Big FU to RepairPal

[alfredauto]

I give out 2 prices if i have to, the first is based on OE or premium parts. If they are on the way out the door I offer a lower priced option. I make it clear I can do the work for close to the same price as the cheap guy by using the same cheap parts and cut corners on the caliper service etc, but I prefer not to because it makes for a hack job. Most of the time they choose the first higher price. This past month has been tough for us so I'm trying hard to not send anything away. I assume the other shops are slow too by the discounts. Sometimes the people simply lie about the price they got.

[mmotley]

I compared some of my prices to Repair Pal this weekend... Turns out I'm under charging quite a bit on some of our items (explains all the compliments about our low prices). I'm also not hitting the numbers I want, so I've bumped up a few menu items (brake flush, etc) to meet the upper end of their recommendation.

[shumsauto]

Shums, nice shop view on ratchet and wrench!

Thank you.

[shumsauto]

Very sensitive arent we. I am thinking you are one of those who is looking for slaves and your wife is fat.

As I said before , truth hurts and most can't take it.

I got emails from people saying that I should continue posting.

I guess I am not that bad after all.

and remember tomorrow is saturday, so when you get drunk , stay away from your cousin. or at least wear protection.

 

For the rest of the people.

Running an auto repair shop in a big city is very tough to say the least.

One needs to be a hustler in order to make rent.

I have been doing it for 28 years and getting tired.

Like I said before , I got 3 other shops right next to me.

Being a princess just aint going to work.

For the most part I like rednecks , except the ones who have cousins for parents.

Enjoy.

Waiting for all the feedback , positive or negative.

Gene.

I have a shop in Philadelphia with 50-75 other shops in 1 mile radius. I don't "hustle" I give a fair price for high quality work that we offer. I don't compete on price with other shops I compete on value. we are about to turn 5 and I am absolutely thrilled with owning a business that is different from hustlers in the area. I have not had a single month where I struggled to pay rent or any bills. Struggling to pay rent after 28 years in business should be a hint to maybe listen to other shop owners that come together and build a site like this to HELP other business owners get to a higher level and become better. I hope you learn to respect other people's opinion and maybe learn something in the process because running a business should be fun and rewarding and it should not make your life miserable after so many years of putting blood sweat and tears into it. Good luck

[stowintegrity]

After reading this thread, I am reminded once more how very much I appreciate all of you! We're all in this together, it seems, and after reading many of your comments, I can tell you that I fall right smack dab in the middle of the mix. I don't fear what Repairpal comes up with, but mostly because I can't begin to know exactly HOW they process the data, exactly. For that matter, it may as well be a site called, "A guy named Joe gives you his opinion".

 

On the other hand, however, like many of you, I am often in the thick of it when it comes to seeing where my pricing lands in comparison, so I really don't care how they come up with their range.

 

I think the larger issue here is the same proposition we all face from time to time, and it doesn't necessarily have to involve Repairpal. That is simply this: What is the best way to deal with a customer who questions the accuracy or competitiveness of the service quote you've prepared for them?

 

The easiest way to see the best answer, in my opinion, is to use silly numbers. For instance, let's say you pride yourself on always being the most inexpensive shop in town, silly as it may be. Your estimate for the installation of a water pump on their family's car, after careful consideration, is that to put a quality part on their car, peform service necessary to insure normal operation (flush/fill), and give them the professional sevice they seek so they can have the piece of mind to drive away content, and assured will cost them $28.74.

 

It's EASY to justify & respond to the customer who says, "That price is unfair! See? XYZ Auto will do it for $15. ABC Auto will do it for $15.10. Why are you so expensive?"

 

The answer, regardless of the price you quoted, is that there will ALWAYS be someone cheaper, somewhere, and that's why competing on price is almost always a bad idea. Your answer should always be a reitteration of what value they get for the money you NEED to do the job in the manner you're proposing. Simple.

 

There doesn't need to be an emotional aspect to the proposition. If someone indicates they spoke to 10 other shops who all quoted between $100 and $120 for the service they seek, my first task is to ask them why they didn't have it done elsewhere? 10 shops jumping through hoops, chasing a dime...that's precious.

 

It's not surprising that they often tell me that they just didn't "feel right" or just "didn't trust" what the other shops were telling them, because they assumed it would only be $80....and now they're going to call 100 shops until someone validates their erroneous, amateur assumptions. If they give me these lines, I then suggest that if the cheapest price is what they're seeking, to take the lowest bid they have so far, because whatever MY price will be...it will involve a great deal of over-the-top service & care, not to mention some of the best parts & warranties in the industry.

 

A wise person once said that LOW PRICE, IMMEDIATE SERVICE, and TOP QUALITY PARTS are all mutually exclusive. If it's price they want...send them down the road.

 

(I just realized this thread has me on a rant again. Man, I love you guys)

[xrac]

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