Dan Reichow

I am in need of another employee. I have a 3 bay shop and have myself doing just about everything including service writing, bookkeeping and wrenching and one employee who is an apprentice. I do a lot of hard to do stuff such as rebuilding transmissions, diagnostic work, some Euro cars. It has been very difficult to find a tech to work for what I can afford to pay and one that can do the work so I am thinking about a service advisor. I'm looking for ideas on different pay types for service advisors and any other input on this situation. I've been hesitant on hiring also because of the slow periods and uncertainty in the economy. It has been getting busier and I won't be able to work like this if it continues to get busier.

This is something we do automatically so be [ SOP ] /// Nitrogen - client preference fill with air or send back to the place that did the airing.

To me it would make owning a nitrogen equipment worth the investment you can charge to check & top off.

We do not try to send our clients any where close to the previous shop they used to go to / tire repiars our free if they have warranty from another company, etc. Brakes pads no problem Free if lifetime warranty somewhere else.

Thanks Dan R.

That MOTOR Magazine article says it all. I laugh at the old saying: "I'm telling all my friends that you're a rip off... etc.. etc.." My answer... friends like that... keep em' and I'm happy they are not going to be coming to my shop. On the other hand... I'll bet your friends know exactly what your like... so it's no surprise to them that "you act like a jackass".... I'm grateful to them all.... glad your gone ... FOOL! !

I tell them--[ opinions is like asshole's every one has one ! ] You are right most pepole are intelligent that they no thier is two sides to the story. I have had clients say I am going to tell so & so and so on . I have called some of the friends and they tell me we know how they are we still will be your clients.

Doesn't happen often , but when it does it is upsetting.

In an effort to maximize productivity, my service advisors will dispatch the work to those techs that are proficient in a particular are. So, a tech that is great with check engine lights will get the majority of check engine lights. Most shops probably do the same thing.

 

But, he’s my dilemma; I understand the different techs have different strengths but doesn’t this practice make techs better and better in one area while not giving other techs the opportunity to learn new skills?

We belive you need to train others even thou we all want to maintain profit. The trouble begains when you create an elite few that thier will comea day they turn and eat your lunch.

We believe cross training is the vest practice in all jobs

Have you made adjustments to your staff in terms of scheduling? We use a rotation basis so that people still have their time off, but we have full staff for 6 days a week.

WE ROTATE STAFF TO HANDLE AND WE HAVE SIGNED TWO TECHS TO ONGOING SATURDAYS .

BRAVO! I agree with you %100. I take the same approach.

 

A year and a half ago we started a new program called: “Just Say Yes”. When a customer calls, we find out when he wants to bring the car in and we book that time. This program has increased our car counts dramatically, without sacrificing productivity or quality. It works!

 

The problem with these management companies is that their principles are outdated. They are living in the past. Look at all your national chains. They are all car care centers, open all week long, including Saturdays and even Sundays.

 

We live in a fast paced world. People do not want to wait. We need to listen to our customers and find what THEY want.

 

I think those management companies can take a few lessons from you.

We have done the same thing and opened up on saturdays / longer week hours // What a difference . We are in the retail business want sales then need to be there and handle the calls

Hey I bought a used Snap On Eco 134 recovery machine .It won,t vacum past about 18 and slow to recover .Some vacum is felt but not much.Any Ideals on what to do.Will a pump from somthing else work?

You can change the pump oil // make sure lines are not restriced . This unit has a smaller pump on it they make strnger pumps 4cfm or better.

I may be selling a pump if you decide you need it. try changing pump oil first

I agree. Do you think that the web will somehow dictate or set standards with respect to pricing and servicing?

It has to some degree already for years - When clients know labor times and parts pricing ahead of time , not that it matter's due to we adhere to standards of the upper end of the industry .

It actually helps if clients have knowledge if correct information ? , Tells them we are being truthfull what we tell them. I think it reinforces thier trust at times.

Let us know if you get any response!

KEEP US INFORMED - ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS , WE SIGNED UP FOR REPAIR PAL WHEN IT WAS FREE NEVER RECIEVED ANYTHING NOW ASA IS PROMOTING , NOT SURE PAYING FOR IT WOULD HAVE BETTER RESULTS , THEN THIER IS ANOTHER NEW ONE YOU PAY A FLAT $17.95 AND THEY SEND THE EMAIL THRU NO PROMISE OF WINNING THE CLIENT.

THIER ARE SEVERAL MORE OUT THIER IF YOU SEEK IT .

I DO THINK PRUNDO HAS A BETTER PROGRAM TO START WITH THEN THE OTHERS . JUST WITH ALL THE SEARCH ENGINES WHERE DO YOU PUT YOUR MONIES.

I TRULY AT THIS POINT HAVE BEEN PUTTING MONIES INTO EXSISTING SITE AND CREATING TO SUB SITES TO TRACK DIFFERENT OFFERS AND CLIENTS. I WANT TO REVIEW CLIENT HABITS FROM MY THREE SITES.

I MAY BE WAY OFF , BUT NO DIFFERENT THEN TRYING AN AD IN SOME PUBLICATION THAT DID NOT WORK.

THANKS DAN R

IF YOU NOTICED UP FRONT FREE NOT AFTER THE FACT BY PREPAYING A YEAR . THERE IS NO ONE ON THE SITE IN OHIO AND MOST STATES ONLY CALIFORNIA.

I AM NOT SURE WHAT YOU MEAN BY DIRECT MAIL, MY RETURN RATE HAS BEEN CLOSE TO 23 % USING MY EXSISTING DATA BASE .

DO YOU THINK THEY WILL PROVIDE 23% OR 1,400 CLIENTS COMING THRU THE DOOR .

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STATS ANS RETURN ON INVESTMENT THEY HAVE STAT'S SO FAR. COUPONS REDEEEMED AVG RO OFF THE CLIENTS REDEEEMING.

NOT SAYING IT IS A BAD THING AND ONE MORE TOOL IN YOUR MARKETING . WHAT I DO NOT SEE IS STATS ON THIER WEB SITE AND I EMAILED THEM AND NO ONE CONTACTED ME WITH THIS INFO.

HOW ARE THEY PROMOTING THIER PROGRAM TO LET CLIENTS KNOW THEY ARE OUT THIER.

IN CLOSING THE INTERNET IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE IF USED RIGHT AND TO ITS FULLEST , BUT THAT TAKES TIME , MONIES , TALENTS TO BE EFFECTIVE TO EVER REPLACE MEDIA PRINT ALTOGETHER. LET'S FACE IT IF A PROGRAM COULD SUPPLY ME ALL THE RIGHT CLIENTS WITH A GAURENTEE OF SUPPORTING THE NUMBER'S WE WOULD BE IN HEAVEN.

THANKS DAN R.

They are offering one month free with monthly subscription and two months free for annual subscriptions. Also, they have 30 days money back guarantee, which means you get an additional month free.

 

I think this will be a revolutionary option for all shop owners to reach their customers for less than $50/month and be able to share their coupons and offers 24 x7. They do not have to waste money on direct mails which every one simply tosses into the garbage!

I don't get the :

 

Coupons Available $114,636 | Members Saved $84,700

 

when there are only a few national chains listed.

THEY NEED TO GIVE SOME MONTHS FREE UP FRONT TILL THEY GET KNOWN NATIONALLY , WILL TAKE YEARS IF EVER THE WAY THEY ARE DOING THIS, MANY HAVE TRYED THIS AND STILL NO WHERE.

I SEE NO ADVANTAGE TILL THEY ARE A TRUE PLAYER?.

DAN R.

I felt it would have been better as a "Cash to Fix Your Clunker" program. In my area unemployment is over 18% and many people have had homes forclosed on,ergo no credit. It would have been a boom for me to have my customers get a "rebate" to fix their current vehicle. But with the auto makers bail-out the goverment had to figure a way to sell cars. After all they are part owners in GM and Chrysler

ASA -- Automotive Service Association tryed working on that and fell on deaf ears , From my knowledge Texas has a $1,500 dollar credit to improve your vehicle.

Was bad enough 1- billion now 3- Billion, Do you really think most car dealers will re fill thier lots with inventory ? NOT!

The other issue if 60% is imports purchased from this program how many nieghbor's will go back to work.

All this bill is hype that will not fix the economy it just switch's support to a different segment and will cause severe harm to the true small business economy.

Watch Nov / Dec / Jan when no car's our sold and made where this economy sinks.

I think this a new business model formula, which is quite different from our thinking years ago.

If you are in a depressed area with high unemployment , need to change your thinking . I have friends say I cannot wait for normal to return , really do not think normal will be found for many year's .

With the new cash for clunker's and the offer's out thier for cheap work will take a long time for clients to revert back to wanting to pay more for great service!. Do not get me wrong thier are many quality clients ,but even those are pushed to the wall due to hour's cut, and or a spouse has lost thier job.

Stay positive and create your own economy , has worked well for us , not saying it will be easy .

Marketing is the key and staying consistent. Say yes as often as you can.

Some on this site will say no to low offer's to motivate clients to come in , but some of us have no choice but to work on taking an [ d ] client with the hopes of moving them up to a client.

In Closing no one situation fits all , but try something if it does not work then move to the next one.

Thier are many things can be done for penny's so why not market.

Thanks Dan Reichow - [email protected]

car counts up // hard to maintain R/0 figures where they need to be.

It will suck the life out of several business , Resale and rebuilders , cores , restoration shops , Again a law for the big boy's

We started opening Saturdays , one of the issues was hours and person power . I will say it is draining.

BUT WITH THAT SAID -- It has been the best thing we have done. We have not lost mon- friday sales all techs busy, and saturdays have become very busy . We started in December .

We are up 8% over last year

Kudo's on the saturday discussion - it will be tough especially we are open 7:00 - 7:00 Mon - Fri and 7:00- 3:30 Saturday.

My goal is to do what ever it takes to be up 12% this year and raise avg r/o back to where we were two years ago.

Thanks Dan Reichow

During a coffee break at a recent seminar, a heated discussion started on whether a shop should be open for business on Saturdays. Many shop owners were adamant about not working Saturdays, claiming that they work hard enough Monday through Friday and having to work a sixth day would put them over the edge. I asked those shop owners that are closed on Saturdays: “Are you sure you’re not giving up much-needed sales by not being open Saturdays?” One shop owner fired back; “It’s my business, and I will run it the way I see fit”.

 

Let me start by saying that we are all independent business owners and the decisions we make are the ones we alone must live with. That is our right in a free market. And, no one person has all the answers. There are different business models and different ways of doing business.

 

Now having said that let me give you my spin on this debate. Most shop owners don’t want to work Saturdays because they know that their business is solely dependent on them being there. After years of working 6 to 7 days a week, they are tired and can’t see themselves pushing that 6th day anymore. And I don’t blame them. Another reason is that many shops are small, having one to three bays, where the owner is also the main technician. For these shops, adding another day to an already grueling week would be tough.

 

But be honest, tell me you wouldn’t enjoy the extra income from Saturday sales while you’re on the lake fishing? Is your business that financially secure that you couldn’t use extra income? And don’t tell me, it’s not all about money either. I know the reasons why we as shop owners went into business: and those reasons include building our legacy, making a difference in the automotive service world, quality of life and taking care of our families. All those reasons require money.

 

My shop made the decision to open on Saturdays for a variety of reasons. Our shop is located in a suburban area where most people commute to work Monday through Friday and are off on the weekends. There is no mass transit in my area, so just about everyone depends on their car. People in my area are overwhelmed with work and family obligations. Their time is limited and weekends seem to be when they play catch-up on the things they can’t get done during the week. I also found that the facilities that are open, the large tire stores and national chains, are very busy with work on Saturdays. For us, not to be open on Saturdays would not be a good business move. I cannot accept that fact that my customers may need to go somewhere else on a Saturday for a state inspection, oil change, a set of wipers or headlight because I decided to close.

 

We created a rotation work schedule, which allows our technicians and service advisors to rotate Saturdays, so as not to burn anyone out. Technicians will also rotate a day off during the week every other week. We feel this rotation system is fair to all employees and allows us to be there when our customers need us.

 

I suggest taking a look at your business model. Do your customers perceive your business as being convenient? Do you stick to a rigid schedule or are you flexible and take the customer’s needs into consideration?

 

I understand that smaller shops with limited manpower will find it hard to add more hours. But, if you want to grow your business you must be ready to compete and that means you need to carefully consider a much more flexible scheduling system, extended hours and being open on Saturdays.

 

The world has changed and we must accept what is happening around us. Many new car dealers are open Saturdays and some are even open on Sundays. All national chains have weekend hours and many have late night shifts. I don’t think we can ignore the fact that there is a lot of competition out there and that we need to be there for the customer. If we give our customers a reason to go to another facility because they are more convenient, we may lose those customers altogether.

 

There’s been a lot of talk lately about how the new car dealers are hurting and that many more will close in the next few years. This SHOULD bring opportunity our way, but only if we prepare for it. If we think these customers will flood our doors just because we happen to be open for business… think again. Also, be prepared for a new breed of new car dealers and national chain accounts. The “automotive herd” is being thinned out and those that survive will fight to the death for a piece of YOUR pie.

 

The fact remains that we as independents are sitting on the biggest opportunity in the history of automotive service. How will you react to this opportunity? What is your plan to capture the expected explosion of service work? Think about this; is your business ready and able?

 

For me, I will listen to my customer. And if that means being there on Saturdays, evening hours or even on Sunday, so be it. I made the choice to be in business, no one else. I also accept the change in our industry and will do my best to adapt. I have an obligation to be successful and to take care of not only my family but also the families of those employed by my company.

 

So tell me…do you agree or disagree? Challenge me…Please!

Our first quarter was up 8% over last year as most our car count is up and R/o down , but we have increased our R/o up $70.00 to an average of $323.00 .

April is always a tough month we hope to stay on track .

Thanks Dan Reichow [ OHIO ]

Does anyone participate in a web based 20 group? I have a small group that is interested in joining or forming a 20 group that would meet by webinar monthly. This group is not interested in any travel. Please give me some feed back.

 

Thanks,

Tony Gobble

Gobble's Automotive

Could be a good thing if start getting in place let me know Dan Reichow Dan R's [email protected]

We have set our 2009 budget as increaseing 5% over last year . We have taken our budget and changed from full page ad's in each media we do and downsized to half page ad's. We have increased media avenues with the cost savings.

The reason we are increaseing into diffrent media is to have something hitting each week . What tends to happen you send out a big event /sale you are busy first week it hits and last week if you put an expiration date for urgency.

What I have done this year we have 2 media's hitting pepole each week , direct mail , news paper ad's , letter's , e- newsletter's , reminder card's .

Remember thier are inexpensive marketing can do without creating budget cut's . We do B2 B flyer's and go to neighbor hood business personnally and offer thier staff and them discount . Share an ad with a neighbor hood business . flyers hanging on poster boards at grociers stores , banks in thier lobby's.

We just done one where our local pharmacy - we put our advertising on ther prescription bags, 25,000 bag's we split with 4 other business cost $700.00 fourth job in spent $1,700.00 these will run approx 10 months

We do what everyone want's cheap ofl - like an seminar this week - Todd Hayes said AN O F L IS LIKE A FIRST DATE YOU ARE LUCKY TO GET A KISS - SO WITH THAT SAID BE PREPAPRED AND BE READY FOR THE SECOND DATE WITH YOU CLIENT.

THANKS DAN REICHOW DAN R'S AUTOMOTIVE www.danrsauto.com