Jeff

I am finishing the year down 10% overall. Was running even till the beginning of Oct. I am preparing marketing now for the next 12 months. Get it all done in advance so hopefully I dont go thru this next year!

Kewl

Welcome..

Used Tire Shop..I admit the reporting is somewhat misleading. As far as the mailings to the bottom feeders just un-check the box on the customer screen for e-mails. It fits my budget and I do get customers returning due to the marketing Mitchell does for me. Just my 2 cents.

I am a one man show so my take is a bit different. We offer a service simply put. As a service industry we need to keep our customers needs front and center. Most people work 9-5. Shop is open 8-6. That leaves your customers an hour in the morning and in the evening to get to the shop. Anything outside that becomes an inconvenience. I understand the early drop and all but some folks aren't comfortable with that. Or they want to speak to someone more than leaving a note. Others will need to go on a test drive to demonstrate their complaint. I offer Sat and Sun BY APPOINTMENT. Many weekends I will be in the shop working on carry overs or project cars and will take in additional work. At any rate in my opinion WE NEED TO BE THERE FOR THE CUSTOMERS WHEN THEY NEED US. Now I don't get up at 3 am to run out to help a stranded client but I will come in on a Sat, if not already, if it is one of my premier clients. This past week end I worked Sat and Sun to handle maint. and repairs on commercial customers that use their vehicles Mon-Fri for their business. On a side note my son is grown and my girlfriend works weekends also so it don't have a huge impact on my home life.

Thanks Joe..to you and yours as well as our extended family here HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

I use it but don't believe I am maximizing it. I am working on several "blast" for the up coming 18 months. It is also very dependent on inputting recommended services and dates for follow up. I do get appointments from the service and it keeps fresh content on Facebook. The reviews are also a bonus. And the reviews are easily shared to your Google and Facebook pages. I cant tell you what the ROI is but I believe if a little working it can be a lot better. Just my $2.98

Many of us were raised to take care of things. Growing up on a farm was a blessing. This new generation looks to electronics for everything.

You ain't heard? Since the election California has threatened to secede. They claim to have the 7th strongest economy in the world!!

The finest repairs by Sum Guy!!

To a degree Harry I agree. But if you would look at folks like my father you would understand where I come from. He is 81 and comfortably retired. Worked till he was 66 for a well off land owner as a farmer. Retired there and took a job operating a locomotive engine for the local grain and fertilizer company that my brother helps manage. Retired there at 80. Saved his whole life, made sound financial decisions and rarely borrowed money. He was never cheap but always frugal. example..we always wore Red Wing work boots..american made. Expensive but they wore well. And when the soles were worn out we had them resoled. By the time I was 15 or so he was able to buy his cars cash. He always had a credit card fir emergencies but rarely used it. His feelings were if ya cant pay cash then save more for it. Now he never owned his own home, Didn't need to as the farm house was part of his pay. But he always taught us boys to save, use credit wisely and above all your word is your bond. And his favorite was NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU BUT YOU. Now that I am older I wish I had taken his advice a little more.

Likewise in that same era a family could be supported well on one income Trusted yes they could..now will you give up your big screen..3 phones..4 computers? How many cars set in your driveway? We spend more today because of the materialistic nature of the modern society. You live to the degree you can afford and when you can afford no more it is someone else fault. Aint buyin it..NO ONE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU BUT YOU!

Trusted the tax you propose it similar to what Trump has put forward. Now I would ask what makes you such a scholar on politics. Did you graduate college with a degree in politics? I am for one sick and tired of being called a stupid white racist!! I have studied economics from a layman's perspective for many years. Hillary's one component was to raise taxes..YOU CAN NOT TAX YOUR WAY OUT OF POVERTY. Raise taxes and the final user pays for it..not the man who made it. Now would you like to explain what makes you such an authority or are you just one of the millennials that thinks everyone in the world owes them something.

PAP..I cant answer that. There hasnt been any warning of it from Mitchell or on their forums.

I have a meeting tomorrow with the Federated Rep. They are supposedly revamping their program. Will be interesting to see what changes. Harry I wouldn't know where to begin. I had a lot of confidence in ASE as well. Maybe a continued campaign directed at ASE could convince them to put resources into advertising that would reach a consumer market. Maybe an organization like ASA would get behind it. Continued pressure on our local governments to better enforce current laws. I wish I had an answer. We as business owners each have our unique perspectives with common goals. Maybe someone else will chime in.

Harry, being in Florida I do a lot of work for people travelling. Years ago I had an older lady come in for an est for A/C repair. I explained my warranty (at that time) was in house. She declined the work and went to one of the national retailers. After discussing it with several of my "snowbird" friends I felt it would be in my best interst to offer a nayionwide warranty of some sort. I was with Federated for 2 years. Great program if the customer is broken down more than 25 miles from the shop. What was distressing was the fact that if it was towed back here I DIDNT GET PAID LIKE THE GUY 25 MILES AWAY. The local store that was my federated partner didnt pay shinola. After an estimated loss of over 2G in labor over the course of the 2 years I switched to Tech Net. better coverage and I GET PAID. I have looked at several other programs and none seemd to be a good fit. NAPA required you to stock parts..why..when my Napa store is 3 blocks away and so poorly stocked they dont have parts for their own delivery vehicles. The local store that represents Auto Value is staffed with the most inept countermen I ever had to work with. No one locally offers Bosch. The bigger question here is HOW DID AMERICA GET TO THE FREE MIND SET? Ya gotta know nothing is FREE. I feel we need to do more to advance our PROFFESIONALISM. Again I would say we need some form of PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION that is promoted in some form nationally. We need to stand up to the states and municipalities that expect us to pay fees and follow regulations when they wont police the shops that dont. We need the same recognition (and pay) that an electrician, plumber even doctors get. What sets these trades apart? Apprentice programs, state testing of their skills..regulation and policing of those trades. UNTIL WEARE RECOGNIZED AS THE PROFFESIONALS WE ARE THE FREE SHIT WILL KEEP COMING. The wiper blades and batteries are only secondary to the bigger problem.

Ok..so we have kcked Avance down the road..nowwhat. Do you align yourself with another banner program? Do you offer the warranty and hope your customer dont break down 3000 miles from home and you are at the mercy of the shop they were towed to? Do we just not offer any warranty at all and hope for the best? I hear ya but I dont hear any solutions. Like I said..I cant afford the NAPA banner and the Federated Banner knda sux. There is an Auto Value distributor here in town but the last I looked they sucked also. ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

There have been a lot of changes at my store as well. Mostly new counter people that tend to slow thing down. My last discussion with the store manager was they werent doing all the free crap.May have to have that meeting again. The biggest reason I went with Advance/Car Quest was the Tech Net program. Didnt have the restrictions and stocking requirements of a NAPA and the Federated program didnt cover labor. Not much else to choose from around here.

I agree BUUTTTT....how many cars do you se in a year over 100k that still has original hoses? Do thermostats wear out? The number one reason for roasdie calls is overheat. Yea the hoses "look good"..at least what you can see of them. Cant see the stat buts it working good "for now". How about the car thta has never had a trans service..maker says "lifetime" fill. We all know thats BS. I WILL NOT SELL UN-NEEDED WORK! BUT I WILL RECOMMEND SERVICES THAT I BELIEVE WILL BENIFIT MY CUSTYOMER AND EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. Will everyone buy everything every time? No. Will they return for the work that you recommended..maybe. There in lies the key..track it..and try to re-sell it. Now do the gurus tell us to sell un-needed work..not to me they havent. What I did hear them say is INSPECT RECOMMEND AND REMIND!

I agree Trusted..but we are constantly bombarded with reports that show UNDER performed maint and repairs are huge. I dont think any of the regulars here would ever promote or condone over selling work to make numbers. The key is to market to your customers..do complete inspections..and advise the customer. Honesty is the biggest reason I started my own shop. Most of the dealers and more that one of the indies I worked for were crooks. Just couldnt deal with it.

Welcome..great place here.

Xrac..I have said since I graduated HS that there would be another revolution in this country. I know quite a few "country boys" that are prepared. Many of them are ex-military. The avg American is not prepared or willing to lay it all down for their freedom and to blind to see it faded away. The colonist revolted over far less that we are having shoved down our throats. Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and the rest of them are spinning in their graves! My thinking is prepare for conflict and pray it dont come to that..to that end I will keep my Bible close and my guns closer!!

A lil off subject but how do you like the Maxisys?

Agree Gonzo. There are 2 things that will get you thrown outta my shop..tell me you had it scanned at AZ and you know how to fix it because you seen it on You Tube..you better hit the door before I can get around the desk!! had a young couple come in because they had found me on google. Already knew what was wrong but NONE OF THE OTHER SHOPS BELIEVED THEM! Had parts in hand. I asked how they knew what was wrong..they had it "scanned" at AZ and their buddy with a computer confirmed it. I asked them why the "buddy: didnt fix it..he only works on boats!! HIT THE DOOR!!

I believe part of the problem we face as techs is NO RESPECT. Forever anyone could be a mechanic. With the technology what it is today that is fading. The problem is our skills are diminished by the autozones..Googles..you tube mechanics. I could never understand why one would need a liscenes to style hair but nothing to repair cars. I was ASE master at one time. I gave up due to the lack of understanding with the customers and the failure to promote from ASE itself. Personally I believe untill there is a distinction for PROFESSIONAL techs we as an industry will continue to struggle with the image of "grease monkeys" and shade tree mechanics. I had a discussion with a long time customer just yesterday about the cost of doing business. He himself is a retired business man and he had no idea of the expense of equipment and training required to stay current. His take was I am way to cheap for the work I do. Yet how do we charge correctly when the dude down the street will work for a 12 pack and "white" box parts at cost. As long as the Autozones of this industry continue to diminish our value by loaning tools, providing info, and the such it will be an uphill battle. A way to designate ourselves as professionals that is PUBLICLY RECOGNIZED would go a long way in setting us apart. In addition until the states do their job in policeing the "shed" shops this will go nowhere. In the 2 years I have been in this location I have seen several off these shops come and go within 3 blocks. The local and state inspectors claim to be overworked and under staffed and that these issues are small in comparison to the "real" problems they address daily. I had one ask me if I was prejiduced or just didnt want the competition (the shop I reported was being operated by an ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT).