When times get tough, the bosses get stupid... - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

AdvisorGuy · #1 10-23-2008, 04:53 PM

We got a new GM at my dealer 5 months ago. I knew he was a "cleaner" his second day here. I'm not a coffee fiend, usual one or two cups in the morning. This particular afternoon I was feeling a bit droopy so I go for one at our wiz-bang coffee maker. He was already walking in my direction but bee-lines towards me. (I brought my own coffee mug in months before he got here). AND I QUOTE: "Oh good. I thought you were using a styrofoam cup. I'm handing this memo out for all employees to bring in their own cups. If you take one, put your name on it and use it for the day". He's limited the amount of coffee Green Mountain supplies us per visit, or cut down the frequency because we've NEVER run out of coffee/tea or supplies for them. The 2 refrigerators stocked daily with bottled water for employees and customers have been replaced by a counter top water cooler with foam cups... The company buys lunch on Saturdays. He limited the lunch expense to $125 for 24 people working.
Not like there was Grand-Theft Post-It going on here, but now you have to go thru our office manager (sorry ladies, but even you would use the "C" word referring to her. Ladies here do.. ) for a pen, a Post-It, a box of staples. And heaven help you if it's payroll day and you even ask her what color her hair is let alone for a pen. He's knocked our detail shop owner (subcontractor on site that washes service vehicles, lot cars, and all detailing including pre-delivery details) pricing down as to what we pay him per car.
Wednesdays are what we call "Car Spa Day". We have paint-less dent removal, wheel refinishing and paint guys on site. We've had the same paint guy for 5+ years. No longer because the "heat miser" has brought in "his guy". I don't say these things like I'm resistant to them. Save money on expenses ? Great, but nickel & dime'ing everything, including things that effect the customer perspective is just stupid. It's bad enough that we've cut back the number of our "brand" loaner cars and using Enterprise....

COME ON BABY AND FINISH SCHOOL SO I CAN GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE !!!!

dynalow · #2 10-23-2008, 05:03 PM

^^^ What's the Sat. menu? Big Mac and fries. At $5.00 a pop, you won't get much.

What does the owner have to say? Does he approve? Guys like that are often penny-wise and pound foolish..

Fulcrum525 · #3 10-23-2008, 05:33 PM

What type of dealer is it? VW, Chevy?

My local MB dealership got a new GM a few months ago. Several of the service advisers are already gone and he decided to cheapen the place up with fake plastic flowers and plants. Also the phones need to be answered with the Uber annoying "Its a great day at 'dealer name' how may I help you?"

Everyone hates it, even other customers that i've talked to. Your calling a Mercedes-Benz dealer, not a sandwich shop.

AustinsCE · #4 10-23-2008, 05:37 PM

Same thing happened at the Chevy dealer around here. And they alienated everyone and moved all service operations across town to the other location.
On the other end of the spectrum the local Benz dealer still does everything the old way, and they are known to be about the best in town with the best turnover rate. And they have the best bank and used lot connections, so good deals are easier find there. It's hard to tell if they do it on purpose or if there's an agenda. Both seem equally as likely.

AdvisorGuy · #5 10-23-2008, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dynalow

^^^ What's the Sat. menu? Big Mac and fries. At $5.00 a pop, you won't get much.

What does the owner have to say? Does he approve? Guys like that are often penny-wise and pound foolish..

We're owned by a very large auto group. 100+ dealerships.. Yeah, those $5 Foot-Longs are just great...

German in the VW family..

SwampYankee · #6 10-23-2008, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdvisorGuy

We're owned by a very large auto group. 100+ dealerships.. Yeah, those $5 Foot-Longs are just great...

German in the VW family..

I don't disagree that the guy is cutting off the nose to spite the face, but why does the dealer buy lunch on Saturday? Is it a traditional perk?

AdvisorGuy · #7 10-23-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

I don't disagree that the guy is cutting off the nose to spite the face, but why does the dealer buy lunch on Saturday? Is it a traditional perk?

Kinda sorta I guess. The Benz dealer I worked for back in Jersey was only 5 hours on Saturday (service anyway) 8am - 1pm. We had the choice of being payed time-and-a-half or taking a "comp" day off at a later date. The first VW dealer I worked at was 8-12. The owner paid us $50 plus taking a $10 gas slip to the station next to us. Second VW dealer was 9 to 5 Saturday and didn't do jack.
The last Goodyear store I ran in Jersey allowed me $25 to buy lunch for the guys on Saturdays but being the benevolent leader than I am, I spent more. Whenever I sold a used tire, every other one would be paid "cash" with no invoice. I'd put that cash into an envelope and put it towards a better lunch for my guys. $25 bought 2 pizzas which is all well and good but to have it every Saturday would have sucked.

AdvisorGuy · #8 10-23-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rahulio1989300E

Just wait till Obama gets his hands on the corporations, after he is done taxing the few companies (and dealerships) that decided to stick around in the USA, you will be lucky if you get a solid paycheck...

(DRAMATIZATION, THAT COULD ACTUALLY BE REALITY)

I didn't intend for this to be a political thread but from my years in this business as well as the caterer I worked for 2 decades, I can say with the utmost certainty that it really doesn't matter who is in the white house. Corporations will ALWAYS put their check book ahead of yours. As for the taxation part, ask me how much of my pay goes to taxes. Ask me what I paid in 2000 vs the years to date afterwords. It in no way, shape or form DROPPED...... It's certainly a great feeling claiming ZERO deduction from my paycheck and writing a check for a grand or two on top of it all on April 15th... If anyone has gotten tax cuts in the last 8-9 years, it sure as hell wasn't me.

iwrock · #9 10-23-2008, 06:39 PM

That sucks man....

A friend of mine is the GM at a local Dodge dealer....

He has gone from an overall good mood (year or two ago) to an overall lesser good mood. I have talked to him, and he feels bad about having to let people go, and having to cut costs, in order to maintain profit....

Hatterasguy · #10 10-23-2008, 06:42 PM

Typical office BS.

AdvisorGuy · #11 10-23-2008, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwrock

That sucks man....

A friend of mine is the GM at a local Dodge dealer....

He has gone from an overall good mood (year or two ago) to an overall lesser good mood. I have talked to him, and he feels bad about having to let people go, and having to cut costs, in order to maintain profit....

What was REALLY amazing was 2003... I PAID TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS in taxes overall. My significant other of the time and to this day, EARNED FOR THE YEAR THIRTEEN-THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED and school grant was pulled for "EARNING TOO MUCH"
So since you earned $13,700 for the year, you can afford to pay $6000 of it for school and live on $7700 for the year. A fine repayment for someone that served in the army for 4 years.....

POS · #12 10-23-2008, 07:06 PM

I've been in my own business since 2000 and have always had 10-12 employees; treat your employees very well and they will do the same for your business. It's been a great symbiotic relationship for the past eight years!

iwrock · #13 10-23-2008, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdvisorGuy

What was REALLY amazing was 2003... I PAID TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS in taxes overall. My significant other of the time and to this day, EARNED FOR THE YEAR THIRTEEN-THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED and school grant was pulled for "EARNING TOO MUCH"
So since you earned $13,700 for the year, you can afford to pay $6000 of it for school and live on $7700 for the year. A fine repayment for someone that served in the army for 4 years.....

Dude calm your *****....

I am not talking about taxes.... I am talking about my friend feeling bad because he is not selling as much, and having to let people go....

Mister Byrnzoil · #14 10-23-2008, 07:46 PM

Did you get that memo about the cover sheets on the TPS reports?

Hatterasguy · #15 10-23-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

I've been in my own business since 2000 and have always had 10-12 employees; treat your employees very well and they will do the same for your business. It's been a great symbiotic relationship for the past eight years!

The marina I worked at had about 10 full time employees. All had been there for between 10-30 years.