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Selling Batteries with Tom Sciortino and John Armstead [CC 092]


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eozm7M1qMKg&t=1s

Tom Sciortino, Total Automotive, Tonawanda, NY. Graduated 1983 ECC with an associate degree in Automotive technology. Worked from 1981-1986 (broad Elm, Tire man, and Goodyear) and opened Total Automotive June 1st, 1986 (just celebrated 35 years in business. Purchased his current location in 2016 after renting for 30 years. Tom has 3 techs, 1 service writer and is an ASE Master Tech

John Armstead opened up Armstead Automotive Repair in 1986, out of a two-bay garage, in downtown Holly. In 1992, Armstead Automotive moved to the existing location on Fish Lake Rd. At this location, Armstead Automotive was able to expand and tailor to our customer’s needs. In 2004 we added a heavy-duty 4 bay addition, that can hold vehicles as large as school buses, RVs, and bucket trucks. On the west side of the building, John built a custom railroad track for all hy-rail needs. Armstead Automotive is willing to adapt to what our customers need…challenge accepted.

Now, Armstead Automotive is a fully-fledged auto repair shop complete with nine bays and a family of Armsteads, working tirelessly to deliver an experience that goes unrivaled in Holly, Saginaw, and the surrounding communities.

For an auto repair shop in Holly or Saginaw that looks out for you and your vehicle, no matter what, through the complex transmission repairs, to a simple oil change, look no further than Armstead Automotive Repair. 

Key Talking Points

  • Waiting customer- demand purchase, if needs battery customers would rather have it done right away. Offer print out and keep a history of batteries. Be consistent.
  • Battery testing- DVI process/inspection
  • Both John and Tom sell around 150 batteries per year- 3 per week
  • Rotate stock batteries every 90 days 
  • Hotter climates batteries often need changing after 48 months
  • Some cars won’t start/stop of battery is weak
  • Batteries dying- lights staying on (map lights). 
  • COVID 19- cars sitting for a long period of time and won’t start
  • If you’re not selling batteries then you’re not checking/testing
  • Profitability- 25-35%, labor and sale like tires.
  • AAA won’t change on road for certain cars with batteries in the trunk or under seat etc
  • Thanks to Tom Sciortino and John Armstead for their contribution to the aftermarket
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  • 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!”
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