AutoShopOwner

pnbsp;/pobject height="344" width="425"param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmW9c-7KCqAamp;hl=enamp;fs=1"param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmW9c-7KCqAamp;hl=enamp;fs=1"param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmW9c-7KCqAamp;hl=enamp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"/objectpI spotted this on YouTube this morning. It show how cracks can start in the holes of a cross-drilled rotor. The rotor probably was junk in the first place, putting holes and slots in it did not help.nbsp;/pobject height="344" width="425"/objectpnbsp;/pimg src="http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/cs/aggbug.aspx?PostID=482" width="1" height="1" View More

pnbsp;/pobject height="344" width="425"param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eNBIVq6mNkamp;hl=enamp;fs=1"param'>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eNBIVq6mNkamp;hl=enamp;fs=1"param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"embed src="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eNBIVq6mNkamp;hl=enamp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"/objectpnbsp;/ppspan style="font-family:Verdana;"The a href="http://www.cp.com/" style="font-weight:bold;"Chicago Pnuematic (CP)/a CP7830Q 3/8quot; Inchnbsp;Air Ratchet is called thequot;Quiet Onequot;. But, can the quiet kid in class get theattention over the students raising raising hand and going quot;Pick Me! Pick Me!quot;? I think CP has done it with this tool./spanspan style="font-family:Verdana;"br /On paper, the a href="http://www.cp.com/" style="font-weight:bold;"CP7830Q /ahas a /spanspan style="font-family:Verdana;"maximum ultimate torque of 90 ft/lbs that is generated by .5hp air motor. a href="http://www.cp.com/"span style="font-weight:bold;"CP/span/a claimsthat it is the most powerful ratchet in its class. The rest of the specslike free speed and air consumption are even with the competition from IR and Snap-on. But,it is how a href="http://www.cp.com/"CP/a packages these attributes while throwing in some uniquefeatures that sets it apart./spanspan style="font-family:Verdana;"br /The reason why they call this the quot;Quiet Onequot; is a noise control systemthat silences the exhaust. The adjustable noise control is changed byrotating a sleeve around the body of the ratchet. The noise reductionis noticeable and it also points the exhaust in any desired direction.a href="http://www.cp.com/"CP /aclaims that there is no reduction in power, and I did not noticedany loss of power with the it fully muffled. a href="http://www.cp.com/"CP /aclaims that it can beas quiet as 79 dBA. Why is noise control important? It has be proventhat constant exposure can damage your hearing, but it also causesstress.br /The rubberized handle survived the aerosol brake clean solvent testafter the ratchet was used to remove a greasy cylinder head.I liked the handle, it has a nice feel and I felt I could usemore force on it. /spanspan style="font-family:Verdana;"Also, the oval shape of thehandle felt comfortable at any angle. /spanspan style="font-family:Verdana;"The a href="http://www.cp.com/"CP7830Q/a was dropped it several times from 6 ft. and itdid not break.br /On cold days the rubber surface felt a lot better to hold than coldcast aluminum. br /The trigger works well and had good feel with controllability. It maytake a while to adjust if younbsp; have used a lever trigger for a longtime. Also, it is a nice touch a href="http://www.cp.com/"CP/a includes the protective headboot with the tool instead of trying to sell it to you later on.br /Overall, I would recommend the a href="http://www.cp.com/"CP7830Q /aratchet is you are looking for a3/8quot; air ratchet. This is a quality tool that is well worth thepurchase price. It speaks softly, while letting you carry a big stick./span br //ppnbsp;/ppa href="http://www.cp.com/"img src="http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/cs/blogs/brakefrontend/20439.jpg" border="0" alt="" //anbsp;/pimg src="http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/cs/aggbug.aspx?PostID=481" width="1" height="1" View More

pThis will blow your mind!!!nbsp;/ppnbsp;br /a href="http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/cs/blogs/brakefrontend/ray%20rotor%20cut.jpg"img'>http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/cs/blogs/brakefrontend/ray%20rotor%20cut.jpg"img src="http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/cs/blogs/brakefrontend/ray%20rotor%20cut.jpg" border="0" height="492" width="633" alt="" //a/ppRead more about the Raybestos Brand Brakes rotor study on a href="http://www.autocarepronews.com/default.aspx?type=artamp;id=90614"AutoCareProNews/anbsp;/pimg src="http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/cs/aggbug.aspx?PostID=480" width="1" height="1" View More

Studies have shown that for every customer lost due to a major blunder, hundreds more are lost due to inferior customer service, apathy, and indifference. While we cannot be expected to please everyone and cannot be everything to everyone, there are many subtle events that occur during the course of each day that might be sending your customers down the road, never to return again. Shop owners routinely focus on the quality of the repairs and services performed. They take great pride in their work and the work of their employees. But, that may not be enough. Let me give you an example of what can go wrong, that can alienate your customers. Mrs. Jones arrives at your service counter at 8:00am for her scheduled 30k service. She also asks your service advisor to install a new set of wipers and requests that the car be ready by 3:00 so she can make her dentist appointment. Your service advisor neglects to note on the work order, the wipers, and the request to have the car completed by 3:00. Because this job is viewed as routine service, the car is scheduled for the afternoon. Mrs. Jones calls at 1:00 only to find that her car has not yet been started on. At this point she’s upset and frustrated. You rush to get the car done, but it’s not ready until 3:30. A disappointed Mrs. Jones picks up the car and as it starts to rain on her way to the dentist, realizes that the wipers were not replaced either. She considers turning around and going back to your shop, but decides not to, and makes a promise to herself to find another repair shop. Don’t think this is real life? Think again! Have you ever been at a restaurant where the food was great but the service so horrible that it ruined your night? As you sit there and finish your meal, you vow never to come back. And when the server or host asks if everything was ok, you respond…”just fine”. The truth is everything was not ok and you will probably never return to that restaurant. Most people will not tell you when they are upset with you. Consider yourself lucky whenever a customer comes back to you angry. At least you’ll have a chance to make things right. In today’s tough economic climate, you cannot afford to loose customers. The best repair means nothing if the customer experience is not first-rate. Like it or not, your customers judge you more on the quality of your customer service and the appearance of your shop, than by the quality of the work you do.

In my mail yesterday I had a welcome surprise, my certificates of completion from the Wix's eLearning online courses and tests. They came in frames and look really nice. They will be going up somewhere in the office. I encourage every technician and counterman to take these courses It is very “old school” and reminds me of a time when training was an important aspect of selling parts to technicians. I wish more automotive aftermarket manufacturers would do this. Wix has done a really nice job with the online courses and you will learn something. Most of all, you will never again underestimate the complexity or importance of oil and air filters. The product sales pitch is there for certain Wix specific features like spiral-wound center tubes and silicone anti-drainback valves, but it is only a small percentage of the total content. Overall, the content of the course was top notch. These tests are a great prep for the ASE A1 test and can help you answer questions about PCV systems, oil flow and air induction systems. Click here to go to the Wix eLearning website View More

View More

I saw this story and it made cringe, it has implications for students, shops and the supply chain. Also, as a former employee at a Goodyear store (franchise), it make me a little sad. Goodyear Exits Underperforming Retail Locations AKRON, Ohio, August 19, 2008 –In a move to improve the profitability of its U.S. retail operations,The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company today said it plans to exit 92underperforming locations by the end of the year. "Following a rigorous review of operating performance and local market dynamics, these company-owned outlets are not producing acceptable returns," said ScottVogel, vice president, retail operations, North American Tire. "Taking this action now willallow us to focus our attention on locations with the best long-termpotential," he said. "It will help position Goodyear to be a strongercompetitor." Vogel said the company is notannouncing the store locations impacted due to its desire to firstcommunicate with their approximately 500 full-time and 100 part-timeassociates as well as property owners of leased facilities. The action will result inafter-tax charges of approximately $30 million, of which $15 millionwill be recorded in the third quarter of 2008. In addition to thestrategic benefits associated with it, the action is expected toeliminate losses related to these locations of approximately $9 millionannually. So what does it mean to you? Students: There will be a lot of ex-Goodyear technicians and tire busters looking for jobs. Shops: Less competition? Maybe. But, there will be a lot of empty prime retail space looking for buyers or renters. It might be a chance to upgrade your location. Equipment Manufacturers: Remember when Penske/Kmart closed their locations? There was a glut of used shop equipment on the market. While the number of closing Goodyear stores is not as great, it will still have an impact on the market. View More

It may only fit one vehicle and lifts it four feet, but it is a work of art. View More

This is a cool tool: From the press release: GearWrench, a premier hand tool brand from Danaher Tool Group, announced the launch of its new Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Kit. The new kit will help with TPMS sensor maintenance during tire and rim changes. "The TPMS kit from GearWrench offers a solution for automotive professionals who had to previously use several different tools to achieve the same result," said Marc Mangus, senior brand manager for GearWrench. "Technicians and DIY enthusiasts can rely solely on the new kit to tighten TPMS sensors to the desired torque." In April 2005, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued a rule requiring automakers to install TPMS sensors in all new passenger cars and trucks beginning in September 2007. "This is an essential tool for technicians who handle maintenance on new cars, specifically cars purchased during the last three years," added Mangus. The new TPMS Kit features a sliding adjustable torque scale for easy setting and an audible alert that indicates when the predetermined torque value has been reached. The kit also features a flexible drive for a screwdriver or torque wrench. The quarter-inch size can accommodate up to 120 pounds of air pressure. The kit includes a valve stem tool and two commonly used sockets for TPMS sensor maintenance. The set comes complete in a convenient blow mold case with a suggested retail price of $150. Beginning in August, the GearWrench TPMS Kit will be available through mobile tool distributors. View More

I found this through Dealers are quoting prices between $8-10K. View More

I just passed my ASE exams for the A1, A4 and A5 tests. I used the more expensive Computer-Based-Testing (CBT) that takes place in August and February, it is nice and a little less hectic than classroom testing. I would highly recommend if you are easily distracted (I was the only one in the room!). Here are my notes about what to study or brush up on. Every CBT and written test is different: A5 Brakes • One CAN BUS question relating to brake warning lights. But, if you can follow a wiring diagram you can answer the question. • One a question about ABS isolation and outlet valves. • Two questions on hydro boost. They were concerned about pump diagnostics and the supply of hydraulic pressure to the hydro-boost unit. A4 Suspension and Steering • Three power steering questions. You must understand the role of return lines, supply lines and valves. • Five questions about tire wear patterns. • Three question were asked where the alignment angles (actual and specs±) were given and the tester had to interpret them. • No "new technology" (electric power steering, air ride, etc...) questions were asked in my version. View More

This past weekend, I attended the Woodward Dream Cruise. It is the largest one day automotive event that has turned into a three-day party celebrating the automobile. Along with the cars cruising a 15-mile stretch of Woodward there are people on all manner of non street legal vehicles (golf carts, riding lawnmowers and bicycles). I spotted a tow truck in Pontiac with the operator carefully loading a 50cc pocket bike away and the owner in the back of a police car. Do you really think he needs a flatbed? View More

The most vulnerable part of a wheel bearing hub unit with integrated wheel speed sensor is the connector. Regardless of the design, the integrity of the circuit comes down to the seal in the connector. If the seal is not replaced and properly seated, water and corrosion can cause an intermittent problem with the wheel speed sensor signal. The most common failure is the foam or rubber seal falling out of the female connector during installation. SKF has released a tech tip on the subject in their August Pole Position e-newsletter. Preventing ABS sensor failure in pigtail style hub assemblies “Make sure the weather pack has not fallen out of the harness. Replace if missing. Without the weather pack, water intrusion will occur damaging both the ABS sensor on the hub and the harness side wiring and connector.” Click Here To See the Full Tech Tip BMW in has released its own Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) on the topic: SEAL ON 2- AND 3-PIN PLUG CONNECTORS When connecting or disconnecting 2- or 3-pin plug connectors on any BMW model, it is possible for the rectangular seal to fall out of the plug housing. If this should occur, the loss of the seal can easily go unnoticed. See Fig. 5. In addition to preventing moisture from seeping into the plug, the seal also ensures that the two halves of the plug are properly tensioned so that the contacts do not move within the plug. If such movement should occur, the contacts may develop corrosion. Corroded and/or loose contacts can cause problems with the proper functioning of the vehicle, and may cause difficulty with diagnosis due to the possible intermittent nature of such problems. Service Procedure: It is essential that you check that the seal is in place before connecting a 2- or 3-pin plug connector. If the seal is missing, it must be replaced. View More

Official AutoShopOwner Sponsor The CCS automotive repair shop marketing program is an exciting and dynamic method of creating a steady stream of new customers through the doors of a QUALIFIED repair facility. Our client base of independently owned shops now includes Meineke, Midas, Firestone and Aamco, and not one of them has EVER written us a check! To learn more about how you can become a profitable part of our growing family, click on the link below: www.newautoshopcustomers.com

Marketing Makes Me Crazy The big question concerning starting an auto repair business, besides what you will work on, is how you will market what you are selling. Marketing is the way that business owners turn their products and services into the “need to know” name in the business. Learning marketing takes a serious effort and the sheer volume of information available can be overwhelming. All of the aspects of marketing these days that are available can have your head spinning in no time. What do you do first? What is the best kind of marketing for your business? How do I go about niche marketing? It seems that the more you read, the more questions you have. When are the answers supposed to come? Marketing can be intimidating when you are just starting out and it is all a bunch of foreign concepts. What is the first thing you think of letting people know about your business? Take an ad out in the local newspaper. Well, you can take out ads on the Internet too. Advertise on another person’s website. By using an affiliate program, they will advertise on your site as well. Do you write? If you have a way with words, you can parlay that into another marketing area. Good web content on your website will keep people coming back to read what you have to say. But that content can be read and turned into a podcast or filmed and turned into a video to be marketed. To do all of this, you need to read some more. It seems like everyone knows the strategies but you. In fact, they had to read and ask questions and learn just like you do. There is no shortcut to learning marketing. Everything that you learn builds on everything else. One way to not go so crazy is to learn one area and learn it well. From a brief description of each marketing strategy you can judge if it is right for you to start. After you've gained confidence with one strategy, begin on another and another. Taking marketing one step at a time is a great way to accomplish what you want to do with your business without losing your head. View the full article

Marketing Mistakes Business is a combination of talent and hard work. The talent can only take you so far, so begin by doing your homework. Every business benefits from advertising in some form or another. The key to becoming a name that people can trust is to let them know who you are and what you stand for. Here are a few marketing mistakes that, if avoided, will spare you much grief and money. 1. Not having a marketing plan. What is a marketing plan? It is the way that you will go about promoting your product or service. Just like you wouldn’t begin to get serious about your business without a definite plan, it is best not to approach the marketing of your product without a plan. When a product is promoted well, sales increase. 2. Putting all your eggs in one basket. This old saying seems to work in a lot of situations and marketing is one of them. You may find a strategy like email marketing that has been successful for you. But, don’t base your entire marketing plan on that one strategy. In order to grow, diversification is the answer. By not exploring other options, your business will become stunted in no time. 3. Ignoring the value of networking. For business, networking is invaluable. It is the way that entrepreneurs get together to pick each other’s brains. During these “meetings of the minds”, partnerships are struck. You can find someone who will complement your business with a new idea. Joint ventures mean more profits for everyone. 4. Working as a force of one. All businesses need support in some form. There are not enough hours in the day to do it all and still make money. Outsourcing can be your best friend. You can outsource for practically anything that you need. Hire someone to design your web page, answer your emails, and organize your invoices. When these tasks are taken care of, more time can be devoted to marketing the product in new and creative ways. 5. Cutting back on your marketing budget. When business is slow, we can panic unnecessarily. We want to save as much money as we can until things pick up again. Since business is down, we might decide that we don’t need to advertise as no one is buying. That is the worst mistake we can ever make. This is the time to use our extra minutes in the day to beef up that marketing plan to appeal to a wider net of customers. Have you already made some of these marketing mistakes? In this world most things are fixable. Begin again, but this time with the knowledge of what not to do. View the full article

Five Tips for the Busy Season The busiest season for most auto repair businesses is the winter. When your auto repair business has defined highs and lows, capitalize on those highs by working a strategy during the lows. Here are five tips to help you prepare for the busy season when business is slow. The slow period is not a time to panic or take a break. Business will pick up and you can be ready with a few simple preparations. As an auto repair shop owner, seeing the big picture is a constant struggle. But, we must continually work on our perception to see into the future. Without the benefit of a crystal ball, use the five tips below. 1. Beef up your mailing lists. The heart of any business is its customers. Be sure that your website has a place for visitors to leave their information so that you can communicate with them. Let customers know when you add new features to your website and your storefront. 2. Develop an email campaign. Most people who are linked to the Internet have an email account. If they are like me, they probably receive a ton of junk mail also. But, they do check the titles of all the mail to see exactly what it is. Use that to your advantage and create directed emails with catchy titles to peak their interest. Don’t send too many — just enough to keep your name in their memory so that they think of you when the busy season rolls around. 3. Find new clients. We always put out feelers when we are starting our business to create a customer base. Once we have something to start with, we forget that this is still a useful way to bring more clients in. Were there potential clients who didn’t come on board initially? Sending cards to these potential clients lets them know you are still interested in having them on board. 4. Networking, networking, and more networking. There is never a time that networking is not in fashion. You never know who you might meet. Maybe your auto repair shop could benefit from a partnership with a new supplier or wholesaler who is willing to dropship products for you. Setting the wheels in motion when business is not so demanding puts you in the position for the big payday when the business picks up. 5. Learn a new skill. Business is about meeting the demands of the customers. A customer who can get all the services they need from one provider won’t want to deal with one who only offers one service. Increase your services and more clients will come. What are you doing in the slower periods? Preparing now for the future will pay off handsomely. Let the ideas flow and lead you into new directions. View the full article

My Auto Repair Business is Losing Money You bravely took the first step and started an auto repair business. Entrepreneurship is rewarding but also scary. Just as many things can go wrong as can go right. The biggest “wrong” is losing money. The first question anyone asks is, “How can my auto repair business be losing money? It was doing so well.” Losing money is not a matter of just one thing. Usually it is a combination of things that somehow got overlooked. Unfortunately for us, those things don’t show up at the beginning, or even in a form that is easily pinpointed. It will take a directed effort to find out what is causing our business to operate in the red. As soon as the money drain is noticed, finding it is a top priority. Luck can play a part in our auto repair business. Some think that this is a good thing, but luck will only get you so far. When luck runs out, the business will suffer. Insufficient marketing analysis will put the kibosh on your business profits. Marketing research determines if you have a viable product or service that the consumer wants. It is not easy to tap into a new market. Even if you happen to luck up on something, analysis of the market will show if this will be a long or short ride. Lack of a strong advertising campaign will eat into your profits. With so many businesses out there, finding a new spin to sell a product is not easy. Starting with one medium is okay, especially when money is tight. But, as the business takes off, the only way it will survive is with a more diverse plan. Limiting advertising is a bloodletting. Slowly, your business is being drained of life. Maybe you only have experience in one type of advertising. Make it a point to learn others. Connect with other business owners and learn their secrets to advertising success. Customers are always looking for the latest thing to catch their eye. If your business is not meeting that need, customers will flee for other venues. What are your goals for your business? When you hit a wall - and you might, new directions are in order. Goals that are not clear result in a loss of business revenue. Your money will disappear into that great abyss unless you branch out and use your current service as a stepping stone. The business may start off as a service-based enterprise that meets the need for now, but where will the business go after that? People always want more. A business that can draw them in and keep giving them more options will stay afloat and become successful. A business is more than one idea and one hook. Filtering all your ideas and creativity into it over time equates to a business that makes money now and in the future. If not, the business will lose money hand over fist. View the full article

Why Can’t You Give Me a Price? By Joe Marconi I got a call a few weeks ago from a customer (we’ll call him Dave). Dave asked me to give him a price on a 60k service for his daughter’s Honda Civic. She was coming home from college and he wanted to get her car up to date with needed maintenance. I asked Dave how many miles were on the car, and after looking up the vehicle’s records, I realized that she had put over 12,000 miles on the Honda, since we saw it last. I explained to Dave that it would be in his daughter’s best interest if I give the car a general inspection first, from bumper to bumper; just to make sure everything was ok. After the inspection I would be happy to give him a price on the 60k service and any other items identified during the inspection. Dave responded back, “You really can’t give me a price on the 60,000 mile service?” I explained again that many miles have past since we serviced the car and I just want to be sure that we look at the car in its entirety and not just focus on the 60k. After a pause he agreed and booked the appointment. The Honda arrived a week later and was dispatched to one of our techs for a complete general inspection. The inspection revealed only a few additional service items along with the scheduled 60,000 maintenance service. I was a little concerned about Dave’s insistence about the price when I first spoke to him and told my service advisor that I would be calling Dave about his daughter’s car. I reached Dave at his office and informed him that we had completed the inspection on his daughter’s Honda and that the car was in great shape. In addition to the 60,000 mile service the Honda would need a rear brake adjustment, a brake light bulb and a set of wiper blades. I gave Dave the total price, for the complete job. Dave responded back, “How much is the 60,000 mile service?” A felt a little confused at this point and itemized all the prices for him. He proceeded to tell me that a local dealer sent him a coupon and their 60k service was $80.00 cheaper! He asked me, “Why should I spend the extra money with you for the same service?” I could have explained to Dave that the coupon from the dealer was a special promotional price only. I could have also explained that dealers sometimes use these specials as lost leaders. I could have gone on to say that we employ only ASE certified technicians and that they receive on-going training and that we invest in the latest equipment and information systems. I also could have argued that this is how we justify our prices. But I didn’t say any of that. What I did say was this, “Dave, do you remember when you were leaving for vacation a few years ago, on a late Friday afternoon, and you noticed you had a flat tire on your camper? Do you remember I stayed open until you arrived to repair the flat tire? And do you remember the day your daughter was leaving for college in her sophomore year, and the check engine light came on an hour into her trip? Do you remember you called me and asked for my help? Do you remember how I arranged for a tow company to stand by in case your daughter broke down? And do you remember that I stayed opened until your daughter returned back so I can check the car out? Dave, is the service we have given you throughout the years worth a least $80.00?” There was a long pause and I knew from the sound in his voice that he felt a little embarrassed. He apologized and said that that he was trying to save a little money with the high price of gas and food these days. He also admitted that, with his daughter in her last year in college, he is feeling a little lighter in the wallet. We completed the 60k and the other service items later that day. What’s important is that I never tried to discredit the dealership. That would have gone nowhere. I also tried to direct the attention away from price and focus on the value of the relationship we have created throughout the years. In retrospect, I don’t know if I should have thrown it in his face, about what I did for him the past. I have mixed feelings about that. I think in these shaky economic times we need to concentrate on service. We need to address the concerns of the customers and give them options. Your customers will be looking to you for help and guidance, that’s part of your job. The shop that continues to deliver outstanding service and charges a fair price will thrive. I have lived though many economic roller coasters in my 28 years in business and have no doubt that this ride will pass too. If you’re wondering if Joe gave Dave a discount on the job, you can ask him that and any other questions, in this topic we have started for this story here. How do you feel he handled the situation?

Money versus Customer Service One goal of any auto repair business is to provide quality service that people want to buy. We’ve all seen or heard about what can happen when people get poor service and complain about it. Law suits are filed all the time against companies for unethical practices and faulty products. Earning more money is not to be gained at the expense of proper customer service. How important is customer service? It is a vital part of your auto repair business. Satisfied customers keep coming back. They will tell their friends about you and they will buy from you. It is the way that business owners ensure that their business will continue. I try to put myself in the customer’s shoes. Actually, I am not just a small business owner but a consumer as well. I know what constitutes excellent customer service to me and anyone I do business with deserves no less than that. One thing about customers; you never know who they know. Any one of them could be a person with a lot of influence in their town or city. A word from them could send people to your website. On the other hand, their job could allow them the opportunity to tell others of influence that you don’t provide good customer service. All right, so it could be a hundred to one shot that one of your customers is someone like this. But, the average customer who is concerned about customer service can post a bad review on forums, eBay, and other places where you may be looking for new customers. And, the truth is, people flock to bad news. They will think twice about using your services if it is floating around in the ether that you are a bad egg. As your auto repair business grows, so will your customer service responsibilities. The people who purchase goods or use your services are more than dollar signs. They have lives and spheres of influence. Treating each one like gold is our responsibility. It is a mistake to think that your business could ever get so big that one customer doesn’t count. It is also a mistake to think that providing a cheap product just to make money won’t come back to haunt you. It is a fact that it will. You could be on the receiving end of a suit. This is not a good way to do business. But, neither profits nor customer service has to be suspended to have a successful business. It you feel that customer service is getting lax because you are spending most of your time marketing the business, consider outsourcing parts of the operation. Set up email drafts and use other features to handle emails effectively and in a timely manner. There is always a way to make it work. Consistently providing good customer service will help expand your customer base and your image on the Internet. This is vital to continued growth in your industry. View the full article

As a business owner have you ever questioned the fact that you need an effective marketing strategy? Could you imagine what your business would be like without any type of advertising? The answer most business owners and companies would provide is simple and straightforward, their businesses would come crashing down if an effective marketing strategy is not put in place. Why do you need a Business Card? A business card can be thought of as a marketing instrument which does a little bit of everything, it provides a quick glance of your company to your customers, partners or investors and it also paints a picture of yourself as a business person. So in a nutshell, yes! If you run a business you do need business cards. Business Card and Branding There are many ways to market your business, you can choose a direct selling approach which focuses mainly on the products or services that you manage in order to make a sale or you can choose to differentiate your business from all other businesses which are competing against you in a similar niche. If you run a business, chances are that you are not selling a unique product, this is why creating a good image for your company and setting yourself apart really comes in handy at the end of the day. If you are all about numbers and long-term returns you will definitely see how building a strong brand has a lot more value than trying to sell an ephemeral product. You can think of it like buying stock, you can either go for the quick kill or you can stick around for the long run and see steady returns. A business card can help you build your brand. Creative Message and Humor What is your business about? What kind of people run it? Are you a nice person to deal with? Can you be trusted as a problem solver and business partner? Believe it or not, all of these questions can be quickly answered by a business card and most of the time the message that the business card itself conveys is so strong and precise that all of these questions are answered at a glance. If you are starting a business or if you already run a profitable operation you definitely want to project yourself and your company as the best in the field but also as an organization which has been built and run by individuals everyone can relate to, individuals who have a sense of humor and that see life exactly the way it is. Business Card Texture and Materials Finding the right texture and materials for your business card is just as important as brainstorming the message that you're going to put on it and obviously the more unique the material the better image it will project of yourself and your company. Some people have opted to break away from the conventional business card paper and have moved on to other materials such as plastic and even stylish metals, if you can't afford those materials it is a great idea to have images or patterns engraved in the card itself for instance, if you are a dentist or work as a dentist assistant you can create a plain looking business card which can be enhanced by engraving or indenting the shape of teeth into the side of the card, now remember that indenting a shape on your business card paper is not the same as printing an image on it, there is a big difference! The bottom line when it comes to business cards is that they are a necessary tool for you to create a good image for your business and yourself in front of potential customers, business partners and investors so, the better it looks the higher its ROI will be. View the full article

June Poll: The Effect Of Fuel Prices & The Economy Are fuel prices and the economy having an affect on your business? Please vote in the poll attached to this thread. You may reply to this thread to comment on this topic.

"A Special Benefit of Membership" - Terry Greenhut Book Offer Details! As a new or existing member of AutoShopOwner.com you can purchase Terry Greenhut’s 450 page book “How to Market and Sell Automotive and Transmission Service and Repair” for Ѕ the normal web site price of $98.32. That’s right, for only $49.16 each, you can order as many copies as you want. As a bonus you will also receive a copy of “$ales Help Screens” with each order. It’s a computer program you can use to hone your selling skills that has 134 information screens. It can even be used to prompt you to say the right things when making sales over the telephone. There is only one catch. Because we don’t want any none members to get in on this, you can’t place your book order on Terry’s web site the way you normally would. You must do it by phone with a credit card. Call Terry directly on his cell at 914-882-3003 any time. Give him your AutoShopOwner.com member number and he will be glad to take your order and ship it right away.