Getting car maintenance done will always come at a cost and, in some cases, really hurt the wallet. Before starting service, mechanics and technicians will offer a quote before addressing the problem at hand. This mechanic in an Orlando, Florida, BMW dealership got in trouble for over-quoting an estimate, which did not sit well with management.
A former BMW technician (@kepzn) reveals how he was recently fired for “over-quoting” a customer, and says he was looking for answers as to what he did wrong. His TikTok has generated over 104,900 views as of this writing.
“So, I got fired today, and I need to know if I am in the wrong,” he begins.
The former technician says he was informed of his last day moments after arriving at his shift. He was hired three months ago and was confused as to why he was being fired.
“I always came in on my day off. I came in on Saturday, and I worked Monday through Saturday. For those that don’t know, technicians get paid based on the work that they do. So, I’d come in on Saturdays to get extra hours. I was the top three out of 46 technicians that could turn the most hours,” he shares.
This technician went above and beyond the usual schedule and averaged 140 hours per pay period. Considering he mentions how he was a top technician working extra hours, something about his firing appeared to be off.
The technician then shares about a car that came into the shop back in March.
“The customer was complaining about a noise when the vehicle was slowing down, and it was a hybrid. So, I get the car in, and I lift it up in the air, and I see the differential is blown up. The entire differential is destroyed. You can see inside the differential from the outside,” he shares.
After observation, the technician gives a quote.
“There is possible rear damage to the axle, so I will quote you the rear axle as well. They had an extended warranty through the dealership. Extended warranty did not want to pay for the axles. They wanted to pay for the differentials first,” he says.
The extended warranty paid for the differentials, but not the rear axles, which upset the customer. The front-of-house workers resolved the issue, and the technician fixed the differential. All is normal until, a few months later, out of the blue, the technician is informed that he is being fired over the car that he serviced in March.
“A couple hours later, they call me in and say, ‘Look, we are going to part ways because of this. You are overquoting,’” he relays.
He says the customer went into the dealership complaining that the rear axles were not covered by the warranty. Each axle costs $5,000 to replace.
“I told them that I was quoting to cover my [expletive] because that’s what we are taught. We quote things to prevent us from looking bad, so that’s why I quoted the rear axle,” he reveals.
The technician played the Uno reverse card, but it didn’t save his job. Management wasn’t buying it and fired him.
“I’m a little upset about it because I don’t think I should be getting fired for something we are told to do, because if we don’t overquote or if we don’t quote to cover our [expletive], we get in trouble. That’s when they do fire people,” he shares.
The technician mentions how a past technician got fired for not over-quoting, which he wanted to avoid.
“I’m just searching for an answer. Tell me if I am in the wrong or not. But I am looking for a new job,” he concludes.
'The Technician Will Always Get The Short End Of The Deal'
The former BMW technician asked for answers, and the viewers answered in the comments section.
“You did your job right. This is an example of a poorly managed dealership with very poor communication. Also an example of a dealership not standing behind their tech when it was stated in your video that there may be possible damage to the axles,” one TikTok commenter added.
“You were punished because you informed a customer of a potential problem which opened a door to a $10,000 policy claim(dealer now has to eat the cost to make sure they don’t get a bad survey). Surveys are way more important than any tech these days,” another shared.
While others believe this wasn’t the only action he took to deserve to be fired.
“I don’t think you got fired because of this. I think this is what they used as their reason. There is a bigger picture here for sure,” one commented.
“100% it was more than just that one thing. Defend your honor as you see fit. I can’t say what it is but it’s never just that one thing,” another added.
More viewers commented on corporate nonsense and the price for rear axle replacement.
“Welcome to ‘Corporate Politics,’” one commented.
“I was a Honda tech at a dealer for 8 years and one thing I learned, just like you said, you’re [expletive] if you do and [expletive] if you don’t. The technician will always get the short end of the deal no matter what,” another shared.
“So they just want you to over quote when it is the customers' money,” one added.
“$5,000 for one axle?? What are they gold plated?” another joked.
What Has Happened Since The Viral TikTok?
The former BMW technician told Motor1 via TikTok direct message that he was not given a clear response as to why he was fired until he asked for clarification two to three times. After initially only being told, “It wasn’t going to work out,” the service manager “eventually told me about a customer coming in and complaining they wanted free axles on their hybrid car that I had worked on 2 months prior.”
He continues, “The car came in with a noise concern that I determined the differential had exploded causing the grinding noise. Back then, I replaced the differential under a third party extended warranty. About a week before I was let go the customer came in with an electrical issue that was totally unrelated to the work I did, so this is why I don't think they gave me a legitimate reason for letting me go.”
He says he finds his firing unjust and feels there’s more to the situation he doesn’t know. He also feels that coming in on his off days to log more hours and being a “top earner” should have afforded him more job security.
However, he says, “I was planning on leaving anyway as a lot of other techs are leaving too. Management doesn’t stand by or help the employees when things are required for our jobs, such as proper internet, computers to diagnose cars or specialized tools that BMW requires dealers to have for Techs. There's also a lot of favoritism when assigning work.”
The technician says he is interviewing at other dealers and waiting for responses. He has also received job offers from “very generous people” since posting his viral video about his firing.
“I appreciate everyone who offered me a job,” he says. “It really does mean a lot. Shops like the one I just got fired from are why people are leaving the industry and don’t want to work on cars as a career anymore. It’s become a serious issue creating a shortage of technicians. Something has to change in the industry and it has to soon.”
What Does An Extended Warranty Cover?
The amount of money that is spent on buying the car is just the beginning of the tab. Car maintenance expenses can easily rack up when owning a vehicle. One BMW driver was quoted $22,000 for an engine replacement, which is tough news to hear. This is why extended warranties have become popular.
An extended warranty is a vehicle protection plan that covers the costs of unexpected repairs to select parts of the car caused by manufacturing defects. Warranties range in coverage and duration; some offer protection to vehicles up to 300,000 miles. These extended warranties are purchased through the dealership or a third party.
Extended warranties will cover issues when the vehicle components, including the powertrain, malfunction. CarShield shares that this includes the engine, differentials, driveshaft, and transmission. Progressive notes that extended warranties often cover axles.
Extended warranties do not cover any repairs or accidents caused by the driver. This is where auto insurance comes into play.
Now, extended warranties have many nuances and small details, so it’s important to read the fine print.
@kepzn #bmw #mechanic #bmwmotorsport #mechaniclife #mechanicsoftiktok ♬ original sound - Kepseason
