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New York Cost of Doing Business

Joe Marconi
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  • 2 years later...
DewayneP Contributor

DewayneP

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Posted

Sorry, I know this is an old topic, but I too have my shop in NY and can tell you it is crazy. I just recently began the "process" of being able to perform NYS inspections at my shop. Well, It's been 3 months and over $3000 later and I'm still not ready to go. Way too many Chiefs AND Indians in the NY DMV. Not only that, but why did I want to do inspections in the first place? An inspection costs the customer $21 (for most vehicles outside of NY City, there are differing prices dependent upon vehicle age as low as $6 for a trailer), the sticker itself is $6/each, a dedicated phoneline is needed at $50/month, 2 phone calls to the testing center at $.325/each, paper, ink for a laser printer I HAD to buy (no choice with the inspection computer other than laser or inkjet) by the time I'm done paying all of the hands in the pot I'll be lucky if I make $10 for an inspection that is supposed to take at least 20 minutes (not including getting the car in the bay and up on the lift). Tell me again why I wanted to do inspections in NY? Are there other states out there that have to deal with this? I think the company that makes the NYS Computers is making them for other states, do they cost as much for you? I am of the opinion that NYS needs to raise the price we get for an inspection to at least $30 so we don't have to rely on the "inspector finding work that needs to be performed". I think if they raised the price there would be less fraud in vehicle inspections in NYS. What's everyone else dealing with?

  • 6 years later...
alfredauto Experienced

alfredauto

Posted
Posted

Super old topic but I hope you've learned that there's no profit in the inspection. The profit is from the increased customer base. Inspection today, oil change next week, brakes next month.

  • Like 1
AJFA Contributor

AJFA

Posted
Posted

Yep, we sell a lot of maintenance up sells by doing an inspection, oil change past due, tires worn & need rotate, brakes etc.

Make sure your techs are doing a proper NY inspection & service check over, that is key.

Most of the techs I have hired need inspection training as to the rules, do it in shop meetings.

Do not forget the easy inspection failures like wipers, we sell a lot & many times the customer says they forgot how bad they were.

We get lots of check engine light repairs & they pay accordingly.

Dave

  • Like 1
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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

    • Joe Marconi
      The Toolbox is Last to Leave, First is the Heart
      By Joe Marconi in Joe's 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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