autoguy

The other day I went to another shop, when I walked in the SA looked up with a don't bother me look, said something I can do for you without a smile bad attitude voice. You're right I remind even the techs that if you offend someone they'll forget you in 24 hrs, but will never forget the place of business. A freind went to a dealer for warranty work, 15 min deal, but got bounced around a half a day by two people, now he'll never go back and he and his wife buy new vehicles every year. When someone greets a client, to the client they are the company and the impression they leave is the impression they have of you!

Great Point! Your people working for you are always the face of your business. Your business is only as good as the people that are involved in it.

The first thing that happens in any business is the customer greeting.

Spring is in the air and people are usually in better buying moods. What spring promotions have you done that were successful in the past and what are your marketing plans for this spring season?

I think that you need to gear your consumers up for AC checkups and "After-Winter" Checkups.

Maybe tie in some sort of AC Free check. Cabin filter replacement with vent cleaning.

Maybe a "Get Ready for Warm Weather" Vehicle Check up.

What always works is a spring oil change special...lost leader type of service.

Hi, my name is Kyle Schoenthaler.

I run the Tred Shed Tire Pros in Pittsburg Calif (30 miles from San Francisco). We are a tire/wheel & auto repair shop. We mostly concentrate on maintenance but also do some diagnostic, lots of brakes, frt end and lowering.

We are a 3rd Gen business, my grandfather started it, my father owns it now, and I am transitioning into my new position of running the show.

 

Look forward to sharing ideas and concerns with other people in my same position all over the country.

 

Kyle Schoenthaler

Tred Shed Tire Pros

You mentioned lowering...are you in a market that has tuner cars in it? Are you a speed shop? If so, how is that market?

The biggest thing anyone can do is trend tracking/graphing of all key numbers to see which direction they are headed to prevent getting behind.

 

Also, constant monitoring of GP and expense figures.

Keeping your costs down and not losing any customers is key. I'd rather drop the price than have them walk out the door!

Does anyone take part in National Car Care Month?

I believe that April is National Car Car month. I was just wondering if anyone here does anything special during the month of April.

http://www.carcare.org/NCCM/National_Car_Care_Month.shtml

HELLO ALL

MY NAME IS STEVE , THIS IS MY FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL. SO DONT HARASS ME, I WILL TELL MY MOM.

WHAT DOES EVERYONE DO ABOUT WARRANTY , LABOR, HOW LONG DO YOU WARRANTY, AND DO YOU TRACK IT.

WE ARE A NAPA AUTO CARE CENTER, SEAMS LIKE WARRANTYS HAVE WENT UP, NAPA ONLY COVERS PART AND 75% LABOR, HAVE THOUGHT ABOUT DOING OWN INTERNAL EXTENDED WARRANTY, ANYONE DO THAT?

STEVE

Hi Steve! We go by a 12 month/12.000 mile warranty as a norm.

How do you like the NAPA program, do you find that it is helpful? What do you get out of it?

I found this site for automotive business forms and wanted to share it.

Check it out: http://automotiveforms.net/

I'd like to see Bloomberg run.....

There are not a lot of good programs that focus on the independent. We use Mitchell and find it works great. We see Mitchell as a company dedicated to the independent and we need to support this.

I agree, Mitchell is excellent.

Online Automotive Training: Do you have the time?

 

With the availability of automotive repair and business courses online, do you and/or your technicians find the time to complete any online courses?

 

Do you have a training policy in place that requires your associates to take online training?

 

What are your thoughts/feedback about online automotive training?

 

Here are some industry leaders:

 

http://www.amionline.org/

 

http://www.elearners.com/courses/automotiv...d-mechanics.htm

 

http://www.autoshop101.com/

 

http://www.carquest.com/proCTI.html

I think it's al headed that way. Going online is the getting more and more of a daily lifestyle. I have not taken ay online classes up to this point.

Just curious on who you like in these presidential primaries and why?

I'm on the fence, I was a Guiliani supporter....BUT, now he's out!

There is no doubt the housing problems will affect the auto industry. Together with high gas prices, the mortgage crisis and the customer perception of the economy, we may be in for rough ride this year.

I think it's a general feel in the entire country right now tha the economy is doing poorly. Today the senate passed that economy stimulus plan...

"Congress passed deal aiming to speed rebates to taxpayers"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23052292/