Advance to Stop Free Code Scanning!

[CarER]

I was on the phone with my Carquest/Advance parts guy today and he knows how much their "diagnostics" affects us as shops and how much it annoys me. So he mentions to me that yesterday, they received an email from corporate stating that June 1st, all Advance stores may no longer perform free code scans for customers.

 

I thought this was a pretty big deal, if it is true, for us independent shops.

 

Hopefully this is correct and will be coming to all Advance/Carquest stores. He said judging by the email, it's not just our regional stores but all stores.

 

Maybe we can keep things changing for the better.

 

Next up, let's get Autozone and the other stores to stop their "diagnostics" as people like to call them.

 

What do you all think? Is this good for us, or will it not really make a difference?

[HarrytheCarGeek]

Good news!

[CAZM]

Heard this about a month ago from my CARQUEST rep

[dfrisby]

Had a customer call me yesterday wanting free diagnostics. Told him there's no such thing. He mentioned oreillys, who just "loans" a code reader to the customer to pull their own codes. Told him to get his free diagnostics there then, and since you won't pay me for diagnostics, go ahead and have them perform the repair as well.

 

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[Reynas1]

Have been doing DTC diagnostics for $15.00 and applying that towards labor if I do the job.

I will tell hesitant customers to go ahead and get their free diagnostics from these retailers, bring the results to me, analyze them and explain those codes

Most of those codes are already described, I proceed to explain that these stores are retailers and only interested in selling the most amount of parts/materials

possible.

 

I will then re-set the codes and if I don't get a code immediately tell them to just drive normally and bring it in as soon as they get a MIL.

 

90% of the time the customer will return, do a scan, get the culprit code, repair as necessary and have a happy customer for life.

 

Happy/Satisfied customers is my best advertising tool, so if it takes me 15 minutes to explain some of the basics of OBD 2, I find it worth it in the long run.

[alfredauto]

We do code reads for free. Diagnosis costs $90. "What's the code?" "P0430" "what's it need?" "Diagnosis".

[davine4real]

$15 diagnostics?? Lmao! Man I would've GLADLY paid you for that p0300 code that wound up being timing off (still ran), or that p0171 that wound up being leaking brake booster, or that p0455/456 that wound up being fuel temp sensor..... If you're diagnosing all codes in less than 15 minutes... You rock! (because that's about all the time $15 gets you).

[ncautoshop]

Your doing a code scan for $15.00, not a diagnosis. Better watch calling it that!

 

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[mmotley]

We do code reads for free. Diagnosis costs $90. "What's the code?" "P0430" "what's it need?" "Diagnosis".

Similar to how I explain it to my customers, just much more polite. The customers tend to think the scanner tells us what's wrong. I educate them that it really only gives us a code. That code tells us what series of tests and diagnostic procedures to perform on the vehicle to make sure we replace only what is necessary to fix the car.

[alfredauto]

I explan it much more politely than in my post 😇

[xrac]

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[hartcoauto]

July 24 2016 as of this date the local advance store in my area still performing code scanning and going as far as giving advice on what the problem is. I personally don't see an end to this problem. I look at most not all parts vendors as my competition. Today shops have to look at other alternatives to keep and maintain profit margins. Parts margins have been eroded by major parts vendors competiting against one another to give the walk in customer a deal. Yes I've heard "they can't put that part on" beg the different, autozone gives print outs of direction and advance loans tools. These companies are not looking for our best interest because if they were then I wouldn't have to debate my parts pricing (%25 to 35% margins) so in short I don't believe advance, autozone or orielly when they say they are there for me. Seeing is believing so if you're seeing it Great.

 

 

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[GENUINE]

Another reason that NAPA is my main vendor. They don't do it.

[tirengolf]

I have a Oreillys literally next door to my shop, has anyone got on a parts program with these people. I am a NAPA Auto Care facility as well, I am buying parts all over the place. Oreillys will sell the same price to a guy that walks off the street. No customer loyalty anymore, and they all wonder why I wait 1 day for World Pac or Amazon Prime..Has anyone had any success with Oreilly's I have to go over there everytime and show them prices to match mark. I am doig 20 to 30 K a month with Oreillys, Napa is on me although recently I have had a lot of warranty issues with NAPA. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. David

[mmotley]

I have a Oreillys literally next door to my shop, has anyone got on a parts program with these people. I am a NAPA Auto Care facility as well, I am buying parts all over the place. Oreillys will sell the same price to a guy that walks off the street. No customer loyalty anymore, and they all wonder why I wait 1 day for World Pac or Amazon Prime..Has anyone had any success with Oreilly's I have to go over there everytime and show them prices to match mark. I am doig 20 to 30 K a month with Oreillys, Napa is on me although recently I have had a lot of warranty issues with NAPA. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated. David

 

David, I am a member of O'Reilly's Certified Auto Repair Program. Shoot me a message and I'll do my best to answer any questions you have to the best of my abilities. I'll be up front though, don't count on huge discounts by joining

[xrac]

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[FROGFINDER]

I bought from the O'Reilly's next door to me when they matched price or when i needed something now. I like World Pac and XL Parts. I price the Dealer and work from there. There are times when the dealer is the best price/best fitting part or upgraded designed part.