I want to share my personal experience working at Gary Rome Hyundai, because what's posted publicly doesn't reflect what I lived day to day.
Earlier this year, I publicly praised Gary Rome Hyundai on both Google and Facebook reviews. I meant it. The shop was clean, organized, and professional. I loved the work environment, my coworkers, my customers, and my bay. I truly wanted to stay there long-term.
During my time there, I watched four technicians quit over pay issues. I didn't want to be another one. I stayed and begged for compromise because I believed in the place and wanted to build a career there.
I was a flat-rate technician making $28/hour. On paper that sounds generous, but I was not given enough work to consistently make 40 hours a week. I was regularly assigned engines, transmissions, and diagnostic work -- engines paying around 6 hours, transmissions around 3.2 hours -- while other techs were able to turn steady hours. Over time, my pay dropped from roughly 80 hours per pay period to about 40 hours in an 80-hour period, three pay periods in a row.
Over time, I also noticed a clear pattern of favoritism in work distribution. The dispatcher, Giovanni, has several family members working throughout the dealership -- including in parts, on the lot, and in the shop. A portion of the shop was consistently prioritized and fed high-paying "gravy" work, while others were routinely given the jobs that did not pay. This directly affected my ability to earn a living and made the pay disparity impossible to overcome.
When Ryan was the service manager, he made sure I was paid fairly if I did whatever work was asked of me, and I always did -- without complaint. That changed suddenly.
Beyond my regular duties, I brought the entire Chester Blandford Police Department over as a commercial account so all of their vehicles would be serviced exclusively at Gary Rome Hyundai. I tried to contribute wherever I could and add value to the business.
When the finances stopped working, I put in my two weeks. Management refused to accept it and instead allowed me to work one day a week for several more weeks so I could survive while working another job. I was asked what it would take for me to stay. I was offered $20/hour. I explained I needed $24/hour just to scrape by. That was refused -- and shortly after, I was let go.
I had zero disciplinary actions, verbal or written, my entire time there.
Later, when a new service manager came in, my coworker Bob put in his notice the same day. He was offered $34/hour (hourly, not flat rate) to stay. I was never given that opportunity. The new service manager acknowledged this directly to me and took my information, but I was never contacted again. Giovanni made it clear I would not be allowed back.
I paid roughly $360 every two weeks to tool vendors just to do my job. There was no 401k match -- we were told the company didn't match because break room supplies were provided instead.
I was the sole provider for six people. I didn't ask for special treatment. I asked for a livable wage so I could continue doing a job I loved, at a company I wanted to work for my whole career.
Seeing posts about how employees are taken care of is painful, because that wasn't my reality. I gave a lot to this place because I believed in it -- and in the end, it wasn't enough to keep my family afloat.
I loved this company. That's why this hurts. I'm heartbroken and tired of watching a version of the story that doesn't include experiences like mine. read more