Jeff

2010 is behind us and 2011 looms ahead. How was your year? What changes will you be making in thee coming year? I personally am working on some changes in the hopes of VASTLY improving from a 2010 standpoint. After the "meltdown" and return to business in July I was supported and encouraged by everyone here at ASO. Thank You and I am looking forward to hearing whats in store for 2011. HAPPY NEW YEAR and GOD BLESS!!

Funny!!

Ok the test lied! It said the tail indicated I have a good sex life! LIE LIE LIE!!!!

I have to agree with Joe. I consider myself a top tech. I did have some business mgt in school (ag biz). BUT when I opens my shop I went in on a shoestring. About July of this year (opened Nov 04) I wanted to hang myself with that shoestring. I still dont have a complete business plan but am working towards it. Hope to have it done By Jan1. New Year...new perspective. I instituted many changes in August afetr I returned from my little "vacation". Things are beter now, dont know if it will ever be perfect! But by all means make yourself a plan and review it often. Make changes as needed. And dont short change yourself!! One more thing. Check in here often. It was the support I got from the great folks in ASO that kept me going!!

He told me he had paid some guy $200 to fix it Theres that confounded Some Guy again! He does get around!

I have satrted leaving a local parts store sales flyer layingin plain veiw of customers. Open to the tool section. When someone questions the cost of ANY repair I pick it up and show them the cost of a new scanner, lift, a/c machine etc! The average rsponse is WOW, I didnt know it was so expensive! Then I show them the cheapo code puller used at the Chain parts stores and explain the difference. Most ubnderstand. The ones that dont, well they can plug up the other shops. I will also take it on a by the case basis. Single mother, van full of kids....ya can see the despair...Then the softy in me comes out.

I can say for fact that UPS does repalce starters and alternators as part of reg maint, I cpntraced to them for a while as a sub mechanic. As for me I dont replace these components till they fail. My personal vehicle, 92 F-150 4.9L auto 2 wd, has 274k and never has had a fuel pump in either tank. Luckey, maybe. I have had 2 Chrysler T&C vans in the last week with failed pumps. One 01 and one 02 both over 120k, failed fuel pumps. At the rate you are recommending you would have replace these pumps 3 times. I dont see any real savings, even if ya figuerd in the tow and a days rental car. I do STRONGLY recommend timing belts, hoses, thermostats, and such. These are failures that can have catastrophic consequences.

I approach every customer as a friend. That being said I take my customers vehicles care personally. Yes we do pick them apart. Then we prioratize. I dont "force sell" anything. I do advise (I prefer counsel ) them on what's needed now, in 3-6-9-12 months. In todays economics we all need to be mindful of where our customers concerns lie. I feel by doing this it allows them to budget for future repairs and maint, or gives them the fosight to begin saving for a new(er) car. Just my 2 cents worth. God Bless and have a great day!

We get the rust thing, to a degree, here on the coast of Florida. Folks living on the barrier islands get it from the salt air. Not as bad as the "rust belt". I have fuel lines, brake lines, shock towers, etc. Then we get the retirees that bring thier rust buckets with them when they retire down here!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone...and thank you all for the support you share in here ! God Bless !

I see a lot of cars over 150k, a few over 200k. When they balk and its a nice piece I run the numbers for em. Needs 2000 in repairs. Less than 200 a month and no high priced new car ins. Show em my old F150 with 275k on it. Fires right up (NO JINX!!) ands goes where I aim it. Stops when I whoa it! Usually sells the job.

They call here and aske for Mr. Able. "Ya well he died and we all needed a job so we buried him out back!" Generally they dont call back!

Joe the local Tire Kingdomm is open till 8 M-F. Not suer how late but are open Sat & Sun. I do stay lte to accomodate customers that need to come in for pick up or drop off. Bein its only me its not an issue. I dont advertise late hours but work late many nites which leads to people stoppng in. As it stands I am doin whatever necessary to keep the doors up.

I didnt but now ya got me! Headed ther now!

The problem I see is charging for this service. We as an industry have spoiled the consumer with the "$xx.xx lof with FRE inspection". Now they dont need the lof per the car makers recommendations and we want to charge them for the "free" inspection. That is when we will all be thieves again! Ya Ya I know the doctor charges for the "well" visits...?? I will generally lift the hood, check the tires and ADVISE on the fluid levels. Need a gallon of washer fluid..$2.95, etc. Otherwise thanks for stoppin in and see me again in a month. Make a note in the customers files and call them in a month if they dont come by. Now this probably would not work at the larger shops where ya gotta make the techs times but for me, its just me and my son. Now if I get em coming i with the new belts and filters installed and wantin the "free" then I get a little cranky!

Most of my customers will still follow a minimum 7k service. And I tell them ya still gotta come in so we can at least check tires, belts, hoses....! ON the other hand I have a lot of seniors ( it is Florida ) that only drive 3-4k a year!! At that rate the car would be 6 years old before it got its first peek under the hood And many folks dont know the difference between the SES light and Maint light ! I get many a panicked call to only find the Maint lamp on! At least it got em into the shop! Give em an education, tell to come see me for "ALL" the services, give it the quick 23 point and send along!

If I made 150k I would take a year off to go ridin! This is scary man! Do these people not understand! Economics 101

Thanks Gonzo. Great story, shook some cowebs loose, ya know wha I mean!

I like the ideaa of a level 1 and level 2 diagnosis. I will be writing up some new counter guides this weekend. Thanks folks! And stayfree, welcome!

Congrats. Another miracle of GOD! Blessings to you and yours!

I was recently approached by Alldata about coming back to them. After a lengthy conversation I explained to the lady that one reason I dropped Alldata was their association with AutoZone. They were loaning tools and giving customers a complte repair pocedure AT NO CHARGE. This I felt was a stab in the back. That along with all the free "Diagnosis" they provided soured our relationship. Her reply waas that AZ no longer did that. WELL just this morning I heard an add on a nationally syndicated radio show offering the "freebies". Now I just want to drive my ol truck down to AZ and see if they will Test the check engine light ,battery , and alternator for free. And while I am there I think I will see about gettin them free wiper blades installed And with that lies our biggest problems. A HUGE NATIONAL chain cant be wrong? If the "Parts Pro" at AZ syas its bad it must be! I try to explain to folks that they are in biz to SELL PARTS not repair cars! BUT they said it needs an oxygen sensor, what else can it be? IT can be a vaccum leak. stuck injector, weak fuel pump......! And that is what we charge for, the true diagnosis. I went so far as to tell a "customer" a few months ago he couldnt affrod to own a car anymore. This after I was told I was a con for wanting to charge for a complete diag after the AZ thing. He only had enuff money for the AZ part, on a fixed income and THE GREENS FEES WERE GOING UP! Sell your car if ya wanna play Golf!!!

RIGHT ON !!

The Bush admin supproted big biz. Big biz expands, new jobs created. New jobs means more folks payin income tax. More income tax allows Governmnet to help those IN NEED. No they were not the hottest ticket in town BUT they did not force me to take health insurance I dont want. They did not spend trillionms to bail out unions (read auto makers) and banks that laoned money on overvalued homes (read Deocratic party controlled Fannie and Freddie). I have not yet seen any assitance for small business which is the backbone of America. What many dont or WONT realize is the last 2 years of the Bush admin was chocked by a Demcratic controlled house and senate. When did the recession begin! Now we are facing one of the most socalized administartions EVER in the history of the United States. You CANNOT continue to spend in the manner that has been the norm for the last 2 years and expect there not be repercussions. Do you continue to max out your credit cards and not consider how it will be paid for ? I love the United States of America ! I DO NOT like where she is headed. And the nice thng about living in America allows us to disagree and allows you to make dispargeing remarks Trusted. I will not attack you directly but I will state the facts. If you can make your case with facts then I am open to discussion. If not then the whinney name callin should stop! GOD BLESS AMERICA !!

My customers allready think I am half crazy !! A silly grin will be enough to confirm it for them !

I have won over several customers by showing them in black and white wher they were paying for the "freebies". The local Toyota and Kia dealers offer tires and batteries for life. BUT the fine print stated you have to follow their recommended maint program to qualify. Injector fluhes every 15k, engine decoarboninizing at 15k, transmission sevices at 15k, the list goes on and on. And of course the services are all at an inflated "dealer" price. I havent seen the datails for the new 2 year "peace of mind" programs but I am sure there are stipulations.