alfredauto

Yes Dorman we call them door-man

Due to lack of local parts inventory, price matching games, and b.s. clerical errors from vendors I'm tempted to just order all my parts from Amazon or another online wholesaler. The prices are the lowest, there's no denying that. Most PRIME parts arrive the next morning, quicker than waiting for a parts store order. The only issue is with warranty problems but I'm so frustrated with warranty labor claims I won't even go there. If you are in a major population area I'm sure you don't have this problem but in rural areas I'm sure I'm not the only one with a problem. I can't even get brake pads the same day unless I want to use store brand garbage. Today's example is a window switch for a Colorado. $275 from the national chains, 1-2 days away. $125.00 from Amazon, next day shipping (free). Same exact Door-Man part. That's $150 cheaper. I compared fuel pumps, wheel bearings, electrical parts. All are at least 50% less than the locals, apples to apples comparison (same part #) My feelings are if the customer can wait I can make exactly the same money and at the same time save my customer money, in some cases it's hundreds. What are your thoughts?

"$65/day, mostly there for insurance companies and motivating nuisance customers." I'm the same. I have zero interest in stockpiling peoples junk. I don't charge regular customers, if they need to leave the car here a few days no problem. Deadbeats that want to fix it themselves need to get it out of here asap. I hate plowing around cars. I am very frank when people suggest long term parking on my lot "It's too expensive to park here"

Do you really think the rulers of this country are going to give up their power just because a bunch of sheep pulled the wrong lever?

I fish the Canadice and Hemlock Finger lakes pretty much every weekend I can. Lake trout, Bass, Pickerel, Walleye. I've got a little 1961 Starcraft 16' boat that is outfitted like a Lake Erie Charter boat lol. For me there's nothing more relaxing than trolling for lakers all day. I make my own trolling rigs too so that adds to the enjoyment. Last weekend I got four 5lb average smallmouth and a 11lb Walleye - biggest one yet!

This is Bosnian Coffee, by far the best way to enjoy it.

I am willing to bet that any shop can honestly increase their ARO without any high pressure selling or questionable recommendations by simply checking over each vehicle that enters the shop and asking the customer for the work. EXAMPLE: An oil change comes in at 60k miles, the tech gets it in and out in 20 minutes, you made $5 profit, that's it. Customer needs to call the dealer to get the mileage service done. You lose. That same car if you ask the customer "would you like to schedule your 60k mile service with us?" can mean a much better outcome for both parties. It's really all about asking for the sale, and paying attention to things that are broken on the cars you are already working on. That's why a good service manager (or consultant) can take a shop from zero to hero, he's looking after the guys to not let bald tires and grinding brakes go down the road, then making sure someone is relaying the info to the customer. It's so basic, but so many shops are not doing it. It's magic when everybody pays attention.

The probability of something going wrong goes up dramatically when people decide to wait. What happens when something breaks and isn't readily available and they are camping in the waiting room? I encourage everyone to drop off their car.

We allow 45mins per oil change. Easy stuff - wipers/bulbs or tires get done on the spot. Bigger issues we make another appt. Some want 10 minute fast lube that's not my thing.

Right. The 4 cameras are fixed on a tower, we just mount the targets on the wheels. There's no electronics on the targets. The 811 uses Windows xp which is slow by 2016 standards but I wasn't ready to fork out the bigger bucks for the newest system.

I've never called the cops on a customer. Knock on wood. I had some that needed a full dose of reality "I can't help you sir why are you still here?" But that's about it. If your business model is servicing buy here pay here type bottom feeders you'll need a better strategy than calling the police. Maybe a cage for a waiting room and full balance paid in cash before work begins. I had a couple people want to fight me but I'm pretty big and not very angry so it never comes down to bare knuckle boxing. I'd probably lose anyway.

I think the cars in the lot dictate what you will see next. If the lot is full of rusted out trailblazers and grand am's you know who the next customer is. I'm not advising turning away ugly cars but park the newer nicer cars in a more prominent place and kind of hide the junk. When people drive by and they see new cars being worked on they feel comfortable bringing in their new car. Junk attracts junk, and usually people that drive junk don't value the same things you might, like your time.

Usually when someone asks the labor rate its followed by a request to install their parts. These cats are smart. They get an estimate from someone then figure out how to save money. They buy the parts, then shop around to pay the cheapest shops labor rate to get it done. I'm not for hire by the hour. I work by the job. Yes, my invoices have parts/labor itemized because it's the law but I only sell the total job.

I wouldn't take it personal or react at all over one idiot. We get people in all the time "WOW?! $20 to put my tire on WOOOWWW your really proud of your time yada yada my buddy does them for $5" ok sir take it to your buddy we charge $20. have a nice day.

As long as you are making money just keep going with it. There's no way to fix all the cars as fast as the people break them.

I Just got a used dsp600 camera system to replace my '89 d111. IMO a camera system is the way to go. Mount the targets on the wheels, roll the car back a foot, roll it back on the pads and its compensated. 2 minutes. If you are paying a tech to do alignments this type of system is the only sensible choice because it's so much faster. Buy from your Hunter dealer because sooner or later your going to need service.

Maybe once every 3 or 4 months I get roped into installing a customer supplied part. I put it in and park the car. No test drive no warranty no nothing. Did it fix it? Who knows! Your part is installed please pay. It never turns out good.

Put a pinion seal in it and clean the vent. It's really an easy job, b tech work. 45 minutes. The preload won't change when you change the seal just mark the nut and torque it back to the original position.

I agree finding quality employees is my #1 problem. We just run a lean crew and customers understand it may take a couple days to get their car in.

Problems with parts can be solved by only buying the most expensive aftermarket or oem. ALL store brand wheel bearings are garbage, trust me we put in at least 4 bearings a day every day and every part store cheap unit is the same junk as found on Amazon for $29.99 just marked up twice. Go with Timken and torque them and they last a couple years. SKF and Dorman are reboxed garbage now as far as I can tell. We buy from whoever has the parts in stock and delivers the fastest. Napa decided to charge me 2% for paying my bill with a credit card so I don't call them anymore. AAP screwed up my bill so many times I stopped calling them. It's not the company but the local employees. I don't have time to do their job. Our local Car quest in my opinion was so antiquated I never called them ever. Sure if I need an oil filter and hei module for a '78 k10 they got it but nothing newer than 2002 and they were confused with anything Kia lol

I wash my own simply because the soap the companies use makes me itch. The starch or something. My tech washes his own too. I just buy 12 at a time from bluecollarworkwear or wherever every few years and they embroider them for me. A good policy is to replace the uniforms before they get completely shot. I just retired my 7 year old set and everyone commented how nice the new uniform looks. Funny thing it's no different than the old one just not worn thin. Probably 3 years is the max professional life.

We take post dated checks all the time. Loaning money may mean never getting paid and again never getting paid after winning a judgement, but a post dated check is backed by the sheriffs dept if it bounces. A better way is to get hooked up with a credit card company that allows you to give instant credit. There's some hoops to jump through but it gets you paid instantly and tires rolling out the door easier

I sent my loaner to the auction. I go back and forth between having clean and maintained free loaners for my customers and getting infuriated when they come back trashed and drained of gas over and over again. I'm in a no loaner period now.

Nobody leaves there for $79.99 I guarantee

We don't have the time to do engine swaps. We average 10 cars a day with 2 techs working, taking a guy and having him spend 2 days on a motor job = 10 unhappy customers minimum.