Hello to all….. And thank you for allowing me to join this networking community. I, like many other technicians in this industry have found myself in a dilemma. Since 2001 I have been a certified Volvo Penta technician. I have worked on all aspects of marine propulsion and I believe in the Volvo Penta product. I believe in everything the company stands for, from its commitment to quality….. To safety….to the customer….. And to the environment. I just love the product and could talk all day about it, but unfortunately, I found once I left the Volvo Penta servicing dealer, I also left behind my ability to effectively service my new customers. Even though I find myself at a marina ten times as big as the last one I was at, and with the ability to meet and exceed any customer’s expectations in the care and commitment they receive, there is a territory issue. understandingly so…….and I admire the way they shot me down a half dozen times or so just trying to get my foot in the door as a servicing dealer. It didn’t matter to them how much money this new marina would spend or the training and time they would invest in learning the new product…….. but what about me as an individual…… what about the time I spent learning the product, reading the service bulletins…. what about the time Volvo Penta invested in me and all my training, it’s just not right. We as technicians should be treated like the product and included in the organizations core values, not just be thrown out when we leave a servicing dealer……….and what about when the customer isn’t satisfied with having to bring it to a servicing dealer???? Maybe they don’t want to be “just another work order for some warranty work”. People out there…. the boaters that keep us in business….. Refer to us as “my mechanic”…… I feel a very personal connection to these customers. We treat them with respect and they develop a certain “trust” level where they respect and value our opinion. We need to develop a way to keep the technicians informed and up to date with the ever changing marine industry. A tool like Volvo Pentas “partner network” is invaluable to the technicians in the industry….. And should be at our hands when we need it. Not taken away when we leave the dealership. It should come as a benefit to having completed training and staying current. I would be more than happy to put my own hard earned green backs on the table to continue learning the product and staying up to date. Let’s face it……. if I can keep my customers satisfied with the Volvo Penta product….. They just might buy another one……. why wouldn’t the organization want to keep us helping them sell product???? The least the orginazition could do is offer a program where we could stay up to date on our own through e learning or the ability to attend classes at our own expense. Please , if anyone out there is listening…… dont let us as, the technicians, long time supporters and devoted followers of the industry leaders go to waste. some of us out here have already made this a life long career choice. lets help build a better future for those to come. Anyone else out there feel my pain???
