Just need to vent...

so as some of you know, i work as a detailer at a "high end" dealership. if you have seen my thread "diaries of a dealership detailer", you have gotten a taste of how things go down in places like this. but now i feel like im at a breaking point. i'll try and make this as short as possible.

when i started, the detail manager was a complete idiot. he didnt work, and he knew nothing about proper detailing and was a racist towards white people. it all started to get really out of hand, so i took it upon myself to speak up to the GM about it all. the GM is the owners son. he told me to just hang in there, but keep reporting back to him when bad stuff happens etc etc. i do, and the GM starts talking to me about it more and more, and basically gives me the impression that he is going to fire him once he "builds a case" and also gives me the impression that he will promote me to detail manager. in the meantime, the detail manager hires this kid he knows. 19 years old, barely any legit detailing experience, nice kid though. i take him under my wing and show him the ropes and basically train him as best i can in the ways of proper detailing.

eventually, the GM fires my boss. he takes me out to lunch the next day, and im thinking, cool, hes going to promote me. long story short, he doesnt, and over lunch tells me how he's going to hire someone else. new detail manager doesnt show up first two days of work and we're all thinking, wtf is this. he finally shows up, and he actually works, but is still a far cry from what i would consider a proper detailer. coincidentally, he's also racist towards white people. he seems to be a little "slow", easily confused, short tempered. the smallest hiccup just sets him right off. he gets to the point where every day he keeps telling us how he's going to quit, but never actually does. at this point, after not getting the promotion the first time around, my mentality is F-this, im just going to come to work, do my best work, put in my hours, and mind my own business. im not playing "rat" anymore to get nothing out of it. finally yesterday, the new detail manager flips out about something the sales manager says to him, so he goes up to the show room and flips out up there and is yelling and cursing. i laugh about it, and go on lunch. i come back from lunch, and the detail manager is not there. the young kid who i trained and work with coms up to me, and tells me how our GM came back, and the GM, the kid, and the detail manager have a little meeting. the GM tells the detail manager that he's being demoted to a detailer, and how the GM is going to promote the KID to detail manager. the kid tells me all this, and i was speechless. literally. now this kid is my boss, and i once again get the shaft. im thinking about it, i TRAINED the kid, he's pretty young, still not that great at his job, i have seniority, and im WAY more experienced than anyone there, and now he's been promoted instead of me. needless to say, im fucking furious about this. all day today at work, i just wanted to tell them all to get fucked, and walk out. but i need this job right now. so im stuck for the time being. all day today, i just wanted to flip out. i just cant comprehend how this all makes sense in my GM's head.

im at the point where i dont even know what to do. i asked me GM flat out why he promoted him instead of me, and he says "because he tells me a lot about what goes on back here". isnt that what i did in the first place with the first asshole they hired? and was still overlooked in that situation? i can tell my GM is playing favorites, because i have too much self respect to become someones bitch in order to get enough "attention" to warrant a promotion. in my mind, promotions are based on seniority, quality of work, and experience, all of which i have more than enough of over anyone there. and the icing on the cake, the kid hires one of his "boys", another unexperienced detailer who can only do interiors, at the same pay rate im getting.

 

I'm going to make this short since in doing it from my phone but I'd say hang In there for now. I know its ruff I've had similar things happen to me and I'd say continue to do ur job for now and wait until u can move ontp bigger and better things. This kid might get fired if the gm realizes his mistake and then u might get a chance at the position. I can only imagine how pissed u must be. Hit me up if u need to vent more ill have my blackbrry close by lol

 

Try and talk to the owner if you can. If he's anything fatherly like, he won't like the way his son is running the business and he will deal with it. Tell him that essentially, the people who are being hired destroy the finish on his cars. I'll take care of the rest.

 

my wife and I both read this Billy. We think you need to leave there and find another detailer's job.

Wanna sell Avon with my wife?

 

And this is why I want to work for myself...

 

Dude that blows on so many level its not even funny. But if you don't have another job lined up you're gonna have to suck it up. I would consider going above the GM's head, but you risk your job doing it.

Maybe take some pics of your work vs. your manager's work for some proof.

 

Man, do i feel this 10 times over what you mention here. Pretty much come to the conclusion that i am tired of beating myself up and make sure i do what i got to do to survive. Dealing with a particular mind set is practically impossible. I try to give myself a few days to come back to earth and think with a little more clearer conscious. Do your job, as tough as that is, and continue to let your work speak for itself. Wish you the best.

 

That sucks and I feel for you, but you need to suck it up and walk out ASAP. You can find another job. These guys have no respect for you.

 

I agree Billy don't get yourself caught up in a work environement that doesn't foster your growth as well as appreciate your hard work. Get out of there man, don't get stuck.

 

hey, Billy, I hate to say this, but in this case if you don't want to put up with it, you might wanna consider getting a detail manager position at another place...I've noticed that very often you don't even need to be a good detailer to become a detail manager, you just need to convince them to believe you.

 

i would leave and try to take thier clientel with me, F*#k it your already doing thier cars anyways im sure they would follow you wherever you went

 

Billy..your frustration is justified, no question. I caution you about venting publically in a forum such as this. No need to compound your problem with getting slapped with a libel suit or some such thing. You say you need the job. Get resumes out there now. Use your breaks to work the phone and deliver them in person to other places. I agree that workplace probably does not appreciate you but don't close the door until you're ready with the next one. Bills have to get paid, that's life. Your talent will get you a new job.

 

thanks guys i appreciate the support a lot. it at least lets me know im not overreacting about this whole situation. i considered going over the GM's head and talking to the owner, but realized that it wont really get me anywhere for two reasons. A: the dealership is in the midst of being bought out by another area dealership "dynasty", so in about 60 days, i'll technically be working for another company. B: if i did go straight to the owner, im sure he would see it the way i do, as the reason he has to sell his dealership is that his son, the GM, ran the company into the ground. he already knows his son is an idiot. plus, even if the owner did side with me and rectify the situation in some way, his son would still be my boss at the end of the day and it would be even more miserable. additionally, seeing how the place is run as a whole now, i dont even know that i really would even WANT to be part of their management. sure the pay increase would be sweet. but my main reason for being upset about this is how it all went down. its the PRINCIPAL of the situation and how this all went down that is really pissing me off. its not even really so much of me not getting the job. i still have a job that pays pretty well, so im grateful for that.

richy, i really appreciate your concern and input in particular. im hoping that me purposefully not stating the name of the company will somewhat protect me from the chance of having a situation like that on my hands.

on the bright side, with the new company taking over soon, my logic is that they could come in here and fire off all of the management and replace them with their own. IE: if i DID get the job, there's a chance that i could lose it soon anyways once the new company takes over. the rest of us "regular" employees have pretty much been guaranteed our jobs though.

regardless, im going to start looking for work elsewhere. coincidentally the company that is taking over, i worked for right before i came to the new company, and i wasnt pleased with how the previous company treated their employees either. that was my reason for leaving. now im going to be working for them again in 60 days.

i do have a really good opportunity coming up in the spring to basically be guaranteed to get into a commercial elevator installation union company that is owner by a good friend of my fathers, but thats a waiting game.

 

Billy ... glad you are feeling better

If you don't mind me asking ... which elevator company?

 

im not sure exactly what the name of the company is. i'll have to check with my dad sometime this weekend and i'll let you know. he's basically guaranteeing me a job though. 4 year apprenticeship and then full engineer position after that. just all depends on when and how many they'll be hiring.

 

I work for an small elevator company that is owned by Otis Elevator. I deal with a lot of elevator companies in the area and I can give you some insight about the market.

 

That blows soooooooo bad bud! Holy crap. As stated though, don't quit. Get your resumes out while you are still earning a paycheck. The economy still sucks too bad to chance not being able to get another job. If you do get another job, your resignation will be your payback!

 

it's either work for yourself of spend endless our combing the internet for another job. Stick with what you have for now, and leave first chance you get or start putting a business plan together for your own gig.

 

this is BS i agree.at my work i pretty much get about same bs, i have more responsibilty and get paid same as guys who just started. i finaly got what kinda company it is so i just dont give a shit anymore, do what i need and looking for new job

 

Billy,
Your frustration is understood. I do agree with Richy about being cautious about your wording on a public forum. One question, how do you KNOW these guys are racist against white people? That's a pretty strong statement to make so just be careful of what and how you say it. I'm not trying to chastise you but just trying to help.
Take care,
Marcus