- Local time
- 6:32 PM
- User ID
- 232
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2015
- Messages
- 9,134
- Reaction score
- 63,463
- Location
- Coastal Oregon
![United-States Country flag](https://opeforum.com/data/files/flags/shiny/32/United-States.png)
There seems to be a pattern of underpaid technicians, and most employees using small dealerships, like Stihl dealers, as stepping stones until something better comes along.
I think it’s more of an industry wide problem, not just Stihl. Sure a guy can enjoy the job of wrenching on small engines for a few bucks less per hour when he’s single, or even just married, but when the family starts growing, money and benefits become real important, real fast. And that’s where a lot of these dealers fall behind. And it’s not necessarily their fault - they can only sell so many units a year in a given area - and then the rest falls on the parts and service side. Tough to keep the doors open some months, let alone pay mechanics and other staff a comfortable wage. Just an observation..
It's definitely an industry-wide problem but more prevalent in OPE shops rather than in shops who are a major motorsports brand and then also sell and service OPE (there's always been more money in motorsports). The business model for OPE is definitely changing and for technicians, not necessarily for the better. Ultimately, I think most mom-and-pop shops will end up with one or two qualified technicians, and then other staff who mainly handle sales and unpack & assemble new units. I've seen that transition happening in the last few years vs. a shop where all of the staff were qualified technicians, which was the model 15-20 years ago.