5 Star Auto Spa

For vehicles that require dealer fluids for ATF, coolant, etc., what is the markup that you apply for the fluid per quart/gallon?

Why are you thinking about switching from Mitchel? We were thinking about switching from All Data Manage to Mitchel SMS.....

Is anyone using strictly Identifix WITHOUT AllData or Mitchell? We currently use All Data but got a trial run with Identifix and it looks like they have everything that AllData had with the addition of the forum/quick fixes......

We don't purchase any of our oil filters, fluids, or bulbs from our local parts stores. The local parts stores are considerably more expensive than purchasing directly. We obviously are not able to purchase everything directly but items that we can track how much we are using and use often, we try NOT to purchase from the local parts stores. Individual parts for repairs are typically purchased from our local parts store for the warranty and after service aspects.

How long does it take for your technicians to complete a full service oil change with a standard under hood/car vehicle inspection? Are you using tablets or paper repair orders? Do you track oil change times to try and improve speed and efficiency?

Care to elaborate on why totalautocare?

Hello Mike, Could you have the support team contact me in regards to an issue we are having with Bolt On Message Manager? I have been sending emails but have not heard any response back thus far on the status of my issue. Thanks!

Hello Mike, Thanks for the quick response. My Account Manager contacted me immediately and let me know that if I have any future issues, to contact him directly. I did want to let any future shop owners that were thinking about adding Bolt On that we have gotten a glimpse of what the software is capable of, and it's definitely very exciting stuff. Once we get all of the bugs/integration issues resolved, I do think that the software could be a gem!

Thanks for the reply Mike. I think you might be looking at the wrong issues that I was having. I emailed a list over to the support rep that picked up the phone and none of those issues have been resolved thus far. The issues you were referring to were fixed by the development team earlier though.

Mike, Thanks for the response. I made it through training and it was informative. I had already setup everything prior to training though because I did not want to wait an entire month to start using the system. I've had some issues/bugs with the system that I have called in to try and have resolved but I am still waiting for a response from the development team. I was told that it typically takes 2 weeks to have issues resolved, is this correct?

Just signed up for Bolt On Technology Mobile Manager and Pro Pack (Report Pro, Message Manager, Lube Sticker Pro). Got Mobile Manager installed on 4 new tablets for the technicians. Installed Pro Pack on both desktop computers running All Data Manage as the shop management software. Received training on Lube Sticker Pro and have scheduled training on the other 3 modules. Bolt On only trains 1 module at a time which kinda sucks because based on that we will not be up and running for an entire month. I have began to look into the SOP's and configure the software myself instead of waiting for training. For all of the shops that are using Bolt On, is there anything that you would recommend us definitely look into / try? I

Sorry about that guys...the vehicle was mis-identified in my post. It was a 98 Ford Expedition 5.4L.......

We just performed a heater core replacement for a 96 Ford E350. All Data book time for the job is 7.3 hours. The job took a considerable amount of time LONGER to complete the service. This job ended up taking 12 man hours to complete. Just wanted to get input from some other shops that have performed heater core replacements and if they all take longer than the estimated book time. Also, do you typically charge X hours over book time for a job like this for the estimate?

MSPEC....what types of tablets are you using with Bolt On? Are you happy with the tablets or do you wish you had gotten a different brand/model of tablet?

What tablet did you buy, or what table do you WISH you had purchased, to use with Bolt On Mobile Manager or AutoVitals? We are planning on going paperless and would like to get some recomendations on potential tablets to purchase.......

We perform window tinting services here at our facility. We offer 3M Color Stable, Suntek Standard, and Suntek Carbon film. I would recommend purchasing a plotter and a subscription to software that will allow the plotter to just cut out the film for your tinter.

Why is it better for general repair to be a Napa facility versus Bosch Mspec?

I've noticed that whenever I price out shock/strut replacement estimates based on our parts pricing matrix and labor guide (All Data), we always seem to be on the "high" side compared to our competitors in our area (Pepboys, Merchants, Midas, etc.). Are shock/strut jobs considered a commodity item and priced at a reduced rate like batteries, or brakes?

I wish we were in the same situation as you guys. A lot of our customers, especially the oil change / state inspection customers, wait for their vehicles at our shop. We have WiFi, TV, magazines, Espresso Bar, Self Serve Frozen Yogurt, and Deli in our waiting area.

I think finding professional content that all follows the same theme is more difficult to find than just surfing the internet and posting it on your TV through streaming or via download onto a USB drive. If you want all of your videos, images, marketing, etc. to all follow the same theme and have a coherent professional presentation, you will have to have the software and know how to edit the content you find online. I agree that the cost is high and do wish that there was a tangible way to measure if the service is worth the cost, but with marketing often times it is difficult to measure.

Our booster pac / jump box just died on us. We have had it for about 2 years and it no longer holds a charge. Trying to get an idea if 2 years is the normal shelf life for jump boxes. Does anyone have any specific brand/model recommendations for jump boxes that have worked well and lasted a long time?

How much is everyone's standard 5 quart conventional oil change?

For the shops that are using AutoVitals currently, how many of you are paying for the premium videos? Do you actually use them in your CSA presentation to the customer? Has it been beneficial to close sales / educate customers?

Mspec, unfortunately I have to agree with you. In my perfect world all technicians, hourly or flat rate, would be able to look at the bigger picture and understand that the more efficiently they work and help the shop make money that they would be rewarded as well. Dave, do you ever have technicians that have to stop during the middle of their job to help other techncians? If so, how do you take that into account with their total time? Do they clock in and out of the job? This seems to happen at our shop at times and have not found a great way to account for this without having the tech clock in and out of jobs. To me, it doesn't seem like a big deal but for some technicians clocking in and out of jobs seems to be the bane of their existence.

For the shops that are using the machines to perform the fluid exchanges/flushes, do they really actually speed up the process versus performing them manually without a machine? I am interested in this topic as well to see if purchasing some of the machines (brake fluid, coolant, etc.) would help speed up the process in performing the services that we are currently doing manually without machines. Also, does BG provide you with marketing material to help promote the products?