Quantcast
Jump to content


You Must Read My Response To Being Accused Of Overcharging


Recommended Posts










The use of such statements from the un-knowledgeable is a difficult one to deal with as we are all consumers and we all make purchases throughout our days weather a clothing purchase at a local store or a meal out, so the feeling of getting a deal or a good bank for the buck is in the eyes of that consumer.

 

Now should you have cost shifted by inflating one area higher or charge for something not needed "The impeded hoadie valve removal of built up carbon" perhaps would have been easier for them to understand then a professional working on my car utilizing the most updated modern equipment available to get the diagnosis right we need to be paid for this service needed and necessary, fairly honestly and ethically.

 

A local shop here offers the free use of any and all of their scan tools and folks actually pull in and play with them and I guess it works for selling work, and then the big independent tire store offers free diagnostics now they need to educate the staff on just how to use the darn stuff as not every car needs a forward O2 and Cat.

 

Oh well a lingering topic for most shops, but nonetheless a worthy one to start the day with!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is indeed a difficult issue. The problem, obviously, is the general public's (aka...consumer/customer's) lack of understanding about how the industry really works these days. The best way I have found to combat this misunderstanding is to explain it in as simple terms as possible to any customers who want to know and I also have found it most beneficial to not separate the diagnostic line item on my invoices. Instead I simply include the diagnostics as part of the repair.

 

For instance, under the labor charges section of my invoice it may say something like:

 

DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR EMISSION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) -- $150.00

scan vehicle for diagnostic codes

replace oxygen sensor - bank 1 sensor 2 (post catalytic converter)

 

 

This way the customer can see that the labor charge is for the whole repair and will be less likely to question it than if I phrase it as a separate $100 "DIAGNOSTIC FEE" line item. It also helps to use big technical terms like "catalytic converter" that the customer really doesn't understand. It helps drive home the point that YOU are the expert and they probably could not have figured this problem out and repaired it themselves. This eases peoples minds about paying YOU to do it.

 

I hope this helps someone else. It has been very beneficial to me to do it this way.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For years the value of our profession has been under attack and undermined from the inside out and the top down! You know the mass marketers have push the freebies for years now. (thanks AutoZone....EVERYTHINGS free there! Diagnosis, battery install, whatever...may be wrong but who cares it was FREE and they sold a part!)

 

I guess that strategy depends on the neighborhood. In my neighborhood, doctor visits (ER visit for a runny nose) are.....not paid for by the patient, typically, so it does not always register. I have actually tried that comparison in the past and realized it was absolutely no help.

 

Customer still just don't understand the concept of diagnosing todays cars and the complexity that can sometimes be involved and the need to recoup for that time as well as having no parts associated with that diag time to help with profit margins.

 

I think explaining it to them simply but phrasing it "together" on the invoice is a good idea. One less thing for them to nit-pick l after the fact when their brother in law looks at it and says "they charged you how much just to look at it?"

 

All depends on what buttons work for each customer base.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I hear this complaint a lot. Being mainly an electrical repair shop it's hard to give an estimate on chasing a wire short or a draw based on, "My brother in-law is a mechanic." type response. I get at least one person a week who doesn't like the cost of diagnostics. I tell them about the same thing Joe told this last guy.

The big difference is the dealership DOES charge for a diagnostic fee, although some of them will hide the cost and not mention it at the beginning. But, you know... they'll get it.

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         5 comments
      I recently spoke with a friend of mine who owns a large general repair shop in the Midwest. His father founded the business in 1975. He was telling me that although he’s busy, he’s also very frustrated. When I probed him more about his frustrations, he said that it’s hard to find qualified technicians. My friend employs four technicians and is looking to hire two more. I then asked him, “How long does a technician last working for you.” He looked puzzled and replied, “I never really thought about that, but I can tell that except for one tech, most technicians don’t last working for me longer than a few years.”
      Judging from personal experience as a shop owner and from what I know about the auto repair industry, I can tell you that other than a few exceptions, the turnover rate for technicians in our industry is too high. This makes me think, do we have a technician shortage or a retention problem? Have we done the best we can over the decades to provide great pay plans, benefits packages, great work environments, and the right culture to ensure that the techs we have stay with us?
      Finding and hiring qualified automotive technicians is not a new phenomenon. This problem has been around for as long as I can remember. While we do need to attract people to our industry and provide the necessary training and mentorship, we also need to focus on retention. Having a revolving door and needing to hire techs every few years or so costs your company money. Big money! And that revolving door may be a sign of an even bigger issue: poor leadership, and poor employee management skills.
      Here’s one more thing to consider, for the most part, technicians don’t leave one job to start a new career, they leave one shop as a technician to become a technician at another shop. The reasons why they leave can be debated, but there is one fact that we cannot deny, people don’t quit the company they work for, they usually leave because of the boss or manager they work for.
      Put yourselves in the shoes of your employees. Do you have a workplace that communicates, “We appreciate you and want you to stay!”
  • Similar Topics

    • By Transmission Repair

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.

    • By carmcapriotto
      In this episode, Hunt sits down with Jay Huh, a down-to-earth auto repair shop owner from North Carolina who's also a skilled public speaker, coach at Shop Fix, and even a pilot. Jay spills the beans on how he landed a speaking gig at the VISION Hi-Tech Training Expo with just a month's notice and why he's all in on making the auto repair industry better for everyone. His real talk and practical advice are not just about fixing cars but fixing the business side of things too.
      Here's a quick rundown of what Jay shares:
      • Passion Over Profit: Jay opens up about his journey from the brink of personal and professional disaster to finding his purpose in the auto repair world. He's all about giving back, stressing that making a profit shouldn't be a taboo topic.
      • Work-Life Balance: He dives into how he restructured his business to not only be more profitable but to also have time for what matters most — family. Jay is proof that you can have your cake and eat it too, running a successful shop without sacrificing every waking moment at work.
      • Financial Savviness: With a straightforward chat about managing finances, from rebate checks to navigating economic uncertainty, Jay offers his two cents on keeping your shop afloat and thriving, no matter what the market throws at you.
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
      Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
      It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it.  After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
      Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business.  Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
      It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Great news, you don’t have to go it alone. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
       
      Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
      Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
      Email Hunt: [email protected]
      Get a copy of my Book: Download Here
      Aftermarket Radio Network
       
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By Joe Marconi

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.

    • By Changing The Industry
      Is The Future of Car Diagnostics In Deep Learning With AI?
    • By champtires

      Premium Member Content 

      This content is hidden to guests, one of the benefits of a paid membership. Please login or register to view this content.



  • Our Sponsors










×
×
  • Create New...