Hot take: Our shop's push for quick fixes is hurting real skill

Lately, my boss wants every dent job done in a day, no matter how bad it is. Some guys say this is just how the business works now, and faster work means more cash in our pockets. But I've been doing this for ten years, and I see the difference when we rush. Last week, a car came back because the filler popped after a rainstorm. It's embarrassing and costs us repeat customers. Other techs argue that customers don't care as long as it looks okay fast. I think we're losing our touch and training new people badly. How do you handle the pressure to speed up without messing up the repair?

3 comments

3 Comments

shah.lisa1mo agoMost Upvoted

Wait, are we making too much of this? Speed doesn't always mean bad work! @the_faith joked about speed painting, but hey, if it gets the job done fast and looks good, why complain? I've seen rushed jobs that hold up just fine. Maybe it's about finding a balance instead of saying all quick fixes are bad.

the_faith1mo ago

Oh boy, your boss wants everything done in a day? That's like expecting a perfect job in five minutes! No wonder fillers pop after rain when you rush through the job. Maybe we should start calling it 'speed painting' instead of auto repair! But seriously, it sucks when quality takes a back seat just to make quick cash. Hope you can find a way to slow them down without getting in trouble!

the_jenny1mo ago

Lisa's "speed doesn't always mean bad work" point is fair, but @the_faith is right about the rain problem. The real cost is training new techs that rushed work is okay, which hurts the whole trade long-term.