Quantcast
Jump to content









How important are alignment services to your shop?


Recommended Posts

I am trying to do some research on the impact of the alignment service is to repairs shops. If you sell a lot of tires, alignments are important. It also drives a lot of front end work. Its also a service you provide to be a complete provider of everything your customers need when it comes to car care. It is also probably the most expensive equipment you will ever have to purchase. If you guys have alignment racks, or send out your alignments please answer the follow questions and hopefully we can build a healthy discussion on this topic!

 

 

1. Do you have an alignment machine? What kind of alignment system do you have (please be specific)?Do you sublet your alignments? If you sublet your alignments what is the price you pay and the price you charge? If you perform in house alignments how much do you charge? How many hours do you pay your technician?

 

 

2. How efficient and productive are your alignments? How long does it take your technician to perform alignments? Are you doing predominantly 2 wheel or 4 wheel alignments? What are the times for both? Do you have to redo any comeback alignments? If so what are the return rates?

 

 

3. What percentage of your car count do you offer alignments to? What percentage do you actually align? What percentage do you also perform suspension work with alignments? What percentage do you perform tire work?

 

 

4. What is your sales process for alignments? Do you perform an alignment check with your machine? How long does it take for you check the alignment and give a print out to your customer? Do you find this method effective? What percentage do you close alignments with this method? If you have another method or sales process please explain.

 

 

5. If you have an alignment machine and rack, what was your ROI on the equipment? How long did it take you to pay it back? Did you finance? lease? pay outright?

 

 

6. How much do you advertise/market your alignment services? What have you found to be effective?

 

 

7. Do you do pre alignment inspections to check the steering/suspension? Do you charge for this if the person opts not perform an alignment?

 

 

8. Do you perform wholesale alignments for other shops? What price do you charge them? What is your retail price? How many cars do you see for this service?

 

 

 

Please be as specific as possible. Unless you a serious micro manager I am guessing you may not have the figures for the alignment percentages. If you have a guesstimate PLEASE note that it is a guess opposed to actual figures you are tracking. I think this will be a great topic of discussion!

Edited by mspecperformance
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Incfile.com


Incfile.com


Incfile.com

I would not be very helpful answering your exact questions because my people, product and process are broken. We have a Cemb alignment machine and I do not regret purchasing it. http://cemb-usa.com/DWA1000XL.html

 

 

I have read many many posts of yours and I think an alignment machine would be perfect for your shop. Your shop definitely has what it takes to successfully make good money with alignments.

 

Sorry I wasn't as helpful as Joe. Joe and his shop are light years ahead of me but a shop just like his is my goal.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

M-Spec, since you wrote to me and asked me to weigh in on this topic, here is my take.

From my perspective, even though the question may seem simple, it's actually more involved,
especially when you're considering investing in a new alignment machine.

It's all about being clear about your intention. Here are a number of questions to consider.

What are you trying to do by investing in a new machine? For example...

What are you trying to do by focusing on this, as a service?

Are you trying to bump your ARO with your existing customers?

Are you trying to attract new customers?

Are you trying to make it convenient for your customers to have everything done in
your shop - to make it a one-stop-shop?

Are you trying to set your business apart from all of the other shops in the area, by
offering alignments?

Are you trying to fix efficiency issues only?

These are questions only you can answer. For example, a Hunter rep or any other sales
rep can tell you how great the alignment opportunity is but the alignment rack is
only a tool. You could have the latest technology and tools, but if you can't get
the customers in the door or communicate with the customer what the value is
to doing business with your shop, it's time and money wasted.

So, basically... how important it is... pertains to your situation only.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My next question is: what is your strategy for promoting and selling alignments?

 

There's no right or wrong answer. There just has to be a strategy that delivers predictable results and sales.

 

 

This is a GREAT question. I'd love to hear some input on this. To start with what I would like to implement into our inspection process an alignment quick check. Of course this can only happen if I have an aligner capable of performing a quick check in a QUICK amount of time lol.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We charge the same for all 4 wheel alignments, some take longer. Full contact shims isn't normal alignment procedure so we charge for that. Basically if the suspension is adjustable that's included in the price. Heating tie rod jam nuts is part of it around here even on 2 year old cars. Drilling, removing, replacing is separate operation, normally replacing springs brings the specs back in line on cars that we think need this type of major band aid. Our alignment rack came with the building but IMO it is a mandatory tool in any shop that does any type of suspension repair. I don't have enough man power to do as many alignments as I could sell so I don't push them too hard. I dont want to install a tie rod and then send my customer to another shop, they might not ever come back or they could do a sloppy job. Steering angle reset has been around since the 90's on Mercedes, we don't charge extra for it. Its so simple to do. Bottom line is even a new install full price hunter Hawkeye will pay for itself FAST! With a full time trained alignment tech on the payroll. I'll say 50% of all alignments need a small adjustment only and a correction in tire pressure to be perfect. The 50% that are way out need repairs like springs ball joints bushings tires ect.... Our hunter rack makes us a lot of money because we use it properly and the cars leave fixed. Sure we slip sometimes and line up junk but I learn my lesson every time. Toe n go for $39.99 might not be the best strategy.

 

Junk with big lift kits we don't do, the customer re-engineered thier truck we can't help them.

Duallys we don't do either, they don't fit on the rack.

Oversize tires and leveling kits are usually no problem, as long as the camera clears the tread we can line it up.

German cars want weight in the car, we do the best we can without a ton of special equipment.

Wholesale alignments to used car dealers has been a loser, we try to be too busy for them. They always need a ton of work that we aren't going to get.

Edited by alfredauto
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had an old Hunter machine that was in the shop when I bought it in 2005. In 2013 I was looking into buying a new Hunter machine for around $30,000. I would have needed financing. A salesman came by and told me about the CEMB machine, and it looked very good. CEMB is a Swedish company and is huge, Their USA office is in Gainesville, GA. I bought it and paid cash and have had no payments on it!!! It has been fantastic and we do from 4 to 9 alignments per day.

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
  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest 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

    • By carmcapriotto
      AAPEX 2023 Shop Owner of the Year (00:00:01) Roy Foster's background, including his family's business legacy and involvement in industry organizations. AAPEX 2023 Technician of the Year (00:00:57) Michael Miller's experience and certifications, as well as his friendship with previous Technician of the Year, Matt. AAPEX 2023 Service Advisor of the Year (00:04:37) Greg Damon discusses his shop's involvement in the community, including an exhibit at a kids' discovery museum, and the focus on training and changing the perception of the industry. The importance of apprenticeship programs (00:12:00) Discussion about the success of the NAPA apprentice program and the commitment to investing in young people, including the Roy's sons being apprentices and the need for more young people in the automotive industry. The importance of continuous learning (00:17:25) Discussion on the importance of staying humble, continuously learning, and seeking knowledge from others in the industry. The value of training and networking (00:18:22) Emphasizing the need for shop owners to invest in their employees' training, provide resources, and encourage networking within the industry. Quality control, communication, and value in automotive repair (00:20:17) Exploration of the importance of effective communication between service writers and technicians, quality control measures, and providing value to customers through clear diagnosis and explanation of services. The mentoring program (00:24:49) Discussion about the benefits of having a mentoring program in the shop, with a mentor guiding and teaching a new technician. Increasing sales volume through mentoring (00:25:54) Exploring how having a mentoring program can increase sales volume and profitability for shop owners. Changing the perception of the industry (00:28:02) Highlighting the need to change the perception of the automotive industry as a high-tech, clean environment with opportunities for growth and advancement. The recognition of the industry's high-tech profession (00:32:41) The professionalism and high-tech nature of the automotive industry. The importance of teamwork in the automotive industry (00:33:01) The importance of having a great team of technicians and owners to succeed in the industry.
      Thanks to our Partner, NAPA Auto Care Learn more about NAPA Auto Care and the benefits of being part of the NAPA family by visiting https://www.napaonline.com/en/auto-care 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
    • By Hands On
      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.
    • By carmcapriotto
      Join our panel as they discuss the use of deferred work as a sales growth tactic. They share their insights on the importance of effective communication, customer education, and creating a positive exit experience. They also highlight the role of CRM systems, DVI's, and proactive maintenance. Remember, the key to success in selling deferred work lies in discipline, process, and repetition. Tom Schearer, Schearer’s Sales and Service, Allentown, PA. Tom's previous episodes HERE Bill Greeno, Quality Automotive Servicing, Truckee, CA. Bill’s previous episodes HERE Jaron Kleber, Repair Shop of Tomorrow, National Sales Manager. Jaron’s previous episodes HERE Show Notes: The discovery conversation and setting expectations (00:04:03) The importance of having a conversation with clients to set expectations about the service process and timeline. The exit experience and creating a positive lasting impression (00:04:49) The significance of providing a positive exit experience for customers to encourage repeat business and referrals. Bringing back the personal touch after the touchless experience (00:06:57) The need to reintroduce personal interactions with customers after the touchless experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of asking questions (00:08:49) The importance of having a conversation with customers and asking them questions to understand their concerns and needs. Deferred work as a liability (00:10:16) The potential risks of deferred work, emphasizing that shop owners are responsible for ensuring the safety of customers' vehicles and can be held liable for any accidents or issues related to deferred maintenance. Transitioning to proactive maintenance (00:13:39) The need for shops to transition from a reactive mindset to a proactive maintenance approach, using digital inspections and technology to educate customers about the maintenance needs of their vehicles. The importance of vehicle inspections and customer involvement (00:18:30) Discusses the significance of conducting vehicle inspections and involving customers in understanding how they use their vehicles. Managing and leading deferred work (00:21:39) Explores strategies for managing and leading deferred work, including the frequency of contacting customers and offering incentives to schedule repairs. The importance of CRM and phone calls (00:26:07) Discussing the effectiveness of CRM systems and the percentage of customers responding to phone calls and utilizing coupons. Building trust and scheduling future appointments (00:30:10) The significance of human interaction in building trust and the potential for scheduling future appointments based on client history and vehicle data. The importance of complete inspections (00:35:01) Discusses the significance of providing a complete inspection to customers and educating them on its importance. Consequences of not addressing issues (00:36:00) Talks about the consequences that customers may face if they don't address the issues in a timely fashion. Setting expectations and building relationships (00:36:54) Highlights the importance of reminding customers that they are valued clients and explaining how the shop operates, including follow-ups and addressing deferred work. 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
    • By carmcapriotto
      Today, Hunt unpacks the groundbreaking verdict against the National Association of Realtors
      that's shaking up the real estate world
      Show Notes
      Verdict Breakdown: What the NAR ruling means for future home sales and industry reforms.  Commissions in Question: Insight into how the lawsuit may dismantle traditional commission structures.  Industry Impact: From $1.8 billion judgments to the potential restructuring of real estate giants.  Market Evolution: The shift toward transparency and fairness in real estate transactions.   
      Thanks to our partners, NAPA TRACS and Promotive
       
      Did you know that NAPA TRACS has onsite training plus six days a week support?
      It all starts when a local representative meets with you to learn about your business and how you run it.  After all, it's your shop, so it's your choice.
      Let us prove to you that Tracs is the single best shop management system in the business.  Find NAPA TRACS on the Web at NAPATRACS.com
      It’s time to hire a superstar for your business; what a grind you have in front of you. Great news, you don’t have to go it alone. Introducing Promotive, a full-service staffing solution for your shop. Promotive has over 40 years of recruiting and automotive experience. If you need qualified technicians and service advisors and want to offload the heavy lifting, visit www.gopromotive.com.
      Paar Melis and Associates – Accountants Specializing in Automotive Repair
      Visit us Online: www.paarmelis.com
      Email Hunt: [email protected]
      Get a copy of my Book: Download Here
      Aftermarket Radio Network
      Click to go to the Podcast on Remarkable Results Radio
    • By carmcapriotto
      Tom Palermo discusses the importance of continuous training for technicians, the increasing average age of vehicles, and his strategies for fostering a positive company culture and building strong customer relationships. He also discusses the challenges and opportunities presented by electric vehicles and the importance of hands-on training.
      Tom Palermo, Preferred Automotive Specialists in Philadelphia, PA. Tom's previous episodes HERE
      Show Notes:
      The current state of business at Palermo's (00:03:26) Tom Palermo discusses how busy his shop is and becoming the go-to shop for diagnostics. The increase in the average age of vehicles (00:04:07) Tom Palermo mentions that the average age of vehicles is still increasing due to inflationary times, as people are choosing to hold onto their cars longer to avoid car payments and increased insurance costs. Getting commitment from the team (00:05:08) Tom Palermo shares his strategy of leading from the front and actively participating in his own business to motivate his employees and create a family-like culture in the shop. Training and expanding services (00:06:28) Discussion on the benefits of cross-training technicians and expanding services to become a one-stop shop for customers. Creating a culture of learning and teamwork (00:08:03) Exploration of the importance of building a team environment, promoting culture, and providing training opportunities for technicians. Concerns and opportunities with electric vehicles (00:10:23) Conversation about consumer concerns and technician concerns regarding electric vehicles, as well as the need for businesses to adapt to the evolving automotive industry. The importance of continuous training (00:13:13) Discussion on the evolution of the automotive industry and the need for technicians and shop owners to continuously train and adapt to new technologies. The challenges of hands-on training (00:16:02) the need for hands-on training in the automotive industry and the effectiveness of learning through practical experience. Monitoring productivity and customer loyalty (00:18:16) Explanation of how monitoring productivity can be used as a training tool and the shift in customer behavior, from seeking diagnoses and getting repairs elsewhere to valuing a good shop. The value of relationships and trust (00:19:27) The importance of building relationships with customers and gaining their trust in the automotive industry. Customer relationship management strategies (00:20:28) Discussion about the various customer relationship management techniques used, including email blasts, follow-up phone calls, and special promotions for valued customers. Training for service advisors (00:25:04) The need for more training for service advisors in the automotive industry and the importance of standardized approaches to dealing with customers. Retention rate and treating employees like family (00:26:29) Conversation about the high retention rate of employees at Palermo's and their approach of treating employees like family. Creating a better work environment for technicians (00:28:34) Importance of providing a well-lit, air-conditioned, and well-equipped shop to improve technician productivity, safety, and job satisfaction. Thanks to our Partner, Dorman Products.
      Dorman gives people greater freedom to fix vehicles by constantly developing new repair solutions that put owners and technicians first. Take the Dorman Virtual Tour at www.DormanProducts.com/Tour
      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


  • Our Sponsors


Incfile.com


Incfile.com


Incfile.com

×
×
  • Create New...