How have things been going in everyones world. With the world falling apart lately have you been hit hard, or is it business as usual?

US, Illinois, Lexus dealer mechanic.

The dealership closed for 2 weeks, re-opened April 6th with reduced staff, various protective measures. Work load has been increasing slowly since re-opening ...and has been busy the last two weeks.  90% of service dept staff is back at work ...brought back from furlough in stages as the work load increased.  We had previously been open on Saturdays, but management has not re-opened the Service Dept on Saturdays yet.

Total gross for the service department has been getting close to pre-COVID levels the last two weeks.  Unless daily state COVID cases rise or there's an outbreak in the dealership, I expect work load will continue to be good this time of year. 

Hope people in your area are getting back to work and needing their cars fixed/maintained.  And hope you're healthy as well.

Good to hear things are getting more normal for you Grant.

I am pretty sheltered here. My shop is small, so the downturn never really hit me. My area in general is similar to what you have experienced.

Hi Bill, and the rest of the gang

I'm pretty much in the same spot as you, Bill. My shop is also small, so I didn't ever really notice anything was different. To be honest, about the only thing that changed was I couldn't go out to dinner with my wife on Saturday nights. Other than that, the whole virus thing almost didn't even exist to me.

Not trying to be insensitive to those who have been affected, that's just how it's been for me.

Hi Bill. I guess you didn’t get too much of that stuff in Saskatchewan. I’m in the Alberta northern zone and our local continuing care facility got hit pretty bad (17 deaths).
Other than a bunch of extra protocols, work didn’t get too affected for me, since it’s a government fleet shop. Unfortunately, the local businesses took a bit of a beating.

I am in NE Florida area and our shop is slammed and has been since all this hit. Can't explain it, but we are.  You know you are busy when you rarely have a chance to break out the Pico!

Damon Agostino wrote on Jul 19^th, 2020 at 11:26am:

I am in NE Florida area and our shop is slammed and has been since all this hit. Can't explain it, but we are.  You know you are busy when you rarely have a chance to break out the Pico!

Damon... Since when is breaking out the PICO the last thing only if you are not busy?

I use it to save time and get to the issue faster busy or not...

Spence wrote on Jul 19^th, 2020 at 5:41pm:

Damon Agostino wrote Yesterday at 12:26pm: I am in NE Florida area and our shop is slammed and has been since all this hit. Can't explain it, but we are.  You know you are busy when you rarely have a chance to break out the Pico! Damon... Since when is breaking out the PICO the last thing only if you are not busy? I use it to save time and get to the issue faster busy or not...

I think I understand where Damon is coming from. Its not that he doesn't want to use the Pico more. Its more like there isn't a reason to break out the Pico for shocks, struts, brakes, oil changes, AC leaks, tires and an the rest of an endless list of B&C level work.

Spence wrote on Jul 19^th, 2020 at 5:41pm:

Damon... Since when is breaking out the PICO the last thing only if you are not busy? I use it to save time and get to the issue faster busy or not...

I should have been more clear when I made this statement...  Over the past couple months rarely does a job come in where a scope would  be needed for diagnosis... lots of mechanical stuff...ball joints, evaporators, and compressors...

I totally agree with you Spence that the Pico is a time-saver. Just last week I used it to diagnose a jumped timing belt on a vehicle within 5 min!

TrevorSchlientz wrote on Jul 20^th, 2020 at 3:58am:

Spence wrote on Jul 19th, 2020 at 5:41pm: Damon Agostino wrote Yesterday at 12:26pm: I am in NE Florida area and our shop is slammed and has been since all this hit. Can't explain it, but we are.  You know you are busy when you rarely have a chance to break out the Pico! Damon... Since when is breaking out the PICO the last thing only if you are not busy? I use it to save time and get to the issue faster busy or not... I think I understand where Damon is coming from. Its not that he doesn't want to use the Pico more. Its more like there isn't a reason to break out the Pico for shocks, struts, brakes, oil changes, AC leaks, tires and an the rest of an endless list of B&C level work.

Just going off what was given and not reading(adding on) into someone thoughts.    8-)

Damon Agostino wrote on Jul 26^th, 2020 at 5:09am:

Spence wrote on Jul 19th, 2020 at 5:41pm: Damon... Since when is breaking out the PICO the last thing only if you are not busy? I use it to save time and get to the issue faster busy or not... I should have been more clear when I made this statement...  Over the past couple months rarely does a job come in where a scope would  be needed for diagnosis... lots of mechanical stuff...ball joints, evaporators, and compressors... I totally agree with you Spence that the Pico is a time-saver. Just last week I used it to diagnose a jumped timing belt on a vehicle within 5 min!

There ya go.   [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

I have been backed up at work more than ever..
It has not effected me too much other than have to wear
  mask when shopping and I hate wearing them..

I do miss group therapy though..

fordman wrote on Jul 27^th, 2020 at 2:29pm:

I do miss group therapy though..

+1

Therapy may return...

We actually have two members that are interested in carrying the torch forward into the future.

Not revealing them at this time but I am confident that you all would be pleased with either of them.

We'll see how this develops.   Cautiously hopeful...

Tom Roberts wrote on Jul 28^th, 2020 at 1:51pm:

Therapy may return... We actually have two members that are interested in carrying the torch forward into the future. Not revealing them at this time but I am confident that you all would be pleased with either of them. We'll see how this develops.   Cautiously hopeful...

That's good news Tom!  :D

Anxiously awaiting the torch to be passed. Autonerdz cannot die!

Spence wrote on Jul 27^th, 2020 at 6:51pm:

fordman wrote on Jul 27th, 2020 at 2:29pm: I do miss group therapy though.. +1

+2


TrevorSchlientz wrote on Jul 20^th, 2020 at 3:58am:

Spence wrote on Jul 19th, 2020 at 5:41pm: Damon Agostino wrote Yesterday at 12:26pm: I am in NE Florida area and our shop is slammed and has been since all this hit. Can't explain it, but we are.  You know you are busy when you rarely have a chance to break out the Pico! Damon... Since when is breaking out the PICO the last thing only if you are not busy? I use it to save time and get to the issue faster busy or not... I think I understand where Damon is coming from. Its not that he doesn't want to use the Pico more. Its more like there isn't a reason to break out the Pico for shocks, struts, brakes, oil changes, AC leaks, tires and an the rest of an endless list of B&C level work.

Same here. Getting a bit more sublet testing with everyone else being more loaded up lately, and that stuff has been boring too.

I had 2 guys leave and not return because of this Covid 19. Both are to scared to work. One of them is really frightened. He stopped by a month ago and said this was the 3rd time he left his house in 3 months at the time. Finally, I called him a week ago and said we need you to either come back or I have to get someone new. The other guy flat out said he was fine because he was collecting unemployment.

So far, I hired 1 new guy. He wont start till august 10th. He gave his job notice. I actually offered him 500 to just leave and come in, but he said he didnt want to burn his bridges. So I backed off. I was thinking of offering more.  :)

It started out slow back in March and April. I was going home early some days. I was happy to be home more but nervous about money and business. Now its jammed packed and I have to work late most nights. I guess I liked it the other way. Its all easy stuff not much scope fun.  :(  Certainly pays the bills though. :)

I hope therapy returns and someone picks up the business from Tom.

richmunch wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2020 at 7:27am:

I had 2 guys leave and not return because of this Covid 19. Both are to scared to work. One of them is really frightened. He stopped by a month ago and said this was the 3rd time he left his house in 3 months at the time.

Unreal. Does this person have any other health issues?


richmunch wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2020 at 7:27am:

Finally, I called him a week ago and said we need you to either come back or I have to get someone new. The other guy flat out said he was fine because he was collecting unemployment.

This crap is what pisses me off big time. Help is great but supplementing is destructive! People thinking society can support without consequences is INSANE! Just like socialism it will only be a matter of time until it implodes and not only them but those that support them as well. It's just totally insane.


richmunch wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2020 at 7:27am:

So far, I hired 1 new guy. He wont start till august 10th. He gave his job notice. I actually offered him 500 to just leave and come in, but he said he didnt want to burn his bridges. So I backed off. I was thinking of offering more.  :)

He is showing he has high standards. I wouldn't mess with that as you might be the next guy he would do it to.


richmunch wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2020 at 7:27am:

It started out slow back in March and April. I was going home early some days. I was happy to be home more but nervous about money and business. Now its jammed packed and I have to work late most nights. I guess I liked it the other way. Its all easy stuff not much scope fun.  :(  Certainly pays the bills though. :)

I prefer work over slow but have been looking for decent help for quite some time now.


richmunch wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2020 at 7:27am:

I hope therapy returns and someone picks up the business from Tom.

We'll see.

Spence wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2020 at 4:56pm:

Unreal. Does this person have any other health issues?

No, he is a healthy 35 year old guy. His concern is he lives with his mom and she may get sick. He was super scared right from the beginning of this. So I believe him, that he is scared. I just cant believe he is going to quit because of it.


Spence wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2020 at 4:56pm:

He is showing he has high standards. I wouldn't mess with that as you might be the next guy he would do it to.

I suppose your right. That is kind of why i didnt push the issue more or offer more money. He seems like a nice guy and a hard worker. He came in and worked one day with us to see how he was and I was pretty happy with him.  :)


Spence wrote on Aug 2^nd, 2020 at 4:56pm:

I hope therapy returns and someone picks up the business from Tom. We'll see.

I sure hope so.  :)

Good shops here are SLAMMED. Can't get a couple techs back as they make too much sitting at home, we have created a monster.

The fear will cease when replaced by hunger, too many safety nets, just an old 72 year old guys opinion.

Ask me how I really feel?

I just went from crazy busy to totally dead. Hurricane or tropical storm came through here tuesday and killed the power. We just got power back to the shop this morning. I still dont have any at home.

I guess everyone is still digging trees off thier cars and getting life back in order. So far today I have done nothing. And the phone, which was driving me nuts before, has not rang all day.

What a difference in 2 days.  ;D

StitchB wrote on Aug 6^th, 2020 at 6:27am:

Good shops here are SLAMMED. Can't get a couple techs back as they make too much sitting at home, we have created a monster. The fear will cease when replaced by hunger, too many safety nets, just an old 72 year old guys opinion. Ask me how I really feel?

No need to ask how you feel, I know exactly how you feel....

We need to stop buying chyna products......nobody likes china

StitchB wrote on Aug 6^th, 2020 at 6:27am:

The fear will cease when replaced by hunger

That's about the most succinct and accurate thing I have seen in a while. Communism is starting to look like a possibility in this day and age. Scary....

The local economy where I live may be record breaking this year. Unbelievable good crops in this area. Unless grain prices tank or 2x inflation hits shortly there will be a lot of wealthy people in our area after harvest.

Here in NE Florida, our shop is still slammed. Three days out to get to the work, and mostly "junk" aka not fun work. We have been looking for a service writer and lube tech for months, but cannot hire one for the reason mentioned above.  A few have flat out said, why should I come to work for you when I can sit here and make $900/wk!  These people will be in a bad way when the "free" money runs out, then they will be scrambling for a job!

Damon, yeah this party will not last forever, STRANGE.

Word on the street is some guy by Spence is looking to be a service writer job, just heresy mind you. Comes with a dog and a Harley, and a trailer full of guns.


Don't ask him how he feels, will have to upgrade your cloud storage 4 sure.

LARRY