Joe Marconi

Yes: Here is the company that NYTECH Tire Supply is selling, Magnum Plus Balancing Compound

Is anyone using the new tire bags? I just got a sample from NYTECH. Just wondering of anyone has any feedback, good, bad?

Elite changed their entire site and accoirding to the site, the new price for membership is $79.00. Elite has a lot to offer and is worth checking into. It's a great business source. As I mentioned before, I am a member and know the founder, Bob Cooper, for many years.

This is another example of "Feel Good" legislation. The fact is that someone will have to pay for this. When will the people of this once great land stand up and say, "we have had enough"! The waste, fruad, phony law suits and political agendas have more to do with what's wrong in this country than anything else. This administration wants to grow the size of government, and that's goes against the princples of why and how this country was formed: "Government big enough to supply everything you need is big enough to take everything you have ... The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases". Thomas Jefferson

At least with interns you stand a chance of making a difference, but when a 35 year old still has an issue with coming in on time, I think its too late.

I had a similiar story, but this tech was good. I hated to let him go, but life goes on and we survived. It's not that I don't worry about losing a great tech, but if the tech stays, what will that do to my business due to bad morale and hard feelings among the other employees?

I think you go it right, they don't care. They want bigger government, not help grow businesses in this country. Their agenda is not in align with the people, I fear we are moving closer and closer to socialism.

Have you been in this situation? If so, how did you handle it.

That is a great idea. I will do the same when I hold my next event. Great tip!

I do like the story, mainly because I can relate to the story. It's like these are my customers, it's the same no matter where you go.

Great, it will do wonders for your business. I believe in holding events, it brings excitement to your business and positive energy that customers and employees feed off of. Good luck!

I got a bad feeling about the health care bill. I think it will pass, and that greatly concerns me. Do we have a health "care" problem in this country? No, we have a health care “cost” problem that’s riddle with so much red tape and years of abuse from a system the breeds waste. My father did not have health care and provided for a family of four boys. My mother did not work, that’s the way things were years ago. What happened? Who told us that the government needs to take care of us, because we can’t? I am concerned about the rising costs of health care, but I’m more concerned about this movement toward government control. Did anyone hear House Speaker Nancy Pelosi when she said we have to pass the bill first to find out what’s in it? Is she kidding? That’s like you tell a customer they need a lot of work on their car, and when they ask what and how much, you answer; just agree to fix the car, then I will tell you how much it will cost and what we did. Please, everyone get involved; if you think I’m wrong…tell me why.

You could make a 30 minute sit com out of this one. Glad to see that I'm not the only one who gets these knuckle heads. This is a true story, right? I mean, you can't make this stuff up.

I had a feeling you would enjoy that!

Gonzo, you mean TV and Consumer reports could be wrong?

It could be, I will check when I get into the office on Monday to see what i paid.

I got a call the other day from a fellow shop owner who was frustrated over his tech arriving late just about every day. He said that this is his best tech and will actually stay late if needed to finish the work. He has tried to talk to the tech, but nothing helps. He does not want to fire the tech but does not know how to solve the problem. This shop owner has two other techs that do arrive on time each day. Here’s my opinion; this tech will eventually destroy shop morale and affect sales. You can’t have two sets of rules. And, not matter how much this shop owner says that the tech will work late, I will bet that he is killing productivity. I would use the three strike rule. Tell the tech that he no longer can arrive late. Give him a written letter that states that the company will no longer tolerate lateness. From this point on, he job will be terminating after the third consecutive lateness. That’s it, great tech or no great tech…gone! Agree, disagree, not sure? Let me know how you feel.

Is anyone having a Car Care event? I have not done one in a few years, but I can tell you that from experience that it is a great way to promote your business and help promote the independent auto industry. If you need more information on how to run a Car Care Event here’s a link: Host an Event | Welcome to CarCare.org

This is a reminder that ASE registration deadline is March 31. Make sure your techs are signed up, and don’t forget your service advisors. ASE certification is important to our industry and vital to raising our level of professionalism.

We don't promote any particular brand either. We will use a certain brand if the customer requests it. We Stock Mobil 1 and Castrol but have access to most other brands.

I'm not sure, I am home today. i think around $150 for the year. You get a monthly newsletter, a quarterly CD and access to the site. Seminars and other training material is extra.

Yes, I have been a member of Elite for about 10 years. I know the founder Bob Cooper personally. He's a great guy and his company has a lot to offer to the auto industry. I wish he would do seminars in my part of the country. The seminars I have been to and the home study courses are great. Elite has helped me in my business and was instrumental in receiving my AMI Graduate Degree. I would urge anyone to take a look at his company for business management help. If you contact Elite, please tell them that Joe Marconi from AutoShopOwner.com (Bob Cooper may know me better from my shop name, Osceola Garage) endorses their company. As a matter of fact I think I will contact him myself and maybe get him involved in ASO (AutoShopOwner.com) Joe Marconi

We need more Gonzos in this business. Shop owners and techs that will not cave and do the right thing. It would be a better world.