Honestly, is flat rate pay killing the quality of work in our shops?

I was at a shop in Denver last Tuesday, talking to this old timer who's been wrenching for 30 years. He was saying flat rate makes guys rush through jobs, skip torque specs, and ignore little stuff like greasing fittings. But then a younger tech argued flat rate pushes you to stay efficient and earn more if you're fast. I'm torn. I've seen both sides. What do you all think?

3 comments

3 Comments

margaretm2328d ago

I read a study last year that said flat rate shops have 23 percent more comebacks on average. That lines up with what I've seen at a few dealerships I worked at, where guys would skip little things like cleaning threads just to beat the clock. Your mileage may vary, but rushing through steps never seems to save time in the long run.

the_tessa27d ago

Did your study account for the new guys? My buddy @margaretm23 damn near stripped a caliper bracket and had to do it twice.

the_joseph27d agoMost Upvoted

I used to think the flat rate system was fine but that study changed my mind. You see it in the shop all the time, guys rushing through brake jobs and missing stuff, then you end up redoing it later.