Interview Advice...HELP!

[Techguy22]

HEy all, I have an interview at a security company tomorrow and I was just wondering some things.

This company had hired me a few months back for field manager. Basically I would be in charge of the techs and make customer calls. I turned it down respectively due to my lack of knowledge of alarms. I feared that I would not be able to come up with quick solutions for the techs if they needed help from a job site. Well the interviewer remembered me and currently they are looking for a tech position which is why I called. (did not know it was the same company)

Phone convo went well.. They offered me as a manager 13 an hour which is what I make now as a supervisor for cargo. It asnt worth a move at the time especially for the same pay.

I have about a little over a year experience with fire alarms and about 3 good months of burg.. (thats a different story) I am also taking a fundamentals course on fire alarms through the AFAA...

My question is, what should I ask for salary wise and what other things should I look out for..? I live about 45 minutes from there. I was thinkin about asking for a company vehicle, no less then at least 17 an hourand I remember from last interview they dont give benefits til after 6 months... (wasnt happy about that) I guess this wraps it up. Any advice would help. Hopefully I will get some quick ones as my interview is for tomorrow. Thanks again.

[Repairguy]

That would be an odd set up if the manager is making less than the employees under him/her.  Most places I have ever worked, manager was a promotion.  So asking $4 /hr more than they offered as a mgr. seems a bit steep.  just my .02.  As far as what is fair, it is tough to say.  Depends on the going trade wages in your area as well as cost of living.  Benifits vary dramatically from place to place.  Just having them in todays economy is a blessing.  I have seen everything from 30 days to 1 yr. for benifits to kick in.

[Techguy22]

Well I had my interview. .I should hear from them in about a week.. Long story short, salary wise, I told them I wanted 16... They said Id start as a helper, work my way toward technician, then fire alarm tech.... They start helpers at 12.... So i told him Id settle for 14.50 as i make 13 at my current job now.. Im taking a big chance by leaving somethin stable for somethin im unsure of... Im not gonna settle for less. I thought the first time givin me 13 as a manger was way too low for that position.. so if they want me bad enough, theyll give me the extra 2.50.... Well see what happens. Thankx for your opinion. I looked up the salary this morning. For techs the median is 28,000 per year, thats prob around 16 an hour....Ill keep you guys updated as soon as I hear about it.