Techs and business cards

[skm]

Should techs be allowed to hand out business cards? Where I work we do/can hand them out. I have my own which have the business name on them, all my certifications and licenses along with the business phone number not mine personal number. When I hand out my card I always give the customer my Service writers card first and tell them that is who they will be contacting and then I give them my card.

 

I have come across the other "techs" cards (none of which are certified or have any licenses) one has the station name, his name followed by certified technician . On his card he has the ASE certified logo and then just his personal cell phone number. He is not certified nor does he have the stations number on it. The other guys card has the station name, his name followed by Technician specialized in all automotive repair. Followed by his cell number, the station number no where to be found on the card. This guy is very young has no training or schooling in fact is the first guys helper so to speak, he has a uniform but is paid by the other "tech" as his helper. Which in my mind brings up a whole other set of problems possibly legal, but I won't get into that.

 

Any way my thoughts are that these cards they are handing out are a conflict of interest and should not be allowed by any means and if continued the employee should be cut loose. What are you thoughts on business cards, mine are as such .. The way I have my card and hand the customer the service writers card first, I think is acceptable, or have the owner make the business cards for the "techs" with the information that he feels should be on the cards. I don't see a problem handing out the cards as long as the business's name and number is prominent on the card and the techs number is not on the card at all, and his or her qualifications can be and should be on the card. I also think that the service writers card needs to be handed out by the tech along with his or her card.

 

What are you practices or thoughts on the matter of business cards?

[John Pearson]

I have them for my techs, the front is my logo and the back says "Your vehicle was serviced with pride by Technician" one goes in the cup holder of every car.

 

My service advisor has a company card.

 

Pearson Auto

phone number

website

logo

 

and on the back what we do and address

 

Also all repair orders go into a white envelope with logo on the front and a verse on the back.

"provide things honest in sight of all men" romans 12:17

Edited September 19, 2015 by John Pearson

[Joe Marconi]

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[SMMotors]

The tech's are trying to poach customers. Your boss is an idiot for letting him hand out cards with their cell on it.

 

I have no problem having a tech leave the shop business card with the techs name and MY PHONE NUMBER ON IT. I like the customers to know who worked on the car. Makes it more personal. John Pearson has the right practice.

 

The fact that the tech is putting his personal cell number out there means he is hopping the customer will side step the shop and go straight to him. After all, it wasn't the shop that fixed the car, it was the tech ( in the customers mind). I'm sure if Mr customer called the techs cell, the tech would say " bring it in the shop and we will take care of it".

 

 

Better yet, why doesn't the owner have his wife call from a blocked number and see what the tech says. Would be nice to know if the tech is that devoted to te shop that he takes calls on his PERSONAL cell and tells everyone to come back to the shop. Might open the owners eyes and be an easy cause for dismissal.

 

 

When I was turning wrenches I would leave my card that I had made by the same company that made the shops. It had the business logo and shop phone and it said "your car was proudly worked on by Don Yocum Certified Tech". I would vacuum the drivers area, rub off any paint transfer and scratches, and lube doors, ect ( little things that make the customer happy).

 

The reason I dud this was twofold. One was self serving I'll admit. Customer was stoaked that the shop would do that without being asked ( boss was happy by my initiative) but the self serving part was when the customers returned, they asked for me to work on their cars. It's was money in the bank for me. Service writers liked it because customers felt that if I recommended it, then they must really need it. After all Don did such a bang up job last time, I TRUST him.

 

 

Again, have your boss call the techs cell and see where it goes. I know the only reason I would be doing that is to do side jobs or when I started my own shop, I had a built in customer base. We shall see!

[skm]

The tech's are trying to poach customers. Your boss is an idiot for letting him hand out cards with their cell on it.

 

I have no problem having a tech leave the shop business card with the techs name and MY PHONE NUMBER ON IT. I like the customers to know who worked on the car. Makes it more personal. John Pearson has the right practice.

 

The fact that the tech is putting his personal cell number out there means he is hopping the customer will side step the shop and go straight to him. After all, it wasn't the shop that fixed the car, it was the tech ( in the customers mind). I'm sure if Mr customer called the techs cell, the tech would say " bring it in the shop and we will take care of it".

 

 

Better yet, why doesn't the owner have his wife call from a blocked number and see what the tech says. Would be nice to know if the tech is that devoted to te shop that he takes calls on his PERSONAL cell and tells everyone to come back to the shop. Might open the owners eyes and be an easy cause for dismissal.

 

 

When I was turning wrenches I would leave my card that I had made by the same company that made the shops. It had the business logo and shop phone and it said "your car was proudly worked on by Don Yocum Certified Tech". I would vacuum the drivers area, rub off any paint transfer and scratches, and lube doors, ect ( little things that make the customer happy).

 

The reason I dud this was twofold. One was self serving I'll admit. Customer was stoaked that the shop would do that without being asked ( boss was happy by my initiative) but the self serving part was when the customers returned, they asked for me to work on their cars. It's was money in the bank for me. Service writers liked it because customers felt that if I recommended it, then they must really need it. After all Don did such a bang up job last time, I TRUST him.

 

 

Again, have your boss call the techs cell and see where it goes. I know the only reason I would be doing that is to do side jobs or when I started my own shop, I had a built in customer base. We shall see!

Of course he is side stepping the business, the guy is gone 6-7 hours out of the day .. The owner knows this he sees the guy behind the local mc donalds working on cars when he should be at work. The owner has no idea how to run a buisness. I have brought the cards to him many times and told him it is a huge conflict of interest. See the problem with the last few owners that have owned the shop is that they don't understand that you treat people right they will come back over and over and you will make money for several years vs. getting as much as you can the first time you see them.

 

They seem to think they need to have a mechanic in all bays at all times or at least in this case employ a mechanic for each bay. If you have one cow that fills 5 jugs of milk a day you can sell , you buy 10 jugs you are still are only going to get the 5 jugs filled, but if people keep coming back for the milk you will in time be able to buy another cow, which will then fill the other jugs. They seem to think the more mechanics in there the more money they are going to make. not true you may even loose work due to the caliber of people you are hiring not to mention with the guys they have now he is losing money hand over fist with there selling tactics and ripping people off. Anyway that is just one more reason I am looking to open my own shop.

 

shop owners need to have the ability and mental power to fire people and not feel sorry for them , it is your business, and just like a dog sled team only going to be as fast as is slowest dog, or like a chain only as strong as it's weakest link. Fill your shop with good honest guys and you can see that checkered flag , fill it with a bunch of hacks you will see then negative bank account and be able to honestly say " I once owned a repair business "

[davine4real]

I say it is good for techs to have a business card. But only with company info. I disagree with the giving out second biz card even if AFTER the service writers cards. What REALLY is the purpose for 2 biz cards?? The customer can still request you by name, they don't need your cell #. We've all been there done that....let's be real.

[skm]

I say it is good for techs to have a business card. But only with company info. I disagree with the giving out second biz card even if AFTER the service writers cards. What REALLY is the purpose for 2 biz cards?? The customer can still request you by name, they don't need your cell #. We've all been there done that....let's be real.

Davine4real,, I think you miss understood what I wrote.. I give my business card out with the service writers card.. I give them his card since that will be their point of contact. I then give my card which has my certifications/qualifications and my name along with the business name and phone number.. my cell phone number is NOT anywhere on my business card. My business card is so the customer can request me by name, the ones that don't already know me.. And " we've all been there done that " is a bunch of crap cause I have never ever in my 25 years of working there given my business card with my cell phone number on it so .... let's be for real.