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This has been something I've seen that has changed to attitudes of my customers dramatically and I will be employing it all the time now. It is something so simple and so basic but for one reason or another I never did it. It seems to be really getting a lot of positive feedback from my customers and I am hoping this will parlay into more business for my shop.

 

The thing I am talking about is simply telling my customers how much I appreciate them and their business!

 

For the longest time I thought if I told a customer how much I appreciated their business they would walk all over me!! Irrational thoughts like, "So and so is going to think I am really struggling is I am telling them I appreciate their business. They must think I am not doing so well." I must have been out of my mind!!!

 

I got the idea from one of my techs so is an ace with people, he shakes all my customer's hands, runs them through what he did to their vehicle and at the end he would say, "And thank you sir or ma'am, we really appreciate your business." The positive feedback I got from this was tremendous!

 

So me as the owner and the lead service advisor, I started doing the same... and BAM I have gotten so many nice and positive reactions its a wonder why in the hell I never told my customers! The crazy thing is, I really sincerely do mean it and I think they can tell. These people are allowing me to make a living and to live out my dream of owning my own shop and being a business owner, of course I appreciate them!

 

I have also started complimenting my customers on their cars (if its warranted) and in every way try to convey a sense of honesty in the work that we do. I just simply can't believe I haven't done this more often.

 

 

Just figured I would share, I am generally pretty good with people however I know how introverted some of us are in this business and the standoffness ( new word LOL) can really rub people the wrong way. I hope this helps someone out there, a simple, "Thank you sir, we really appreciate your business" or "Thank you sir for letting us work on your vehicle we really appreciate your business" Can go a LONG way.

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Posted

Great post I see that same effect in our business and another thing that has worked is a week after the repairs are done we call our customers with a courtesy call to make sure everything is good and thank them again I

can't tell you how many times I have been told that they have never had a shop care enough to do this and how much more work this one step has brought I hope this will help someone thanks again for sharing

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  • Have you checked out Joe's Latest Blog?

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      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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