FROGFINDER

I talk to many people that, armed with the code numbers read for free at parts stores , try everthing but go to a professional garage. By the time i often see them they have no money or time left after guessing. Those with good credit get another car and are lured by free tires for life,free maintenance ,free oil changes,etc by the dealers. With the average repair visit running $500.00 and up it's getting tough for our customer base to afford our help.That being said i still give them the best advice i can for the problem at hand even if i have to send then elswhere.

What bugs me is that one guy at another shop can get ASE in brakes and then the shop can hang up a sign that say's "ASE techs employed here".

That being said there were good chariat repair men and bad blacksmiths too.

I ask for the truth and best price up front. Please ask me any questions as needed so you don't send me the first design when i need the second design. Please check the parts in the dirty opened/taped up box before you send it to me..

Diamonds are rough before polished. Hire attitude and train skill. We are the real world Automotive Trainers. We are training our employees and customers while learning ourselves.

YEP.

There is no free lunch. This is still a people business for the time being. Always give your customers the feeling that you care.

No, I have found that those customers that go by the oil maint light are coming in with way over 10,000 miles on the oil. And when that happens, the tires are worn from lack of rotation, lack of tire pressure (some even ignore the TPMS light) the wipers are ripped and digging into the windsheild, etc. No one checks their own car like they should. Extended interval can lead to other neglected key maintenance areas.

 

Under ideal conditions, the oil "may" be ok, but when you tell somone don't worry about the oil change untill the monitor tells you to, can be asking for trouble. I had a customer with a new Honda, she was told by the salesman not to change the oil untill the monitor light came on. She called us becuase she was concerned that the oil life still show about 40% and she had over 12,000 miles on the car with the original oil in the engine!

 

I think the factory is doing and injustice to the consumer by promoting exteded oil services and by removing so much maintenance services from the owner's manual. I guess the car makers feel that if the car is well-maintained it will last too long and that would hurt new car sales????

You speak the truth.

But if our industry model is to up sell every oil change we will see resistance with $5.00 per gallon gas.

My first car was a working tin,steel,metal machine running loud on gasoline. Now i am being texted by rolling appliance of Hi Tech checking in for 60k mile service that should not cost over $200.00.

The gas pump takes away the oil change and maintenance money . I am seeing more people with job's and credit deciding to spend on a new more fuel efficient vehicle rather than fix the old one.

"A wholesome tongue is a tree of life"

It is wise to have any vehicle inspected from time to time. We are seeing more vehicles ruined by loss of or contamination of vital fluids. If you take care of your fluids your hard parts take care of themselves. Higher gas prices will change our future in car repair.

When you send a car to the dealer expect the customer to be contacted in some form or fashion.

We have rehired a few times since 1978 but you could count them on one hand.

I invite the customer in and we give the vehicle/part a quick look over. If i use customer supplied parts there is NO WARRANTY WHATSOEVER unless i approve otherwise. A customers wrong parts or poor choice of parts can help you educate a customer on how to appreciate your parts finding service. If i don't like the brand of part or feel that we are not a good fit i will refer customer to a newer shop down the street that is struggling to stay open.

Transport to or set the customer with the rental car agent of choice. Let the customer pay for the car rental and you discount the amount you settle on off the repair invoice price.

Requests for you to install customer supplied parts will increase. Your parts prices and labor estimates will be compared from the information from the parts stores. The parts stores will even steer repair requests to shops.

It pays for all of us to be nice to the parts suppliers in our area..

The lower priced option is always nice until a problem comes about. A $700.00 brake job may seem like a bargain to the F150 owner and a RIP OFF to the Mercedes owner. The best way for people to save money on car repair is to SAVE MONEY FOR CAR REPAIRS.

The Tech Bubble, Housing Bubble,The Middle Class Bubble, The Automobile Repair Bubble,The Gas Price Bubble Yikes. More and more people in America cannot afford our services or even a car if the truth be known.

Fuel service special #1 tire air pressure/check wheel alignment/engine air filter check/wash (clean car runs better)

Hire attitude and train skills.

I agree with you Gonzo, it's just that we both know how hard the typical shop owner and technicians work. The amount of information we need to learn is mind boggling. Not to mention the physical challenge.

 

Things will change in the future, it has too. I just hope it's not with too many casualties.

In the future the vehicles drive or organize a tow to the dealership for service/repairs/recall's,tsb's while not in use or while the owner sleeps.

"I am a bar tender without the Booze listening to the Broken down car blues"

"Business is like fishing , You have to let the Minnows come in or the Big ones won't ."

I select Safety First, Leaks Second and Maintenance Third. Approx 25% of the public do not have $1000.00 to spend fixing a vehicle. Always Present your customer with the solutions and plan services they can depend on. The referrals from a satisfied customer are the future profit's on today's work.

Happy Valentines Day to all.

Thanks for your service. Focus on your strengths and build on them. Watch your pennies and the dollars will take care of themselves. Seek advice in prayer and elder advisors.

When the typical gas and go customer's vehicle is showing the oil change is "due" comes in, there is no oil showing on the stick, tires are low on air,the engine air and cabin filters are dirty and our state inspection is past due.