Pjauto

This is my first Thanksgiving as a shop owner/ boss. Is the Friday after usually slow? Should we be closed for a four day weekend? My two guys I have working for me have family from out of town and it would be a blessing to them to be gone and not have to come right back, but they will if I ask them. What are your thoughts?

Intermittent problems can be the biggest pain in the butt. Thus far the way I handle them is pre sell the hour diag and spend maybe 15 minutes doing research and trying to figure it out. If I can't zero anything in that time I push the car to the side and either let it run or drive it on my errands. If the issue never occurred I ship it without charging anything. And tell them to come back when it gets worse. Its kind of an all or nothing scenario. You either totally devote yourself and spend way too much diag time trying to figure out an issue you may never figure out or you spend very little time which makes it easier to cut your losses. I do not charge when this happens because we did not provide them the service of figuring out what is wrong. I'm sure others will disagree with me on this but that is where we have landed.

Sweet! Whats your credit card number so I can order this thing?? Just kidding. Yes, I will likely get one soon and let you know.

I can't find the exact one I saw the other day but this is similar. http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2012-Top-Rated-Wholesale-Price-Key-Programmer-Sbb-V33-Hot-Promotion/510959259.html Mind you that this is just a key programmer that a locksmith would use or that we could for programming keys to cars or if we replaced a used PCM to program the security system. It is definitely limited compared to the DrewTech. I was just sort of hoping the DrewTech would also serve as this programmer as well.

I looked up the tool I saw my locksmith using online and I can buy one for only 90$ with free shipping and it claims to do every make and model key programming. I've seen him use that same tool to do a Honda and a Ford. So, I was assuming that if a cheasy tool like that can program all those different models that a nicer unit like the DrewTech could eat them for lunch.

I'm with Jeff on this one. We use a "house" synthetic blend at our shop. 98% of people do not care what brand goes in their car. And I just do not see the difference in all the oils, and yes I have done research. There are certainly some junk, no name brands you can buy only at the gas station that of course I would not use but for the most part all the big names are the same. Except for the new Dexos stuff and I still don't know what is so special about it, I just know it voids GM's warranty if you don't use it. And it is worth repeating "Regular maintenance is key"

That Drew Tech unit looks real nice. Do you know if it can program PATS and other security systems? Thus far I have had to have a locksmith come to my shop 3 times in 4 months to program keys due to either new lock cylinder or ECM or what have you. That costs me $100 bucks a pop. If this tool could help with just that it could pay for itself quickly.

It is for sure at the higher end.

Our flat rate is $90 an hour and we use a %20 adjuster to mark up every job to account for rust and what not. And our parts mark up is pretty good. I have deducted it being that our building does not look good or professional. I have it scheduled to be painted and new signs installed in 3-4 weeks. I think that should help pur clientele base a bit. (And I will check out Gonzo's book)

It has blown my mind how many times this conversation has happened in the short three months we have been open. Customer "My car is broke" Me "This is how much to fix it" C "Sounds great, go ahead" (we fix the car for the exact price quoted ((very efficiently, if I may add)) Me "Your car is done and ready for pick up" C "Oh... I don't have the money, it may be a week or two before I can get it" This makes me want to scream!!!!! Why bring your car and agree to get it fixed if you don't have the money to pay for it? At least let me know that up front so I don't have money wrapped up in parts. I could then fix the car the day before they are ready to get it. I feel like it would be rude and unprofessional for me to ask for money up front but I think that is where I am headed so that I can weed this thing out. It is very frustrating. Any of you have this problem? Or any thoughts on the matter?

I don't like cheap parts. I don't like the come backs from them that taint my reputation. I don't like them because honestly I make more money off more expensive parts. Quality shop owners should be the ones dictating the parts we have available not the bottom feeders. I think the big box parts stored who cater more toward the do it yourself guys are the ones driving the prices down to serve them and not us. One way to combat this would be for us to use vendors that are there for us and not the do it your self guys. Because they are more apt to listen to our needs. We have a place in town called The Parts House, I use them the vast majority of the time. Their service is far more superior because they work off commission and not low close to minimum wage. Why would we use the big box chains over the good guys?

There is no internal battery in the Autel. But you get used to it. Their customer service is so so at best. It is WiFi ready. It can print wirelessly. It might not do diesel well but diesel is not my area of expertise. If you visit Savannah before you make your scanner purchase you can try mine out. But really... For the money it is by far the best I've seen or used.

I think this is the package I am zero'ing in on. http://equiptool.com/i-5053616-ranger-dst-2420-wheel-balancer-ranger-r26at-tire-changer-combo.html

Thanks for the heads up, I will likely purchase from this company.

For the money it is a rock star. It is very functional over a very broad band of different makes. I've had mine a year or so and do not regret it. Yes, no scope and it can't do everything every dealer level scanner can (but neither can snap on). Autels tpms tool is real nice too.

Word. There is some stuff around used. I just hate to get junk stuff.

We have been open for 3 months or so now and I have been putting off the investment of tire machines in the hopes of subletting to one of the many tire shops that are close by. Come to find out those other shops do not play well with others and they have gone out of their way to do me bad. So, I need to purchase some machines. There seems like endless choices in this area. And I am trying to balance between not spending a ton but not buying crap. Thus far I am looking at the BaseLine 225 Balancer and BaseLine 500 tire changer. http://www.ammcoats.com/baseline-tire-changer-model-bl500 http://www.ammcoats.com/baseline-225-wheel-balancer I am not planning on specializing in tires, we are 1/8 a mile away from the large local chain Savannah Tire and it would just be silly to compete with them. Your thoughts? Those two machines together are around 5k. I am not against spending a bit more for better value. Thanks!

Yes. The goal and gift of vacation or holiday pay is that the employee does not need to worry about their finances while they are gone. I feel if you pay less than what they are used to they will worry about money or have to save enough for their vacation plus time missed at work. Many flat rate shops do not pat this way but instead just give a flat 20 or 30 hours which to me is crummy. That being said you do not "owe" anyone anything as far as what you pay for that time off but the way I see it is if you are going to do it, do it right.

Agreed

I've been a tech for 15+ years, master a.s.e. certified + L1. This is not my job. This is the gifting that my creator endowed me with and as such I take it as serious as I can. It is my career. I normally have a few guys under me who I am training. Some of that training is nuts and bolts, other bits of that training is how to respect themselves, their customers and this business. We need to ingrain in our techs that this "job" is every bit as serious and important as being a lawyer or a doctor etc. Our culture and our actions have dumbed down this business to make us out to be knuckle dragging grease monkeys. That must change.

What do you guys think about this potential mailer that we are thinking about blasting the local community with? Any information needed/unnecessary? Thoughts? Green side is the front, white is the back, FYI. Thanks.

Thank you all for the encouragement I am going to go around the neighbourhood this morning and pass out some cheap oil change flyers. I am still getting used to this being a business owner thing and having to talk with people. I am a total introvert who gets along with machines much easier than people so it is a big step for me, but it must be done. Cheers you guys and may your bays be full today!

Yup. I guess maybe the down's would not hurt so bad after we had a few ups. Drawing a pay check from this place is an all too distant dream but to pay off the over head this month would be the bee's knees. Thank you though, it is good to know that it is not just this shop. And that there is hope for next week.

What they said... And a EVAP smoke machine, alignment machine, a hydraulic press, look into not just lifts but low profile lifts if euro will be your specialty. And you best get the uber nice tire changer due to the euro wheels. Get ready to drop 75-100k quick, then even more as needed and things progress.

I just opened my shop six weeks ago. Six bays, busy street. We were progressively doing more and more business every week and we even broke even last week! But then the well went dry this week. We've done two oil changes all week. That is all! Can someone please talk me back from the ledge here? I want to go puke.