Unfair competition

[Framingham Auto Service]

Unfair competition, it's just not fair!

You invest lots o money on tolls,equipment and training.

You create an excellent environment for the customer,work hard every day to have an excellent customer service and then comes the statement:

The guy down the street can do it for less!

I have 25 shops around me and at least 20 of them it's unfair competition. I'm always redoing their work, but people still goes back because of the price. They don't do any mark up on parts and only charge 35 dollars in labor to replace brake pads on any vehicle.

 

I did the math many times and it does not add up. How can they survive?

 

stressful!!!!!

[xrac]

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[Jeff]

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[mmotley]

I face it every day. Have complained to the state, county and local govt. Unlicensed shops working under the radar.

 

I'm sure I'll come off as being rude, but seriously? Complained to the state, county, and local govt? Did you try your parents too? I guess that attitude comes with living in a state that 'licenses' repair shops.

 

Much like XRAC said, just outlast them. If you are fixing other shop's screw ups, you should be earning customers at that point. I don't have any customers that like getting something fixed twice, so most come to me to get it fixed right the first time. With that reputation, you can charge what you want (within reason). I would make sure to tell every customer 'This is what you get for price shopping'. Being nice and cutting them a break doesn't educate them at all on choosing a quality repair center over the 'shade tree mechanic' down the road.

[xrac]

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[Jeff]

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[mccannable]

We lost an 03 7 series valve cover job to a hillbilly backyard mechanic. That one was a bit strange. I know the cars can be had for cheap but still.

[Jeff]

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[mccannable]

Jeff, Google Sumter county. You are far from a hillbilly.

[GobblesAuto]

Build value, build value, build value in your service and sales presentation. Sell the benefits of your service. Charge a fair price for your level of service and if they won't let you make a profit be glad they went somewhere else.

Your webpage and shop look good. I can tell you are doing a lot of things right. If you are having trouble closing sales, my advise would be customer service / sales training. Customers focus on price because that's all they know to ask. You have to point out the advantages for them doing business with you. If it was easy everybody would do it. We have to work hard at it every day. Also Marketing to the right demographic helps. I understand the frustration. I wish some shops would close and eventually they will.

[carbtech72]

when I first opened I had the same problem. Eventually I stopped caring what the mobile guys and backyard scam artists were doing and just focused on my own shop. The screw-ups the cheap guys made I was able to fix and that slowly is building my customer base. And the customers who just want a deal and spend no money, well let the cheap guys have them. Let them be someone elses headache. Just keep your head and spirits up