Jeff

Its funny ya mention the "crank" start engines. My father restored an old John Deere that ya had to "hand" start by spinning the external flywheel. He could start that old tractor with 2 tugs at the most. I could stand there for days spinning that flywheel and that old tractor would not start for me. its amazing what they accomplished with the limited "technology" they had.

Reduced cam lift would also equate to reduced duration. That reduced intake volume would create a weak cylinder combustion event that would be seen as a misfire in the computer logic. Good catch, Thanks for the heads up!

A friend of mine had a dart board marked with various repairs. It helped to break the ice in these situations. Gotta love it when the customer says " Can ya just hook up that box so it will tell you whats wrong?". My reply is "If that box talks to me we are outta here!"

I sell a repair complete. If the customer questions the parts or labor prices I will break it down for them. Then I explain the warranty and such. If they continue to complain then they are not my type of customer! We all have to make a profit. Most will understand, If the customer don't understand that, then send them packing, Many will return after they have shopped around realizing the VALUE I offer. My customers respect me and want me to be here next week, month, year. If I am not profitable that aint happening. Good luck.

I first of all would develop an employee handbook. Explain your point to them and your expectations. I understand your fear of being understaffed BUT if they walk or need to be let go so be it. You are the boss and owner and it all falls at your feet. Just my $1.85 worth (2 cents with inflation).

Lower by over 20%. And last year wasn't good!

Nice. Any mention of cost?

I use Chrome without problem. Like it.

I personally believe a lot of it comes from the purchase . Dealers are pushing less maint at purchase in order to show a lower cost of ownership. That in turn gives the consumer the mind set that it wont ever need to be done. I get em in here that want a transmission service of flush cause the trans slips...many over 100k and never been serviced. Lower cost of ownership, planned obsolesences, whatever..it boils down to consumer education.

The initial why for me was to get out of the dealership scene. Then as the biz grew and I got to know my customers the why became "Because they need me". In the past 3-4 years I have closed, quit, gave up and threatened to sell everything I own and buy a Kenworth (I used to be a trucker). Each time I got to thinking about the people who call me Friend before they call me their mechanic and I stick around. The money aint great compared to the BS that comes with it BUT I like fixing cars and I care about my "friends"! Thanks to ASO and a few folks in other forums I can keep my head straight and stay on point knowing I aint the only one that fights this battle!

Ya aint gotta go all the way back to '57. I attended a small country school (76 grad, 98 in senior class) and the weeks before hunting season we would bring in our long guns. Reblue and refinish and get a grade. All us boys and a lot of girls carried a "jack" knive. Common sense aint so common anymore!

Seems I see more cars in the 10-15 year range that are just being repaired rather than maintained. Folks are trying to hang onto their cash for more important thing like houseing and food. I try to explain to them that maint is key and it could save them in the long run BUUTT most are just cash strapped. I read your article in a prior post on "New Normal" and have to somewhat agree. I can do everything in the world to try to help these folks but it comes down to what they precieve as the norm. Just my $2.95 ( 2 cents adjusted to inflation and current economic conditions)

For what its worth, dealer or otherwise, it seems the parts quality has gone into the crapper and the suppliers wont work with us. I have a Windstar on the schedule today that is in for its THIRD wiper motor. Yes I will get another motor but no comp for labor. And the sad part is their is no alternative. A reman motor regaurdless of who it comes from is the same rebuilder (except maybe Ford).

I WILL give a phone quote. And in the course of writting the est i will discuss the repair furthur. Prior quotes? Do you have a regular shop/mechanic? Vareied levels of repair, ie; parts warrenty, urgency of repair etc. Regularly driven or a weekend car? The fact is most often oue first contact with a "consumer" is by phone AND they dont know what else to ask but price. I understand Joes position since this is a fellow chamber member. And yes it can be frustrating. I used to contract to the local UPS center as an outside service provider. Fix the brown trucks at night. Got to know many of the drivers very well. Some bring their cars in for service, some call for advice on the diy jobs but MOST of them refer me regularly to the folks they see on a daily basis. Just my $2.95 worth (2 cents with inflation and tax increases!)

I used to work at a Dodge dealership that was near a Pratt & Whittney ( rocket science ) facility. Used to love it when these guys brought their cars in. Manuals all flagged and nots in the side bars. They already knew what was wrong with the vehicle but just wanted it confirmed with our "computers". Yea all in a days work! I think a lot of them were buddies with Some Guy (remember him? )

Yes the mood sets the tone. A few years back I was all set to bail on this industry and closed the shop for about a month. The revenues were in the crapper as well as my attitude. After a few weeks I realized it wasnt the biz IT WAS ME! I re-opened and for a while it was day to day. Then things started to turn around and I settled into my routine. Then last summer I hit another low and started to slip into the same "i am done" attitude. After a lecture from a very good friend and mentor I realized the "low" was my attitude again and not the biz! Since then I have managed to keep the "tude" in check and the biz is doing ok. Not out of the woods yet but gettin there. "I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me" Phillipans 4-13. Thanks Gonzo! and all the folks here!

Welcome to the socialist states of obama!!

When I worked at Ford about 86-87 we had a newer LTD full size with a complaint of a rattle/rolling sound. Hard accell it run from front to back and on hard brakeing rear to front down the right side. Sure enuff we had to cut an access in the frame rail to get out a small bottle with a note enclosed that said Ha Ha gotcha. When working for GM had a brand new sunfire(?) that would develope a "kazoo" noise at 60-70 mph. Chased that one to a build sticker in the inner fender that got just enough ari to flutter against the fender. Had a fella bring in a Chrysler that he said made a chirping noise in the left front door when the key was off. He thought the radio was staying on somehow. Pulled it into the bay and as soon as I shut off the car I heard it. In the process of starting to pull the door panel I was cleaning out the door pocket. Low and behold there was a hearing aid and the battery was dyeing and the chirp was a warning. When I returned it to the fella he said he thought it blew out the window and had bought a new one.Those are the few that come to mind but I am sure there were more!

Thanks X-rac

And to you and yours as well. Thanks for the video clip...that ROCKS!!

I dont seem to get as many screamers as I do criers. I try to calm them and assure them that it can be fixed. On the occasions I have had scremers I generally show them the door and ask them to loose my number. Guess its just my Irish temper. Only had a few and doubt they will be back. Even had one fella, after giving an ok for the repairs, wanted a discount when picking up the car. After I refused he made the remark that he woulda been my best custoemr and "was" going to send in all his friends. Basically told him birds of a feather flock together and I suspect they were all like him...dont need it!

I did use their paid listing service for a while and got several 5 star ratings. Some tme back tho I noticed they were not on the first pags of all the search engines. That was the primary reason I had a paid listing. I have since dropped the paid portion and just have the free listing. Told their customer service people to call me when they got back on the front pages and I would re-sign. It was not a bad service and they did take my feed back on many of their prices and time listings. Some customers came in and expected to get their repairs at the lowest price they had seen on the site. Most understood the difference in priceing due to quality of parts and additional services that were not included in the Repair Pal site. Like I said I would use them for a paid ad again once they got back to the front. Just my 50 cents worth ( 2 cents with inflation).

Prayers go up.

I read or listen to Napolean Hill regularly. Great motivation!