Of 'guests' and 'team members'.

[DainBramaged]

"We are prepared and have a plan to add more team members to the overnight shift to take care of all our guests, if needed," Penske said. "With the current labor market, we have been able to hire valets to help keep our inventory lot in order (actually known as lot guys who are paid minimum wage to move cars around) and also a lot of skilled technicians coming out of the technical colleges to help make our teams and process even stronger."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/22/longo-toyota-total-recall_n_469847.html


Comfort words. Like comfort food. Words to make the public think they are more than what they really are, marks. Marks to be convinced to spend more money than necessary when they bring a car in for service as a 'guest' of their Toyota dealer. Who are they kidding. If they really were guests, they wouldn't be paying for squat. The job of the service writer is to SELL EVERYTHING THEY CAN to the 'guest' because they are paid COMISSION for the services they sell. You think that Transmission flush really costs $300? $35 worth of fluid and a machine that is hooked up in 15 minutes and the technician walks away while your fluid is flushed.

And if the dealership really had a 'team', why is turnover so high at the Nation's Toyota dealerships? They have to get skilled (?) technicians out of technical colleges to fill in the gaps? Bullshit. The kids coming out of the so-called technical colleges are clueless. it takes YEARS to understand the vehicles and become skilled at repairing any brand of automobile.


Propaganda and bullshit. Any CUSTOMER who walks into a Toyota dealership and believes this line of shit deserves whatever the dealership pilfers from their wallet.

[zipplewrath]

1. You're probably both a tad hyperbolic

Yes, they use the language of management to make an outhouse sound like a "waste management facility".

Alternately, what they are really saying is that they are going to hire additional folks to manage the work flow. I'd bet that what they intend upon doing is forming "teams" which consist of an experience mechanic and a couple of new hires. He'll be predominately responsible for ensuring the work of the new hires.

Remember, these are fairly "cook book" repairs being made. After a few shifts, these guys will have it down cold. They won't know how to change the oil, but they'll know how to handle these recall issues in their sleep. The question I'd have is for the poor soul that just wants their '98 civic serviced. God knows who they'll get, and goodness only knows how much attention their car will receive. Considering it might be the only "profit making" work in the shop, they might just get lucky.

[DainBramaged]

2. Wonderful defense of the sow's ear...........

:eyes:

[zipplewrath]

3. More like splitin' the difference

Trying not to argue exclusively against the hyperbole, while also acknowledging that the ultimately goal can be achieved.

[beevul]

4. Amazing isn't it?

"The job of the service writer is to SELL EVERYTHING THEY CAN to the 'guest' because they are paid COMISSION for the services they sell. You think that Transmission flush really costs $300? $35 worth of fluid and a machine that is hooked up in 15 minutes and the technician walks away while your fluid is flushed."

Too true. Most people outside the auto industry looking in, have no idea.

"The kids coming out of the so-called technical colleges are clueless. it takes YEARS to understand the vehicles and become skilled at repairing any brand of automobile."

Again, too true.

DB, while you and I disagree on the gun issue, were in total agreement on the car issue. I agree with the great majority of your posts on it, and I see the heat you take from those that really don't like American cars.

Me personally, I wouldn't own anything else.

"Propaganda and bullshit. Any CUSTOMER who walks into a Toyota dealership and believes this line of shit deserves whatever the dealership pilfers from their wallet."

Yep. People ought to inform themselves, themselves, about automobiles, and the places that sell them and fix them.

They are one of the single most common things owned in America.


On an OT note:

The 383 I'm building for my little s-10 4x4 pickup is nearly done. I'm going with a q-jet, and I'm still expecting 25-ish mpg from it - in spite of it being carbureted and having some cubes. Late model "one piece rear main" block, scat crank, and vortec heads FWIW.

Aint American iron grand? :toast: