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Or the genius who says if you will tell me what is wrong my mechanic wil fix it.

We have 4 bulk tanks but use bag in the box for additional oil weights. However, we do not have a rack for them but use them from on top of the bulk tanks. Works o.k.

Who do you use for your mailers? What do they cost per piece.

I have what may be a great opportunity for some shop. My assistant manager is moving to the Oveido area of Orlando. A child custody issue with an ex-wife is prompting the move. He has 30 years experience with management, service writing, and A level tech experience. He was also trained in the Firestone management program. He is a great guy that I would highly recommend. He is interested in a service writer/management type position. If anyone has any interest in talking to him pm me and I will put you in touch with him and will only charge a small head hunters fee! Just kidding!

I love it except I hate cheap oil changes.

Jay most of the time us owners give too much stuff away, have a problem not charging enough, or won't sell it all. My service writers sells bigger jobs than I can sell.

Quote of the day and a matra that every owner should adopt.

Donald Trump was asked if he could quote any Bible verses. He replied: "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day; deport him and you do not have to feed him again." Trump 20:16

Tell us about your mailer program!

Great post! I love it. Welcome.

http://www.capterra.com/auto-repair-software/

I don't think Richard Rawlings knows much about running an auto repair business.

What is your shop labor rate?

I wanted to be sure that I was following you. We do mark up sublet work and things like towing. However, we only mark up tows by $10 as a rule.

You are charging this to the customer?

I have never had this situation occur. I doubt that I would unless testifying for something I am involved with. If you establish a policy of paying and then a case were to drag on it could be hard to afford.

Jeff sounds like you are doing some very positive things that should pay off for you.

The simplicity of vehicles in prior times plus a more mechanically oriented population created that model. However today's cars are much more complex and fewer people have ever done anything mechanical. Almost ever farm boy, which I was, has had some mechanical tinkering experience. Fewer and fewer shade trees are up to the task either equipment wise or knowledge wise.

For me relationships with customers will always be high priority.

From the limited information we have it is hard to tell but one has to suspect that it is likely. This is a situation where the rubber meets the road as far as what we do as owners. You could probably wash your hands of any liability and not do anything or you man up and assume liability that you may or may not have been responsible for.

Pay was not the issue. The problems were: (1)I did not have a bunch of good ones to start. (2)The best one I had started sleeping with another tech's wife and he became completely undependable plus it destroyed morale. That is the second time that has happened in the last few years. (3)Another tech I had developed heart trouble and could no longer do the work. (4)The replacements we hired didn't pan out. (5)Plus three of these were guys we hired as apprentices who just weren't worth hanging on to either due to attitude problems or lack of aptitude. The apprentices all had some experience and technical school.

I am excited about the prospects for the New Year. Hopefully it has to be better than 2016. In 2016 I experienced my greatest challenges with my help situation. Counting myself we operate with a staff of 9 people. With that said I can tell you that during 2016 I had nine (9) different people work for me that were either fired or quit. Six (6) we fired and three (3) quit. Part of the problem was one bad egg that poisoned the whole shop. That is 100% turnover. At one point in time I wasn't sure if we could stay open due to lack of help. Talk about stressful. Thankfully one good guy who had decided to leave changed his mind and we found two good eggs who moved in here from out of town. In some ways 2016 was one of the most difficult years I have ever had. 2017 is definitely looking up.

Well said!

Hope 2017 is the best year of everyone's life. Three cheers for ASO what a success and what a resource for us all.

Throughly inspect, detail the estimates, honestly present the need, and leave it the customer to decide. Do not decide what the customer can or cannot afford. The results will surprise you.