pfseeley442

If you are on any social media you see the trend today is to move jobs. Watch and listen as they explain why, todays employee feel the only way to advance is to constantly seek out new employment, pit employer against employer and leverage the best deals. They talk constant about how employers do not value the employee, there are sights where employees go to rate the employer and share pay rates. Our trade is no different. We don't provide clear career paths, pay increase, benefits etc. Long gone are the days when employees stayed at one place for their career. They take 401k and head for the door. No easy answer, make your little part of the world the best you can and carry on.

I bought the smart aligner by RAV America, Had my last one for about 12 years, this one also will work on a two post lift. Check alternatives before spending 85K.

I had a boss that had a Christmas Tree in the front room. He warned those that owed him money that their bills would be hanging on the tree, and if they wanted them off just come down and pay. It worked for most.

Did it once years ago, worst thing ever, if you can't hide the money you end up claiming the money as income. Lose, Lose, The most I have ever done resently is given an employee cash for doing some week end work for me.

I can tell you how I solved my issue with technicians. I was always looking to pay as low as possible. If I could get a guy in for $20 per hour I was happy. That happiness was always short lived. I finally sat down to figure out why I had big time turn over of help. The problem was me and how I thought about the value of a tech and the service writer. I know the value of these rolls but never put the right dollar amount on them. Also a $20 an hour tech is just that. When I finaly ran my business corectly, priced my labor rate and parts where they needed to be, hired qualified techs and service writers: holy crap what a differance. I went from an average of 600K per year to now averaging 1.6million per year (the last four years, out of thirteen) I also have pay of 250K per year for myself. My techs get about 70K plus per year. . Front room gets about 65K per year. All salary, no pay plans, no games, just pay. With health care, 401k ect. I have four bays, one of them is an inspection bay. Good AC good heat, and very little turn over of help. So as an industry we know why there is a tech shortage, and the reasons for it. We just need to fix us first.

My two cents: The last couple of years were an anomaly. There were a lot of items that contributed to a couple of great years for us. Lack of cars to purchase, extra money from the government, etc. This year will be different , people are paying huge electric, heat and food bills. We as business owners need to adjust accordingly. I believe we will still see good car counts but lower ARO's. We really need to keep an eye on our profit margins. We need to hold the line and stay profitable to stay in business.

I have ran into this, I used cans and the single hose to fill the system, I diagnosed the system, then fill it with the cans.

Zip allows you to look at resumes, also talk to tool truck drivers, unhappy techs love to vent to them Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

I'm in Massachusetts, same here, everyone I talk to is slow. We have had shops lay of techs, and a clue have closed. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

My highest paid technician has been $60k per year. We average about $22 per hour. Our labor rate is $90 per hour. My two guys I have now at $20 per hour are averaging 32-35 hours per week. If you are paying that rate I would only go flat rate. That will cover you. If you are paying someone $1500 per week and it slows down that could drain the bank account very quickly.

I have developed a relationship with a local transmission Shop to refer this type of work to if you don't feel comfortable doing it. Our relationship agreement is that we don't steel work from each other and we discuss issues privately to avoid customer issues. My advise is to tell the customer you want to make it right, but you want to get a second opinion. I would then bring it to shop you trust. A pinion seal and bearing is replaceable. If the repairs are what you feel are justified I would eat the cost. I say this because you felt is was a mistake to do a used rear end. Then write it off as good will. Future advice : refer the job or do a rebuilt differential. Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk

Need more info: was the estimate signed or acknowledged ? Any time we have engine damage I make sure the customer signs off on the potential for a bad engine. I also a bad experience and ended up losing on the job. No win either way. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I have a help wanted out for a technician. A tech that I know applied for the job. He is a very nice person , ASE master, L1, and about 10 years of experience . He is a very smart and capable tech,His down fall is that he has had six different jobs , after a year or two his performance drops and he leaves. The reasons vary : performance, personal reasons etc. I have had very little response to my ad. Do I take a chance and get some time out of him or pass and keep looking? Thank you for any responses . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I am of the same mind set that waiters are not good for business. For example even tire work: we had a customer make a waiting appointment for tires, the car comes in and has a bad tie rod end, needs an alignment. But the customer can't wait. So the car goes out with four new tires with a bad tie rod and we lost the job. And oil changes are tough to even up sell filters because of time restraints. So in my option waiters represent lost opportunity . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Inspections were a no brainer for me, in Massachusetts we get $35. Per sticker and keep $23.50. They take about 15 minutes each. We do 200 per month, with about a 8% fail rate. Average RO on failures is about $340. But another way to look at it is from a marketing stand point. We average 35 new customers per week, we capture their info and send them thank you cards. They stay on our mailer list and we get a 30% return rate. So it is great from a marketing stand point. We also need a dedicated bay, but I have four total. We also sell a lot of tires, bulbs, wipers etc. I feel that providing inspections kept my customers from going else where. Good luck with your decision . Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The way I sell them is to tell the customer at the service prior to the 30,60,90 that is coming up . I generally print out what the service is and those costs associated with service so they can plan for it. This has worked very well for me. Another thing that I do is to sell items as a menu, I will say for example the services due are plugs, brakes fluid etc. and sell them like that. That makes you sound like less of a dealer. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I charge for them, $1.50, they are very expensive . And I do add them as a line item on the RO Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Here is my two cents: I just bought a shop that closed, they were a Japanese only shop. The owner was a Toyota tech , so he stuck with what he knew. The problems he said that he was if a customer had cars other than Japanese they had to go elsewhere. If they were happy they brought all of their cars to the other shop. Also there is a big mix of dealers close by, Chevy, ford, dodge, etc. So of course he did not get those customers. The math for you will be easy: what percentage of the vehicle that you service now will be sent elsewhere, than what will your marketing costs be? Do you have the working Capitol to sustain your business through these changes ? Are your technicians trained properly for Japanese vehicles? Do you have all the tools and equipment needed ? You can buy mailing lists that are directed to your specific vehicle owners. I will add more if I have any other thoughts. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I also have my lifts services every year. I do the same with the lift company and let them come out when it fits their schedule . It saves a $100. Service fee. I send a copy of the certificate to my insurance company and post a copy. The techs take better care of the lifts knowing that I care. The other thing if you have an accident with injury involving a lift you better have your certificates showing the service. It's funny I call buying lunch "free lunch Friday's" Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

What I've done is contact the insurance company for their rates per day, usually different for fences and not fenced. Then when they call to tow it away they will ask for the total and I've always been paid right away, also don't forget about repossessed cars, same thing. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk