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Joe's Blog



AutoShopOwner.com Exceeds 1000 Members!

Posted by Joe Marconi, March 25, 2013 - * * * * * · 312 views

AutoShopOwner.com Exceeds 1000 Members! AutoShopOwner.com is proud to announce it now has over 1000 members! This truly is a milestone and exciting to see how ASO has grown in just a few short years.

AutoShopOwner.com was founded on the concept that there is a wealth of business knowledge among automotive shop owners, and by bringing these shop owners together, great things can happen.

Thanks...


When Exceptional Customer Service Is Not Enough

Posted by Joe Marconi, December 16, 2012 - - - - - - · 368 views

A good customer called me the other day to let me know that he has concerns regarding the quality of our work.  Last week we installed an exhaust system on his Maxima and two days later it sounded like the muffler had fallen off.  There was so much noise he was afraid to drive the car. We went to his house to pick it up. We found that the baffles had brok...


The Long Term Effects of Keeping An Employee Who Should be Fired

Posted by Joe Marconi, February 15, 2012 - * * * * - · 264 views

About a year ago I hired a service advisor that I believed at the time would be a great asset to my shop. He had a lot of experience, knowledgeable about the business and well-spoken.  He showed all the right credentials.

Soon after being hired, I noticed something that I did not pick up in any of our three interviews; he did not smile.  How was it possi...


My Core Beliefs for Personal Success

Posted by Joe Marconi, September 10, 2011 - - - - - - · 270 views

Everyone has core beliefs; those values and ideals that determine your personal success.  Notice I said, “personal” success?  That’s because success is defined by your goals, your desires and your individual talents and potential. Not by the achievements of others.  A great athlete may study other great athletes to see how they achieved their success, but...


Losing My Patience, Never My Passion

Posted by Joe Marconi, June 12, 2011 - - - - - - · 164 views

Losing My Patience, Never My Passion

As a shop owner, that began his career as a mechanic 36 years ago, the effort of building a business has taken its toll in many ways. While I have not lost my passion for what I do, I have lost my patience with many of the things I see around me. I have built a business from a small 2-man operation to a 2-facility com...


A Customer Teaches Me About Life

Posted by Joe Marconi, March 27, 2011 - - - - - - · 337 views

A Customer Teaches Me About Life

I will always remember the first day I met Mort Rubenstein.  He was in his early 70’s at the time, about 18 years ago and used a walker to get around.  He told me that he preferred to wait with his car while it was serviced and that he didn’t mind waiting, no matter how long it took.

I remember as he was leaving my offi...


Managing Your Most Important Asset, Your Employees

Posted by Joe Marconi, October 21, 2010 - - - - - - · 205 views

Managing Your Most Important Asset, Your Employees
A practical guide for shop owners

By Joe Marconi

We all know that without customers, your business would not survive.  The strength of your customer base insures the success of your business and that success is directly related to the quality of people who work in your company.  The only way to insure...


Lessons from Failure

Posted by Joe Marconi, May 31, 2010 - - - - - - · 30 views

This past April 25th, 2010 marks the first full year since opening our new facility. As many of you may know, we built an additional 4-bay shop which offers while you wait service and welcome walk-ins. This new shop features basic services, maintenance work, tires, brakes, accessories, oil changes, state inspections and other minor services and repairs. I...


To Sell or Not to Sell?

Posted by Joe Marconi, December 30, 2009 - - - - - - · 33 views

The other day one of my techs was replacing front brake pads and rotors on an older Subaru. The caliper bracket bolts were seized and one of them snapped off. This is a common problem and we are well aware of it. We try our best with rust busters and heat, but sometimes nothing works. The tech drilled out the broken bolt and finished the brake job. No pro...


Expanding The Business: Growing Pains

Posted by Joe Marconi, July 12, 2009 - - - - - - · 34 views

Since our opening on April 25, 2009 we have increase business by a whopping 29%. We now have to insure that this becomes the norm and not just a grand opening bounce. Just about all our plans are falling into place. The added four bays and increased parking have allowed us to take on more work and become more efficient. We handle just about all walk-ins a...