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Did any of you catch this? It was aired on 4-14-2010. http://www.cbs.com/daytime/the_early_show/video/?pid=Vix6cQ7vYM0ZWfHQ8IND_q1DVK8QjZuu&vs=Default&play=true

Michelangelo's David Is To Be Returned To Italy Michelangelo

We have driven a lot of new business by offering an oil change and tire rotation at $25.95.

Gonzo how big is that bass in your avatar?

Joe our prices for the same thing would be about $180.00. Considering the part of the country you are located in and costs in that area it doesn't sound like you are out of line. Unless the dealer is running some type of special promotion there is no way a Cadillac Dealer is less than that. Just remember that you can't make everybody happy. A funny thing about Cadillac CTS owners is that the ones we have had who drive these cars are either tight wades or broke. They all hate spending money on repairs and CTS take constant repair. In my opinion CTS drivers are wannabes and I put PT cruiser drivers in the same category. How about an answer that we want to do good service and be competitively priced. We periodically compare our prices to similar service providers and have determined that our prices are both fair and competitive and that our pricing allows us to be profitable enough to employ qualified people who can provide quality service.

Hey, everybody listen up. Here is a new article by Joe and I believe this is the best one that I have ever read that he has written. You have got to read this because it may mean the difference in survival and success in your business: Service Zone Story

How has that worked out for you?

John, it is great to have you join us. You have a nice website. Do you belong to Angie's List?

This may be worth reading: 4 Things You Can Do To Make Your Business Inviting To Women Women...

One day I was standing along side as my ASE Master Certified Techician was struggling with a wiper blade he could not get to go on to a car. This non-technican that you would never want working on your car took the blade from him, popped the adapter onto the blade and stuck the blade on the car in about 20 seconds while the ASE Master Tech looked on with mouth open..

Why men shouldn't write advice columns:

It is good to be able to laugh at yourself and to admit your screw ups. I haven't done anything like that at least I don't think I did anything today. One of the funnest things I ever saw was the tech who was doing an oil change and while he was doing it he was talking about how he was the only one in the shop who hadn't screwed up an oil change (we had been through a rash of wrong filters, double gasketed, loose drain plug, etc.). This was early in my business and the crew I had hired then in my ignorance almost put me out of business. Well he says he is the only one who hasn't screwed up. Then let the car down and proceeded to pump five quarts of oil into the car while we all watched it run out the drain plug he had forget to put in while he was congratulating himself. What a mess and what a laugh!

That is an under statement!

Setting Up a Website for Your Shop Website..

Now this is what I call fishing:

The car wash is a nice little perk.

First of all welcome to the forum. I think you have already answered your own question. It is YOUR business and life is TOO SHORT to be miserable everyday because of someone who works for you no matter how good his work is. I had a service manager who use to work for me and whom I really love and whom I consider to be a very good friend. He and I got along like oil and water though. We just couldn't work together everyday. He was miserable and I was miserable. Without his knowledge I looked for and found his replacement. Before he I ever told him he came to me and told me he was quiting. It all worked out beautful. My Army Ranger service writer I replaced him with has almost doubled our business and my old service writer went on to eventually find a place where he makes more money and is now the manager. If I were you I wqould start looking for a replacement.

Here is your chance. Everyone should get a shot at this. Takes all of fifteen seconds and that is if you take a look at his current stats. Great! Wow!! First, it's hard to believe that CBS is actually doing this. Second, that they're brave, and honest enough to actually show the ongoing polling results. Take the poll yourself and when you submit your grading of how he is handling the top issues, a second page will come up showing you the current results of how America is voting. Please note, this isn't Fox doing this. This is mostly people who watch CBS. That's telling. DO THIS!!!!!!! and pass it on. This is a CBS poll on Obama's first year performance.... Grade Obama's First Year in Office - Political Hotsheet - CBS News Here's your chance to grade the President! Make sure your pop-up blocker is disabled so you can see the results.

Gonzo, you would be welcome anytime. I usually don't work Saturdays but when I do I favor Papa Johns but my Service Manager who usually covers Saturdays like KFC but we feed a little bit of everything. The agreement is on Saturdays we don't take lunch but eat on the run, work a shorter day, and we provide lunch. Just call ahead and let me know your coming so we can have enough food. Do you like thin crust or original?

Welcome! It is good to have you! For the record I have no previous automotive background except the 11 years I have running our shop. You wouldn't want me working on your car!

I think this is indications that this is a good time four our business: Read more: More cars scrapped than purchased in 15-month period - Business - TheState.com

Our atmosphere with many of our customers is very friendly almost like the old country store. Some of our regulars may come in and make a pot of coffee if we are busy. Vendors are important too. We try to take care of our vendors. If any of our vendor employees salesmen, counter help, or delivery drivers come to us with a vehicle problem we try to take care of them. We will tell them what they need and to go get the parts and we will put them on at a reduced labor rate. On Saturday's we feed our workforce and today it was Papa Johns. When a vendor woman driver delivered a part today while we were eating I invited her to have pizza with us. It is amazing what little jesters like that do. We even had one vendor employee, a single mom, who had to have a hysterectomy and missed six weeks of work. We contributed money and solicted money to help her while she was off work.

What did it cost you? I would like to know because I checked into this a few years ago and the cost wasn't justified by the volume of business I thought it would create for us. I was wondering if their cost structure has changed. I called them a few months ago and told them I was interested in finding out more but they never got back to me.