[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil]
Also, I signed a non-compete contract with my company that restricts me from working for Mike’s for I believe 18 months after I leave this job, so I legally can’t really do that.
[/QUOTE]
Eh. Wrench-work is wrench work. As long as you aren’t spilling “company secrets” your non-compete shouldn’t restrict you from working for any other car-wash.
[QUOTE=ExTank]
Eh. Wrench-work is wrench work. As long as you aren’t spilling “company secrets” your non-compete shouldn’t restrict you from working for any other car-wash.
[/QUOTE]
It’s funny you should say that. The carwash industry is laughably secretive, even though owners “secret shop” their competition all the time, and just by going through someone else’s wash, you can readily ascertain what equipment they are using. Everyone knows what everyone else is using. The only information that would be of any use to a competitor that I could share are mostly numerical, volumes, financials, etc. Possibly the details of certain promotions or programs we run. That’s really about it.
[QUOTE=Fear Itself]
That has not been my experience. I have been fired for cause, and collected unemployment. And as for jeopardizing future employment, your permanent record is vastly overrated.
[/QUOTE]
Perhaps, but I am in CA, you’re in NH and the OP is in TN. In CA, if you are fired for cause, you usually get no UC.
*"I was fired from my job. Will I be eligible?
When an individual files a claim for UI benefits, the Department documents the reason the individual is no longer working, and includes it in the Notice of Claim Filed, DE 1101CZ, which is mailed to the last employer. The employer may also provide information about the reason the individual is no longer working when responding to the notice.
If the individual was discharged or terminated, the EDD will conduct a telephone interview with the individual and the employer approximately two weeks after the claim is filed to determine whether or not the individual is eligible for UI benefits, according to state law and regulations.
State law provides that an individual who is discharged or terminated may be eligible for UI benefits provided that specific criteria are met. The EDD staff will determine on a case-by-case basis, whether the facts presented for the discharge or termination meet the criteria according to state law. The individual must also meet all other eligibility requirements before UI benefits are paid.
The Department’s law and policy guidelines regarding discharges or terminations are available on the EDD Web site.
*
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil]
…when he’s literally swimming in money.
[/QUOTE]
You mean “figuratively”. Unless he’s Scrooge McDuck.
Actually, he does sound a little like Scrooge McDuck.
Does the chain ever fly up when it breaks? Let us know when a car gets damaged if it does.
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil]
It’s funny you should say that. The carwash industry is laughably secretive, even though owners “secret shop” their competition all the time, and just by going through someone else’s wash, you can readily ascertain what equipment they are using. Everyone knows what everyone else is using. The only information that would be of any use to a competitor that I could share are mostly numerical, volumes, financials, etc. Possibly the details of certain promotions or programs we run. That’s really about it.
[/QUOTE]
That made me think of Gene Simmons’ talk of opening a bikini car wash. I couldn’t find a link to anything definite, might’ve just been talk. Of course that probably wouldn’t fly in Cincinnati. 
I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed reading your description of this dilemma. I’ve been in similar situations. Nothing earns my respect more than people who can DO, instead of just TALK, yet it seems like it’s the talkers who make the money.
[QUOTE=fessie]
That made me think of Gene Simmons’ talk of opening a bikini car wash. I couldn’t find a link to anything definite, might’ve just been talk. Of course that probably wouldn’t fly in Cincinnati.
I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed reading your description of this dilemma. I’ve been in similar situations. Nothing earns my respect more than people who can DO, instead of just TALK, yet it seems like it’s the talkers who make the money.
[/QUOTE]
Thank you. I’m glad that my misery provided you with some entertaining reading!
[QUOTE=GuanoLad]
Actually, he does sound a little like Scrooge McDuck.
[/QUOTE]
No, Scrooge may have complained about it (bitterly), but he was smart enough to pay for a quality product and to maintain it. It’s actually pretty sad when people start comparing unfavorably to cartoon characters. 
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil]
OK. I run a pair of carwashes in Cincinnati for this guy, who is a multimillionaire many times over, and so are most of the members of his family.
[/QUOTE]
When I read your OP, I wondered if this is true and how you know it, or if you’re just assuming it.
Are they multimillionaires by assets, net worth or sales? And how do you know?
I ask because I used to work in a bank and people who other people think are very wealthy usually are not. Wealthy people don’t live lavish lifestyles and squander all their money. Most of the people that other people thought were high society actually had more debt than assets in many cases, and the interest on the debt took all their cash. I remember one case where this guy who owned a bunch of hotels went bankrupt seemingly overnight, but he must have been on the edge for a long time.
You might think that because you’re sending tons of money their way from your carwash that they get to keep it. Very likely, these payments go to debt service. And of course, to support their lavish lifestyle, which they probably rationalize by considering them business trips to network.
Your boss doesn’t sound like someone that could easily spare this money. Calling back every five minutes is time-consuming and emotionally draining. I’m guessing that he really doesn’t have the money and is therefore more worried about the potential expense than you.
[QUOTE=Heffalump and Roo]
When I read your OP, I wondered if this is true and how you know it, or if you’re just assuming it.
Are they multimillionaires by assets, net worth or sales? And how do you know?
I ask because I used to work in a bank and people who other people think are very wealthy usually are not. Wealthy people don’t live lavish lifestyles and squander all their money. Most of the people that other people thought were high society actually had more debt than assets in many cases, and the interest on the debt took all their cash. I remember one case where this guy who owned a bunch of hotels went bankrupt seemingly overnight, but he must have been on the edge for a long time.
You might think that because you’re sending tons of money their way from your carwash that they get to keep it. Very likely, these payments go to debt service. And of course, to support their lavish lifestyle, which they probably rationalize by considering them business trips to network.
Your boss doesn’t sound like someone that could easily spare this money. Calling back every five minutes is time-consuming and emotionally draining. I’m guessing that he really doesn’t have the money and is therefore more worried about the potential expense than you.
[/QUOTE]
No, I assure you, he has a ton of money that he inherited. The two companies that his family derives their wealth from are the largest of their kind in the world, Batesville Casket Company and Hill-Rom.
I read somewhere that his Dad is worth close to a billion dollars, and his Dad’s siblings are also worth hundreds of millions each. My boss was trusted tens of millions, as were his brother and twin sisters.
I can say this about them…they don’t live a particularly lavish lifestyle in terms of outward appearances, aside from their huge houses. But they eat out at the finest restaurants a lot, travel to exotic locales a lot, and my boss’ Dad has three homes, one of which is in Naples (where the yacht is), as well as being an antique car collector…
Oh yeah, and the chain broke AGAIN today after I left. I was at my parents house to celebrate their anniversary and luckily I was able to call one of my guys up that was off today that’s pretty mechanically inclined, so it’s back together again…for now.
So that’s four breakages since Thursday. I wonder if this will finally jar him to get me what I need to keep his business operational!
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil]
No, I assure you, he has a ton of money that he inherited.
[/QUOTE]
Ah, OK. . .then just poor business sense in this area, I guess.
Hopefully, you’ll convince him of what needs to be done.
[QUOTE=Harmonious Discord]
Does the chain ever fly up when it breaks? Let us know when a car gets damaged if it does.
[/QUOTE]
Actually that can’t happen but I almost wish it would, just to prod Mr Clueless into action.
The chain is contained by the conveyor track which is made of carbon steel, so there’s really no way for it to “fly up”. It sure does suck putting it together though. As I said before it’s difficult (due to severe space restraints), hot and extremely filthy, as access to the chain is limited to the pit where all the mud, gunk and runoff water travel into beneath the cars (it’s covered with removable grates).
So, this fuckwad has never worked on this chain? The only real hope seems to be for everyone who could fix it to be unavailable long enough for it to break, his car wash to be down, him losing money and for Mr. McDuck to have to try to fix it himself.
Speaking as someone who has recently had to do some tangential grappling with the issue of facilities maintainance, the OP’s boss sounds like he hasn’t a bleedin’ clue as to what he is doing.
Sorry in advance for the barrage of (hypothetical) questions, but has the dude in question never heard of the term ‘preventive maintenance’?
Rereading the first post, sounds like not only does the chain need replaced, but the sprockets on either end as well. What’s the total bill for this likely to be, maybe thirty grand? Has no one there come up with the idea of a yearly maintenance budget? If Mr. Clueless claims that the chain/sprocket assembly is supposed to last for 360,000 cars, what’s his proof? Manufacturer’s claims? Lastly, I find it hard to believe that even in the current climate, a $30K (more or less) maintenance expenditure every three or four years is going to sink the whole enterprise.
Assuming nothing’s being left out, IMO the OP probably should be shopping his resume. If the boss is this much an idiot, chances are his ineptitude will sink the whole operation sometime in the next few years anyway.
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil]
I get paid well, make my schedule, have great benefits, and generally like the work aside from him. Fortunately, he takes vacations so often that I’m left to my own devices a good chunk of the time.
[/QUOTE]
Better than any “job” I’ve ever had, and yet…
[QUOTE=Gatopescado]
Better than any “job” I’ve ever had, and yet…
[/QUOTE]
..and yet I keep working there.
I am promised a new chain very soon. Of course, as soon as the boss is back from a family vacation (again).
We now have two new sprockets, but they are getting chewed up royally because the chain is now deformed to the point that the links don’t fit over the sprocket teeth properly.
Everyone I’ve spoken with tells me it’s generally an all or none deal: you replace chain, sprockets and rollers all at the same time, otherwise you have a self-perpetuating cycle of equipment deterioration.
It sounds like the boss is finally listening, and will deal with it.
Of course, as soon as he’s back from vacation. His sixth so far this year.
Ugh.
I’ve been wondering this, but what happens when the chain breaks and a car is in the wash? How does it get out? I mean, sure sitting under the water and the wipey things would be fun, but it’d get tiresome after a while. 
[QUOTE=Fish Nya]
I’ve been wondering this, but what happens when the chain breaks and a car is in the wash? How does it get out? I mean, sure sitting under the water and the wipey things would be fun, but it’d get tiresome after a while. 
[/QUOTE]
We pull equpiment out of the way and direct the car out of the tunnel. Then we refund their money and use a garden hose to get the soap off their car (if any, depending on where they are when the chain snaps).
It’s amazing how pissed people get when we’re down due to maintenance. Some are understanding, especially when they see my sweaty, grime-covered self banging away trying to fix the damn thing. But some people…you know. Never satisfied.
[QUOTE=FoieGrasIsEvil]
It’s amazing how pissed people get when we’re down due to maintenance. Some are understanding, especially when they see my sweaty, grime-covered self banging away trying to fix the damn thing. But some people…you know. Never satisfied.
[/QUOTE]
Are you talking about people who drive up and can’t get a car wash or the people who have to be guided out and hosed off?
If the former, well, people are like that, unfortunately (speaks the person who detested every second of retail she’s worked). If it’s the second, fuck yes I’d be upset, even with my money back.
I mean, overall, it’s like when I worked at a garage/gas station whose owner was feuding with Shell (not a good idea; I mean, who’s gonna win here?) so we’d regularly run out of gas. People would drive up, see no gas, and get pissed.
And while I got annoyed at them directing that at ME (not my damn fault, jerk!), I can understand why they’d be pissed. They’re coming to an establishment to get the ONE MAIN THING that establishment provides… and they don’t have it? WTF is that? The more regularly this happens, the worse it is. I guess the owner doesn’t know that he’s also damaging his car wash’s reputation. I wouldn’t bother going to one that’s been known to break down more than once.
[QUOTE=zweisamkeit]
Are you talking about people who drive up and can’t get a car wash or the people who have to be guided out and hosed off?
If the former, well, people are like that, unfortunately (speaks the person who detested every second of retail she’s worked). If it’s the second, fuck yes I’d be upset, even with my money back.
I mean, overall, it’s like when I worked at a garage/gas station whose owner was feuding with Shell (not a good idea; I mean, who’s gonna win here?) so we’d regularly run out of gas. People would drive up, see no gas, and get pissed.
And while I got annoyed at them directing that at ME (not my damn fault, jerk!), I can understand why they’d be pissed. They’re coming to an establishment to get the ONE MAIN THING that establishment provides… and they don’t have it? WTF is that? The more regularly this happens, the worse it is. I guess the owner doesn’t know that he’s also damaging his car wash’s reputation. I wouldn’t bother going to one that’s been known to break down more than once.
[/QUOTE]
I meant the former. People drive up, say something stupid like “Are you down?”, (when it’s as obvious as get-all that we are, what with me standing there covered in goop holding a goop-covered wrench with sweat pouring off me like Niagara Falls), and direct their anger towards me because they can’t get a carwash when they wanted to. Hey buddy, you’ll live! Unless you want to jump in here and help me, quit bitching!
And, all carwashes break down from time to time, even ones that are impeccably maintained. We’ve been down in the past with issues with the chain when it was much newer, but those are generally due to roller jams or some other type of obstruction. Not the chain breaking like it is now.