pfseeley442

For me the most difficult one is Failure to Adapt to Market Changes , While running the shop day to day it is difficult to look down the road 3 months, 6 months or longer. We tend to make adjustments reactionary not proactive, : OMG its busy lets hire a tech, OMG were dead, lay off a tech. So I have learned to have about 30k in the bank for winter just to be safe. Proper planning is the key. I will always remember a story about a toy store that would have a line of credit to make it through the summer, then pay it off during the holiday season. The problem was a couple of slow holiday seasons and they could not repay the loans and lost their business. so save money for the slow times and it helps to keep the cash flowing.

If you are on any social media you see the trend today is to move jobs. Watch and listen as they explain why, todays employee feel the only way to advance is to constantly seek out new employment, pit employer against employer and leverage the best deals. They talk constant about how employers do not value the employee, there are sights where employees go to rate the employer and share pay rates. Our trade is no different. We don't provide clear career paths, pay increase, benefits etc. Long gone are the days when employees stayed at one place for their career. They take 401k and head for the door. No easy answer, make your little part of the world the best you can and carry on.

I bought the smart aligner by RAV America, Had my last one for about 12 years, this one also will work on a two post lift. Check alternatives before spending 85K.

I had a boss that had a Christmas Tree in the front room. He warned those that owed him money that their bills would be hanging on the tree, and if they wanted them off just come down and pay. It worked for most.

Did it once years ago, worst thing ever, if you can't hide the money you end up claiming the money as income. Lose, Lose, The most I have ever done resently is given an employee cash for doing some week end work for me.

I can tell you how I solved my issue with technicians. I was always looking to pay as low as possible. If I could get a guy in for $20 per hour I was happy. That happiness was always short lived. I finally sat down to figure out why I had big time turn over of help. The problem was me and how I thought about the value of a tech and the service writer. I know the value of these rolls but never put the right dollar amount on them. Also a $20 an hour tech is just that. When I finaly ran my business corectly, priced my labor rate and parts where they needed to be, hired qualified techs and service writers: holy crap what a differance. I went from an average of 600K per year to now averaging 1.6million per year (the last four years, out of thirteen) I also have pay of 250K per year for myself. My techs get about 70K plus per year. . Front room gets about 65K per year. All salary, no pay plans, no games, just pay. With health care, 401k ect. I have four bays, one of them is an inspection bay. Good AC good heat, and very little turn over of help. So as an industry we know why there is a tech shortage, and the reasons for it. We just need to fix us first.

My two cents: The last couple of years were an anomaly. There were a lot of items that contributed to a couple of great years for us. Lack of cars to purchase, extra money from the government, etc. This year will be different , people are paying huge electric, heat and food bills. We as business owners need to adjust accordingly. I believe we will still see good car counts but lower ARO's. We really need to keep an eye on our profit margins. We need to hold the line and stay profitable to stay in business.

I have ran into this, I used cans and the single hose to fill the system, I diagnosed the system, then fill it with the cans.

Zip allows you to look at resumes, also talk to tool truck drivers, unhappy techs love to vent to them Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

I'm in Massachusetts, same here, everyone I talk to is slow. We have had shops lay of techs, and a clue have closed. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

My highest paid technician has been $60k per year. We average about $22 per hour. Our labor rate is $90 per hour. My two guys I have now at $20 per hour are averaging 32-35 hours per week. If you are paying that rate I would only go flat rate. That will cover you. If you are paying someone $1500 per week and it slows down that could drain the bank account very quickly.

I have developed a relationship with a local transmission Shop to refer this type of work to if you don't feel comfortable doing it. Our relationship agreement is that we don't steel work from each other and we discuss issues privately to avoid customer issues. My advise is to tell the customer you want to make it right, but you want to get a second opinion. I would then bring it to shop you trust. A pinion seal and bearing is replaceable. If the repairs are what you feel are justified I would eat the cost. I say this because you felt is was a mistake to do a used rear end. Then write it off as good will. Future advice : refer the job or do a rebuilt differential. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Need more info: was the estimate signed or acknowledged ? Any time we have engine damage I make sure the customer signs off on the potential for a bad engine. I also a bad experience and ended up losing on the job. No win either way. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk