The Jaded Mechanic

10/18/2026

10/17/2026

You don't need the most expensive tools to get started as a technician.

There will be good days and bad days, and learning the trade comes with its challenges. The key is starting with the basics and building your toolbox as you go.

A tool cart, impact, sockets, pliers, screwdrivers, and a torque wrench can help you get your feet wet without spending a fortune upfront.

The goal is to get started, gain experience, and grow your skills. You can invest in more expensive tools as your career progresses.

10/16/2026

Not every technician thrives on flat rate, and that matters.

For some technicians, the constant pressure of chasing work, watching jobs go to someone else, and never knowing what the paycheck will look like can take a serious toll on mental health.

A predictable paycheck offers something different: stability, peace of mind, and the freedom to make choices. If the work is done and the shop is caught up, a technician shouldn't have to feel punished for it.

Compensation isn't just about how much you can make. It's also about how you want to live.

10/16/2026

My brother Zeb Beard at Strokers with some truth that alot of shops dont wanna hear. Im so proud more shops are finally starting to see their value and no longer giving away so much skill and expertise.

10/15/2026

Being an advocate for your customer isn't about selling more work. It's about helping them make informed decisions.

Inspect the vehicle, explain what needs attention, why it matters, and how soon it should be addressed. You don't have to pressure someone into a repair to do your job well.

When a shop isn't desperate for every repair order, the focus can shift from making a sale to genuinely serving the customer. That's how trust is built.

People don't want to feel sold to. They want to know they're being taken care of.

10/14/2026

A technician's skill isn't measured by the brand of tools in their toolbox.

For years, the stigma around buying less expensive tools made young technicians feel like they had to spend big just to prove themselves. But that mindset has pushed people away from an industry that needs them.

We need to stop making the cost of entry another barrier to becoming a technician.

Whether it's helping someone buy their first set of tools, offering financing, or providing support along the way, we need to find ways to help the next generation get started.

The goal should be to develop skilled technicians, not judge them by what's in their toolbox.

10/14/2026

There’s more to this trade than just fixing cars. You’ve got diagnostics, flat rate, tool costs, and a whole lot of things that can make a technician’s job harder than it needs to be. In this episode, Jeff sits down with Josh Farris, a Mini Cooper dealership tech from Michigan, to talk about dealership life, electrical diagnostics, pay plans, and what it takes to build a career in this industry. They also get into why technicians deserve to be paid for inspections, why good communication matters, and how the right leadership can make a difference. Give it a listen. There’s plenty to talk about in this one.

In this episode, Jeff is with Josh Farris, a Mini Cooper dealership...

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

In todays episode although it wasn't the intention wound up being almost a testament to who's the real weak links in the chain at most shops today. Todays guest Josh Farris is a master tech at a Mini dealership in Michigan and he shares with us his journey to getting there and some of the obstacles staffing and processes brought too him. Now I know it seems like we're forever ripping on advisors in here but I think the reality right now is when it comes to the inevitable production question and issue that theres too many eyes on techs not producing and not enough focus on work that's not getting sold. It's an unpopular opinion as well in here because of alot of the typical dynamic happens when we take a strong master tech that opens a shop and brings in a wife as a service writer that's never had any training it quickly becomes a situation of survival mode with an employee that most managers wont hold accountable for production and performance. Now compound that by adding more techs under the same under performing advisor to better serve your customers and watch the overhead skyrocket and the profits tank. So like I've said before if you have a limited budget for training and cant afford that both techs and advisors go send your advisors. I think its gonna be a better investment in a lot of shops for boosting production. Speaking of training we're quickly coming up on the AAPEX Show in a few weeks and we're again giving away hotel and show admission to one lucky tech in here so if you wanna nominate someone deserving please message me and tell us why.

The Jaded Mechanic Podcast · Episode