30 minutes ago, bantar said:

Did you always have DVI?    I do have questions to better understand the value.  

1. Were you losing sales before implementing DVI and saw this come up afterwards?
2. If you were to stop DVI, would you lose sales?  
3. Are you paying more for your DVI system and how much?
4. Any other value worth mentioning?

The reports are indeed impressive, but in every case, I find it hard to convey reality with pictures.   Unless you are looking at something obvious.   I do see the value in the Professional Looking Report.    We don't provide the same format, but, in extreme case will have 2 pages of written notes.  Most are 1-2 paragraphs.   We explain our findings clearly with written words.  In some cases, I do show pictures when they are picking up the car, or we show the part, if it is of interest to the customer. 

Currently, with our sales success rates, I don't imagine a DVI system increasing our sales.   But, I'd use it for the reporting if it was part of my SMS.   I won't buy an overlay DVI package though.  I'd switch to a fully integrated system instead.

Like you, Bantar, I have never used a DVI system.  What worked best for me, in my situation of transmissions repair, was YouTube videos.  If we saw anything outside of the transmission, we would shoot an additional YouTube video.  YouTube is free and as far as customers are concerned, seeing is believing.  If you haven't already read my post about using YouTube to sell work, go back and take a peek.

We had a separate video camera for the videos.  Nowadays, you can upload a video directly out of your phone to YouTube,  A desktop or laptop machine isn't needed.  Personally, I don't care for the narrow format video the phones use, but it's not a big deal for most people.  To me, DVI = money, and YouTube = free.

I would Email/text the YouTube video link to YouTube first.  Later (ideally after they view the video) I would send the written estimate as a .pdf.  The written estimate to me is as good as a DVI report without the cost.  In 8 short years, my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/LarryBloodworth) amassed over 2,200 videos. Because I recently retired, I've been adding a few non-sales videos to my channel.  I recently tried to upload a YouTube Short (15 seconds or less) to see how much YT has changed since I retired.  It changed a little, but it's not that different.  Showing a transmission disassembled on the bench usually averaged around 3 minutes.  Some longer, some shorter, but 3 minutes is the average.

Heck, test it out for yourself.  Make sure you have a YouTube channel and the YouTube app on your phone.  You can Google on how to do it for yourself.  Good luck!!!

You're EXACTLY right, sir.  Silly me.  I had unknowingly toggled fluid view.  I toggled it back and everything is back as I like it!  Thank you so much for the diagnosis/tip.

I rarely did exit interviews.  The few times I did conduct an exit interview, I did learn something.  Most of the time I either fired somebody or they quit; no exit interview for those ex-employees.  I've only regretted somebody leaving our shop 3 times and I still regret those guys to this day.  It's an uncomfortable situation for most, me included.

When it comes to "All Makes, All Models" we were already pretty much doing that with transmissions.  It's easier to say that because all we did was transmissions.  However, there were half-a-dozen or so of certain Euros we would still do although we didn't like the risk level.  We just priced those higher, about the price of the dealer, to do those "unfavorite" units.  I remember a Porsche Cayenne that had a wiped out transmission and a rear driveline no driveline shop would touch.  We had to special order the rear driveline (w/3 U-Joints and a carrier bearing) from the dealer for $1,500, our cost.  Long story made short, the total bill ended up being around $9K.  If the customer would have given me a price objection, I would have told him to take to whomever you want.  I guess the best way I could put it is, "We'll work on any make or model...  for a price."

Like Bantar, we've never used a DVI in the transmission business.  The only question we have to answer is "Can the transmission be fixed in the vehicle?"  Or do we have to pull the transmission out.  Either way, it's a pretty basic determination.  I don't really see a need for a DVI for transmissions.  If we were doing GR, you bet, I'd use a DVI.  Just my opinion.

On 6/11/2022 at 5:27 AM, Joe Marconi said:

In a recent Wall Street Journal article, automakers are asking the European Union to hold off on their 2035 plan to ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles. Automakers state that the disruption would be too great for auto supply companies and that the charging infrastructure will not be ready in time for the ban. In addition, the shift would cause big job losses.  

How do you feel about EVs? 

 

 

 

I feel 100% of new car sales will be EVs eventually, but I'm not sure about the year. UK says 2040.  I think ICE vehicles will remain for larger PU trucks and the OTR rigs for quite a while.  But, eventually new truck sales will succumb to the same fate as well.  IMHO, I think electric is the way to go.  Currently, we have 2 Toyota hybrids in our driveway.  One is a 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid and the other is a 2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid.  Who knows, they might just be last vehicles we ever own until we pass away. 🙂And if that's the case, it doesn't really matter. 🙂

The study guide/practice test is available for $30 purchase at 

ASE Test Prep - C1 Automotive Service Consultant Certification Test Prep - Motor Age Training

-OR-

You can take a look at page 65-on for free with this booklet: 

The format of the website changed.  There are no longer "sections".  Rather, everything is in one big pile you have to scroll through.  What's up with that?

I would like to think it's one of my settings that I have set incorrectly.  Joe, please educate me.

J. Larry Bloodworth  [email protected] 

801-885-2227

Have you ever watched a movie for the 2nd time?  Is it just me, or has anyone seen stuff the second time around that you didn’t catch in the first viewing?  Well, that’s exactly what happened to me with this book, “The Dark Side of Franchising”.  This book is the Kindle edition as most of my more recent purchases are.  No, I don’t have a Kindle reader.  I have the desktop version of the Kindle reader app.  It has a feature known as Text-to-Voice that I used the second time.  My eyes followed the words as the Kindle app read the book for me.  I read this book the second time around in just one 2-hour sitting.  It was great.

YouTube was founded on Feb. 14, 2005.  I’ve been using YouTube to sell work since 2008.  Since then, I’ve influenced many people to start selling work that way.  The attached video is from an online friend named Rich who works at a Ford dealership.  He saw what I was doing and basically copied my sales method.  Good for him!  I try to keep my videos 3:00 minutes or less.  In this example, Rich's video is 7:49 long.  To me, that's way too long, but it is what it is.

I just finished reading a book entitled "The Dark Side of Franchising: How to Avoid Being Swindled and Make an Educating Investing Decision".  The book is a real eye-opener.  The author, Robert Edwards, runs a company named Franchise City.  They basically advise, consult, and recommend franchises that match the buyer's talents, goals, and exit plans to an appropriate franchisor.

His contention is that the franchise industry should be regulated like real estate agents, doctors, and lawyers.  I was shocked to learn there is absolutely no regulation in franchise sales.  According to the author, the opposite is more true than not.  The industry is rife with somewhere between a used car salesman and a con man.

There's too much government in our lives and we need less, not more, government.  But on the topic of franchising, that should be regulated.  Even a barber or anyone who drives a car needs to be licensed.

I’ve been recently looking into franchising myself.  That’s what prompted me to come into contact with Robert Edwards of Franchise City.  Everything that the author said in the book, I personally experienced.  I purchased the book on my own with no prompting from the author.  If anyone was to consider purchasing a franchise, I would highly recommend this book.

It's no secret that inflation is causing the prices to go up on everything.  For many shop owners, their first knee-jerk reaction would be to try to reduce expenses. Instead, I want to offer a suggestion that may give you a different perspective on handling runaway inflation.

For argument's sake, let's suppose that a shop's costs have gone up 15% from what they used to be.   Instead of trimming expenses by 15%, I will offer a different way to do it.  I would say raise your prices by 15%, and here's why.

In our shop, expenses run 40% of revenue.  We did $100K/mo. in total gross sales.  Expenses were $40K/mo.  15% of $40,000 in expenses is $6,000.  However, 15% of $100,000 in gross sales is $15,000.   Going up in price by 15% makes you 2.5 times more than cutting expenses by 15%.  

I suggest that even during non-inflationary times, it is always more profitable to go up by a percentage than cut your expenses by the same percentage.  However, while this might sound easy, it creates another problem.  That problem is sales skill and value building.

This is why it's so important to get professional sales and telephone training.  There's no shortage of professional trainers in our industry.  One of the most significant breakthroughs in my professional career is when I quit going to technical seminars and training.  Instead, I went to professional sales and telephone training. 

My life became so much easier, and so can yours by raising the sales price with professional sales, telephone, and marketing training.  No increase in price will help if you can't sell it.

I'm having a hard time believing this article, but check it out...

https://jalopnik.com/ford-ceo-wants-to-abolish-the-dealership-experience-as-1849007700

This piece was written in 2008 when we were looking for a new location.  It's written by Roy H. Williams who eventually became my business coach/adviser/copywriter.

It's well worth the read/listen.  I prefer to listen because he has a radio voice.

Location is a huge part of marketing.  A business guru once told me, "Expensive rent is the cheapest advertising you can buy."  To that end, I wrote an article titled, "How Changing Location, Changed My Life". It's a 1,400-word 7-minute read and chronicles the benefits of doing mindful due diligence in selecting a location.  I want to thank Joe Marconi in writing this article.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NXBSu9a22bCWnQVh6dRM1dMu76gESAr0MImFrjpOtWk/edit?usp=sharing

On 5/21/2022 at 1:22 PM, xrac said:

That's what retirement can do to you!
 

Yep.  At least I have the time to do what I want.

How to calculate your Effective Labor Rate (ELR),

4:43 https://youtu.be/impbO1QXUIE

HourofLabor.pdf

F

ord Issues Park Outside Warning for 2021 Expeditions and Lincoln Navigators

Risk of fire if left unattended...

Yeah, that video was shot in 2009.  I've gained weight and aged a lot since then. 😞

The recall below says it all...

This is a repost from another forum.

I found this handy-dandy shop valuation tool.  Check it out!

https://autoleap.com/business-valuation-calculator/

2 hours ago, Joe Marconi said:

Larry, this is a well-done video. And a great tip for everyone!  I didn't know that a TV station would do this. Video is a great way to promote a business.

Was the video available to you to use on your website, or social media, etc.? 

Joe, as I said in my original post, one of the conditions was that I would ONLY use the video on our website, and no other medium.  In other words, no TV, social media, or other commercial use.   The TV station was not involved.  The guy did it "on the side" so to speak.  It was difficult to quantify the results, but we did see a definite increase in business; about $35K/mo.  

As an update, soon after, the reporter left the TV station and his son took his place.  The reporter then turned what was originally a side job into a full-fledged business that became known as Gephardt Approved  His son is https://ksltv.com/our-team-members/matt-gephardt/