I changed jobs eight years before I retired and realized that I probably made a mistake in many ways except for money. They were paying well.

During the tumultuous period around and post GM bankruptcy there were many dealerships closing and a lot of people scrambling to find another dealership job.

I realized what snakes I worked for when one day I overheard the parts director tell my parts manager “This is the best thing that could have happened. Now they will work for what we want to pay, not what they want.”

They “restructured” our pay plans a couple of times and while I was still making good money it could have been a lot better. I waited it out until I hit 65 and was gone as soon as I could get my vacation time out of them.

Hey Shovelhead, I seem to have hit a sore spot with you just like me.
I hired on in 1987 to a family owned company. It was great! Christmas dinner and bonus,
summer picnic, almost every Friday the owner would go to the nearby bar and buy drinks till midnight.
Then he sold out to a Swedish company and they were ok, then sold to a German company and they were ok
Then we got bought by an American company and they treated us like shit!
When you are in your late 50's to 60's, they think they got you by the balls!
I was just a blue collar truck driver but I pinched pennies and saved money my
whole life, and now I live on less than my SS income at 63years. Maybe I'll dip into my 401k
and buy that first gen Camaro I've always wanted.

Looking back in general it wasn’t a bad run. Even with how badly I screwed up in H.S. I was able to get a foot in the door. Early on I made decent money, as time passed I,was making real good money especially for a guy that was told by the H.S. Co-Op instructor that “I don’t work with losers, that is what you will be.”

All the years of G.M. Strikes, economy slowdowns, recessions, a couple of dealerships I worked at went out of business I never was forced out, always had a place to go to. Four out of ten were great places to work but better opportunities came up and in that business you had to move around, nature of the beast so to speak.

One dealer stood out, small rural dealer, five line GM store. Made good money, anytime I needed a car (both our vehicles were trucks) I could take a demo, didn’t even pay for the gas. Each year at anniversary time average 10% increase without asking. Dealer’s philosophy was “I pay my people well. That’s why they give me all and I don’t have to worry about them screwing me.” Had 24/7 use of the shop to work on my own cars too.

Unfortunately he was expanding that business and some others non car related and overextended himself. It all came crashing down unfortunately, he owned the one I worked at for over twenty years when we closed the doors.

Schmelby, make that Camaro a 67 R/S in Plum Mist with a black vinyl top. Preferably a 396 car too!

quote:

Originally posted by shovelhead:
make that Camaro a 67 R/S in Plum Mist with a black vinyl top. Preferably a 396 car too!

69 RS/SS 396 375 HP Marina Blue. or 383 stroker if I have to.