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Posted

Curious on how you guys feel about appeasing certain customers.

 

As a general policy we go through great lengths for our clients when they are unhappy in the form of free services and sometimes parts depending on the situation. We are very conscious of customer's expectations and putting ourselves in their shoes to make sure that at the end of the day they felt like they were taken care of.

 

One thing I do not stand for is customers being complete jerk offs to my staff. If you come into my business and treat people with no respect then all bets are off. Even at the cost of a bad review that's where I put my foot down.

 

Posted

I think Joe wrote an article a while back about a customer being rude to one of his service advisors. Anyway, I'd say definitely stand up for your employees! First, there is no excuse for someone to be like that to an employee. Second, I think your entire staff is probably watching how you handle the situation. If you don't have their back, I would I think you risk losing their loyalty and respect. Good employees are hard enough to find, the last thing you want is a rude customer running them off.

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Posted

We call those customers 1 % 's . They do not fit our morals valves etc... We bend over backwards to keep customers happy . But their is a very small percentage you should avoid. I believe direct unemotional communication is the best defense. Sorry we are not the shop for you if you want to supply your own parts.... haggle the price after you agreed to the estimate. nice to meet you , though have a nice life!

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  • 4 months later...
Posted

A little late to the convo but we dont believe in "The customer is always right"---it simply is not always true.

We hold our customers on the same level as our employees. Both are vital to our success. If a customer is wrong, we'll let them know and if we have to, we stick up for our employee. If the employee is wrong, we make it right with the customer. 

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

         0 comments
      It always amazes me when I hear about a technician who quits one repair shop to go work at another shop for less money. I know you have heard of this too, and you’ve probably asked yourself, “Can this be true? And Why?” The answer rests within the culture of the company. More specifically, the boss, manager, or a toxic work environment literally pushed the technician out the door.
      While money and benefits tend to attract people to a company, it won’t keep them there. When a technician begins to look over the fence for greener grass, that is usually a sign that something is wrong within the workplace. It also means that his or her heart is probably already gone. If the issue is not resolved, no amount of money will keep that technician for the long term. The heart is always the first to leave. The last thing that leaves is the technician’s toolbox.
      Shop owners: Focus more on employee retention than acquisition. This is not to say that you should not be constantly recruiting. You should. What it does means is that once you hire someone, your job isn’t over, that’s when it begins. Get to know your technicians. Build strong relationships. Have frequent one-on-ones. Engage in meaningful conversation. Find what truly motivates your technicians. You may be surprised that while money is a motivator, it’s usually not the prime motivator.
      One last thing; the cost of technician turnover can be financially devastating. It also affects shop morale. Do all you can to create a workplace where technicians feel they are respected, recognized, and know that their work contributes to the overall success of the company. This will lead to improved morale and team spirit. Remember, when you see a technician’s toolbox rolling out of the bay on its way to another shop, the heart was most likely gone long before that.
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