autoguy

Congratulations!

I just came across this site: http://repairpal.com/ "RepairPal gives you independent and unbiased repair estimates, user ratings and reviews, plus advice you can't get anywhere else." They even have an iPhone app for consumers. Is this good or bad???

This is what a car will do in the year 2100!

That's a tough one when you have an emotional connection there and start to feel bad. I believe that you need to think as a business man and business first...BUT...maybe and just maybe..if you don't want to loose him, explain to him where you are at and what you need to do to get back up to a level to support his employment. Set tasks for him to help increase the business. Increase your car count and your prices and you may be able to keep him. Otherwise, I would take him to dinner or any public place.. and lay him off. He will be able to collect unemployment

January and February were pretty much flat. March was a 7% increase over last year, and April is looking to be a 3% increase over last year. First couple of weeks in April had days that were rediculously slow.

Just wanted to add that I hear more and more that the local dealers are suffering with drops in business. Just the more reason to not let any job get away! You can secure a customer.

Good point!

You're open at 5 am? Do you have a night drop box? I believe that these days Saturdays and one late night is important, although I'm not doing that right now...

WOW! You got al ot of scan tools! I have heard great things about the launch. Have you seen this: http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/index.html

I think any misalignment will cause a squealing noise and premature wear.

Here is their website: http://www.mitchell1.com/ They have a forum that has a ton of info and user to user support: http://www.managerforum.net/ I think you need to register to see all of the threads available. Total posts 22774 • Total topics 2891 • Total members 3241

That was a good one....

Employee perception is very important. If you let out a negative vibe, others will pick it up.

Is anyone using social networks like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, etc..for their business? If so, which ones and post your url to your info and any success stories. Thanks.

Welcome aboard!

What preventive maintenance equipment do you use? Please list the machines that you use (BRAND, ex. BG, Motorvac, etc) and what services. Any chemical contracts? Were the machines free or paid? Any issues or complaints with any of the machines? I'm looking at the Motorvac tranny machine.

Good question, I would like to know myself.

Thanks for the tip.

What are your thoughts on Obama's Stimulus packages? I'm curious to see what everyine thinks. I'd like to see something more for small businesses, I think there is too much money going god knows where. Taxes will just go up for our kids and their kids to pay it back.

Please post your shop's monthly average car counts. Please include: Average monthly count: 180 How many bays: 3 Hours of operation: M-F 8-5 Sat 8-12

Hey Dan, how was January and February for you? Did you hit the 5% monthly?

How late are you open?

I have to agree that social networking has grown allot. Allyou hear these days is Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc. The news agencies use thse channels also. I guess this is the social network for shop owners....

Robbie Maddison's 2008 New Year's Eve jump If you didn't see this, it's quite a site!

Hey Don, just checking in with you...any updates?