corresponded with Fish on another site I've always found him to be helpful when asked any question. Keep plugging on sir, you are appreciated in many ways!
 

redlight066

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I'll chime in here. Worked as a chef for 30 years and had to support a family. It's an all consuming business. Holidays, weekends, festivals, catering, very long days with no guarantees of a day off. The last 15 years I've worked on two strokes in my spare time Lol. For the last 3 years I have supported myself working 2 days a week at a local tree service and running a saw shop out of my basement. When I first applied at the 2 stihl dealers, they both offered me a job with the same pay and expectations. "You have all your own tools and testing equipment?" I said yes and they both offered me $10/hr. Both shops bill $75/hr. I politely declined and mentioned my son worked at a local grocery store watching people scan their own groceries for $9.5/hr.

Tree service pays me $19/hr (after a couple of raises) but it's just 2 days. That being said some months are good and some less. I have to be pretty thrifty to get by. BUT I have my life back now. I still work on the weekends and holidays occasionally but I don't HAVE to :) I just applied to Stihl. (Dealer support) they need someone here in the upstate of South Carolina. Dunno where that's going to go but I'll keep an open mind

Rich
 

thesawincanada

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My codo out to you. They the stihl dealers don’t appreciate someone with skills and good work ethics. Then the dealers cry they can’t find any decent people to work. Just keep doing the basement saw shop. Get more repair jobs.
 

redlight066

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Absolutely. It's not hard to pick up business when service sucks so bad. My preferred Stihl dealer closes for the week of Christmas and had to go to the "other" dealer. Urrrggg. It's also an Ace Hardware but has only been that way for a couple of years. (Very established and busy Stihl dealer) They hire nothing but teenagers. I left after 12 minutes at the parts counter. All I needed was a replacement elastostart cord and an elastostart handle with cord, both for 461's. First they handed me one for a 201t/small saw. I said that wasn't it, and then said they would have to order one. It was going to be $132.00, quoted me for the entire recoil assembly. I walked out *b-wordin and grumblin. Cute little girl at the front register told me to have a "nice day". If didn't have a daughter her age..........
 
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