Its actually a complex job and you have to be able to think on your feet. First, you have to know about cars. Not just know models, but know about how they are built, how to take various parts off the car, install them, painting the car, etc. Second, when your working at a small business, you have to know something about how a business operates such as accounting, profit/loss, etc. Third, you have to sell your estimates to experienced insurance adjusters who want to redline your sheets at every turn. Fourth, you have to work with commissioned technicians and sell them on your estimate. These are usually rough 3rd world guys who get a commission on each hour on the sheet. Fifth, dealing with the owner of the business is a complex reality. Sixth, there is too much to it to entirely explain and there is no way just anyone can walk off the street to do it.
I have been into cars my entire life, since high school, and know exactly what it takes to rebuild one. I've been in various car clubs and participated in several rebuilds. I have worked with various estimating systems like ADP, Mitchell and Pathways. As well, I have been a salesman my entire life and know how to sell.
As for salary, it depends upon where you work. If you want to make a six digit salary as an estimator, then you have to be in an area like Mountain View or Southern California where new cars are the rule and not the exception. You have to be able to push through at least 100k in repairs per month without any problems or complaints. You wont make that kind of money in some place like Kansas. There is simply not enough new cars there and bodyshops in that region are not profitable.
If you want to see the money that can be made in bodyshops or at a car dealership in California, then walk into Harry's Body Shop on La Brea in Los Angeles. Harry Barsegian is a rich man and so are his estimators in the office. Bentleys and Vanquishes are what he repairs as well as many other vehicles. Walk into Holmes Bodyshop in Pasadena and look at the pieces of expensive artwork on the wall. How about Marco's Autobody which is a 25+ million dollar a year operation? You can find their headquarters in San Gabriel and that location alone moves $1,000,000+ in repairs per month. Last time I checked Marco drives a Lexus SC430 and his wife a BMW 5 series.
In California, the estimators make close to six digits, the guys who work in the service booths close to six digits, the car salesman over six digits, and the guys who own these operations close to seven digits if not more.
These are not easy jobs. Dont think you can just walk right in not knowing anything and think you will last two weeks. You have to know how to sell, know what your selling and know who your selling to. You have an owner that is constantly on your back and watching your every move. If your not an aggressive knowledgable "rainmaker", then you will be fired in about a week. If there is so much as one complaint from anyone because of your service, then your fired quickly.
For myself, I have always worked in aggressive sales operations and know how to hold my own. I've always produced without excuse and have always been able to make six digits year after year. Even in the worst of times like the recession of 2001, I was still able to turn six digits. I had to work at a car dealership to do it selling repairs, but I did it.
There is no estimator, car salesman, service coordinator, etc. that will work for 40k in California. None. The most successful man that I met, who didnt actually own the operation itself, was the general manager of the Penske operation in Downey California. He could regularly be seen driving out of the dealership in either a Mercedes S500 or Porsche 911 wearing a tailored suit.
Try hiring an estimator yourself either in the NYC area, Los Angeles area or the San Francisco bay area for 40,000. You wont be able to find one for that, guaranteed....
Im willing to bet a grand that I could get twice the money working at a car dealership or autobody in Greenwich then this young man can get working at a hedge fund. This is a very shocking reality. They will have this guy work his ass off for that 5k, which is year 2000 salary, and I dont think they will move him anywhere where as I can get a job at car dealership selling cars and EASILY make over 10k a month.
I'll put a grand up right now because I know that I am right. Are you willing to throw up a grand and participate in this bet or just post up some random links and talk about something you dont know about?
I have been into cars my entire life, since high school, and know exactly what it takes to rebuild one. I've been in various car clubs and participated in several rebuilds. I have worked with various estimating systems like ADP, Mitchell and Pathways. As well, I have been a salesman my entire life and know how to sell.
As for salary, it depends upon where you work. If you want to make a six digit salary as an estimator, then you have to be in an area like Mountain View or Southern California where new cars are the rule and not the exception. You have to be able to push through at least 100k in repairs per month without any problems or complaints. You wont make that kind of money in some place like Kansas. There is simply not enough new cars there and bodyshops in that region are not profitable.
If you want to see the money that can be made in bodyshops or at a car dealership in California, then walk into Harry's Body Shop on La Brea in Los Angeles. Harry Barsegian is a rich man and so are his estimators in the office. Bentleys and Vanquishes are what he repairs as well as many other vehicles. Walk into Holmes Bodyshop in Pasadena and look at the pieces of expensive artwork on the wall. How about Marco's Autobody which is a 25+ million dollar a year operation? You can find their headquarters in San Gabriel and that location alone moves $1,000,000+ in repairs per month. Last time I checked Marco drives a Lexus SC430 and his wife a BMW 5 series.
In California, the estimators make close to six digits, the guys who work in the service booths close to six digits, the car salesman over six digits, and the guys who own these operations close to seven digits if not more.
These are not easy jobs. Dont think you can just walk right in not knowing anything and think you will last two weeks. You have to know how to sell, know what your selling and know who your selling to. You have an owner that is constantly on your back and watching your every move. If your not an aggressive knowledgable "rainmaker", then you will be fired in about a week. If there is so much as one complaint from anyone because of your service, then your fired quickly.
For myself, I have always worked in aggressive sales operations and know how to hold my own. I've always produced without excuse and have always been able to make six digits year after year. Even in the worst of times like the recession of 2001, I was still able to turn six digits. I had to work at a car dealership to do it selling repairs, but I did it.
There is no estimator, car salesman, service coordinator, etc. that will work for 40k in California. None. The most successful man that I met, who didnt actually own the operation itself, was the general manager of the Penske operation in Downey California. He could regularly be seen driving out of the dealership in either a Mercedes S500 or Porsche 911 wearing a tailored suit.
Try hiring an estimator yourself either in the NYC area, Los Angeles area or the San Francisco bay area for 40,000. You wont be able to find one for that, guaranteed....
Im willing to bet a grand that I could get twice the money working at a car dealership or autobody in Greenwich then this young man can get working at a hedge fund. This is a very shocking reality. They will have this guy work his ass off for that 5k, which is year 2000 salary, and I dont think they will move him anywhere where as I can get a job at car dealership selling cars and EASILY make over 10k a month.
I'll put a grand up right now because I know that I am right. Are you willing to throw up a grand and participate in this bet or just post up some random links and talk about something you dont know about?
