autoguy

autoguy

 

We are.... or rather trying. The company has software that crashes with every update and POOR customer service. Nice to think I could have invested $1300 in a company that cares,

Wow, that's not good if it crashes all the time. with updates, how do you like it overall day to day...features and all?

Thanks for advise.The traffic is moving 55 or so.I will need to buy or make a aframe sign.The letters need to be 12 inches or more.Have a led sign and it is hard to see going bey so fast you maybe got 2 to 3 seconds to see it but it does grab them at night is the best.

The first thing I think of when I look at your shop is auto glass, because of the sign....maybe an "Auto Repair" sign in addition?

Tom, could you go into more detail with real numbers about that plan?

I would also be interested in more of a description of how this would work.

I am in process of evaluating software. I want a system that allows me to important part numbers and labor times into the estimates. I will look at Mitchell and Alldata. What others do you suggest?

Are you saying that you want to be able to import part numbers from your old system? Or just the ability to add part numbers..

I know Mitchell Manager Plus has inventory control and so does RO Writer. What are you using now and are you planning an import form that? There are some companies that can transfer your database.

I have employees that want to schedule and overlap vacation time around the holidays. Some want to schedule ALL their vacation time around ALL holidays. This is a constant struggle between being fair and balanced for all employees.

 

We are in a service business and during the holidays we are always busy.

 

I want to know how other shops handle this.

 

I know shop owners that will not anyone to schedule vacation time around a holiday.

 

Need advise...

That's a tough one and really depends on the size of your shop, the amount of employees you have, and if you can afford to not have one or two around the holidays.

I think it is reasonable to have black out dates for vacation.

Please keep us informed about the sucess of this program. Thanks!

I am also curious.

The are restrictions with this plan. Like income level and if you ever had insurance before, you are not ellegible.

No kidding, I did not know that.....

The artilce is ok, not too specific, too generic. I think most of the conversations found in AutoShopOwner have more relevance to every day business.

Ofcourse they do, but I think these are a good start for anyone who is not at the level.....let's say...you, or another sucessful shop is at.....and looking for some quick tips and things to be doing to get started.

I read this article online and decided to repost it to the community.....

How to Run a Successful Auto Repair Business

By Barb Nefer

As long as people rely on cars as their main form of transportation, there will be opportunities for success in the auto repair business. By following some important steps, you can run a successful auto repair business that provides a steady income

STEP 1: Decide whether you will open your own auto repair business or whether you will purchase an established business. By purchasing an existing auto repair shop, you will immediately have an appropriate location and equipment, and the experienced employees may choose to stay. If you start from scratch, you will need to find a high-traffic location, purchase or lease the necessary equipment, and hire a new staff of mechanics and other employees.

Step 2: State your ethical standards up front. Many customers are leery of auto repair businesses because they have a reputation of making people pay for unnecessary repairs or charging for work that is never performed. Have a statement of ethics printed, and hang it in a prominent place in the customer reception area. The ethics should be centered around being honest with customers, pledging never to overcharge them, and striving for their full satisfaction.

Step 3: Offer a guarantee. When a customer is paying for an expensive car repair, she wants some assurance that the vehicle will work properly or that you will take care of the issue if it does not. Offering a guarantee based on a certain period of time or mileage will show that you stand behind all work performed at your auto repair business.

Step 4: Treat employees well to eliminate high turnover. An auto repair business that has a constant turnover of mechanics will have difficulty maintaining its quality. This can give it a bad reputation and keep it from being successful. When you find good, reliable mechanics, pay them fairly and give competitive benefits to keep them from moving on to another job. Customers who build up trust with a particular mechanic will be glad to see him there the next time their car needs repairs.

Step 5: Resolve customer complaints promptly. Although there will always be some unreasonable customers, most will be willing to come to a compromise if you are willing to work with them. Discuss the problem without judging them or making them defensive, and ask them what they feel an equitable solution would be. If you agree that it's fair, you've got a resolution. If not, be prepared to give an alternative solution.

Step 6: Reward regular customers. Repeat customers are key to running a successful auto repair business. Not only do they provide income themselves, they also are likely to refer others to your business. Send out periodic offers for a free or discounted oil change, a discount on their next repair or some other goodwill gesture. While it may cost you in the short term, it will pay off in the long term by reinforcing customer loyalty.

Tips & Warnings

Joining a professional organization like the Automotive Service Association (ASA) demonstrates your commitment to quality and excellence.There will always be some customers who cannot be pleased. If a customer has an unreasonable complaint and insists on a totally unrealistic solution, you will have to refuse. Even though they may spread bad word of mouth about your business, it shouldn't hurt your success if the majority of your customers are satisfied and you have a good reputation.

A blonde said, 'I was worried that my Mechanic might try to rip me off but I was relieved when he told me all I needed was turn signal fluid.

That's funny...

Just curious on what the best method of paying your top technician is. I'm paying salary currently, but not sure if this is in my best interests. I should be doing some sort of flat rate program and maybe a guarantee? My guy works about 50 hours and gets $1400 which means a $28 an hour rate or so. I need a plan to get more out of him, although I'm really not measuring anything right now..like productivity.

How do you pay your top guy(s)?

Frist, great new forum! We needed this.

 

My issue is with list price on parts. Some shops use the list price, other shops use thier own list. What is the best way to go about this.

 

My fear is that customers may call if I charge over list.

 

Need help!

I think manufacturer list prices are fictitious and you should use some sort of formula to mark up your parts accordingly.

Yes, I firmly believe that. What I have learned in the short term is how important it is to manage the business. You can't grow your business or run your business from a creeper or under the hood!

It will run you if you don;t get out from under the hood. Pay someone else to do it while you run the business is what I think.

WOW! You can change the shop names and the techs, but the story is the same.

 

I am glad I wrote this story. People don't realize this, but like you said, the emotional scares takes time to heal.

 

You have a great story. Thanks the email and best of luck. It sounds like you have a good thing going!!

 

Joe

I also enjoyed reading it.

This is a path fraught with peril. The consumer will not know why you use a more expensive direct fit oxygen sensor verus a cheaper universal. He has not saw a wiring splice fail, ground out the ECM causing a new running problem and necessitate the replacing of a computer but I have. He will not understand the difference in the cheap chinese bearings and the Nationals, BCA, or Timkens. The reman water pump looks as good to him as a new one. After all they are all "warrantied". Even the repairs the consumer thinks he needs are the majority of the time not the problem. The shop who low balls a repair on line that the customer doesn't need is then free to charge what they like on the repair that actually gets completed when they get the car into the shop. The dishonest shop can get people to give them positive reviews, etc. etc.

I agree 100%. This site and others would just make you drop your pants to compete.

Scary story! I shared the article with my staff during our Fri morning meeting.

Unreal..

I am license to sell insurance and have some experience. I have thought about finding a good warranty company that would let me sell their extended warranties. However, the problem would be how would people pay for it. Most people can't come up with the money independently and are only able to do it when they purchase a vehicle because it is all rolled into the loan.

That's a good point. When it's rolled into the loan, they don't feel it.

The windshield cost is around $200.00. I did weigh everything. I also believe my advisor and the tech that nothing happened at my shop.

 

The question is: what is this customer worth to me? Will paying the $200.00 for the new glass help to retain this customer, or is it an admission of guilt?

 

I want to hear from a few more people before I tell you what I did.

Good point about the admission of guilt...sometimes that is not good. Maybe I would offer to split it.

Nitrogen is not a common service in my area. Altough many tire dealers are using it has an upsell. I understand the benifits, just not comfortable with yet. Maybe I'm old fashion.

I do not..but I know of some shops in higher income areas that are doing it and a couple of tire shops. Once I see the local Firestone's Goodyears, and Sears Auto centers doing it..I will look at it more.

We use brake clean as well. You can use the non-chlorinated version. However, we have found a cleaner called Drive-up that is made to clean oil from concrete but a solution of it works great as a degreaser on engines. It is not a petroluem based product but must be some type of akaline. It does not have any obnoxius odor or fumes. Driveup is a good product.

 

http://www.driveupusa.com/store/dynamicIndex.asp

Cool thanks. I will ask around for this.

Looks like an old parts washer..

That would be really nice.

I also agree, can I go to lunch too? There is a slow conservative/republican shift happening in this nation...I belive. Just look at the governer's race in New Jersey. Clear signal that Obama's popularity has run out.

(Joe @ Nov 2 2009, 07:21 AM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=4636"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->We close for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and NewYears Day. For Christmas Eve, we do not book any work. We finish up what ever is left over, clean up the shop and have a shop party. I order in hot food and invite all the shops, automotive sales people and part houses in my area. It's a tradition I started 25 years ago.

 

We get 50 or 60 shop owners, techs, sales people and parts people combined. it's a nice event and kicks off Christmas really nice

This does sound great! How about the day after Thanksgiving? Black Friday...Big retail sales day.

How about that HealthyNY program? http://www.ins.state.ny.us/website2/hny/english/hny.htm

All of us work hard, maybe too hard at times. But we all need to stop and smell the roses once and while. Let me tell you the best remedy for burnout: Plan a day off for absolutely no reason. And if you feel guilty being away from the shop, I say Great! Slow down and take care of yourself, everyone around you will benefit.

I'm closing the day after Thanksgiving!!!!