Patrickcn

I have worked in shops (and owned) that had slow weeks and we approached it in a few different ways.

1) slow times are good for shop equipment maintence and cleaning.

2) Shop cleaning and organizing

3) Good time for training (i.e. sending Techs to training sessions, classes etc...or even providing in house training)

After the above three items are done and things are so slow ask for volunteers to work some shorter shifts and make up for it later on when business picks up (i.e. overtime).

Good time for a shop picnic/party too

Hello Would anyone have a suggestion for an insurance company in Indiana for a shop insurance qoute?

Hi,

Where are you at in Indiana? I used to live there and ran a mobile repair business there. I can call my old insurance agent and see what he'll quote you. What is the size of the business and number of employees?

I'm out in WA and we've been thinking of returning to IN (in the Delphi/Monticello/LaFayette area).

Yes, if a business is legit with all the credentials, than I don't think anyone would have an issue. I do think that no matter what form of honest, legitamate business you have, we need to all help to raise the image of the industry, and not focus on price but the value we bring to consumers.

Joe You hit the nail on the head! We need to improve the over all image! I'm tired of the statements we always hear, especially when the person doesn't know we are there: "My car is acting up and I guess I'll have to take it to a mechanic and get ripped off" or "damn mechanics are nothing but a rip off and I could've done it myself for less" (well why didn't you?). I hear this all the time when I'm out shopping or somewhere with the family and people are talking and you hear it all. But as soon as they find out what I do they get real quiet and say they were just joking etc...

Image is everything. Intagrity, education of the public about us and what we do, and the value are rated at the top with image. (Does that make sense? I'm going to bed, been up all night and just getting back home).

Thanks guys!

I was having a bad day yesterday and hope I didn't come off sounding bad or anything.

I had this discussion with some of our local shop owners during or bi-weekly breakfast get togethers and I understand the fustration 100%.

What set me off was the other day dealing with a "client". She was not happy that I couldn't pull her engine and basically do an overhaul to it and have it done that evening. Note: she called me at 4:30pm and wanted it done by 8pm. I explained to her that even back at a regular shop it couldn't be done unless all the parts were already ordered and any machining that needed to be done was ready. I told her I could have it done by the afternoon the next day....... well she got all uptight and said all I was "was a fake mechanic operating out of a truck trying to make a quick buck". Needless to say I educated her and gave her the numbers of local shops to call. She called while I was there and guess what? They couldn't do it by 8pm either......

But anyway, i've been lurking around on this site for awhile and just had to throw my two cents in.

Hope all have a good day and be safe.

P.S. Be careful, I'm lurking around the corner and going to under cut all your shop rates and steal all your business LMAO (For those that don't know me, thats a joke from my bad sense of humor)

I'm sure everyone has had to deal with this so hopefully I can get some advice. How do you compete with these mobile & backyard mechanics. I've been losing so many jobs to them just simply because I can't compete with their prices. Example- a customer called asking for an estimate on replacing his motor on a 1998 cadillac deville. After finding a low mileage used motor with a decent warranty I gave him a price of $2000. He seemed very happy with it and would call me the next day to let me know. He called back a few days later saying he found someone who would do it for $900 and demanded I match his price. After a bit of questioning i found out his other price would be doing it in his backyard, and has never done a northstar motor swap(the subframe,motor,trans has to come out at the same time) I told him I couldn't even get close to it and he went with the cheaper price. So i lost the job. This is almost a daily happening from almost every call I get. How do I get people to see past the ridcliously low price that these backyarders can give and go with a quality repair at a decent price???

Old post,but haven't been on here in a long time

I can understand the resentment or dislike of back yarders but as a current Mobile Tech and shop owner I ask that you don't lump us all together. I run my Mobile business with full insurance, business licenses and taxes, I offer warranties, and quality repairs JUST like in the shop. Granted I can't do it all like a regular fixed structure shop on "the road" but I can tow it back and do it in the shop. I offer rates close to what the other local shops charge,just a little less because of the low overhead I have.

Having said the above, I know of one other legit mobile business in my area (Lic, taxes, insurance etc...) and few other ones that make your average DIYer look like professionals. I guess I'm saying don't judge us all because of a few bad apples. Hell, regular shops get judged like this too and we all hate that!

Not starting a war here just wanted to vent and hopefully stand up for the good ones. Hope all are having a good day/night. Be safe!

Tough situation. Most of us panic because we look for a tech when one of our techs leave or when we fire someone, leaving a hole in our service bays.

 

It's hard all over to find Quality Techs. You just don't want to hire anyone. There are a lot of dealer techs who want to make a move and some out of work. The only issue with that is that, if the tech has spent a long time in a dealer, I have found they are limited and fearful of an indepenedent shop.

 

Post on Graigs list, call all the Tech Schools, get in touch with employement agencies, call everyone you know in the business: Part reps, other shops, people you know at local dealers, training companies, tool truck reps and other other agencies that may have listing for techs looking for jobs. I have had some luck in the past with companes like Career Builder, but limited. Is there a local paper in your area, or a Penny Saver? If so, see if you can post jobs online, that seems to work best for youger techs. Basicly, call everyone you know and get the work out everyone you can.

 

Good luck.

I agree with Joe and his ideas/suggestions 100% . I've found that a really good source is the tool trucks. These guys (There's 2 main ones here and one or two off and on's) go into just about all the shops and talk with the tech's and know most of them. They can give you a good idea who is good (remember it's just their opinion/observations so check it out first :-) ) and who's complaining and talking about leaving their current shop. My local guy tells me all the dirt all the time when he stops by (of course while trying to sell me new toys).

Good Luck! Ooops just saw the date of this post, but its still good for others

This may be a silly topic, but it was brought up at a recent luncheon with a few fellow shop owners.

 

Some say to keep the paper floor mat in the car to show the customer you care of the cleanliness of their car. This shows value and adds to the customer service experience.

 

Others say to remove the paper floor mat before the car is returned to the customer. Don’t let the customer reach down out take out the dirty floor mat. It’s enough that you kept the interior clean, that will speak for itself. The look of the dirty floor mat can be a turn-off.

 

What’s your opinion? Keep it in or throw it out?

I usually pull them out in front of the customer, I also do a second wipe down (really quick, steering wheel, door, handle etc...) while I am getting out of the vehicle. I've had some customers ask that I let them keep them in (usually the older customers). Of course this was when I was using the plastic floor mats (cheap clear ones that I got from a friend who used to sell them, I still have about two rolls left).

Have a great day.......

Be Careful What You Say in Your Waiting Area

 

For those of you, who have customers waiting from time to time, be careful how you present an issue or diagnosis to a customer in front of other customers. Walking out to customer area and saying, “Well Mrs. Jones it looks like the rear calipers are seized and to replace them along with brakes and rotors will be $_____”. This is the wrong approach and may get you into a bind.

 

Here’s what happened at my shop a few weeks ago. A customer came in with the coolant light on, which was caused by low coolant due to a leaking water pump. The service advisor walked into the waiting area and told the customer what was found along with the price. I could see the look on his face, as he looked around the room.

 

And I could see the look on the faces of the other customers in the room. It was a look of, “Am I next?”

 

Well, as luck would have it, one of the other customers also needed a water pump that day. But she was only there for a routine service. She had a tough time trusting us and said, “What’s this, Water Pump day?”

 

When presenting an issue, diagnose and price to a customer, bring the customer away from other customers. You also do not want the customer to feel uncomfortable, especially if he or she cannot afford the repair. And you don’t want others listening in to what should be a private conversation.

 

Now, if there is something positive you can say to a customer, then say it others around; “Mrs. Jones, that check engine light is just a loose gas cap, no big deal, we reset the computer and you are good to go. No charge for a regular customer”. Big difference, agree?

I agree 100%.

I slipped up once with a good friend (who was also a customer at the time) and was joking with him and made a comment about it will be something like $650 for an oil change and plugs swapped out because I charge $400 an hour. Another customer heard that and thought I was serious and ran out. But she came back after my friend caught her and explained.

I agree when dealing with a customer, especially when talking about money it needs to be one on one and in private. You do not want to make the customer embarasses if he/she cant afford the repair and have to explain that to you in front of others.

Good info Joe! I've really enjoyed reading your articles, keep up the great work. Glad I found this site! Going to spread the word!