Got A Job Offer... Tacoma, WA

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B16RacerN2NR

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I got another job offer but this time with Mercedes-Benz of Tacoma, WA.

They aren't offering any relocation fees though :( So I would move there all on my own $

So to the people in or around Tacoma, WA... How is the place/surrounding places?

I got kids so I need to move to a decent area, ideally within a half hour drive from work. 45 minutes may be ok if the area is worth it.

Cost of living? Schools? Crime rate? The internet is biased most of the time so I'd like to hear from the people who are actually there, about these thing...
 
Well I live on the other side of the state but Washington in general is pretty good. It is raining most of the time on the west side of the state. That or over cast. We have a few guys on here that live in or around Tacoma that I am sure can provide some better insight. Most everyone I know from highschool that has ended up in the area really like it.
 
i live about 35 minutes from tacoma...its a shithole, just to work there would be fine but i would not live in that city. it always smells like shit from a pulp mill and the traffic is horrible. washington in general in a good place to live i think though
 
$$$$ high cost of living, but good wages too. probably moderate crime.
check out these online things
HomeFair.com: "Error"

Cost of living is not high there...it's high here in Ventura County. We were looking at Honolulu just out of curiosity. Rents here are about the same, except, you don't live in Hawaii...I don't get it.

I mean, part of it is obviously the fact that people can not afford to buy homes or keep the ones they have. This creates an influx in new renters, with a relatively fixed supply of rental units, prices are bound to go up.

You will pay about $2 per sq. ft. to rent here. FML. I have to make in excess of $30 an hour just to live a modest existence.
 
Well I live on the other side of the state but Washington in general is pretty good. It is raining most of the time on the west side of the state. That or over cast. We have a few guys on here that live in or around Tacoma that I am sure can provide some better insight. Most everyone I know from highschool that has ended up in the area really like it.
Yeah everyone i've talked to likes the place. I'm gonna do some more research so I can get a genral idea of rent cost.

What will you be doing for MB?
Entry Level Tech. Nothing special but I gotta start somewhere...
i live about 35 minutes from tacoma...its a shithole, just to work there would be fine but i would not live in that city. it always smells like shit from a pulp mill and the traffic is horrible. washington in general in a good place to live i think though
Don't hold back, tell me how you really feel about that place lol

I talked to the Service Director again today. Let's just say I didn't like what I was offered. Offer was non negotiable BTW... Pay was a little less than I was looking for, benefits plan kinda sucked, they no longer match what you put into 401k or even give a little percentage, no tuition reimbursment or even partial reimbursement, they only supply tool boxes, and you're on your own for tools. Which is fine with me but every other place i've spoke with offers to at least go half on your tools with you.
 
Oh you live in LA right...well I'm sure cost of living is waaaaay cheaper up there. Don't move unless it's ideal though. Did you look up here in Ventura/Santa Barbara areas? I know there are a few MB dealerships.
 
In all fairness to the city, only a few areas are bad. Mainly the South end. If you were to work at the MB dealership you would deffinitly wanna live North of (which would put you in a nice neighborhood, and make the commute easier) or live South-East (shitty commute (relative to teh area anyways) but nice neighborhoods and comunities).

It sounds like you decided against this particular one, but have you tried to get into any in the Seattle area? Like Bellevue? The cost of living is higher, but its not for no reason.

If you do consider anything in the Seattle area, look for housing North, East or West of the place. Commuting North in the morning and South in the evening is a fuckin nightmare anywhere from the capitol to the Canadian border lol.
 
tools/tool boxes are basically never comped... 100% on your own. The fact that they are giving you a box is a plus.
 
Oh you live in LA right...well I'm sure cost of living is waaaaay cheaper up there. Don't move unless it's ideal though. Did you look up here in Ventura/Santa Barbara areas? I know there are a few MB dealerships.
I live 45 minutes north of the actual LA area in the Antelope Valley. Lancaster/Palmdale. i haven't looked in Ventura or Santa Babara yet but I will, eventually.

In all fairness to the city, only a few areas are bad. Mainly the South end. If you were to work at the MB dealership you would deffinitly wanna live North of (which would put you in a nice neighborhood, and make the commute easier) or live South-East (shitty commute (relative to teh area anyways) but nice neighborhoods and comunities).

It sounds like you decided against this particular one, but have you tried to get into any in the Seattle area? Like Bellevue? The cost of living is higher, but its not for no reason.

If you do consider anything in the Seattle area, look for housing North, East or West of the place. Commuting North in the morning and South in the evening is a fuckin nightmare anywhere from the capitol to the Canadian border lol.
Yeah, I figure every place has it's good and bad areas. Hell, most of the bad areas around here are about a block or so away from Police Stations lol.

I haven't tried any other dealers out there because i'm going by the list of dealerships that have contacted my school and have said they have openings. I will eventually get around to more dealers though.

Thanks for the commute tips :)

tools/tool boxes are basically never comped... 100% on your own. The fact that they are giving you a box is a plus.
Actually, you'd be surprised at how many places supply tools AND boxes because of labor laws. But of course, I can only speak of the Cali labor laws. One of the laws states that if you are required to use your own tools for work at a dealership, you are guaranteed at least DOUBLE the current minimum wage rate. So if I worked at a local dealer and had to bring my own tools, I wouldn't start at less than $17 an hour. Tacoma offered me $14 an hour :mad: :(
 
Eww to $14...that's straight wage, not Flat right?
 
Eww to $14...that's straight wage, not Flat right?
That's hourly until I get good enough to become flat rate. Flat Rate starts at $17 but I wouldn't become flat rate for about a year or so...

ever think about moving to Bako? lol ... we have an MB dealership here
I want out of the desert lol. Unless I can stay where i'm at now. This place sucks and yet people consider Bako worse, no thanks lol.

However, I may consider it if it's one of my last options... :ph34r:
 
i dunno.. i've been to Lancaster.. not the greatest place either.. Bako isnt all that bad, plus its cheap and only 1.5hrs from LA
 
His situation is a bit different, if I'm not mistaken. He spent a lot of time and money on school for a shot at an entry level MB mechanic position and the sooner he gets into the business, the sooner he can work his way up and start making a pretty decent living. I would imagine he just wants to get his foot in the door and worry about a final location transfer and other plans once he's recognized.

GL on your possible move.
 
i dunno.. i've been to Lancaster.. not the greatest place either.. Bako isnt all that bad, plus its cheap and only 1.5hrs from LA
It's not great lol. And if some say Bako is worse, then that place must blow lol.

But I will give them a call tomorrow and see what they say...

$14 bucks an hour is shit. even on flat rate. i wouldn't move for anything less than 20
I'm not moving for $14 an hour... period. $15 depending on the area. One guy in my class got a job offer at Evansville, Indiana for $15 an hour and he found an apartment in a decent area for $350 a month. If that's the case, I'm sure I can find a 3 bedroom house for rent for around $900. I can live perfectly within my means in a low cost of living state on $15 an hour till I get flat rate.

Huntsville, AL offered me $16 an hour to start (along with AWESOME benefits) and I think I will take that offer if I don't get anything better/local within the next 3 weeks.

His situation is a bit different, if I'm not mistaken. He spent a lot of time and money on school for a shot at an entry level MB mechanic position and the sooner he gets into the business, the sooner he can work his way up and start making a pretty decent living. I would imagine he just wants to get his foot in the door and worry about a final location transfer and other plans once he's recognized.

GL on your possible move.
Most of the Mercedes-Benz ELITE program graduates, from over a year ago, are still looking for jobs because they aren't willing to relocate. When local jobs open up they can't even land those because their Mercedes-Benz knowledge is out of date.

You have it exactly right about my plans... I'm doing it for the experience. I will become good enough to be a flat rate tech within a year or so. Then I will stay an additional 2 years to both gain more experience and show appreciation for giving me a shot.

My goal is to move back to So Cal in no longer than 5 years. Ideally, 3 years.

Oh BTW, I also got an offer from Greenwich (sp?), CT... I should find out more about them by tuesday.
 
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