automotive technician

automotive service advisor

service advisor

automotive mechanic

service technician

Brakes Plus

Brakes plus likes to bring people in and promise the world but make a new excuse any time you want to advance in pay or move up the management ladder. This was my first job as a service advisor coming from technician background so I started low on the ladder which was expected. I absolutely excelled both my and my management's expectations yet every time I asked for a raise I was given an excuse or something new to work on in order to get the pay that I EARNED. I worked excruciating hours that were not mentioned when I was hired on, always stayed late, and absolutely went above and beyond at my position. I efficiently ran the shop, wrote tickets, ordered parts, organized technicians, even learned to do payroll and p-card just to show my commitment and help my managers. How was I repaid by brakes plus? By being TOLD I'm moving to a different shop after almost 2 years of relationship building at one location that I did not want to leave. If you want to stay entry level or grovel and be a managers pet (the nicest way I can word this) then brakes plus is the place for you! If you want respect and won't beg for what you deserve based on your work ethics I would look elsewhere. They wonder why they can't find employees and are always understaffed but refuse to look at who the real problem is. 

Pay was good and definitely a good work flow. But, not a good place if you have a family where both of you work. Good people to work with and definitely never a dull moment with the guys I worked with in the shop. Had one good service writer and the only one I cared to deal with. No respect from management at all. All they care about is the final number. Recommendations would be made on what was needed or found based on customer complaint. The manager would recommend something completely different because your recommendations "didn't make money" apparently. Or, he would recommend something completely different then what was on the paperwork. Either do the work, or get reprimanded for not doing so even though it's not the right thing. They don't care if they screw over the customer. It's the type of place where they encourage making money however needed. If something comes back with your name on it, you're more than likely to get in trouble somehow because you didn't follow company rules. Yet, they don't apply any other time unless it benefits them. They try to force staying late way beyond anything reasonable because the manager would make false promise times on vehicles.

My experience at Brakes Plus was frustrating due to inconsistent management and unclear expectations. From the start, there were discrepancies between what was communicated about my pay and work schedule versus what actually happened. Over time, the company repeatedly adjusted the compensation structure in ways that made it difficult to earn as expected, creating uncertainty and limiting income potential.

Management decisions across multiple locations often felt unstructured, leading to operational inefficiencies. Training and technician preparedness varied, which sometimes affected workflow and customer service. When I submitted my two-week notice, I was asked to leave immediately, which was unexpected but not uncommon in certain workplaces.

While some team members were knowledgeable and hardworking, the overall experience made it feel more like a temporary job than a stable long-term career. If you're considering working here, I’d recommend clarifying compensation details upfront and keeping communication open to avoid surprises.

After getting there customers almost line up at the door because scheduling doesn’t account for work possibly left over from the previous day. Schedule is constantly full but work is unorganized and unplanned for technicians. Work orders hang on the wall for technicians to grab in a first come first serve basis, aside from major repairs that are set aside for one tech in specific. After doing a simple break inspection (removing all four wheels then measuring pads and rotors) the vehicle is required to stay on the lift until a service advisor can write an estimate and speak to a customer which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours and the technician does not receive any flag time for that either. The shop is also pretty small, 6 bays, 1 alignment rack, just enough room to walk. 30 minute lunch break and 1 day off during the week that is never consistent so making plans outside of work is difficult not to mention the 8am-6pm so forget about trying to take care of anything important before after work.

Depending on what store and in what area the store was located would really depend on a typical day, however, I was at one of the busiest in the company and a typical day was 20-30 cars EASILY. 

The store was staffed with 4 Counter employees which included the managers, the parking lot only had 10 parking spots so it was a juggling act but it was a very productive place to work. It not only was 1 of the top 3 stores in the entire company it has some of the most knowledgeable guys working for them, other B.P.'s send cars to this location if unable to repair at their location. 

My store manager has been in the company for over 10 years and is younger than I am but knows his stuff and is a very honest guy, both in business and in his personal life. This kind of person is a good guy to know in both aspects of life. Unfortunately I hurt myself and had to leave the company, I was up for promotion to my own store but couldn't stay.

 I recommend anyone to this company and if patient and work well and Corporate sees it or the D.M. you will succeed and make good money!!! Good benefits, advancement, and pay.

I started off my real automotive career here (lube shop before this) and at the beginning I was hopeful as I was put into the TAP (technician apprentice program) and told I would be given 1500 in tools off the start and get to keep them after a year. Well, I was moved around to different locations and didn't really receive the training I was promised and didn't receive nearly as much in tools as they promised. I feel like I am given no opportunity to move up as I have only gotten a $1 raise after "completing" the training program. They also only guarantee 35 paid hours per week which sucks since it is slow at my location. I have to be there 50+ hours a week but make almost nothing compared to what I would if I just worked 50 hourly hours, which is NOT an option for a normal employee. Upper management seems to be a joke when it comes to employees and their advancement.

When the Showroom is clean and the smell of fresh coffee fills the air, I have the opportunity to help our customers feel comfortable with their choice to trust us with their automotive needs.  It's not so much about the location. It;s about putting every customer in a comfort zone as soon as the enter the store.  Greeting each one with a handshake and a smile...... Build trust through personal attention and share their conerns. This is what I do. consistently at every store I have been in. 
The greatest Challenge we face is when a customer has to return for an improper repair.  Not fixed right the 1st time!  This is another opportunity to gain Trust.  Being compasionate and Listening is Most Important. Must have quality tech's to keep this at a minimum.
Each day is another opportunity to build business and expand customer base.  Happy customers will be our best advertisement.

A typical day at Brakes Plus involves assisting customers, writing up service tickets, and coordinating with technicians. While the role itself can be manageable, the culture makes it unnecessarily difficult. Management often displays hostile or irrational behavior, which sets the tone for the shop. The turnover rate is very high, which means new employees are constantly cycling in and out. I learned how important leadership and communication are in creating a healthy workplace and how damaging it can be when those qualities are absent. The hardest part of the job was not the work itself, but navigating the toxic culture and unpredictable management decisions.

I'll start off with the harassment, I run a store, but there are also regional managers, and VP's that are above my position. Between harassment on mandatory phone meetings, to being accused of being a drug addict simply because I was always tired, and adding the fact I was getting paid thousands less than I signed for on an official document. This place treats their employees like dirt, and expects you to go about your day with a smile. They don't care about your personal life, and any time your store gets slow, it's automatically your fault, and then you're threatened with repercussions because of it. Long hours, and little pay leads to an overwhelmed feeling of depression. Do NOT work for a company that puts numbers over you. They will degrade you until you quit, and won't give a darn about any of it.

What is the best part of working at the company?
The best part of working for this company was the discounted service/parts and the weekly pay

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
The most stressful part is the long hours, as well as, the under qualified store managers and area managers

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
They want you to think you’re a team but in reality it’s everyone for themselves. You make one mistake or one bad judgement due to previous experiences that management doesn’t agree with, they make you an example in front of everyone and put you down

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Non stop stress, doing the job of multiple people because others just sit there on their phones, getting yelled at by management when they know how much you do but it still isn’t good enough

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Automotive technician 4 salaries reported	$87,500 per year
Automotive service advisor 1 salary reported	$62,500 per year
Service advisor 2 salaries reported	$57,500 per year
Automotive mechanic 1 salary reported	$35.00 per hour
Service technician 2 salaries reported	$21.25 per hour

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