Alignments

[ohlmannr]

 

My Hunter rep came in recently and brought me a book detailing all the safety features that are being built into cars and the systems that need to be calibrated. The book details a wheel alignment and a safety system alignment. At first it got me thinking that I needed to start looking into this a little more and plan for the future. My current scan tools have always calibrated the steering sensors when needed. They are quick and easy. Today we had in a 2017 VW. The procedure that need to be done was much more in depth. So, the question is. Where do you all see the future of menu priced alignments going? How are some of you handling this and thoughts about how it needs to be handled. I’ve seen discussions about the price of some new alignment machines. I know how most on this forum feel about doing work for free. I think we have an emerging service we will be able to sell. How will you sell it ?   

 

I like to keep things simple so I personally I like raising prices across the board. Some will need to be calibrated after, some wont. I hate the thought of having my advisors putting they stipulation of this is the price for the alignment but your vehicle’s safety systems may need to be calibrated and that is extra. But that may get the least amount of push back. Especially from those who’s vehicles are pre safety system vehicles.  

[PACMAN]

We have the Hunter Hawk eye system the has the capability to reset the steering wheel sensors. Hopefully they will update the alignment computer to be able to do all the resets that are required. Time will tell. We have the option of using the scan tools but that is extra time so cost will increase if needed.

Gary

[juanpablo4219]

On ‎9‎/‎17‎/‎2017 at 11:56 AM, PACMAN said:

We have the Hunter Hawk eye system the has the capability to reset the steering wheel sensors. Hopefully they will update the alignment computer to be able to do all the resets that are required. Time will tell. We have the option of using the scan tools but that is extra time so cost will increase if needed.

Gary

We've been told by the hunter rep that we're supposed to charge more for the calibration of the steering angle/ connect the code link.

The computer tells you at the beginning once you put targets and rolled the car.... but you do the update at the end.

My though... we're a fairly new business and we're building a brand and name for ourselves...if we don't calibrate the steering angle of the car will drift or not run straight... we charge a flat fee for the alignment and that's it 

Now at what time we're going the tell the customer that we have to charge them more since their car's steering sensor need to be calibrate...

what if the customer says no update?

 

[PACMAN]

Price your alignments to cover the extra time it will take. Most new cars will need to have this done. It then will not be a sore point with the customer.