SERVICE TECHS , ARE YOU A FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICK SITTING ON THE BENCH ?

[jpsmith1cm]

It doesn't matter if your fixing air conditioners, or flipping burgers....there will always be a push to get the job done as quickly as possible. That's reality.

Here, at least, we strive for a BALANCE between speed and accuracy.

Callbacks are expensive. Unneeded parts are wasteful. That said, if it takes you 8 hours to change a fan motor, you'd better have some REAL good reasons as to why.

[toocoolforschool]

Here, at least, we strive for a BALANCE between speed and accuracy.

Callbacks are expensive. Unneeded parts are wasteful. That said, if it takes you 8 hours to change a fan motor, you'd better have some REAL good reasons as to why.

I had to pull out the air handler to access the blower compartment.

[ADillon]

Sounds like a typical new school resi service company. We pay you $35,000 a year plus commissions. Don't sign up if you aren't going 'want' to make $65,000 a year ($30,000 in commissions). Sell, sell, sell... always push for equipment change outs even when the only issue is a blower motor. If the customer calls and says you were too pushy with the sales, then you get written up. If you don't sell enough... you get fired. So, here are you 9 calls for the day, you can do 9 calls in 8 hours (including drive time) and not have any call backs, right? If you do, you get written up. You guys do flat rate pay too? Why would the '1st round draft pic' want to go with a company that is following a model for the ****tiest team to play for?

It's never a good sign when the list of expectations is long as hell and the list of benefits is neglected...

[toocoolforschool]

With these companies it is generally customer first no matter what. The customer can lie and make outragious statements, dosen't matter - termination no questions asked.

[2141]

I love how everyone is so quick to talk bad about company's like this. You can work for "Joe's heating" and make $15 an hour, or you can work for a company that pays commission and make $15 an hour plus commission on the blown up capacitor or Burnt out motor. Who wouldnt want extra money. I was a skeptic too but realized that I was wrong. We average 3 calls a day. Take as long as you need to do the job properly and thoroughly. There are guys that have had 25 call backs in a year and not being fired.

[toocoolforschool]

I love how everyone is so quick to talk bad about company's like this. You can work for "Joe's heating" and make $15 an hour, or you can work for a company that pays commission and make $15 an hour plus commission on the blown up capacitor or Burnt out motor. Who wouldnt want extra money. I was a skeptic too but realized that I was wrong. We average 3 calls a day. Take as long as you need to do the job properly and thoroughly. There are guys that have had 25 call backs in a year and not being fired.

I'm speaking in worst case scenarios, most companies are good to there employees.

[ADillon]

if you are making a living off of three calls a day then you have to be over charging your customers or pushing sales on every call. I wouldn't run service for $15 an hour with or without commissions. There are a lot easier, less stressful jobs with no on-call or sales expectations that will pay you $15 an hour. At least where i live. If i wanted $15 an hour i'd go load and unload trucks with a fork lift and be done every day at 5pm

[ADillon]

Also, if you're good to your employees and you have a good reputation, you don't need to advertise for techs like this. Why can't you find or keep techs?

[toocoolforschool]

HIGH turnover.

[John Markl]

if you are making a living off of three calls a day then you have to be over charging your customers or pushing sales on every call. I wouldn't run service for $15 an hour with or without commissions. There are a lot easier, less stressful jobs with no on-call or sales expectations that will pay you $15 an hour. At least where i live. If i wanted $15 an hour i'd go load and unload trucks with a fork lift and be done every day at 5pm

You're making an apples and oranges comparison. The cost of living in PA is vastly different than in TX.

[2141]

Also, if you're good to your employees and you have a good reputation, you don't need to advertise for techs like this. Why can't you find or keep techs?

Could just be a lack of qualified applicants. My boss did the math and found out he talks to an average of 100 candidates before hiring 1 guy. Between poor driving record, drug testing, background checks, unprofessional appearance and whatever else it is hard to find people. Due to the difficulty we are paid $500.00 for referring techs.

Or it could be because they are crooked and offer a horrible working environment. I don't know either way...just saying they are not all bad.

[John Markl]

Could just be a lack of qualified applicants. My boss did the math and found out he talks to an average of 100 candidates before hiring 1 guy. Between poor driving record, drug testing, background checks, unprofessional appearance and whatever else it is hard to find people. Due to the difficulty we are paid $500.00 for referring techs.

Or it could be because they are crooked and offer a horrible working environment. I don't know either way...just saying they are not all bad.

A lot of it has to do with motivation. A real go-getter may welcome the opportunity to work in a performance-based shop....whereas a less motivated person may prefer the straight hourly gig.

The same goes for the company itself....A company that is focused on rapid growth will more likely lean toward performance-based pay, while an established company with a high percentage of commmercial work will tend toward straight hourly.

No one size fits all. And let's face it....precious few employees are self-motivated in a straight hourly shop. How many times have we heard: "I ain't in no hurry, I get paid by the hour!"....

[TheChillerMan]

Yep, it's not for the timid.

You don't work on chillers being timid. But thanks for the personal insult.