mccannable

For our shop car we are replacing the motor in a 98 Camaro 3.8. The issue is conflicting reports on which year Camaro/Firebirds are compatiable. Some say 96-98 other say 99-02. Before I spend too much on a motor and have it shipping can anyone help clarify. I have spent some time searching the web but am only finding info on the LS motors.

I think "the auto md" and all staff wears scrubs and dresses like doctors. Also saw "hoods up".

Thanks For all the insight. We do make about $10-$15 per service on house brand oil but am considering lowering cost to reach new customers. I know this has been discussed many times but increasing car count when slow has no downsides.

I question to question how oil change places make money on that business model. Oil changes, even at a full price, are generally low profit for the time of writing up new customer till they leave vs other repair work.

When i started our business plan I viewed oil changes as means to growing a customer base for future repairs. Of course we inspect cars and report legitimate maintenance and repair needs but we do not push hard unless its a serious issues. I believe the quick lube stores have put a bad impression for high pressure sales and ad ons. As we progress in business I may start to see some potential from the little profit made as long as it doesn't take away from repair work. We do not market ourselves as a quick lube business but its an easy way for future customers to test the water and an easy way for us to win them over.

How much of your model is from oil change profit and what is your attach or future sales rate on these customers.

also, these oil changes are messing up my per ticket average so I can get some solid sales numbers. Do you include them in your per ticket average or run them separate(if my software can separate them)?

Great idea. I'm gonna make up some post cards on vista print and manually mail them.

I don't mean to hijack this thread but what is the best way to approach fleets to gain their business, do you just cold call and then hopefully set up an appointment to meet with the manager hoping your prices and services are better than whoever they are using now? I have been looking into this lately and would appreciate any advice.

We have little skill in "fleet service sales" but we both have sales backgrounds. That is what we are counting on to get the accounts. We are stopping by with a flyer we made asking to talk with the decision maker and going from there. So far its been better than any other form of marketing.

Thanks for the input. With starting out the highs and lows can be vary vast and a but uncomfortable at times. We are actively perusing fleet accounts. We have had a great deal of success out of the few we have had and also had owners brings their cars in as well. There is about a dozen companies with a fleet withing a few miles of us. We are not passively waiting for business; that does not allow for easy nights sleep.

We opened end if January with a soft launch. We were having weekly improvements until last Monday it just died. We are re evaluating out marking plan to try to get some better results.

Share some stories to help ease my mind.

2!Lifts, compressor, oil tanks, and various others helpful items.

I am at $9.2 gross plus state sales tax(hopefully this is gone soon). It's a bit high for our area but a great location and nearly fully equipped. Plus our landlord is not a real estate mogul so very easy to work with.

The other place was about $6 but had a lot of unusable space, warehouse style, and had no equip and needed some zoning help.

One thing we did was buy one of the parts stores we have been using more of pizza for the entire store and they have been extra helpful since.

Do you rebuild all calipers?

We are running grand opening specials. So far we have hung 500 of the 1000 I ordered. I'm learning. Maranda Homes is a national builder that builds cheap homes with close together lots. Very easy to flyer and most homes have 3-4 cars. Not the premium demographic but I'm my area it gets much worse. No known results yet.

I just partnered with a friend for more. I am paying for the printing of 1000 with her add on the back and she is hanging them. It's pretty cheap at $120 shipped for full color. Not sure I will be doing he hanging anymore unless they prove fruitful.

How much did you spend on the campaign? I think it varies by market. You only pay if they click on the ads and I am thinking of a short run. How was it hard to cancel?

Anyone have any success with an Adwords campaign? I have been doing research and it seems a bit more complex for a decent ad but will target local demographics searching for your keyword. There is no contract and budget is flexible. I hate a lot of company's want a year contract for their services that I have no proof will even pay for itself.

$63,000?

We actually do it to make sure we aren't charging to little. Many times we put a quote together based on our labor rate and parts matrix then find out we are still undercharging.

I don't think there is anything wrong know what your competition charges. Being in sales it's very effective to well aware.

We have been doing this because we are new. Just anonymous calls. I have had a hard time getting shops to even pick up the phones. Don't have any relations with shops other than a few specialty we work with.

Do you stock tires?

10k in tire sales?

You won't win arguments. I find it best not to argue. Be sincere and let them know your are tops on quality and you value his service.

I haven't used this in my shop but my day job I have plenty of experience being a sales professional at the most exspensive in our category. People frequently complain but we have the highest loyalty in the industry.

Have you ever had the feeling that this would be the best solution?

 

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in that current position with a 97 Plymouth. I would say the dumpster may too classy for it.

 

No one charges for diagnostic testing? This is a problem, wouldn't you agree? The world is changing around us. All the gravy work is slowly being removed. Even belts will be a thing of the past as more and more components will become electronic. The future will require more and more testing. Sorry for getting off topic. I just want to learn how we as an industry will survive in the future if we cannot charge for testing. Thoughts?

Agreed about the lack of gravy work. We are fortunate that we have very low overhead and operating expenses in our area. We are working on ways of charging for diagnostic time but it won't come easy.

I would take it seeing we are new and need every dollar. If we had an established base I might pass, but no one charges for diagnostics in my area, no one.

I can't agree with you more about the lost sale equals 0 profit for all, especially as a new business.