A content creator who works in the auto industry is going viral on Facebook after posting a tongue-in-cheek video about the culture inside repair shops. In it, he aims at certified mechanics who turn their noses up at work they see as beneath them.
Austin Conroy (@Dealerplateguy) shared a reel where he slips into character as a mechanic refusing to take on a basic oil change, brushing it off as a job for someone else. Playing it up, he tells the customer to take their car “down to the lube techs,” making it clear he has no interest in handling a 10k oil change.
“I’m a flat rate tech. Why am I going to do a 10k?” Conroy says in the video, channeling a disgruntled mechanic. “I don’t know if you noticed: I’m certified.” He goes on to say he’d rather clean his tools, tossing in, “I don’t do 10ks anymore.”
“I can’t make time on this anymore,” he adds, claiming “things are different” now that he’s certified and works at a flat rate. As of this writing, the clip had racked up more than 1.4 million views.
A 10k is an oil change and tire rotation. Via email, Conroy told Motor1, "Most manufacturers this is the first oil change service because the 5k service is just a tire rotation. This 10k service in particular, there is nothing you can really upsell, so the flat rate technicians typically don’t like taking these 10k services."
What Is A Flat Rate Mechanic?
A flat rate mechanic earns a fixed amount for each repair, no matter how long it actually takes. The rate isn’t random—it’s based on what the shop or manufacturer estimates the job should take. If the book says two hours and the mechanic wraps it up in one, they still get paid for two. That gap can make flat rate work especially profitable for people who are quick and know their way around a car.
But it can also cut the other way. If the same job drags on because of a rusted bolt or some hidden issue, the mechanic doesn’t earn a cent more. And when business slows down, there’s no guaranteed paycheck to fall back on.
It’s a different world from hourly pay, where mechanics are paid for every minute on the clock. Flat rate rewards hustle and precision, but it also puts the risk on the worker.
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Can Mechanic Refuse a Job Assignment?
According to some self-identified mechanics online, yes, they can turn down a job. It usually happens when something about the work doesn’t sit right—maybe the repair looks unsafe, maybe the tools or parts aren’t there, or maybe the job itself isn’t realistic. Most mechanics aren’t looking to cause trouble, but they also won’t put themselves or someone else at risk to get it done. Refusing a job can be about safety, liability, or simply knowing one’s own limits.
According to various responders on Quora, the same goes if the work requires specialized knowledge they don’t have, or if the fix itself would leave the car unsafe to drive.
If a mechanic chooses to decline a repair, it is always good to flag the reason to your supervisor and explain why they’re saying no.
For customers, a refusal isn’t necessarily bad news. It can mean the mechanic is protecting them from a dangerous, unnecessary repair—or one the mechanic doesn’t feel comfortable performing.
If there’s any doubt, getting a second opinion can help. And if the refusal seems discriminatory or unfair, there are formal steps a customer can take. Worker protections, including those enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, also give mechanics the right to refuse dangerous work.
Commenters Push Back Against Mechanics Refusing Work
People who watched Conroy’s clip weren’t impressed with the mechanic he portrayed refusing a job just because it seemed beneath a flat rate tech. Many suggested that if the refusal were due to lack of experience, it would be a different story.
“In my shop, he’d be loading his toolbox and looking for a new job,” one viewer said about the character Conroy played.
“Well, guess what, take your tools home and clean them there,” another added.
“Why do toolboxes have wheels? So you can roll it OUT OF HERE!” a third commenter joked.
Others focused on how routine the task is, arguing that turning down a simple oil change is hard to justify.
“It’s JUST an oil change. One tool and 10 minutes,” one person noted.
“Fifteen minutes, bro, just get on it,” another echoed.
“To be fair, the guy’s getting $12/hour, do it in under 10 minutes,” a third wrote. “You’ll be alright.”
Some licensed and seasoned mechanics weighed in, showing a different perspective.
“Platinum certified Hyundai tech,” one shared. “Lead tech in my shop and been doing this for 10 years, and guess what? I still do oil changes when they need to be done. You will NEVER be above doing oil changes lol.”
“Just because you’re a certified tech, doesn’t mean you can’t do a simple oil change that will take 10 minutes to do,” another said. “I’m a tech and still do oil changes. Money is money when you’re slow, and that’s the only thing coming in the door.”
“I am flat rate, and still do all the little stuff as it comes in,” a third explained. “The difference between a good tech and a tech is one can still do the small stuff while bringing in big jobs. You gotta still take the small stuff that can idle and earn you more money while you are doing the other jobs.”
Conroy was pleased by such responses. "You’ll see in the comments some techs have the right attitude of helping the customer no matter what, and others will say it’s the hourly techs job and try to refuse it just like the tech in the video," he told Motor1.
He says that the skit was inspired by personal experience. "My inspiration always comes from things I have experienced personally working in dealership service and parts departments."
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