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The topsy-turvy tire and auto service year closed as it began, sliding down in December after an unexpected up-tick in late November. All tire and service sales segments measured appear to have ended 2009 at levels below those posted in 2008. Sorry...

Jasper has the best warranty in the business and if there is a problem that don't bat an eye. The Jasper plant is only about 50 miles from me so I can have most stuff next day.

I guess I am in the wrong business since I am not into NASCAR at all.

You handled it just fine. Do you have women call in asking for pricing with the husband talking to her in the background? I ask questions she can't answer. She asks her husband. He tells her and then she tells me. It is hilarious and ridiculous. I think these guys are uncomfortable with business dealings and they hide behind their wives.

We did a Jasper Engine on a 1994 Ford F-150 last week.

Next year I plan to do a Groundhogs Day promotion.

Great Idea!

Here is our TARP and stimulus money at work: Video Marketing and Mortgage News Designed for Mortgage and Real Estate Sales

It takes your food seven seconds to get from your mouth to your stomach... One human hair can support 3kg (6.6 lb). The average man's penis is two times the length of his thumb. Human thighbones are stronger than concrete. A woman's heart beats faster than a man's. There are about one trillion bacteria on each of your feet. Women blink twice as often as men. The average person's skin weighs twice as much as the brain. Your body uses 300 muscles to balance itself when you are standing still. If saliva cannot dissolve something, you cannot taste it. Womenreading this will be finished now. Men are still busy checking their thumbs.

Here is confirmation that customers are keeping cars longer. This should be good news for our business.

Rotors, Resurfacing and the Law: How the Glad/Midas lawsuit will change how you sell brakes. http://www.brakeandfrontend.com/Article/70786/rotors_resurfacing_and_the_law_how_the_gladmidas_lawsuit_will_change_how_you_sell_brakes.aspx

I have to agree. I think it is over blown.

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It is obviously good news for the American car companies as it gives them a little window to sell a few more cars and perhaps gain back a few customers. In the long run I do not see it having a huge impact except for on Toyota's bottom line for the next year or two. However, I will add as a shop we have the impression that the Toyota vechiles of the last 5 years are not built quite as well as their cars were say 10 years ago. However, they are still top of the line, just not quite as durable. Does anyone else share that opinion?

Th Here is a thought if anyone out there is in a position to transfer assets to your children who are going to take the business over. Due to the down economy everything is worth less which has some advantages as far as avoiding paying too much taxes.

Here is a way to generate business. Tire changing con man appears to have flexible pricing Schneider: Tire changing con man appears to have flexible pricing | lansingstatejournal.com | Lansing State Journal

Congratulations to the Saints. They have been door mats for many years but no longer. They deserved to win. Sorry Peyton but the interception and the first half dropped pass were the game.

Sometimes things like this happen:

I used the name Napoleon because he is about 5' 4" and acts like it at times. He gets really mad if I call him Napolean. My Army Ranger service manager calls him the dwarf. Hope no politically correct people are on here.

Suddenly, a cow walks out into the road, the car hits it full on, and the car comes to a stop. Nancy, in her usual charming manner, says to the chauffeur, "You get out and check--you were driving.." So the chauffeur gets out, checks, and reports that the animal is dead but that it was old. "You were driving, so you go and tell the farmer," says Nancy. Two hours later the chauffeur returns totally plastered, hair ruffled with a big grin on his face. "My God, what happened to you?" asks Nancy ?" The chauffeur replies, "When I got there, the farmer opened his best bottle of malt whisky, the wife gave me a slap-up meal and the daughter made love to me." "What on earth did you say?" asks Nancy. "I just knocked on the door and when it opened I said to them, "I'm Nancy Pelosi's chauffeur, and I've just killed the old cow."

On this same subject I cannot help but think of the time we had an older,1989 or so Chevy Suburban, come into the shop. A tech that I will reference as Napoleon was asked to check it out. Because he didn't want to work on this particular vehicle he picked it a part with a fine tooth comb and gave our service manager a very long needed repair list. The entire repair come to something like $1,300. Napoleon was sure this would create a back out. Image his surprise and aggravation and my service manager's and my glee when the customer authorized the entire repair order and Napoleon had to fix all of it.

This is another good article. As managers, service writers, owners, etc. we sometimes must be careful that we do not let our judgement about what a customer will or will not do or can or cannot afford prevent us from discussion repairs that are needed. It is easy to allow this to happen. I use to be afraid to present needed large ticket repair orders but my current service manager has helped me overcome that plus we now have a better customer base with a higher degree of trust. That helps a lot. http://www.brakeandfrontend.com/Article/70488/not_selling_out_of_fear_are_you_killing_sales_out_of_kindness.aspx

The "technicians" and "shops" that tell customers to ignore check engine lights that they don't mean anything are really doing the customer and the industry a diservice. There are evidently some thatr do this because I still hear it from time to time. Probably more of a carry over thinking from the OBD1 days.

Her car was totaled in an oil change The Day - Her car was totaled in an oil change | News from southeastern Connecticut

New Jersey Repair Shop Caters to Female Customers Sorry...