Everyone cross their fingers.

Last week I emailed my boss asking to have a meeting to discuss my salary.
Well we went to lunch today.
He started talking before I said anything.
He said he and his boss are both very happy with me, the job I do, my attendance and even said he felt I am under paid.

Then it was my turn.
I told him that I was not job hunting but was solicited by one of the companies I buy parts from and was offered to start at 15% more than what I’m at now. I declined the offer but I called about 10 other truck part places, spoke to the parts manager and all of them START counter people off 15% more than what I’m at after being here for 19 months.

I then showed examples of where in just the last month I have saved the company over $5760.

Again I said that I wasn’t looking. I like my job, and I’m comfortable with the crew I work with. But it’s only fair that I be compensated the common market value for my abilities.

My boss and his boss have to present this to the president of the company.
So cross your fingers everyone.

Not gonna do it.

Sounds like you made the right pitch and you shouldn't need any luck.

wish the best for ya

Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition...on second thought, you look like you're already stocked on ammo, and have your guns well laid and registered. Fire for effect!!!

If they have half a brain to share, they'll realize just what a asset they have with you. So much time is spent by employers to get qualified applicants in the door, then to test and finally train that person- the figures for many of these companies is astounding. The way you approached this is perfect, and maybe the kick in the pants that they needed to be competitive in the employee retention market. As far as looking for another job, it sounds like you may be in the wrong position. With your maturity, it seems to me that you are better suited for management. There are lots of bad employees out there to choose from, and even fewer qualified managers to support them. Good luck.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: He started talking before I said anything......

1st rule of negotiations, the first person to speak LOSES .... right on man!

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Former West Coast Fiero Employee
www.WestCoastFiero.com


Eric Nelson
Internet Sales Manager
Power Ford Valencia
nelsone@autonation.com

i know it will probably take a week or so before i get an answer, but this waiting is killing me.

Sounds like a shoe-in! Nice job presenting your case.

Nolan

thanks for all the nice words guys.
i'll keep you posted.

If you saved them 5g, they'd be stupid not to promote you with at least 2g month raise. Don't know what 15% is.

quote Originally posted by Gokart Mozart: If you saved them 5g, they'd be stupid not to promote you with at least 2g month raise. Don't know what 15% is.

Exactly- you did that at a non-management level, imagine what you could do higher up the ladder. Besides, if I was your boss, I'd want someone with your character to be leading the troops!

quote Originally posted by Gokart Mozart: If you saved them 5g, they'd be stupid not to promote you with at least 2g month raise. Don't know what 15% is.

thanks. i cant say what i make just in case a co worker that has a 84 SE decides to join PFF (yes, i am a PFF pimp and have told him about the forum)
it's not a lot of money, but it's in the upper 3/4 for being a car parts guy. but apparently the truck parts guys make more than I knew.
i landed this gig about a year and a half ago.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: ...yes, i am a PFF pimp ...

You ain't the only one, lol...every Fiero owner I meet...or chase down

quote Originally posted by F-I-E-R-O: Exactly- you did that at a non-management level, imagine what you could do higher up the ladder. Besides, if I was your boss, I'd want someone with your character to be leading the troops!

Well I am the manager, and the employee.
I manage the parts department, but there aren’t any other people in the parts department here.
I do it all. Keep the shelves stocked with common parts, order unusual parts, handle cores, file part warranty claims and even take out my own trash.

How I saved the company money is because I am the one buying the parts.
I buy an acceptable quality product at the lowest price I can find.
As an example of my $5760 savings I came up with.

We had to rebuild an engine this month, the first quote I got was for $8000 in parts (yes you read that right $8000 in parts alone to rebuild a diesel engine). But I kept shopping around and got the same brand name parts for $5500.
Saved $2500.00

Next, in the last 12 months we spent $39,510 on FILTERS!!!
I negotiated an additional discount of 8% after a few meetings with my supplier and the manufacturing rep. So assuming we will by the same number of filters I saved $3160.00

Those were my “homeruns”.

The little stuff… I recently bought 2 air filter restriction gauges at $43 each.
I found the same name brand product for $17. I bought two of the $17 ones and returned the $43 ones.
Saved $52.00

I priced an AC Delco starter from Kenworth for a Kenworth truck for $240.00.
I found the same starter after a few phone calls for 180.00
Saved $60.00

So this wasn’t a “special” month, I do this all day long everyday.

If I was a manager I wouldn’t be able to directly watch everything.

Call it loyalty to the company, pride in my work, whatever... but I treat the companies money like it was my own.

As a final thought.
I could go just about anywhere and start with a 15% raise and have a lot less responsibility.

Now I’m rambling.

I’m gonna go change my master cylinder on my 85 GT

Good presentation... If they dont give you the response your looking for you might want to brush up on your "bluffing skills". And dont be afraid to take it to the 11th hour !!

And if that dont work I guess eating some crow is in order.. Medium well ?

quote Originally posted by Spoon: If they dont give you the response your looking for you might want to brush up on your "bluffing skills". And dont be afraid to take it to the 11th hour !!

that didn't make any sense to me

quote Originally posted by Spoon: And if that dont work I guess eating some crow is in order...

neither did that
eating crow is when you've done something wrong and you come crawling back. i haven't.

It all sounds good, but I would pursue other opportunities- just in case. You can always say no. If done professionally, no bridges will burn.

Good luck!!

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1986 SE 350 V8

I hope you get the raise and a fat turkey for Thanksgiving.

god, i cant believe it's been over 3 months and they are just now about to disclose what they think i am worth.

Holy CRAP!
I remember when you started this thread. They're just now getting around to it?!
Nice.

Best...

Jeeez! Next time they ask you to do something, tell them to come back in three months and ask again!

quote Originally posted by FieroRumor: Jeeez! Next time they ask you to do something, tell them to come back in three months and ask again!

Haha well said.

If they say they're about to disclose something that sounds good — otherwise they would just delay some more and say nothing. Good luck!

[This message has been edited by timwdegner (edited 10-09-2007).]

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: god, i cant believe it's been over 3 months and they are just now about to disclose what they think i am worth.

Hmmm.... they should make any raise retroactive after all this time.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: neither did that eating crow is when you've done something wrong and you come crawling back. i haven't.

I think what he was trying to say was to bluff and say you are quitting. Force them to make a decision by holding out to the last possible moment (11th hour). If that doesn't work, then you will have to eat crow buy not actually quiting.

Jim

Buddy,
I gotta be honest with you. You're screwed. Never ask unless you have a back up plan. I'd be seriously looking now and once you've found what you want, tell them your'e moving on. If they really want to keep you, you'll find out then. You already told them you weren't looking and like the folks you work with. I guarantee you that after your first meeting, there was another meeting. At that meeting, there was a discussion that considered several things. 1) Who could replace you. 2) Did the folks you met with think you would get mad and quit. 3) How long they could go without giving you the raise and if forced to give you the raise, how much it would take to satisfy you. And the list goes on.

Everyone is replaceable. I'm not saying you don't know this but, I assure you, your boss does.

How does your company pay it's other employees in key positions based on the going market rate for your area? Do they have a high turnover rate for employees? How long did the last guy that had your job last before he moved on? I sincerely hope you get what you want but, call me a skeptic.
------------------
Ron

Never, never do anything or wear things that you don't want to have to explain to Paramedics, it can get very embarrassing. They talk!

[This message has been edited by blackrams (edited 10-09-2007).]

quote Originally posted by jimbolaya: I think what he was trying to say was to bluff and say you are quitting. Force them to make a decision by holding out to the last possible moment (11th hour). If that doesn't work, then you will have to eat crow buy not actually quiting.

ahh, but then they know you have no loyalty.

there's one guy here that's been with the company for 25 years.
at this point, they give him a lot of slack because of his loyalty.

[This message has been edited by buddycraigg (edited 10-10-2007).]

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: i was solicited, i already have another job waiting for me. that's what started all of this.

Understood, but is it still there waiting on you. I sincerely hope it is but opportunities tend to be taken by someone. There are always lots of variables to consider, pay isn't the only reason most of us work, benefits, hours, distance to work, lots of stuff. Employers that have significant loyality to employees are rare, the decision will almost always be for what is best for the company. Sometimes, it's also best for the employee, sometimes not. I really hope you get what is best for you.

------------------
Ron

Never, never do anything or wear things that you don't want to have to explain to Paramedics, it can get very embarrassing. They talk!

quote Originally posted by blackrams: I really hope you get what is best for you.

thanks.
while i was conducting these "pay scale interviews" just about every manager i spoke to tried to offer me a job.
so i feel pretty confident that i could tell my company to sit and spin and still end up getting an increase in my pay within a week.

my son's mother is terribly disappointed with me for waiting this long for them to respond.
and she lets me know it everytime i talk to her.

maybe i'm naive, but i'm counting on the company to belly up.

[This message has been edited by buddycraigg (edited 10-18-2007).]

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: maybe i'm naive, but i'm counting on the company to belly up.

I remember a long time ago when I was 21 years old. I had been working for the same company for four years and I wanted a significant raise (after a series of relatively small ones). I told them if I didn't get it I was leaving. They offered me another piddley raise. I quit.

Two months later they called me in to “have a talk”. They offered to pay me what I had earlier asked for. I said no, if they wanted me back it was now going to cost them extra. They increased their offer, but it wasn’t quite what I was demanding. And yes, make no mistake about it, I was demanding it. They refused to pay the amount I had targeted, I refused to go back for anything less.

Three or four years later, they were out of business (after having been around for thirty years). One reason - they were never able to find anyone competent and reliable enough to do the job I had already been trained to do (for what they wanted to pay). Karma...

The most important part of this story (as it relates to a lot of people who might be hesitant about leaving a job) - I never EVER regretted quitting (and not going back). They had screwed me around numerous times over the years. Gawd it felt good to tell them thanks, but no thanks, and to walk out of the boss’s office never to return.

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-10-2007).]

i wish i had that resolve when i was 21

A word of caution here, some companies have a specific time when they give raises to their employees. If you aren't in that time frame you may have to wait.

quote Originally posted by avengador1: A word of caution here, some companies have a specific time when they give raises to their employees. If you aren't in that time frame you may have to wait.

if that was the hold up, they could tell me that.

so far they are just dangling the carrot
well, i'm not even sure that it is a carrot.

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: the cards need to be laid on the table, and i need to like the hand dealt or it's time to fold.

Well, come on Buddy, what's the word? We wanna know!

[This message has been edited by Patrick (edited 10-18-2007).]

i was just emotional when i said that. Polly had just got done beating me up about this. and i wanted to feel manly.
I've waited this long, i can wait a little bit longer.

my boss, his boss, and the president of the company are supposed to have a meeting first thing in the morning just about me

the only problem is, the president doesn't think my job position is needed.

i really want things to work out here.
but i'm a pessimist, so i hope for the best and prepair for the worst.
no wait...
i expect the worst and prepair for it too.

i can see the dark cloud in any silver lining.

and remember when i was talking about loyalty? the tech that's been there 27 years turned in his notice today.
maybe the sky really is falling.

[This message has been edited by buddycraigg (edited 10-15-2007).]

quote Originally posted by buddycraigg: the only problem is, the president doesn't think my job position is needed.

Is that really what he thinks, or is this just part of their bargaining strategy with you?

It’s funny how a particular job within a company needs to be filled when they can get away with paying peanuts for someone to do it, but all of a sudden the position is supposedly expendable if/when they’re forced to raise the ante. You may have to call their bluff.

Without knowing all the pertinent details, I wouldn’t suggest you immediately tell them to take a hike and leave, but unfortunately it doesn’t sound promising...

personally i would simply call the person who offered you 15% more and ask them when you can start. if they say right away tell them you would like to put in your two weeks notice so your not burning any bridges. most employers i've noticed don't have a problem with that. Put in your two weeks in written form stating where your loyalties were till you were told you may no longer be needed. Honestly from that point they may offer you more then your would be new employer or they may just say good bye. if they just say good bye then they were going to let you go anyway. in either case you win. just my .02.

------------------

Thank you F-I-E-R-O for the Sig!

"And remember: amateurs built the ark ....
professionals built the Titanic."

like i said, i'm going to wait to see what they offer.

i agreed to this hourly wage when i interviewed, but there were supposed to be bonus programs that never came to light.

as long as the company provides bonus programs that are within reach, then they have kept up their part of the bargin.
although two years late, and that's money i cant make up.

my boss came into my office today and did some back peddling about being able to give me an hourly increase before it was time.
he doesn't have the last word, cause it's up to the president. but it does go against the first words out of his mouth at our lunch meeting when this all started.

[This message has been edited by buddycraigg (edited 10-18-2007).]

We need someone asap in our parts dept... wanna move to Canada