mspecperformance

This is good to know. I have yet to enter in my inventory into the management software. I will look out for these problems.

Just read another interesting article from ratchet and wrench. This particular one was about a shop in Denver that so happens to be a German Specialty shop. In the article the General Manager states that they do not perform a complimentary vehicle inspection like other shops, but rather they charge for them ($90-$120 depending on the age of the vehicle). It is in the opinion of this shop that this "pre-qualifies" the customer as someone who is willing to spend money as well as softens the blow when they get hit with an estimate since they are already expecting to spend money. He also says it gives the technician added incentive since now they are actually getting paid for their inspection time. To add value, all technicians write out their recommendations as if they were telling a story. Instead of write up that the strut mount of broken, they write about their test drive and when they heard the noise and their whole inspection process of that particular problem. I understand that shop's clientele may be different that some of us on the forum however I'd love to hear some opinions. Here is the whole article if you'd care to read it: http://www.ratchetandwrench.com/RatchetWrench/October-2014/Building-a-Better-Shop-Atmosphere/

Thanks Matt no I was actually referring to kingwoodshell. Wanted to hear some specifics. Just started with them, using teamworks5 6.5.45 ver. Working pretty good so far, have not experienced any glitches. I will say Mitchell compared to RO Writer is not intuitive at all. I'm really not stressing it much though since I catch on quick however seems like certain things such as moving parts around on the order screen would be best left as a drag and drop rather than cut and paste. The revisions tab is extremely useful though. Something I never had with ro writer. Can't wait to get mobile manager up and running.

I don't want to sound rude but I still haven't heard exactly what your problems exactly are? Maybe just list one or two so we can get an idea.

What kind of problems are you experiencing exactly??

I'm currently waiting for transport to get done with transferring my database. can't wait to play with the system and become a MASTER. Probably will bitch about the scheduler until they upgrade that.

does Auto VItals double as a technician work order? Also does that work order reintegrate with the SMS?

There is not neccessarily "wrong" with the scheduler, it is just that there is a lot lacking in the functionality of it. I would love to see a more visual scheduler that also follow the guidelines of what is normally taught or recommended to use in many shop management training courses. The scheduler currently is very very rudimentary.

Mike, just fix Mitchell's scheduler and we'll be golden!

Difference is much tighter management and a lot more start up $$$

I'm guessing the infrastructure needed would be a lot more than what the product they are currently selling now. They would also potentially alienate themselves from the SMS they are currently integrated with. This is just my thoughts off the top of my head. If they eventually do create something, that would be cool to see.

I would check in with your local parts houses first. If there is a banner program associated with your local suppliers, they may have added benefits. Otherwise you can research some banner programs and their benefits.

Greetings Car ER and welcome to the forum! I don't pretend to know as much as a lot of the pros on here but some things i might have some comments on. 1. A banner program is basically a organization or network of shops that represent a certain "banner." For instance if you have a NAPA auto parts store in your area you may be eligible to sign up for their program. Some of them are free others there is a small fee. You are entitled to all the discounts, programs and benefits that the banner program provides which normally includes discounts on insurance, payroll services, parts, warranty services, business and tech training, marketing, and other auto business related stuff. You may or may not also have to hang a sign stating you are say a NAPA auto care center. It is worth looking into. I am a Bosch Service Center and there are some of nice perks that go along with that. 2. Your first year of any business is going to be rocky unless you have a bit of luck and a lot of detailed planning. Researching and writing up a business plan as well as executing that plan will save you years of pain and hardship TRUST ME. Look into and learn about marketing heavily. If I could make any suggestions, a more visible sign and possible a larger sign would work great for you. You can hardly see the sign with the combination of colors you are using which blend in with the building color. I would assume that it would be hard for cars passing by to spot you. Good luck with the business!

Joe, have you had a conversation about his work yet?

Interested in seeing how this progresses for you Mike. Wishing you a lot of luck and success!

Patience sir, you have a lot of patience. I send these idiots down the river.

I just don't accept checks. Had one customer that cancelled 1 check on me. Not a crazy amount, about $500. There is no reason why someone doesn't have a credit card or a debit card in this day and age.

Also MOST importantly, make sure its super searchable ! A website should be a 24hr lead finder. Make sure you have your SEO (Search Engine Optimization) on point. A Great looking website is nearly worthless if people aren't able to find you.

tasr, I currently use Kukui for my CRM and web marketing. Been with them for almost a year and I am happy with their service.

I'm past the phase of buying used equipment. I want the latest and greatest with full support. Years of frustration trying to save money. Just charge what your service is worth, do an excellent job at it and let the pros worry about repairs etc. Financing is an amazing thing lol

Bringing this back to life... I believe my next purchase is going to a RF Balancer. I currently have all Bosch equipment and I am a Bosch Service Center. Long story short I have had about enough with Bosch equipment! Currently my balancer is down due to faulty calibration. Also our alignment machine seems to be acting up. Ever since I've gotten my Bosch equipment we have had issues. I have never been fully confident with them and my lack of alignment and tire sales show it. Hell even my top of the line Bosch tire machine let's me down more often then not! Btw we have to try to service all our own equipment because there is no Bosch tech local to us. Very upsetting considering I have a lot of $$$ tied up in this stuff however I had a alignment customer just today that we attempted 4 alignments on 3 different days. Tons of labor hours wasted along with looking terrible in front of the customer. Also had a thumping vibration issue with a customers car we ended up tearing his whole suspension apart come to find out it was a faulty tire. Ugh!!!!!

AMAZING renovation!!!!

As per their yelp youtube video the business has been in existence since 1969.

These guys have VW and Audi in their name, and they are down the block. Been in business for 20-30 years. http://www.yelp.com/biz/brunos-volkswagen-and-audi-middle-village I think its a matter if you get caught but they probably would have grounds to tell you to take them down.

Insurance or warranty?