My problem was not getting cheated. Never happened. My problem was not lack of work. Shop was never empty. My problem was I laid awake at night worrying about whether the customer would understand the hours I had in converting a '53 f100 filler pipe to a gas door or similar modification.
For me, I decided the cars needed to be a hobby, not a career I went back to work for another company and back to being able to leave the job behind when I walked out the door.
It is odd how we all have different needs and goals for emotional satisfaction. I really admire the guys who own their own businesses but I don't envy them one bit.
John
Those customers are out there, but you have to weed out the users to get to them. After a while it's not that hard to figure out what their intentions are, and if they are worth doing work for. I've had some that I have tried to run off that keep coming back, but I know what to expect from them, and I cut them zero slack. Sometimes they leave it, sometimes not, but cry about the price every time. I just explain this is a business, not a charity, and tell them I would rather sweep the floor (as shine has said) than do their stuff for free. I have so much free work to do of my own, I have to walk around the shop with blinders on. I have always tried to do the best quality work I knew how to do, and after screwing up every way possible (well almost, I know there are more out there), have learned a lot of what works and what doesn't, how to fix the things that didn't work, and constantly learn about new products and procedures. That is what is so great about this forum.There is a huge wealth of QUALITY information. I could have saved 35+ years of screw ups with the information available hereWow, good job Tex. That's the kind of customer I'll bend over backwards for. And it speaks volumes for the quality of your work.
Not trying to turn this into a rant but maybe this can be a heads up for guys looking to make this their profession. For me everywhere I've worked has been the same story, incompetent mangers/owners doing as little as possible, passing responsibility down the chain,, and never ending rush deadlines. I've worked commission at a Shop where they (management) were writing 2 sets of estimates. The actual one, and one for the employees. They would shave 30% or so off the actual estimate when you got the work order. Worked at that place over a year before I found that out. You have to be really careful working commission as I have heard from other guys that is more common than you think. A common theme I've found is dishonesty. Others would call it lying. To the employees, to the customer. Shortchanging the Customer on the repair. Getting chastised when you object to doing that. One Shop I was at Owners wife handled the payroll. She would shave your hours unless you made sure you totaled them yourself and wrote it on your timecard!
I've decided I've had enough. I haven't had a real vacation for over 7 years. I'm almost 47, been doing it fulltime since I left college after 2 years (Lord how I wish I stayed and got my degree) I'm not going back to late model collision repair if I can help it. Got enough savings to leave my job and am going to work out of home for a while restoring then selling a car that I have. We'll see how that goes.