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I watched this and it was great! Also introduced me to a channel I wasn't even aware of since I usually start my browsing at channel 3 and this was on channel 2

Do you have access to a labscope? If so then make sure the cam and crank signals are in sync. If the reading is implausible the computer may be shutting off spark and fuel to avoid further engine damage. This would be easier than pulling the timing cover. Also as Frank suggested a compression check may point you to a cam timing problem as well with a consistently high or low reading.

So I went ahead and pulled the trigger on getting involved with Kukui. Since marketing is not my strong point (at all) it makes sense to let the experts handle it to me. I am impressed with how you can tailor your involvement in the campaign.

Does anyone who is currently with them (or not and just good with marketing) have any suggestions? I have the questionnaire call on Monday to get everything started up so I want to be as prepared as possible. My main goal in using them is for new customer acquisition. Customer Retention and reviews are an added bonus of the program. I have been blessed with a great service writer who makes our customers happy consistently. Usually once a customer comes in they are a customer for life.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

They were lucky one of those didn't blow up in their face. Your techs were lucky as well!!

I am a TechNet member as well and have had the pleasure of working with the warranty dept on an out of town car. Everything was as smooth as silk and paid for that day. Feel free to call Ben at 678-505-8661 between 8-6 EST.

The quality of the tires is a huge factor. You can balance and balance a cheap set of tires and they still won't ride as well as a better set of tires. I have worked at numerous Goodyear stores and saw this time after time regardless of the balancer used. As Frank said, just because tires are new does not make them smooth.

These are great and very detailed, thank you!

I told my wife your comments about the site (she made all the changes) and she was happy to hear that you noticed and liked it.

It has been getting better. We didn't really raise prices as much as we quit giving out discounts. I have a new service manager that is amazing so far and he keeps me away from the customers. I have a hard time hearing all the sob stories and not giving in lol. We have also started thank you calls and where have you been letters. I also plan on borrowing some of stow's marketing ideas because he seems to be quite inventive.

I went to Abiding Church yesterday and all I can say is wow! It is such a breath of fresh air to be in a church so alive with the spirit of God and not just a money making super church in search of the next Cadillac for the pastor. You can hear and feel the conviction in Janna's voice when she sings and Craig delivers an awesome sermon based on real modern life. It was an emotional experience for my entire family. Even little Wyatt loved playing in the nursery so much he didn't seem to realize we left until we walked back to the door after the service. Only being 13 minutes from my house, we have definitely found our house of worship at last!

Craigslist is the best bet around here. I just picked up an 01 suburban for my wife that "needed a transmission" which of course wouldn't have been too big of a deal anyway. The bonus was the chafed power wire putting it in limp mode. So for a grand total of around 2500 she has a nice, reliable truck that could easily pull 5000 lbs for cheap. And it looks good too. The deals are there a nd if they need any help tell them to call me at the shop.

I can't get the link to work but I will check it out on Facebook later. Thanks for the like by the way. Funny story, I actually used to get (before I got fatter lol) asked all the time if I used to play football but I'm actually not a sports fan. I've been a car guy my whole life so while everyone else was checking out stats and learning plays I was building engines and tuning carbs.

Yes he just joined his middle school team and Saturday was his first scrimmage. Between him and my daughter's marching band we keep a full schedule. I also have a 14 month old to keep up with as well lol. If you still happen to be in town feel free to stop by the shop. We are at 10262 main st in Woodstock, just 2 exits up from bells ferry.

We were hoping to make it. I got the mailer last week and my wife and I were excited to go. Unfortunately we just got back from my son's scrimmage game that ran way over so I doubt we will be up in time. Good luck with the launch and I hope to be attending soon!

I am interested in this for sure. My family has been looking for a good church. I was raised in church but they were all about community and helping each other. All the churches I have visited around here are about who's wallet opens the widest. What part of Kennesaw is it in? We live off of exit 7 on 575.

Don I have to say I couldn't agree more that the Bmw tech should be knocking out bmw work. This is why I have invested in an autel and launch to help him out with that. When the euros are at the shop naturally he gets them. And just like how we got a reputation in the muscle car community we are seeing a surge of European cars as well. The tech WANTS to expand his knowledge. And I support him in it.

Basically flat rate is failing in my shop and I happened to see this post while I have been contemplating the change. The route I think I am actually going to take will be hourly with a percentage of shop sales as well. Also I have incentives for higher sales that work for my guys. For example right now they have a number to hit in a week and I will take them to the Sweetwater brewery for a tour and sampling. The idea has really pumped them up

 

The possible problem is that you are not charging appropriately for the work that is being performed. Just my 2c because I've been there.

I think you and Elon are on to something with this. It definitely seems like some extra charges are in order for most things. I'm starting to implement a system where the techs write the hours they estimate it will take to complete the job as a sort of worst case scenario. Then we will decide where to go from there. I feel like a lot of hours are slipping through the cracks.

I am currently working on this subject as well. We get a lot of older cars at the shop as well as plenty of new ones. My techs came from a European shop and to me it is amazing to see them breeze through repairs on a 750 Bmw but struggle on an 87 Cutlass. I am contemplating hourly plus percentage because while my guys work 45+ hours a week sometimes they only turn in 13 hours. And this is with a constant flow of cars. The old stuff is killing them.

No I don't see why that would be the case. Not yet anyway!!! We are in the parts selling business as well and as you mentioned, we need a matrix to keep the doors open.

Please share what company. We have been looking for this and everything seems ridiculously priced

Ours is a simple bullet point type list tracking procedure from the time the customer first calls to make an appointment until the car is delivered all the way to follow up. It bounces back and forth from the advisor to the tech as necessary. I can pm you an actual copy Monday if you would like

To me it almost seems like what Frank said, he's been burned before. Everything was as we discussed it. He was actually surprised when I pulled out my own itemized repair order for him to sign. It seemed to ease his mind.

That is our standard procedure and he did that as well. Just an odd situation from the get go

Ok here is a new one on me. Usually when a customer approves a repair large or small we either get verbal approval over the phone where we list the time and method of call (whether we called them or they called us) or written approval through a signed estimate, whether in person or by email.

Well a new customer brought us a 2001 F150 with severely worn timing chains and guides that turned out to be broken as well as leaking valves from kissing the pistons. Of course this led to a replacement engine.

After going back and forth for about a week with the options of a used engine (which did not last long) or a reman engine (which he chose) he finally approved the work. He brought in his deposit for the engine along with a contract for me to sign basically stating all that is getting replaced and the warranty involved. Nothing above what we agreed on but a little out of the ordinary.

Now the customer is an electrical contractor by trade so I'm assuming this is where this comes from. I signed the agreement since nothing was out of order and I wanted to make him feel comfortable since he is a new customer.

What are your thoughts on this?

PS- The main frustration with the customer comes from having to go through explaining what I could research as to the pros and cons of different brands of reman engines, only to end up ordering a Jasper unit like I quoted at the beginning. I have always had good luck with Jasper products and the one time I had an issue it was resolved quickly and painlessly.

Excellent post and definitely something we should all keep in mind. Especially on those days when all the phone calls and walk in customers tell us how much cheaper the shop down the street is.

You know, the one with the gravel lot, broken door windows and the cars sitting on jackstands (in the gravel lot) getting worked on. Not to mention getting Autozone parts and selling them at cost to the customer or letting the customer be the parts delivery driver.

I'm sorry I can't compete with them on price, nor would I want to. What I can offer you is a complimentary shuttle service, a comfortable waiting area, ASE Certified Technicians and an excellent nationwide warranty. Not to mention quality parts and no hassle service.