Hey all..I thought I would pop this up here for opinions on what I should do..I have come to my wits end with the car repair industry and need out..I no longer enjoy it or have any desire to do it anymore..that being said..if you were 39 and have degrees in auto eng and const management..but couldn't move..what would you do..I really haven't looked into it..this is something about 5 years in the making..so now I have to do something or I just will not at all..its been a really bad couple of years at this and I got nothin left..any suggestions will be appreciated..
Thanks all
Rich

Rich, I've certainly had many a day when I wanted to get out of this racket, too. Just too much BS anymore. But then I think, "What the heck else could I do?". This is all I've ever done, other than farming, and I sure don't wanna do that!
At least you have some schooling & degrees to help. Maybe GM is hiring....Ida know.
Good Luck with whatever you decide to do....that's all the help I can offer.

Thanks Joel..I figured I was not the only one who doesn't like this anymore..the big thing is that auto repair is changing big time in the last five or so years..they don't want guys that can fix cars..just parts chuckers..well that puts me out completely..I got into this for the challenge..from H L can to fiber optic com I really get a kick out of that stuff..oh and knowing how to..ie education..I found gets you on the top of the pay scale but I am the first one to take a pay cut..over 20k in the last year and a half.. its to a point that I don't take home much after paying daycare..so what's the point! I got till my son starts kindergarten this fall..after that I may be done all together..I can get into something small..kids wont cost the 15 k a year just in daycare anymore..oh well I rant sometimes..just seems like things just keep getting worse..but the DOW is over 12 k?
Rich

I don't know, Rich. I certainly wouldn't go into construction right now. I'm an electrician and things are really slow! New constuction is almost non-existent and service isn't much better. I'm making less than I was 5 years ago (stock market didn't help that). Maybe its not the job you have but the location. Is there any restoration shops around you? That might be more up your alley, since you like to troublesoot (if you own a Corvette, you must!). Most restoration shops don't rush  projects (at least the ones I have dealt with don't). Just a thought!

I wouldn't be in housing construction..I did heavy road and building..anyhow I would have to travel for that and that's a no go..and I would take a 5 year pay cut anyday..either way you look at it its not good..after I pay daycare I got 6.97 $ left..its been going down to the point I should be the daddy at the PTO not working to keep my kids somewhere else..we did have a good family talk last night and g mom is retiring in May..she said she could do the after school time..so I may shoot down into Md where the wifey works and go for the city money like you talk about..who knows..I wont do much untill then..I guess its bad for everyone right now..thanks Barry..
Rich

No problem, Rich! I just hope it all works out for you. It makes it a whole lot easier to go to work if you like your job. I still like mine I just wish it would pick back up. Good luck!

I thought I would add another reason why fixing cars drives me nuts is this repair with a paper clip..yes it was like that for about 2 months..now I get it because the moron who worked on it before has no idea what he is doing! Yeah Platinum certified too..how do you all get cars fixed is a mystery to me!
Rich

Paper Clip Repair pic

(large image modified to clickable link)
Adams' Apple2011-02-18 11:24:56

I've seen worse, Rich, as I'm sure you have.
Is that in there to hold the connector on, or is it just there to make better contact on the terminals?

Yeah...it easy to want to give up when you see supposed "Experts" do stuff like that. I once worked at a place that had a builder they were paying $2000(twice what I was getting paid at the time) a week to....and then sending all his crap out to me to fix it after he got done....

Yeah its for holding pin tension..so instead of replacing the harness piece that's the repair they got..these people traded the car in so they wouldn't have to deal with it anymore..now the smart monkees in sales sold it again..and now like you said ship it to me for the repair ..he doesn't make more than me..he gets paid to do nothing ..hourly milkdud..I posted it on facebook now the whole shop knows also!..oh and I got to get that link thing down..I will check bucket again to see if there is a link that I can use..its tough figuring this out on the dern phone..but I am almost there!
And its almost time to get the fbfjdbdj out of here..its almost 5 on Friday!
Richyostusota2011-02-19 03:23:00

Rich,
I gotta tell you I have been there. I worked for my dad till I was 28 then went to work for the local Pont / Buick dealer. Lasted 1 year there then I left and went to work in a manufacturing plant. Love the work there, I was building blow molding machines and traveling which was great till the kids got to be around 5 then I couldnt take leaving them for weeks at a time. Back to the dealership as the service mgr for 1 more year but I hated it. Got an offer to be a plant production mgr and did that for 10 years. That was a 24 hr 7 day a week job. My phone rang every night. I never slept thru a night. Thats how I ended up back in the repair business. I didnt want to be here but we all know we have to make a living. We should sit down some night and talk about if there are any options in our area. We both hate what we do. And now I see by your picture that there are more Verns in the world! Sorry guys, only Rich and I understand that one! Give me a call sometime. We could always make a beach weekend run with the wives and just throw ideas around!
Rodney