FROGFINDER

A soft answer turns away wrath.Out of the mouth reveals the condition of the heart. This guy has issues in his life and was a tinder box waiting to explode. The report of bad new's with his car was the spark. I've had hundreds of people blow up at me over car problems. I would have thrown out many of my best customer if i would have listened to the evil rants. Come to find out they had cancer,lost a loved one, lost a child in 911, lost a job,etc. Send this man a christmas card today and pray for him. Don't let evil responses from people rent space in your head.

ps. I've kept tab's on people that have "blown up on me " I send them flowers, get well cars,christmas cards, called to check in on them etc. I HAVE SEVERAL THAT HAVE SPENT OR SENT over $50,OOO WORTH OF BUSINESS TO US over time..

I remember that i used to get beaten up by the greatest generation for riding japaneses motorcycles in the sixties. It's sad to see how we "kids" forgot not to support our enemies.

The vehicles will be telling the customer what's needed and where to go for service. We (everyone in our shop) must give every person we meet a reason to remember us or refer us to other for automotive service. I find that our best referrals are from face to face human conversation and reminder results from post cards.

Happy Thanksgiving to all. Remember to thank the Lord for what you have!

Amen.

Your Freedom to choose? Pressure to sell a type of tire not that may not be in your or the customers best intere$t. Are there other services or a better use of your crews time and shops space for creating profit? At the end of the day will the customer remember YOU or that they "Went to a ******** store?"

Not a good comparison. We solve YOUR transportation operational safety, comfort,security,reliablity problems and logistics of getting the public back on wheels. One should be able to earn premium money for their craft. People will always pay more for someone to take of ALL THE CAR'S problem'S not just the front grill.

That being said I grew up where the men and women in the family could fix alot of their own stuff or had neighbor's that would help. . .

We suggest brake fluid service by age and condition. If we are doing brake work we suggest an brake fluid service as well. Many expensive brake system hydraulic repair's can be avoided if the brake fluid is kept in in good shape and the abs activated from time to time . The thing about fluids is that if you take care of the fluids the hard parts tend to take care of themselves.

Ever since we started to issue Sponge Bob Square Pants band aids our cuts/scrapes have gone down 70%.

They say a tech shortage is looming but I say it is already here.

Yep i second that. Not too long ago i read that the average mechanic's age was 45 and wanting getting out of the trade.

We may have the right to repair the car but will the customer be able to afford us to perform the repair?

We have fewer drivers that drive in pure reality and more drivers that drive in their own virtual world due to our technology.People drive today as if in a video game. In our lifetime transportation became out of our control. Turn the key and unless a computer (HAL) allows it to start it won't. As we have seen in history all earthly power/technology that works can stop working. (see movie the revolution) .

What breaks my heart is that most "customers" can't afford our service any more. They can't even afford a car any more. This country is in trouble.

I have been known to fix the door on the first visit as a courtesy. If i can solve a problem like that for say $100.00 or less i may just do it. I ask for prayers and referrals and i am soon blessed.

I explain to the customer that they will have to pay any cost above what the insurance/extended warranty offers toward the repair in order to insure a safe and proper repair. I will keep my pencil sharp but the customer has to decide who he/she wants to help them.

We must understand that not everyone can afford our help.

Open saturday til 1 pm, Closed Labor day.

I miss Frank.

We have had mechanic's quit our shop because "we want everything done right".

Yep.

Hope you heal fast.

Hope her problem is fixed. A wreck will cost her more that a brake system replacement in time an money. It's happened to us all. I give the customer options and let them decide.

A hug, a kind word, a nice letter and referrals from a customer are the riches we get from using our gifts at a time when Failure to HELP SOMEONE is not an option.

It's sad how people judge others and end priceless relationships over $10 BUCKS. Out of the mouth reveals the heart.

More Dealer Tactics to Contend with!

 

A customer rudely commented to me that my price for a wheel alignment is $10.00 higher than the dealer. He went on to say that if I were higher than the dealer, I must be ripping off my customers.

 

NOW, most of you know that I am Bronx Born Italian-American and I don’t like my buttons being pushed in this manner….but I remained cool and asked him how did he know this? He said that the service department called him at his house to let him know that his 2012 Buick (with 8,000 miles on the clock), should come in for service. The service advisor went on to mention that after a year, they need to go through the car, change the oil, rotate the tires, perform a wheel alignment, check the air condition, perform a fuel service, plus a few other services. He then asked the service advisor, “How much is a wheel alignment”? He knew our price because we just put a set of tires on his wife car and aligned it.

 

Is this guy kidding…who’s ripping who off? How does this service advisor know over the phone that the car needs all this work? A car with 8,000 mile on the clock! I explained to the customer that HE is the one who should be questioned, not me.

 

For him to suggest this work, he needs to know prices. And dealerships have been positioning themselves against the independents because their bays are empty and they need the work. I asked him, “If this service advisor was busy, do you think he would have the time to call you”? And do you really think you need all that work on your 2012 Buick with only 8,000 miles”? He looked at me a little funny.

 

I told him; "To put your mind at ease, I will inspect the car, check the alignment and give you a print out, peform a complete multipoint inspection at no additional cost when you bring it in for your next oil service". He’s coming in Monday.

 

We need to be aware of the on-going tactics and strategy from the new car dealers. They want our customers, and will be more and more aggressive. Plus, in some strange way, many customers view the dealership as the All-Knowing Grand Old Oz.

 

In a way I was lucky this customer approached me.

That's why our shop is climate controlled.

Many of our "customers" are out of work or live on a fixed income. Others with family's have to stretch the dollar. Many others are people with broken cars looking for a price.

What's next? We make a recomendation that a vehicle needs a transmission service at 65,000 miles based on the condition of the fluid and we get sued because the owner's manual states 100,000 miles. This is crazy. We make recomnedations based on condition. It does not state in the owner's manual when to change wipers and brakes, but if a car needs them, you replace them. Right?

 

We are the pro's. The car maker wants t sell cars and create the illusion that their cars don't need a lot of maintenance. If customers followed our recommendations, cars would last a long time, break down less, pollute less, have a higher resale value, perform better and would be more fuel effecient.

 

That's exaclty what the car maker does not want.

 

Agree or not?

Agree.

Eating mistakes tastes best with Grace and getting the task resolved in order to meet the next challenge.