Hi ASO fellows !

Type S Zero · October 25, 2012

Hi !

i've been around for a few months but never took the time to introduce myself.

i've been reading the ASO topics since May, 2012 and i'm catching so many helpful informations, this forum is a must read for a car repair shop owner !

While at mechanic school, i started my automotive shop life at GM goodwrench (also only job i could find that i could fit job+school in the schedule, as school was from 4pm to 11pm).

After graduating from school, i went to my local Acura dealer as the tire guy (harsh Canada winter means everybody changing tires twice a year).

I had very small chances to stay at this place because there were more mechanics than there were shop bays (2 guys off everyday on a rotation)....but a guy leaving, another off for injury, one guy started his repair shop at home : i finally got my spot !

I stayed there for 7 years (2 last years as a team leader).

I left for BMW as the new service manager at Acura was a real pain in the a*$ (he got thrown out from his last 2 dealerships by the whole shop teaming up against him.....we unfortunatly found out why on the long run !)

Stayed at BMW for nearly a year, but didn't like the product and manufacturer's vision + i started dreaming about owning my own shop, but equipment prices quickly discouraged me.

I left BMW after a friend talked me into car transportation : easier physically and better salary.

There was so much work, transporters were cutting prices to get more clients, but the recession hit later than the US, the market went down and now we're into low transport rates + very few cars to carry..

So i'm back to my "3 years ago dream", currently under government programs for business starters....not yet completely approved, but slowly in the steps of opening my repair shop. (i also have to sell my 53' trailer, F350 dually, summer car and that'll help me financially)

I thought there were forums on the net for about every subject we could think of, but i never thought about shop owners sharing tricks and ideas to help other owners ! Congrats to the ASO owners for this great idea and initiative !!

ps. today i declined a job offer: my local Acura wants me back