Sign In
Register
Help
Joe Marconi's Profile
User Rating:
Find Topics
Find Posts
Find Links
Display name history
Reputation: 5
Neutral
My Information
- Group:ASO Staff
- Active Posts:1,096 (1.07 per day)
- Links:
- 1
- Most Active In: General Automotive Discussion (291 posts)
- Joined:October 12, 2007
- Profile Views:1,307
- Last Active:
Today, 08:07 AM - Currently: Offline
- Member Title: AutoShopOwner Staff
- Age: Age Unknown
- Birthday: Birthday Unknown
Contact Information
- E-mail: Private
Previous Fields
- Shop Name: Osceola Garage
- Shop Phone Number: 845-628-7900
- Your Current Position: Owner
- Address: 44 Route 118
- City: Baldwin Place
- State: New York
- Zip Code/Country Code: 10505
- Automotive Franchise (Optional): None
- Website: www.osceolagarage.com
- Banner Program Participant (Optional): Tech-Net
- Participate in Training: Yes
Latest Visitors
-
Alex 
24 Jun 2010 - 17:42 -
automaster
22 Jun 2010 - 21:46 -
David Rogers
15 Jun 2010 - 17:01 -
xrac
05 Jun 2010 - 20:15 -
GobblesAuto
24 May 2010 - 12:14
Joe Marconi Hot, humid, sunny and busy...really looking forwwar to enjoying the sun after work
Posts I've Made
-
In Topic: Why California is Broke!
Posted 28 Jul 2010
xrac, on 28 July 2010 - 02:49 PM, said:This is true for Most States not just California)
California:
The Governor of California is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A coyote jumps out, bites the Governor and attacks his dog.
1. The Governor starts to intervene, but reflects upon the movie "Bambi" and then realizes he should stop; the coyote is only doing what is natural.
2. He calls animal control. Animal Control captures coyote and bills the State $200 testing it for diseases and $500 for relocating it.
3. He calls a veterinarian. The vet collects the dead dog and bills the State $200 testing it for diseases.
4. The Governor goes to hospital and spends $3,500 getting checked for diseases from the coyote and on getting his bite wound bandaged.
5. The running trail gets shut down for 6 months while Fish & Game conducts a $100,000 survey to make sure the area is free of dangerous animals.
6. The Governor spends $50,000 in state funds implementing a "coyote awareness" program for residents of the area.
7. The State Legislature spends $2 million to study how to better treat rabies and how to permanently eradicate the disease throughout the world.
8. The Governor's security agent is fired for not stopping the attack somehow and for letting the Governor attempt to intervene.
9. Additional cost to State of California: $75,000 to hire and train a new security agent with additional special training re: the nature of coyotes.
10. PETA protests the coyote's relocation and files suit against the State.
Arizona:
The Governor of Texas is jogging with his dog along a nature trail. A Coyote jumps out and attacks her dog.
1. The Governor shoots the coyote with her State-issued pistol and keeps jogging. The Governor has spent $0.50 on a .45 ACP hollow point cartridge.
2. The Buzzards eat the dead coyote.
And that's why California is broke.
Well, that explains it! It looks like most of the country is like California. -
In Topic: Create a social media policy
Posted 28 Jul 2010
CARMandP, on 27 July 2010 - 06:37 PM, said:What kind of policies are you thinking about?
Put together a game plan. How much exposure and how often, being consistent is important. Once you commit to social media you need to monitor and be part of it, which is the idea behind social media. I can tell you that some people have a hard time at first, but eventually it becomes second nature.
Also, the kind of content and the message you want to deliver.
You also need to put together a plan to reach contacts and promote the fact that you are using social media to your regular customers and prospect customer, whether its facebook, linkedIn, etc. For example, if you are on facebook, invite people to your facebook page from your web site and every form of advertising you do. -
In Topic: National Athem
Posted 27 Jul 2010
Gonzo, on 25 July 2010 - 03:30 AM, said:http://www.bing.com/....wmv&FORM=VIRE1
Unbelievable... ya gotta listen to these voices.... incredible...
Incredible! Makes you proud! -
In Topic: Top Sales Strategies to Win Over Customers
Posted 27 Jul 2010
xrac, on 27 July 2010 - 02:38 AM, said:
Great article. I tell my service writers you need to establish a relationship before you can sell anything. You need to think of the customer as a friend or family member. Once this is established, the customer has trust in you and everything else will fall into place.
With many first time customers, we use the same approach as in the article; we inspect and advise. We feel that we need the customer to feel comfortable with us first. This can only be accomplished through relationship building. -
In Topic: What Management System are you Using?
Posted 26 Jul 2010
TheTrustedMechanic, on 24 July 2010 - 04:25 AM, said:I use Alldata Manage. I looked into Mitchell Manager but it's too bad the repair information sucks. The first three cars I looked up info for, or rather tried to, Mitchell OnDemand was worthless. The first one had no info, Alldata did albeit limited. The second one I couldn't find the info at all in Mitchell but Alldata had good info. The last one, I gave up after that, was a 1988 Ford Ranger. I was looking for tune-up specs. firing order, #1 cylinder, spark plug gap etc. Even with the pathetic Google search I spent 35 minutes finding the info. AllData was simple, Powertrain Management / Ignitnion System / Firing Order - Spark Plugs / Specifications. All pretty intuitive.
As for the shop management software AllData Manage is all I've used. When I opened my shop 5 years ago I knew I wanted my service records on computer and AllData was the way to go according to the feedback on the shop management forum of another industry site. I attended a few management trainign classes and the instructor's shop used Mitchell and that's why I looked into it after seeing all the reports and information you could get out of it that I couldn't get from Manage. I also looked into R.O. Writer, never in a million years. At 15 grand it is way over priced for what I was shown. Sure it can pay for itself with all the little extra charges it heaps on your customers. A nickel here, 94 cents there and pretty soon you're talking big money. Just the way he showed it seemed very unethical to me. Cheating actually. But as for AllData Manage, I think it is a very good program as far as it goes. I would like the ability to import part numbers and prices from my online ordering through NAPA and a local independent jobber. Supposedly that's coming with a future update but right now all you can do is Autozone junk.
I looked into GarageOperator and was interested but the disc I got didn't work for some reason, maybe because I installed 6 months later? Reasonably priced. You own it, not subscribe to it like Mitchell and AllData. Maybe I'll contact Chip agian and get a current disc and play with it. Does anyone else use GarageOperator? How does it work for you?
Choosing a management and repair system can be frustrating, and it must meet your needs. I have both Mittchell and Alldata. We also use Indentifx and IATN. Sometimes we access the OE sites if we need additional information. When I started in the mid 70's, all you needed was the old Motor Manual and you hand wrote all your invoices. Those days are long gone.
I have not seen GarageOperator, sorry. Good luck on your quest...it's not easy these days.
Comments
automaster
11 Mar 2010 - 21:40Alex
07 Mar 2010 - 21:44automaster
16 Feb 2010 - 23:38