Thread: Sick of winter?

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Winter sucks down here in Houston, business wise. Weather is fair, no cars are breaking much.
As hot weather arrives they fall like flies. For now, it's hand to mouth in the auto repair business.
Looking forward to hot weather, myself!

Just the opposite up here....even the good drivers crash their cars in the snow and ice...Autobody / collision work is cracking up here...pennies from heaven (snowflakes )

Originally Posted by ReardenSteel

Wish I would have known, I haven't met splashone, but I think he lives nearby, would have been nice to meet you & splashone face to face. I don't think he is active anymore, but UACowboy lives 2 neighborhoods over but we never actually met, couple of PM's and that was it.

Maybe next trip I can meet up with you. I'd like to ride back to TN and visit with tcrideshd and his lovely bride and there would be some members along the way.

With that said, there's nothing written in stone. Only time will tell what happens.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Being Self Employed you'll understand this:

When I was attending Auto Body Repair at the local Community College, the veteran repairman who was our instructor said that the norm for employment in the Auto Body Shops was on Commission and there were months that we'd be eating Chicken and the next month we'd be eating Feathers.

Back then in 1975 the Labor Rate was $13 per hour with a 40/60 split with me getting the 40%. There were many months when I would Clear $1000.00 and then were months when I barely Grossed $300.

When my first child was on her way into this life, that's when I decided to go back to the grocery business. Overall I made a little more but the paychecks were steady.

Hang In There!

Yep ..when I started my autobody craft in 1976 ..shop rate was 14.00 per hour...and fast forward to 2017.. it 48-50.00 per hour....whoppy Ding !

Originally Posted by nessmuck

Yep ..when I started my autobody craft in 1976 ..shop rate was 14.00 per hour...and fast forward to 2017.. it 48-50.00 per hour....whoppy Ding !

Back then I was working at a Cadillac Chevrolet Dealership and we sold Corvettes for 7K.

I remember a Cadillac Seville with leather seats and all the whistles and bells selling for $15,500.

There was a Vega 5speed/no air but with all power that I bought for about $3500. It had the steel liners in the engine and I drove the hell out of that car. I still remember how it smelled!

Minimum wage was about $3.25 an hour or something like that.

When I left the family run store to start my career with Safeway I was started at one notch below Journeyman at $7.10 an hour/more than double minimum wage.

When I retired a year ago I made $15.50 an hour and Minimum Washington State Wage $9.47.

What a difference!

Big auto shops here are at 130 an hour. No joke
Charge for every little thing.
I dunno what body is, but 55 an hour last time I checked.

Come on, Summertime!

Originally Posted by RezDog

This time of year I am often tired of how short the days are here. They are starting to get longer now but they still make me feel like hibernating. Of course it is not quite the same as what is making you tired of winter, but spring would certainly be a welcome changed.

+1; these west-coast winters can be challenging with so much darkness and rain!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Big auto shops here are at 130 an hour. No joke
Charge for every little thing.
I dunno what body is, but 55 an hour last time I checked.

Come on, Summertime!

Yup....mechanics can charge what ever they want.....on the other hand ...autobody has taken it in the face over the years...it's our own fault....just let the big insurance company's dictate the labor rates...Dealers are 120 - 130.00 up here too.

Ya, I never got that. Autobody requires some mechanical and electrical skills.
Computer skills these days!
I would figure the same for that?

Originally Posted by cudarunner

My youngest brother lived in Spokane WA for three years--said it was the only place he'd ever lived where you could only take your snow tires off for 3 months of the year.

As far for me being tired of winter, I could easily get by with Spring, Summer and Fall, year after year after year.

Winter! Bah Humbug!
Attachment 255862

What's not funny are those people who still insist winter driving here does not require snow tires whatsoever. This winter may have been a shock to them. On a more serious note, I only run snow tires about 3 months out of the year on average. The rest of the year is worth the punishment, IMHO.

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Winter sucks down here in Houston, business wise. Weather is fair, no cars are breaking much.
As hot weather arrives they fall like flies. For now, it's hand to mouth in the auto repair business.
Looking forward to hot weather, myself!

I grew up in Houston and don't miss the high humidity, heat, bugs, traffic, pine trees, flat land, muddy water, and did I mention bugs? However, I do miss fishing on the Gulf of Mexico and Antonio's Flying Pizza!