The Automotive Experience pt2

Being a woman working in automotive makes me a target..... for jokes, pranks and all around male fun....

Sometimes.... I was included in jokes on other people but mostly... the joke was on me.

Quite often I was the victim of the ultimate fart.. Yep, one of the guys on many occasions would come in my office, let one rip, leave and shut the door - and hold it shut of course.. Or they would find a reason to call me out to the shop just so one of them could jump out of a box and scare the life out of me.

One time they put a tire sticker on the top of my head which of course stuck like glue and then switched my tea with coffee.. Very funny guys..

When I was selling my car, I took pictures and created a listing on the auto trader. Moments later I received a call on my cell phone from someone who was interested in buying - said he'd be there in 5min to take a look at it. I went into the shop and told the guys how I already got a call on the car. One tech makes a bet with me that the guy wouldn't show up. I fell for it hook, line and sinker.... They had called me from the shop for a laugh and a free coffee..

They put a dead mouse on my desk and even set off fire crackers in my office.... Oh and let's not forget the hose incident? When I got soaked on my way to talk to a customer?

But I have done it to myself.

• It was really busy, the shop was full, the office was full and the phone was ringing off the hook. So, I answered the line and the customer asked to speak to "Luke". I put them on hold, picked up the next line and said "Thank you for calling Luke." Now, I'm quietly laughing to myself when I pick up the loud speaker mic with the intention of paging "Luke, line one" and in stead I said "Hello?" Figures the place was packed when I did that.
• I went in the shop one day asked very loudly if we had time to cut the nuts off this guys pipe?
• I told a customer once we would do a brake insextion on his car. He didn't hear me say it and was a little irritated when I wouldn't tell him what was so funny.
• Then there was the time I told another shop which dropped a car off that they could pick it up in the nude (instead of noon)
• Once, I called myself..... I worked between three shops in the same franchise so I sometimes got numbers mixed up. I was trying to call another shop but instead called the one I was at, so of course the other rings. I hit the other line so I could quickly say "please hold" and go back to the other call except when I did, whoever had called had already put me on hold.... Then it clicked...

You have to be thick skinned to work in a shop - especially if you're a woman... But I like working with men. They're not as sensitive as women, they can take a joke and they never stay mad at you. But it's not easy...Men tend to yell louder when they're mad and have a tendonsy to be obnoxious and rude. My advice is to take it with a grain a salt and above all else remember.... There's no crying in automotive. If you can't hack, get back in the kitchen.. lol...

Till next time...