Gary A

High and dry on the Passaic River in Little Falls but many around me are not. Even the President is coming to Paterson on Sunday. This area has really taken a beating.

Right on xrac it is all part of the big picture that many are blind to.

It is real simple. We need a hard working business owner to run the country. NOT POLITICIANS! If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

Snap-on Coolant exchange machine model #EESE336 - $650 Call Gary at 973-237-1900

I use Manager and the Quickbooks Integrator. So I wont switch until they get everything worked out. It also looks like other add on programs are not available yet such as DPR and service intelligence. Overall I like the Manager program and I know they will always be around.

I have a new employee that I hired about a month ago and one of the first things I made clear as I always do was no cell phone use during working hours. He has been great with it so far and only uses it at lunch break. I do have to admit that when mine rings and I have to answer it I do feel like a hypocrite but I do have people that contact me for business on my cell phone because I am always out and about and need to have a way for people to reach me for business. The problem has been if it is allowed it's not long before it is abused and out of hand. I don't know what the answer is, its a tough call and I'm sure it depends on the individual that you are dealing with.....

Those are the things I expect to hear. I have just had several employees in the past who even after a repeated number of times, insisted on using the cell phone even while working on the car. I guess thats one of the reasons they are no longer here.

Just wanted to share this.....

Do you guys have a hard time with cell phone use during work hours? What is your policy on this? Also what is your policy for those who smoke? There are just too many things that are eating up time in the day......

Started watching yesterday but cant get back in...........

Here's an interesting video from Dave Ramsey on drving a used car vs new. Sounds like a good way to encourage customers not to buy new. http://www.daveramsey.com/articles/article/articleID/drive-free/category/lifeandmoney_automobiles/

I did find a rear adjuster that seemed frozen and rear brakes out of adjustment. They were adjusted last time according to my tech. Also what was driving me crazy was a pulsation. The pulsation ended up being rear drums needed cutting. The reason that I didnt think the pulsation was coming from the rear was because during a road test I had applied the E brake by itself and there was no pulsation. When I got the rear brakes adjusted tighter, the pulsation got worse so i cut the drums and everythings smooth now. Hopefully I wont see this again for a while. Thanks to all for your replies!

2008 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD Something is causing front brakes to heat up. Replaced calipers, hoses, pads and rotors. Very strange. Has anyone ever seen a master or ABS hydraulic unit cause brakes to drag? Thats the only thing I can think of is that they are slightly dragging.

Here's another piece of info from Cooper..... Cooper Tire Service Bulletin113.pdf

Snap-on has a handheld with a printer. One thing that I would like in a tester is to be able to test Euro batteries. I have a DTAC now but if you dont have the CCA reading off the battery you can't do the test properly. How do you guys handle testing batteries without CCA's? http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=85036&group_ID=20178&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

Joe, We use the Sanp-On Verus, the new software that they just came out with was a big improvement and it can be used with the online version of mitchell repair I believe. I also think it will integrate with Mitchell Manager in the future which would be good for tech to SW communication. the price is ridiculous like everything else ethey sell but if you upgrade from a modis or something else its not as bad. Gary

I don't like to make quick decisions without knowing what im getting myself into. Sales people always try to get you to do it now and I don't roll that way. AAA is endorsing this company and it still made me feel uncomfotable. There was no cost to me other than dicounted repair work. I talked to another local AAA shop and he felt the same as myself. It looks like we're all on the same page on this. Thanks for your responses. Gary

Has anyone used a company called AutoRepairMoney.com and their marketing called Auto Repair Dollars? Customers would buy coupons with discounts to be used at your shop. It is no cost to the shop other than the discounts you would be giving. Just wondering if anyone has heard of them or used them and your exprience with them.

Amen!

I think that they are not our ideal customer at that point. The new cars don't need much anyway, so I don't think we are missing much for those first couple of years. We can also advise people that economically it is better to buy a used car maybe 1-3 years old rather than brand new. Some dealers are doing a better job on the service end of things but there are still a lot of customers that like to come to us no matter what. I guess you would have to know how they are really being charged for the maintenance becuse nothing is free and point that out to them.

I have been through quite a bit of training myself and have been looking for a tech for a few years now and it has been very hard. Been through a few. It might be because I started out my business a s transmission specialty shop, one day I am rebuilding transmissions another I am diagnosing and another doing engine work etc. Its hard to find someone who can do it all. As far as the easy work brakes, front end etc I hate to compete and lowball for the work that everybody wants. I could use more of that work though.

Thanks for the respnose Dan. Part of the reason for a service advisor is when I need to be away from the shop I must close up or I have left my apprentice there for a few hours if I have to. I would like business to go on if I have to be away. If I have a service advisor with tech experience and an apprentice I could leave if I have to. Right now everything depends on me.

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.

Get yourself a copy of a book called the E-Myth by Michael Gerber