AutoShopOwner Articles

543 topics in this forum

1. Sell the Job, Not Labor TIME and Parts

   By Joe Marconi, September 25, 2012
   • 49 replies
   • 8.1k views
   • 
   • Joe Marconi
   • August 15, 2013

2. Diagnostics Fee or Free - rerun article but a good one.

   By Gonzo, April 18, 2015
   • 26 replies
   • 5.7k views
   • 
   • GermanCArDEpot.com
   • May 16, 2015

3. Mechanic By Definition - - - How do you know if someone really is ... a Mechanic?

   By Gonzo, May 31, 2014
   • 17 replies
   • 4.1k views
   • 
   • John Pearson
   • February 22, 2015

4. Jack of All Trades - - - - - Who benefits from being certified - the tech or the customer?

   By Gonzo, April 28, 2012
   • 14 replies
   • 4.1k views
   • 
   • TheTrustedMechanic
   • May 8, 2012

5. I Must Be An Antique --- A new found respect for my profession

   By Gonzo, December 29, 2012
   • 14 replies
   • 3.8k views
   • 
   • HarrytheCarGeek
   • July 28, 2017

6. Dealing with DIY'rs

   By Gonzo, March 28, 2015
   • 14 replies
   • 3.4k views
   • 
   • PAPShop
   • April 3, 2015

7. Back In The Future - mechanics need a lot more than a LIKE to do this job

   By Gonzo, April 30, 2016
   • 13 replies
   • 3.2k views
   • 
   • skm
   • July 26, 2016

8. Stories from Gonzo

   By Gonzo, March 21, 2010
   • 13 replies
   • 3.7k views
   • 
   • Gonzo
   • March 29, 2010

9. Apples to Apples - - - - Cheap parts-good parts-- is there a difference? Now, explain that to cost concerned customer.

   By Gonzo, May 5, 2012
   • 13 replies
   • 3.9k views
   • 
   • jeffg
   • May 18, 2012

10. This Job Stinks! - - - The aroma of rotten repairs.

    By Gonzo, June 22, 2013
    • 13 replies
    • 2.7k views
    • 
    • xrac
    • June 23, 2013

11. My All Time Worst Spark Plug R&R's --- simple job turned impossible.

    By Gonzo, June 27, 2015
    • 13 replies
    • 3.4k views
    • 
    • FROGFINDER
    • September 14, 2015

12. Lifetime warranties - They're not like they used to be

    By Gonzo, January 30, 2016
    • 13 replies
    • 3.1k views
    • 
    • alfredauto
    • February 14, 2016

13. Hoarders

    By Gonzo, March 5, 2011
    • 13 replies
    • 4.4k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • April 7, 2011

14. North vs. South - A battle not between the states but a battle it is

    By Gonzo, August 29, 2015
    • 12 replies
    • 3.4k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • September 3, 2015

15. The Man Behind the Curtain - - - Even in the land of OZ, somebody has to keep the wizard in check.

    By Gonzo, April 21, 2012
    • 11 replies
    • 3.3k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • April 23, 2012

16. Third Time's the Charm - We all need customers, but...

    By Gonzo, October 24, 2015
    • 11 replies
    • 2.9k views
    • 
    • LynxStarAuto
    • November 7, 2015

17. Zombie Cars - - - They're out there, wandering around looking for brains

    By Gonzo, June 29, 2013
    • 11 replies
    • 2.6k views
    • 
    • xrac
    • July 1, 2013

18. Mechanic Culture Shock - - - Turning the wrench on the other side of the world

    By Gonzo, October 12, 2013
    • 11 replies
    • 2.8k views
    • 
    • ExclusiveAutoCare
    • October 17, 2013

19. Mechanically Confidential - Nobody knows it all

    By Gonzo, February 6, 2016
    • 11 replies
    • 2.8k views
    • 
    • JamisonAutoGroup
    • July 10, 2016

20. Real or Reality TV - - - So many shows, so many characters turning wrenches.

    By Gonzo, November 16, 2013
    • 11 replies
    • 2.9k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • November 19, 2013

21. Looking For Some Guy

    By Gonzo, September 25, 2010
    • 11 replies
    • 3.8k views
    • 
    • Jeff
    • October 25, 2010

22. Service Writer Blues ----- The same old song and dance

    By Gonzo, February 19, 2012
    • 10 replies
    • 3.4k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • February 21, 2012

23. Etched Corvette

    By Gonzo, October 9, 2010
    • 10 replies
    • 3.2k views
    • 
    • alfredauto
    • April 18, 2015

24. Shop Vultures - Those annoying customers that have to hover around the car

    By Gonzo, May 30, 2015
    • 10 replies
    • 3.3k views
    • 
    • Steve Smith
    • August 18, 2015

25. Pulling the plug, on an old car - - The car is gone, the customer remains.

    By Gonzo, June 6, 2015
    • 10 replies
    • 2.9k views
    • 
    • totalautocare
    • December 1, 2015

26. Found it On The Internet ---- Information sources, can they all be trusted

    By Gonzo, May 21, 2011
    • 10 replies
    • 3.3k views
    • 
    • Brianp
    • May 24, 2011

27. The shade tree is getting old

    By Gonzo, February 21, 2010
    • 10 replies
    • 3.3k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • March 20, 2010

28. A Day to Reflect

    By Gonzo, April 24, 2010
    • 10 replies
    • 3.2k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • April 26, 2010

29. Mr. Details - - - When ya got all the facts...that's a fact...

    By Gonzo, September 27, 2014
    • 10 replies
    • 2.7k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • September 30, 2014

30. First The Basics - Diagnostics starts with powers and grounds NOT with parts and labor

    By Gonzo, September 30, 2017
    • 10 replies
    • 2.4k views
    • 
    • HarrytheCarGeek
    • October 1, 2017

31. Bring Back Shop Class - Education is important, learning a trade is priceless

    By Gonzo, September 12, 2015
    • 10 replies
    • 3.4k views
    • 
    • xrac
    • October 10, 2015

32. Pikes Peak and the Rental - - Did ya ever wonder where a rental goes after it leaves the rental office?

    By Gonzo, October 3, 2015
    • 10 replies
    • 2.8k views
    • 
    • John Pearson
    • October 11, 2015

33. Semper Fi - A Memorial Day Weekend tradition

    By Gonzo, May 24, 2014
    • 10 replies
    • 2.6k views
    • 
    • Joe Marconi
    • May 27, 2017

34. Clamps and Batteries - - - - The negative and the positive of home grown battery clamps and repair

    By Gonzo, October 22, 2011
    • 9 replies
    • 3.1k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • November 8, 2011

35. Down and Out in the Service Bay - Some cars don't just come to the repair shop to get fixed... some come to commit suicide. 

    By Gonzo, February 28, 2017
    • 9 replies
    • 3.1k views
    • 
    • Jay Huh
    • March 2, 2017

36. Night Before Christmas - an apprentice helps Santa out

    By Gonzo, December 6, 2014
    • 9 replies
    • 2.5k views
    • 
    • Shopcat
    • December 20, 2014

37. Knocking that Chip Off - - Be proud of what you do, just don't let it go to your head.

    By Gonzo, July 12, 2014
    • 9 replies
    • 2.6k views
    • 
    • NHPROEQUIP
    • July 31, 2014

38. Lost and Found -- The game of hide and seek with tools

    By Gonzo, December 5, 2015
    • 9 replies
    • 2.6k views
    • 
    • PAPShop
    • December 7, 2015

39. Judging By The Cover - - Customers are unpredictable

    By Gonzo, February 15, 2014
    • 9 replies
    • 2.4k views
    • 
    • ScottyP
    • February 22, 2014

40. Engineering Flashbacks - They design it, we fix it...

    By Gonzo, August 13, 2016
    • 9 replies
    • 2.4k views
    • 
    • Andre R
    • August 22, 2016

41. Cart Before The Horse - - - Diagnose then repair, but for some it's "Fix what I tell you"

    By Gonzo, March 1, 2014
    • 9 replies
    • 2.6k views
    • 
    • Chuck
    • April 17, 2014

42. Drain the Swamp and Count the Alligators - - - Ocassionaly the customer has more confidence in you than you might have in yourself.

    By Gonzo, March 17, 2012
    • 9 replies
    • 2.7k views
    • 
    • Joe Marconi
    • March 21, 2012

43. It's Doing The Same Thing ---- the service writer to the tech. this story doesn't need any explanation

    By Gonzo, June 5, 2011
    • 9 replies
    • 2.8k views
    • 
    • Joe Marconi
    • June 12, 2011

44. Shift Happens - Diagnostics, diagnostics, diagnostics

    By Gonzo, March 19, 2016
    • 9 replies
    • 2.5k views
    • 
    • skm
    • March 20, 2016

45. Light Out

    By Gonzo, March 12, 2011
    • 9 replies
    • 4.1k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • March 27, 2011

46. Dog Gone It! - - - - - the vet and the dog, the mechanic and the car

    By Gonzo, April 7, 2012
    • 9 replies
    • 3.3k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • June 30, 2012

47. Ya Can't Please Them All - It's just the way it is.....

    By Gonzo, September 17, 2016
    • 8 replies
    • 2.3k views
    • 
    • FROGFINDER
    • September 20, 2016

48. Drikin'-Drivin' and Grandpa

    By Gonzo, October 2, 2010
    • 8 replies
    • 2.7k views
    • 
    • GeeZ
    • October 7, 2010

49. Wacky Customer Responses ----- ---- ---- ---- The things people will say

    By Gonzo, July 30, 2011
    • 8 replies
    • 2.9k views
    • 
    • Gonzo
    • February 13, 2012

50. Sinch' Ya - - - Being in the service business means you get paid to perform service work. But, some people still want you to do your job for free... ya know, sinch' ya got the car in the shop.

    By Gonzo, April 1, 2017
    • 8 replies
    • 2k views
    • 
    • Jay Huh
    • April 3, 2017