phynny

We have one as do most shops in our area, just not worth using.

Joe nailed it. The metals anymore warp rather quickly due to there cheap alloys and the fact that they are not as thick. I wouldn't waste money on a lathe.

Yes, I'd say you are attracting the wrong customers. People don't realize that not every customer is a good customer.

Bad link

Do you get paid the same as the "gravy tech"?

Always the same answer, "corporate does it, we don't agree with it." I believe it's to keep the customers buying directly from them since they can sell it for a higher price directly to the customer.

Keep in mind that 95% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years. Another thing is that wrenching is by far the easiest part of the business. You will also do 3 times the work for less money.

Not trying to deter you, but I'm sure you have a family that depends on you so you should know EXACTLY what your getting into.

It's all in our standard RO forms that they sign when they pick up the vehicle.

The list prices autozone and advance spit out are moronic. Many many times I've climbed all over the territory managers for its stupidity.

I ask what kind of vehicle and then tell them a 5qt oil change is 64.95. When they come in if it's more I just explain it took more oil. If you sell a top tier oil change and firmly believe it's best for the car the customer will see that and be grateful. Never had a complaint at all.

If someone asks for a quote and are price shopping I explain the benefits of a good oil vs cheap and make the sale every time. The type of people that don't care about their cars are not the people I want for customers.

On any fluid leaks that there are doubts as to the source we will often degrease and dye oil, ps fluid, coolant, etc. the vehicle is driven and then brought back. This often allows us to be more accurate in pinpointing the source of a leak.

Won't help in a situation when a vc is leaking that bad. There are times when there is just no way to tell, been there :/.

We simplified our oil changes for multiple reasons and the main one being quality. We only use a top notch full synthetic oil and a good filter. We decided if we are going to care/maintain our customers vehicles there would be no shortcuts, especially on the life blood of a vehicle. This also makes it easier to sell because they are set prices for a 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9 quart oil changes. Some filters we lose on but most we win so it's fine. After awhile, you just know which are paper and you can add $5 to your quote.

Dustin said it, we are only there to make repairs. We did not buy, drive or maintain/not maintain the vehicle so why in the world would you pay for repairs. There is no way you could have seen that so it's not your fault at all. Remember that no good deed goes unpunished.

 

You love your AutoZone? We should be thanking AutoZone for Diagnosing the problems? Thank You AutoZone?

 

I had to read this a few times to make sure my eyes were not deceiving me. I don't fault AutoZone or any other part companies for creating a business plan that targets the DIY and other consumer segments. And I don't consider AutoZone a threat to me or the independents. BUT (and this is a big BUT), I really don't know of many shop owners that Love their local AutoZone. Also, Reading a code and diagnosing a check engine light problem are two different things. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion, that's the reason for the forums.

 

Just curious, you must have a lot of AutoZone stock, don't you?

Hahaha, I did the same thing. I have yet to see autozone ever diagnose anything correctly. I'm sticking with my, "they are wanna-be mechanics."

We have Mitchell pro demand and I would not recommend it. It's harder to navigate, a lot of general info that's not vehicle specific and it's search function is horrid.

For almost all repairs I find that alldata was easier with more PERTINENT info. We use Mitchell only because of the RO features.

Are you sure you want to do tires immediately? Tires are the worst when it comes to making money and we only do it as a service. This being said, if I were to start a new company I wouldn't do tires until I got everything else up and running making me money.

My service manager gave an employee a credit card to get 5 gallons of gas on a Friday and forgot to get it until Tuesday. We found out he charged over $500 worth of stuff including an Xbox.

Wow! Did he come back to work and act like nothing happened?

During the day I'll leave our large book of checks under the counter and apparantly he just grabbed a couple of sheets worth. Didn't know for a few weeks since we mainly use a credit car for our purchases.

Never something you want to find out but it has happened. He wrote multiple checks to himself and even his girlfriend. It was a few thousand dollars worth and I've turned it all over to the police. Anyone else have anything like this happen? If so, what was the outcome?

If you pay them right and treat the well you'll be fine. Don't settle.

I feel autozone is not a threat to me as a repair facility.autozone sells parts only.and Autozone probably makes more money selling parts than anyone of us as independent repair shops could ever make.I love my local Autozone parts store,they read customers engine codes for free,then those customers come to me to repair their check engine light.We should be thanking Autozone for "diagnosing" the problems.The more they diagnose The more I make..Thank you Autozone..And I don't think autozone employees are trying to PRETEND to be mechanics.and if you feel you shouldn't be available 7 days a week that's great.I thank you too, cause I get alot of NEW and good paying customers on Saturdays and Sundays..

I'll go out on a limb and say you work for autozone. No real shop that I know of is "thankful" for them reading the codes. Reading codes is certainly not diagnosing a vehicles problem as 95% of the time the codes thrown is not for the failed component so I'm not sure what your shop does but I'd guess it's not troubleshooting. Now if you mean that you make money because you swap a part that doesn't need replaced because the customer told you to via autozone's code reader then I suppose it's profitable just maybe not so morale. That being said, we sometimes do it. I stress to the customer that a diagnoses from a code reader is almost definitley not going to fix their problem but if they insist then I swap the part and then sell them a real diagnosis.

They are "playing" mechanics down at those stores, period. If they were so good they'd be working at a shop making 3-5 times the money they are making their and have a much better work schedule.

Don't have to "thank me" for not being open on the weekends, my kids do that enough.

We've been pulled over 4 times in 2 months for expired tags/inspections. Certainly been thinking about just saying NO .

It's fine, though i wish they would stop pretending to be mechanics. I certainly don't think I should be avail 7 days/week, 5 works well for me.

Just had this happen to us also. After multiple calls from me and them never returning them I called from a blocked number and got them. She said she'd call me the next day and a month later I called again and the number was dead. I disposed of the car after 6 months and the same week their father called...

I told him we had it towed away and he wanted to know where. I informed him I would see if I had records after he paid the bill. Around here impounds will tow a car for free so there is no paperwork on my end. Eitherway, the father wasn't going to pay so I didn't help him at all.

Phynny...The point I am trying to make here is it is the regularity of maint..not the product. Understand? Can you mathmatically prove that the synthetic oil gives better mpg? What proof or science do you have that proves that regular oil changes with synthetic lubes will give you longer life that conventional oils? I have yet to see it. The PROOF I HAVE is a Ford 4.9L!! ORIGINAL ENGINE TRANSMISSION AND REAR DIFF...ALL SERVICED WITH CONVENTIONAL FLUIDS!

Now how you run your biz is you. Me? If I tried to flip my customers from a 30 lof to a 70 lof and told them they could come back half as often...????

Now as far as Wolfs Head being a "bathtub" blend..It is manufactured by Amalie..ever heard of it? Seems to me they do a lot of Top Fuel sponsoship. Meets all the SAE requirements...meets engine manufactures requirements.

Now lets talk facts,.science...proof.

Jeff, the old mentality of amount of oil changes is more important than the quality is a thing of the past. You brought up facts, science and proof, what qualifies you to give advice on oil and the effects of engine wear, do you build engines? I am very heavy into the race scene, from autocross to to world time attack and everything in between. I know for a fact what we run and why we run it.

I really do not feel like debating you because it's a waste of my time but I'll try to give an example that will make it more clear. Would you put just any oil in a BMW M5, Dodge Viper or any race motor for that matter? Of course not that would be crazy. But do you realize many cars today have as much or more hp/cylinder than race cars and very high performance cars. Just because we drive something daily does not mean it's just a car that can live off any oil. Look at all the turbo cars anymore, if anyone thinks a turbo charged car can live off of junk oil well then... It's no wonder why our industry is in such bad shape.