Quantcast
Jump to content


Mobile Service, going to the customer by request.

Hands On
 Share
Go to solution Solved by DUFRESNES,

Recommended Posts

Hands On Collaborator

Hands On

Posted
Posted

I keep getting a request now and then to go to someones house. I am starting to wonder, is it because they think it would be cheaper, or is it like in that show billions, where the guy has so much money, he can afford to pay chef ryan to come to his house to cook dinner.

 

How much would it take to get each of you to come to my house to work on my car? Honest answers, and you have to give an amount.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Incfile.com


Incfile.com


Incfile.com

bantar Community Regular

bantar

Posted
Posted

$300 service call to show up plus 1 hour labor.    And I'd tell them that once we figure out what it wrong or find it needs tools still at the shop (e.g. a lift) to continue, it'll likely need to be towed to the shop for the repair.   This should net you $500 for a simple diag call.   Or you talk sense into them to tow it to you.   Or, they looked on Craigslist and saw great rates, but would rather have you work for such "great" rates because you have a shop and would be a better value.

Now, I've done this for free as well.   We recently put a new ACDelco fuel pump in good customers work truck and it wouldn't start.   We drove to his house, got it to start and brought it back to the shop and installed a 2nd new fuel pump.   And we drove it back to his house when done.    I do have a $85 very-local emergency assist fee.  This is a try to jump-start fee.   If it won't jump, it's a tow.    I do give them $25 credit towards a new battery if purchased same day.  I use GS techs for this.

However, I get frustrated when my guys do repairs in the parking lot.   There's no need for them to work outside in the weather.   They will eventually need multiple trips back inside for random tools, thus wasting time.  Mobile techs have a leg up on you doing this as they already have all of the tools in the truck. 

And the best mobile techs tow this gem to the job site.

b0000e_0ef1f93124a04a40a759b4f0ab8ac7dc.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hands On Collaborator

Hands On

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Nice. I was thinking of it like this, sitting in my office, with three techs working, I am generating $569.85 per hour. If I have to give up after hours family time, travel to your location, then I would like to make more then that.

I have gone out of my way to help clients that we did work for like you mentioned, but I usually just eat the tow cost, unless it just needs a jump or something, and they are close by. If we are doing it for free as a courtesy, It does not make sense to me to lose an hour of labor to save half that much on a tow.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hands On Collaborator

Hands On

Posted
  • Author
Posted
9 minutes ago, Transmission Repair said:

I would offer a pickup & delivery service instead of working in the customer's driveway.  An hour's shop time would be an appropriate fee for both if they are within a 5-mile radius of your shop.  More time for further out.

We do offer pickup and drop off, and we offer it for free. Most of the people requesting I come to them are trying to save the cost of a tow, and think , for some reason, that it would be cheaper to have someone come to them.  I have seen some horrific stories form Mobile Mechanics first hand. There was or is an app that was released, where you could hire a mechanic like you would call for an uber. One woman had her van left on blocks and lost cash she gave out for parts. You can not save people from themselves unfortunately.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hands On Collaborator

Hands On

Posted
  • Author
Posted
6 minutes ago, Transmission Repair said:

Free?  You've got to be kidding.  You're offering a convenience service and that has value.  What value should be determined by you, even if it is only a token fee.

I give out free loaners also. I also bill $20 more per hour then the shop literally right across the street. It is pretty rare we have to do pickup drop off, the loaners are used way more often, and I use the loaners because it takes the pressure off of me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hands On Collaborator

Hands On

Posted
  • Author
Posted
15 hours ago, Transmission Repair said:

I didn't use the phrase "loaner car".  I had the customer sign a car rental agreement.  It worked well for me.  If the job turned out to be something major, I had the option to waive the car rental charge.  We were a transmission shop, with no general repair.  Just transmissions, clutches, transfer cases, and differential work.  I sold our shop to a nearby competitor in 2015 and sold the real estate to a plumber in 2020.  I often miss the good old days. 🙂

I envision my self standing at my front counter until I can not stand any more. I hope one of my kids wants to take over, or expand...

I thought of doing them as rentals, but honestly, it is more for my convenience then the customers. I just do not like the pressure of when is my car going to be ready, and the amount of good reviews and word of mouth the free loaners have generated is way better then any of my advertising dollars. I do carry a commercial insurance policy on them. In the end it is an expensive program, but has paid me back many times over. I also have them constantly listed for sale, so they make nice little cash bonuses from time to time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites
Hands On Collaborator

Hands On

Posted
  • Author
Posted
27 minutes ago, Transmission Repair said:

Speaking of advertising dollars, are you using tracking numbers for different marketing/advertising efforts?

I do all of my own advertising. I raise and lower my budgets on both Ad words and Yelp as I need to control my car count. It works amazingly well. With a few clicks I can fill my bays in a couple of hours. I do not use tracking numbers. I do not want someone to put a number in their phone book that might not be valid a year form now. Yelp is way better then Adwords these days. Google is being super sneaky, they put you at the top when someone searches for a specific shop. I get too many calls form people asking if there car is ready,and the car is at another shop across town.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites
  • 2 weeks later...
Obsidian Motors Apprentice

Obsidian Motors

Posted
Posted
On 11/7/2023 at 3:18 PM, Hands On said:

I give out free loaners also. I also bill $20 more per hour then the shop literally right across the street. It is pretty rare we have to do pickup drop off, the loaners are used way more often, and I use the loaners because it takes the pressure off of me.

I no longer offer loaner cars. Customer flipped the loaner on the freeway then she balked at accepting responsibility and having her insurance cover damage even though she signed the waiver for the loaner. I had to threaten to enforce what she signed in court before she bought her insurance company in to reimburse our shop for the total loss. I didn't receive tangible benefit for offering loaners when all was said and done. I do still offer local rideshare for regulars though.

  • 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
 Share
Go to topic listing

  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      Technician Production is More Complicated than You Think
      By Joe Marconi in Joe's Blog
         0 comments
      Auto shop owners are always looking for ways to improve production levels. They focus their attention on their technicians and require certain expectations of performance in billable labor hours. While technicians must know what is expected of them, they have a limited amount of control over production levels. When all factors are considered, the only thing a well-trained technician has control over is his or her actual efficiency.
      As a review, technician efficiency is the amount of labor time it takes a technician to complete a job compared to the labor time being billed to the customer. Productivity is the time the technician is billing labor hours compared to the time the technician is physically at the shop. The reality is that a technician can be very efficient, but not productive if the technician has a lot of downtime waiting for parts, waiting too long between jobs, or poor workflow systems.
      But let’s go deeper into what affects production in the typical auto repair shop. As a business coach, one of the biggest reasons for low shop production is not charging the correct labor time. Labor for extensive jobs is often not being billed accurately. Rust, seized bolts, and wrong published labor times are just a few reasons for lost labor dollars.
      Another common problem is not understanding how to bill for jobs that require extensive diagnostic testing, and complicated procedures to arrive at the root cause for an onboard computer problem, electrical issue, or drivability issue. These jobs usually take time to analyze, using sophisticated tools, and by the shop’s top technician. Typically, these jobs are billed at a standard menu labor charge, instead of at a higher labor rate. This results in less billed labor hours than the actual labor time spent. The amount of lost labor hours here can cripple a shop’s overall profit.
      Many shop owners do a great job at calculating their labor rate but may not understand what their true effective labor is, which is their labor sales divided by the total labor hours sold. In many cases, I have seen a shop that has a shop labor rate of over $150.00 per hour, but the actual effective labor rate is around $100. Not good.
      Lastly, technician production can suffer when the service advisors are too busy or not motivated to build relationships with customers, which results in a low sales closing ratio. And let’s not forget that to be productive, a shop needs to have the right systems, the right tools and equipment, an extensive information system, and of course, great leadership.
      The bottom line is this; many factors need to be considered when looking to increase production levels. While it does start with the technician, it doesn’t end there. Consider all the factors above when looking for ways to improve your shop’s labor production.

  • Similar Topics

    • carmcapriotto
      OK, I Raised My Labor Rate: Now What?! [THA 355]
      By carmcapriotto
      Raising labor rates is not just about increasing prices. It's about finding more value in the industry and positioning ourselves as professionals. Join our panel as they highlight the need for understanding the concept of effective labor rate, ensuring services are charged appropriately, viewing the business as a professional entity, providing a positive customer experience and addressing core business problems before raising labor rates. Our panelists encourage shop owners to take a comprehensive approach to their business strategy, considering all factors and not just focusing on raising labor rates. Aaron Woods, X-tra Mile Auto Care, Stillwater, OK. Institute for Automotive Business Excellence. Listen to Aaron’s previous episodes HERE Brent Fleischman, Yocum Automotive, Republic, MO. AutoFix Auto Shop Coaching. Listen to Brent's previous episodes HERE Jennifer Hulbert, Service Plus Automotive, Calcium, NY. Institute for Automotive Business Excellence. Listen to Jennifer's previous episodes HERE Show Notes:
      Raising Labor Rates: Importance and Impact (00:00:01) Discussion on the reasons to raise labor rates, the impact it can have on a business, and the need for a long-term strategy. Factors to Consider Besides Labor Rate (00:04:14) Exploration of other factors that contribute to a business's success, such as overall business strategy and addressing pain points. Calculating Effective Labor Rate (00:07:34) Importance of understanding and calculating effective labor rate, including the need to charge appropriately for all services provided. The mindset shift and the need to raise labor rates (00:08:33) Discussion on the importance of raising labor rates and positioning the industry as valuable and professional. The impact of undervaluing the industry (00:09:52) The negative effects of undervaluing the automotive industry, including difficulty in attracting technicians and obtaining loans. The bottom line and approaching the business as a business (00:12:10) The importance of considering the bottom line and treating the automotive business as a professional enterprise rather than a hobby. The importance of customer experience (00:17:59) Discussion on how people buy feelings and the need to focus on providing a positive experience in the automotive industry. Sharing new labor rates with the team (00:18:39) Importance of communicating labor rate changes to the team and how it helps maintain profit structure and make investments. Effective labor rate and its impact (00:19:03) Exploration of effective labor rate, its calculation, and the need to consider menu jobs and their effect on gross profit dollars per hour. The importance of personnel and procedural issues (00:27:40) Discussion on identifying whether the problem lies with personnel or procedural issues in a shop and the need to align the shop's mission and vision statements with its culture. Addressing cultural issues and offering training (00:28:50) Exploration of the top-down approach in addressing cultural issues, identifying personalities, offering training, and monitoring staff to create long-term relationships with customers. Considerations before raising labor rates (00:30:07) Importance of analyzing gross profit percentages, solving core problems, and focusing on profitability and core processes before considering raising labor rates.
      Thanks to our Partners Shop-Ware and Delphi Technologies Shop-Ware: More Time. More Profit. Shop-Ware Shop Management https://getshopware.com/ Delphi Technologies: Keeping current on the latest vehicle systems and how to repair them is a must for today’s technicians. http://DelphiAftermarket.com Connect with the Podcast -Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RemarkableResultsRadioPodcast/ -Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmcapriotto/ -Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/remarkableresultsradiopodcast/ -Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RResultsBiz -Join our Insider List: https://remarkableresults.biz/insider -All books mentioned on our podcasts: https://remarkableresults.biz/books -Our Classroom page for personal or team learning: https://remarkableresults.biz/classroom -Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/carm -The Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com -Special episode collections: https://remarkableresults.biz/collections      
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • Transmission Repair
      How Corporations Benefit from Running Their Business Like a Small Automotive Repair Shop
      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.

    • carmcapriotto
      Matt’s Mailbag: Hiring Bonuses, Flat Rate Pay and Building a Network of Friends [E110] - Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z
      By carmcapriotto
      Join Matt Fanslow as he answers some questions from his listeners in his 'mailbag.' Matt discusses the hiring bonus dilemma, compensation and profit sharing, the power of training, the flat rate pay system, book recommendations and how to create a network of industry peers.
      Have a question for Matt to answer? Email him at: [email protected]
      Show Notes
      Hiring Bonuses for New Techs (00:02:27) Discussion on the fairness and impact of hiring bonuses for new technicians and how it affects existing employees. Broken System of Compensation (00:04:58) Exploration of the different ways technicians are compensated and how it can lead to resentment and difficulties in hiring new technicians. Ethical Profit and Long-Term Benefits (00:07:31) Explanation of how Matt's shop rewards employees based on ethical profit and how hiring bonuses can benefit both the shop and existing employees in the long term. The Mismanagement of Compensation (00:09:59) Discussion about the mismanagement of compensation in the aftermarket automotive industry and the potential impact on employees. Concerns about Flat Rate Pay (00:13:33) Addressing concerns about transitioning to a flat rate pay system and the potential negative impact on technicians' income and job satisfaction. Recommended Books for Auto Repair (00:19:49) Discussion on the importance of reading books on auto repair Building a Network in the Automotive Industry (00:26:06) Advice on how to build a network of connections in the automotive industry, including attending trade shows and utilizing social media. The importance of networking (00:29:42) The value of building relationships and networking in the automotive industry.  
      Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech napaautotech.com
       
      Email Matt: [email protected]
      Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel HERE
      Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/
       
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • Joe Marconi
      Shop Owners: Spend Time Giving Thanks, Show Appreciation
      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.

    • carmcapriotto
      Batteries, Diag Pay and Gwar, Oh My! [E108] - Diagnosing the Aftermarket A to Z
      By carmcapriotto
      "I know that if your pay structure is set up around production, you've already lost if you're hiring a diag tech."
      Recorded Live at AAPEX 2023, Matt Fanslow is joined by Isaac Rodell and Rich Falco. Together, they discuss battery reconditioning, hybrid vehicle repairs, the role of diagnostic technicians and their pay structure, the importance of reaching out for support and education, and a discussion on music and the process of building classes for automotive technicians.
      Show Notes
      High Voltage Tooling and Battery Reconditioning (00:02:59)  The Importance of Diag Techs (00:15:52)  The Role of Diag Techs in Shop Profitability (00:17:07)  The importance of reaching out for support (00:24:06) Challenges of Fleet vehicles (00:25:33)  GWAR (00:39:41)  Metal Music and Test Scores (00:42:15)  The challenges of teaching classes (00:47:34) The profitability of mobile technicians (00:50:15) The pursuit of being the best (00:55:27) Encouragement to pursue excellence in automotive knowledge and skills  
      Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Autotech napaautotech.com
       
      Email Matt: [email protected]
      Diagnosing the Aftermarket A - Z YouTube Channel HERE
      Aftermarket Radio Network: https://aftermarketradionetwork.com/
       
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio


  • Similar Tagged Content

  •
    nptrb

    How to Set Up a Chart of Accounts to Reduce Transaction Classification Errors

    By nptrb, in Automotive Advertising,

    0 comments 105 views
    Joe Marconi

    Article: When An Employee Brings You Bad News, Say Thank You!

    By Joe Marconi, in Joe Marconi's Tips and Articles,

    0 comments 949 views
    nptrb

    Thankful Reflections: Financial Wins of the Year

    By nptrb, in Automotive Industry,

    0 comments 65 views

  • Our Sponsors

Main Sections

More Sections

Discussion Forums

×
×
  • Create New...