I would like to get feedback from current and former field estimators. I have 26 years in a too young to retire but for my physical and mental health I need to get out of this place. The metrics nonsense and shops are getting more difficult to deal with and management will not back you up and don’t have the courage to refuse to do business with certain shops that refuse to even be close to competitive. It’s not in my job description to go to some of these shops and make sure they get the most money possible out of a repair weather it’s needed or not. These problem shops need to compete against their neighboring shops. This will bring back competition that is in every business. State Farm is the blame for a lot of this as well with their new way of doing business. My question is if anyone has left and found a better workplace. Not really interested in going back to a shop as that is all about the owner who cries his way home to his mansion and treats his employees like State Farm does.
8 replies (most recent on top)
There is life after State Farm. Their objective is to ride you long and hard. Remember if you stay you are gambling with your health. They've rigged the game in their favor. Know it going into your decision. It's great to walk out alive and fly the salute of disrespect.
Ya it's me again mrt so in your post you say your mental and physical health is being affected. The shops are so difficult to deal with. Then in your reply you say 95 percent of the shops love you. Dude if only 5 percent of your shops are problems you have it easy. I used to care too. I see what the company has become, I drop dead tonight SF could care less. And BTW only your first name is on the estimate.
Give em 3 more hours on that dogleg . Make your life easy. Who cares
Mrt “you act like it’s your money” comment is what I have heard shops say for years. I thought that was the concept to control cost and write a fair competitive estimate. I have no control of market area labor rates only the shops do. APU is a total joke if you actually give a sh– about the quality of your estimate. I agree the numbers are obtainable if you play the game but if you want to write an estimate that is accurate you will not be able to. I write an estimate that can actually repair the car at 95% of the shops I deal with and have no complaints. I guess my problem is I still care about what I write. I’m not here to write up estimates that are not accurate just to play numbers games or find ways to make problem shops the most money they can. I know the company no longer cares about quality but I do, as my name is on it.
Dude lighten up it's not your money. I have been doing it over 30 years. We have 100 billion and they know it. You really think the body labor rate is fair. Look what all the other trades charge. The body shop business has changed they are working on very expensive complicated vehicles. The numbers can be met. It's not that hard if apu finds a part put it on. If a part is repairable repair it. Why I'm God's name would you ever argue with a shop. If they are doing quality repairs pay them. If they are out of line say no charge the customer and move on. It is easy or hard that is up to you and how you play it.
With 26 years of service, you will probably get a decent pension at retirement age. IMHO, get out while you still have your health and sanity. That place chews people up and spits them out.
How old are you?... just try and tough it out.....retire early and do something different
Maybe they can pull another RICO off again!