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Hello everybody!! First time posting here and its because i really need help. I run a small repair shop. so I was wondering if there is some reasonable priced car diagnostic tools that would be able to bring my garage into the 21st Century?


Recently, I am paying attention to some online shops, I found that there are a wide variety of automotive diagnostic products online, but I dare not to buy.

I know an online shop is plusobd.com (It is not advertising), i don't know it is reliable or not.


Is anyone who have bought automotive diagnostic products online?

Please share some experience or skills.

Thanks.


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Years ago the old man I bought my first tire shop from had this trick. He put on a generic ball cap and skulked around other repair shops, asked questions, observed. He usually went to a shop near a mall and told the guys he was waiting for his wife to finish shopping. He learned a lot and schooled his crew on anything new he learned.

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If you have the customers that drive those cars on your post let me congratulate you!

 

In this part of the country(Brownsville, TX) those are the paying customers but that type of customer is very demanding and also like to invest in their cars. keep in mind, they show them up and the vehicle gives them the looks and the personality.

 

In other words, these customers will pay for repairs in their cars, which makes worth while the investment in the diagnostic equipment.

 

Regards,

 

JP

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Didn't notice the website before, I would not be buying from that site. GM Tech 2 for less than $500, I think not. VW/Audi cables for $14.99, REALLY! What vehicles are you typically working on and what tests/functions are your techs asking for? There is no single scan tool that does it all but if you can tell us what you are needing I can make some suggestions.

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Anyways if you go to the weblink posted it some knock off asian equipment from a site I would never enter a credit card number into. I put his shop name into google (LBHY auto shop) and it has more knock off diag equiptment. Look at the picture of the shop and the cars, would a REAL shop that is not a SPAM account have that clientiel and still be looking for scantool advise?

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  • 3 years later...

Old post I know but I wanted to say Good point Mario. I do not know how many of you are in this habit, but when I start receiving advice from someone here I always Google their shop and read their Google and yelp reviews before decidiing on how to take the advice or how to respond.

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

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      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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