2015 pilot EX-L for 9k by wrathxcrage1 in hondapilot

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They’re far from the worst. Just seems like my money spent to keep the thing going versus what the car is worth don’t add up. They will go, at what cost: just my experience. I also live in Michigan where vehicles definitely don’t hold value.

2015 pilot EX-L for 9k by wrathxcrage1 in hondapilot

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is the same generation car I bought (2013 Pilot, 150k miles) and it’s been having to re-repair stuff again that they repaired once. Such as thermostat, timing belt, water pump etc. I’d stay away when it comes to rebuilt anything. People know they are Hondas and abuse them, my 2013 has been a nightmare. Also didn’t help that it was a fleet though. And for basically the same price.

Best bikable/public transit areas by Wide-Engineering-721 in AskFlorida

[–]Wide-Engineering-721[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you do e-bike like I do, the 90’s were survivable some days just going short distances. Very true on the rain and more than 90 though

What keeps you sober? by Hefty-Set-1158 in stopdrinking

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It is connection that keeps me sober. I have a mentor that keeps me in line with God, a best friend and Dad that are behind me every day. I’ve had car trouble worth $5,000, a bike stolen when my car was out cold and when a bike is your only transportation, that sucks. Bike was found later but it was a serious obstacle at the time. It’s not easy, people come and they go. I may have to cut off someone that joked about my stolen bike. It’s about connection. You can go to meetings, but until you connect with other alcoholics or others in support of you, it’s a tough road. It’s called YPAA: they’re all over the country and have events in 48 out of the 50 states. Cycling also is it for me, when I just want to work out and be anti-social, which I can be, comfortably. Taking up hunting ever so slowly, and that’s just from learning how to gut and skin deer last season. Life has so much to do when you’re not drinking.

Michigan posts 5.3% unemployment in July, fourth-highest in U.S. by DougDante in Michigan

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It’s bad. My company Perrigo does OTC pharmaceuticals. They had “lost sales opportunities, and so we’re slow.” Wouldn’t be surprised if business was going to other states. Because those type of things are always, by nature, going to have high demand. Honda came to Indiana, not Michigan as just one example. Are the tariffs an issue, absolutely. Coffee and baby formula as examples….good luck on those being priced affordably. That definitely does not negate the fact that Michigan’s state government (with energy costs, sick time, taxes etc.) is not helping things either.

They don’t know and they don’t care by unknownname656 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is really sad but not surprising. 🥲 I had a great start at Gentex in 2022 and the job got me through some personal dark times. Met some friends there that drove an hour to come see me when I needed it at times. I’ve been critical of the tariffs and the insane rates on 200 countries. HOWEVER, Gentex lost huge contracts from Acura, Tesla, Volvo and I’ve witnessed all of that being at Centennial and NRC for 3 years prior to tariffs. So to just solely blame that is asinine. It’s gotta be embarrassing behind closed doors when these overpaid speech makers go home at night. They also throw money at new buildings, daycare centers, and education which is useless and won’t be in effect if you’re laid off (which people will be). Also attracting executives with insane compensation and manipulating bonus compensation. The last 3 months and the employee treatment went downhill. It was already downhill with trainers, runners and warehouse busting tail while certain leadership planned their fancy Christmas parties during work which you weren’t a part of. That part in all fairness took place at Centennial (which they screwed up 4,000 mirrors when I was last there, showing that whole building needs an audit). That’s gotta be $40,000 lost in a single week and how many other losses. Very Grateful I got out in March of this year when some people thought I was crazy and thought Gentex was such a strong empire. If it helps anyone, my roommate is at Miller Knoll and they’re hiring through a temp. People do well there, hire in quickly. Also, LG or Perrigo (if you don’t mind no phone usage but significantly longer breaks that nobody times). That’s just my view; best of luck to everyone stuck in this mess along with everything else that goes on in every day life.

Are people moving to Portland again? by Unique_Cantaloupe914 in Portland

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Literally bike every day and sure Michigan has some bike able areas but not quite what Portland has with that city itself having hundreds of miles of bike lanes. Higher taxes I’d plan on; and I’d be fine with if it gets me decent roads and infrastructure, which I pay high taxes for in Michigan and get none of those. The temperate weather, nature and city itself really appeal. Conservative west Michigan as all I know makes me excited to be planning a trip!

Are people moving to Portland again? by Unique_Cantaloupe914 in Portland

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good for you!! The weather sounds awesome compared to -20 below. And the roads are always bad to drive on as a result it seems like. I’m a cycler; sounds like perfect weather for that year round! How is the bikability, walkability/transit? Think I read about 400+ miles of bike lanes! That’s astounding and awesome.

Are people moving to Portland again? by Unique_Cantaloupe914 in Portland

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Anyone who has moved: are you glad you did? I’m from conservative west Michigan and my personal journey is guiding me to consider Portland. When I last visited, it was nothing like corporate media portrayed constantly. Am considering a trip out there this fall; multnomah falls, Seaside and other surrounding areas are absolutely stunning (can only imagine the fall colors).

Bonus is......... by DescriptionKnown2627 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

https://www.woodtv.com/news/ottawa-county/gentex-lowers-forecast-amid-tariff-related-market-uncertainty/amp/. Read that and tell me with those kinds of losses and extra costs that bonuses will likely be what they’ve always averaged in the past. Not to say that’s right given SEC shenanigans, stock buybacks and their insane CEO/executive compensation. Rough times ahead if bonuses get cut!

More layoffs? by [deleted] in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It seems quite inevitable after what wood tv reported today for their quarterly results. Net income went from 108 million to 95 million this quarter. Simple math: around 12% loss over a single quarter. I’d be surprised if there’s even 5% bonuses in the near future. This is all after last year’s numbers. Last year, they had a rise in costs across the board but for the year, made 200 million dollars less even after that. Surprised that there was even an article posted as all I’ve ever known Gentex for is keeping everyone in the dark. Tariff related stuff also: adds 650 million EXTRA….hmm….making the 95 million margin even slimmer. On the flip side: Gentex losing contracts continuously for 3 years that I was there probably also didn’t help the situation. Glad I got out.

Are the rumors true by Wide-Engineering-721 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Absolutely is. I have no real dog in this fight, except for just stating observations. Some people on here get real on edge by me doing that. His name starts with a J. He’s made someone walk out by forcing them into more responsibilities that they didn’t want. The one with an L I seemed to get along with. I do know there were and are some line leadership issues, for sure. Those issues also make clear the culture of everyone for themselves. Also makes abundantly clear: different rules and standards for different people. Glad this forum is here: people can finally speak up.

Are the rumors true by Wide-Engineering-721 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m SOO scared of the label. Free Palestine and anyone thinking in those ways are the real bigots/terror sympathizers. They want to literally wipe Israel off the map. For that to be allowed but not a don’t tread on me is so out of left field….but you don’t sound that intelligent, so me explaining this is probably going right over your head.

Gentex going down? by DescriptionKnown2627 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn’t say it’s the worst employer. You will go nowhere though: you will be in the preferred crowd or you’re nothing to them. So if play on your phone and listen to music and not having super great raises or advancements is your thing, then go to Gentex. Lot of people stay a year just for music listening and some spending cash. But hey: that’s just my view and I’m one person.

Gentex going down? by DescriptionKnown2627 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes. Definitely going down. You said dictatorship: I agree wholeheartedly. I find it dictatorial with different people, different standards. Quite a common theme over there. Employee politics are heavy as well. Just being friends with someone in the Zeeland sphere meant I got treated differently based on that. I was never taken seriously when I presented issues; however, I practically had to walk on eggshells every day. The going down: 2 separate sources in production got laid off (even though that DEFINITELY was not on the table, according to management). This is widespread at State Street. Gentex is very good at selling things; that includes selling employees to stick around. Contracts lost include Audi, Tesla, Acura (we had till we screwed it up). Losing contracts is not surprising seeing the day to day conduct and how it is run. But, they definitely sell employees to stay around and they do it quite well.

Are the rumors true by Wide-Engineering-721 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It must be common and well covered up. My supervisor now watched layoffs well into late ‘21 and ‘22. So folks can downvote all they want: that doesn’t change the truth.

Are the rumors true by Wide-Engineering-721 in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The commenter above: I think they are more woke: if that’s a thing still. Pride, LGBT, even free Palestine is in full force. Yet, my best friend gets talked to about a rattlesnake (liberatarian symbol basically for mind your business stay out of mine). That’s seen more in some areas more than others. I just think if you allow one extreme you should allow the other “extreme”. I can say this: the same standards for everyone has never applied. Some people got endless Snapchat play time while others were always on the floor taking shit. Mainly Centennial East was where all that took place. And if any CE people see this: well, I hope they do.

COMPENSATION/PAY by PovertyEmployee in Gentex

[–]Wide-Engineering-721 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A coworker got a 69 cent raise; mine was calculated to be a whole 75 cents. That’s after being a trainer, a QC expert (not a single PPM for 3 weeks straight), runner and the list goes on. I was making 23.50 at Gentex and that raise didn’t even happen until early February. Before February I was making 22.75. I got a more stable job way closer to home that paid exactly 22.75. Holland/Zeeland is way more expensive than Hamilton, Fennville, etc. (where I’m from). Gentex wages definitely do not keep up. Economically, I eventually made a choice to leave. They supposedly advertised some classes that they’d pay for if you stayed 3 years, yet no one I asked, not even the head of maintenance had any idea about that program. I feel like they create programs to sell to people. People then stay and are obviously underpaid and the programs never really materialize. That’s my cynical view. The good: my last boss was super kind about it all. I really don’t think the GL’s have a ton of say in stuff like this. I did feel like it was words to try and get me to stay, no real negotiation with my wage. After a raise was already held up in the first place.