I've said it before, I'll say it again. The only way to weed out hacks is to create a certification course test for ALL mechanics, that must pass a hands on test before they can be certified as a "Technician" No one would be allowed to just say they're certified unless they're tested and passed in front of someone who IS certified...period! This why I keep saying WE are ALL responsible for OUR industry, and it's certification of mechanics, not any cloth manufacture, nor table manufacture...PERIOD! In my mind set, either you KNOW what you're doing, or you DON'T. If you don't, you won't get the right to say you're certified, and if someone says they're certified, and they are NOT on our list of certified mechanics, then WE as a group will deal with it...legally! But WE must first come together and create this "Association" of mechanics, in order to have the ability to certify mechanics who deserve it, and back 100% those that pass!mechanic/player said:
On this I think we differ, as I believe that the certified technician should get paid all the installation charges, the retailer keeps all the sales profit, as it should beChrisShanklin said:
I'd never work for a retailer who not only made money on the sale, but also off my labor
Certified means the mechanic knows what he's doing for sure, but still says nothing about the installer as a person, and that makes a huge difference in who gets what jobsChrisShanklin said:
Certified does not equal professionalism, wouldn't you agree?ChrisShanklin said:
It sure as hell doesn't, I know if you give some people this certification they will still go about being unprofessional as hell. I'm not pointing fingers at all just thinking of what will happen.realkingcobra said:
I guess his work is as good as his websiteChrisShanklin said:
Oh Yea! His site is top shelf, I could have made that 2 minutes flat. I take that back in two minutes I could make better. If you want to time me you can.PoolTable911 said:
Chris, to be honest with you, I can't think of one reason why a certified technician would work for another one, or a retail store. I think that if anyone went through all the trouble of becoming certified, it would be for the purpose of going into business for themselves, do you agree? So, therefore you're always going to have employee installers and workers, that just don't have the drive to do it on their own, but think about this for a minute. If you've spent the time to train someone to do most of the work THEY would be required to do working for you, then they decided to quit and go out on their own, they'd have a much harder time finding the work...if they were not certified, if certified is what the public wantsChrisShanklin said:
it's up to all of us as to what we do with this industry, US being the leaders, everyone else being the followers
realkingcobra said:Chris, to be honest with you, I can't think of one reason why a certified technician would work for another one, or a retail store. I think that if anyone went through all the trouble of becoming certified, it would be for the purpose of going into business for themselves, do you agree? So, therefore you're always going to have employee installers and workers, that just don't have the drive to do it on their own, but think about this for a minute. If you've spent the time to train someone to do most of the work THEY would be required to do working for you, then they decided to quit and go out on their own, they'd have a much harder time finding the work...if they were not certified, if certified is what the public wants
Glen
. The problem is, as a retailer, if I have in house techs they aren't certified, so no one will want them, if they get certified, SOMEONE may plant the seed that they need to go out on their own. If they go out on their own, all I did was create more competition. I feel like we would be breeding stiff competition, and that in the end I as the retailer would get screwed because I would have to sub contract ALL my work. Which would make me pay sooo much more, not that I don't pay my guys well now, but I sell some tables , but am mostlly 85% service. If it wasn't work the fact that I took some time off the road to grow my business from the sidelines I wouldn't be where I am now.
I don't think I'd worry about it. I've said before that people don't pick this line of work, the work picks the person to do it. It takes a certain kind of person to do this kind of work, and I believe there's plenty of work to go around, but just wanting to do it, is way different than doing it. It's no easy being self-employed as you are aware of, many times over the years I've at times wish I worked for someone else just to get a break from having to find the work and do the work at the same time. It takes years to build up a rep so that work finds you, and no matter what, anyone that is a new mechanic, certified or not, they still have to go down that road and prove themselves to the public, and that takes a lot of time and effort, and just because someone can do the work, don't mean the work will find them. Competing for reputation, is a huge mountain to climb, if you're second in line starting out at the bottom, and the first climber is almost at the top alreadyChrisShanklin said:Glen, they would definitely be on there own. But I am not always out there working on tables, I am usually camping on these boards looking to see what you write
I say we should have territories, like I don't cross into Pat's territory and he doesn't come into mine. I send his people all the time, not sure if anything comes of it, but I won't step on his shoes.
Although our trade is profitable, it wouldn't be if you opened the phone book up and saw 400 pool table service companies. It's the fact that the number is fairly low which makes our business(es) thrive, I wouldn't want to flood our own marketplace with techs.
I just feel there would be need to be some sort of cap so that we aren't a dime a dozen.
realkingcobra said:I don't think I'd worry about it. I've said before that people don't pick this line of work, the work picks the person to do it. It takes a certain kind of person to do this kind of work, and I believe there's plenty of work to go around, but just wanting to do it, is way different than doing it. It's no easy being self-employed as you are aware of, many times over the years I've at times wish I worked for someone else just to get a break from having to find the work and do the work at the same time. It takes years to build up a rep so that work finds you, and no matter what, anyone that is a new mechanic, certified or not, they still have to go down that road and prove themselves to the public, and that takes a lot of time and effort, and just because someone can do the work, don't mean the work will find them. Competing for reputation, is a huge mountain to climb, if you're second in line starting out at the bottom, and the first climber is almost at the top already
Glen
And I thought I liked you...lolChrisShanklin said:
I figured that would get your attention, Flyers are some dirty assholes! You're lucky they have Briere.....and UpshawPoolTable911 said:
