HarrytheCarGeek

Sure, on FB we run a location based ad for failed inspection, picture of a rejected sticker and a cop giving out a ticket to a woman, the demographics are for 24 to 64, male and female. Spending $300 a week pulling in about 35 to 50 new customers. Average RO is $354. Right now our return on those ads are $2 to 1 spent.

If the site was in a less trafficked area, I would print up some materials, EDDM, and run events like car clinics and such. Also, I would sponsor some little league teams and school events. Also, on social media, location based advertising is pulling well for me, you have to make some compelling ads though, some fear based ads also work well.

What's the shop location like? Is it a high traffic highway? or off Main street and somewhat secluded? If it was in a high traffic location, I would make some customer solution appeal based signs, for example.

This is one reason I hate cheap oil changes, the tech finds things to up-sell just so the customer takes his business elsewhere to have the vehicle serviced. I charge full price for LOF, and I have found out that customers that don't mind paying regular prices for oil changes, also do not have issues dropping the car off to have it serviced. It takes Iron core discipline to choose to say no to unprofitable cheapskates, mostly because they seem to lead you to think they are customers.

I was not superstitious until I met my nemesis, a 2006 3.6L VW Passat. I can now do that engine with my eyes closed. But darn if a dark cloud doesn't roll over the shop, thunder and lighting strike, a black cat crosses the road, and mirrors break when a VW 3.6L drives by the shop.

Hi, Vinny! Welcome! Here in the U.S.A. online parts ordering is made much easier by the use of Vehicle Identification Numbers. You plug in the VIN into the program and it list the parts that should fit your particular vehicle. Do you guys have something like that there? I have a good friend that moved to England about two years ago, he is phenomenal with diesel repair, I will see if I can get you in touch with him, I am sure he can share some good ideas with you. -Harry

It's funny, when you know something, it seems so simple, when you are ignorant even simple explanations seem complicated. Businessman-->monetizes--->Tech knowledge and labor. "Buys low and sells high, must make a profit over all his expenses to stay in business." Tech---> Sells knowledge and labor to---> Businessman. Must make more money than the cost of his living expenses and necessities and taxes to work for Businessman. If you are single man shop you wear many, many, many, hats. You are businessman, tech, accountant, salesman, manager, parts guy, delivery guy, janitor, etc. A good businessman knows he must make a profit to stay in business. He knows his customers, and what to charge the different segments of society, i.e., a cashier driving a 1994 nissan sentra can only afford certain amount, vs the IT vice president driving the 2011 Audi S8. To the tech, changing front rotors and pads is somewhat similar between the two cars, but one thing is certain, it will consume some of the tech's time for sure. If both cars only pay 1 hour for the similar job, it does not make much difference to the tech, as he will get paid for his hour. On the other hand, the businessman has to know that the profit will be greater with the customer that has more disposable income. EDIT: P.S. apologies for hijacking the thread.

welcome Don!

Replacing rotors in pairs helps keep consistency in maintenance, and safety. By doing so you remove the guessing game of when you need to do it again, and basically the customer trades some dollars for convenience and certainty. Kinda, doing light bulbs in pairs, you know, I am sure you had a customer come in for a burned out headlight bulb and a few weeks later he comes in again for the other one. There are customers that if you explain to them that they may have to comeback for the other bulb, they dispense with the inconvenience and tell you to do both.

I think you are correct, I has this happen before. Christian, excellent pro tip!

You can get lost on all the minutiae of record keeping and technical of the business. I learned a while back that a dashboard with the necessary and relevant key performance indicators is all you need. An excel spreadsheet easily does the job. Anyways, calculate your payroll for your staff at full time, then price out the target revenue you will need to cover all that labor, doing this will yield your pricing basis.

Neat little trick our IT guy figured out, the landing pages we are using now go through a google registered domain, and the links point to our regular domains, anyhow, the SEO guys have us come up 10x on the local searches, have notice a very substantial change. I am very happy with the results.

I think you will be surprised to learn that general auto has lower margins than transmission repairs. But if you can pull it off, you will increase your revenues and profits.

Do you think you are going to retire by saving in real estate? Look at this chart, what happens to real estate prices when interest rates rise?

Wanna talk about baggage?! Lol, flat broke 1st duty station, found a non-running beetle, like this one: http://imgfave.com/view/2360489 hahaha, oh, man! I still get heat from my old army buddies for buying and fixing that car! hahaha

ajnealey, You make me feel proud! It's people like you that show how much we care for our customers! Kudos to you for looking out for your people!

After6tuning, thanks for the link. Guys, it's a PR war, not only in our industry but pretty much any industry where trust matters. Like Joe says, "We all need to do what we can top raise the image bar." Here is my latest article. Edit: Notice that there is no listed editor, they quote their mechanic John Ibbotson regarding scams. But fail to point that unethical people are the problem, a thief is a thief. A skilled mechanic is worth his hire, and would not have a problem making money honestly. http://www.consumerreports.org/car-maintenance/5-auto-repair-shop-scams-your-mechanic-might-try/#social_fb_comments

See, Mike, this is a perfect opportunity for you to follow up! "Mr. King, I haven't heard from you regarding the facts to support your determination, if within XX days i haven't heard from you, we agree this matter is settled and you waive any and all future claims." In other words, put up, or shut up and forever hold your peace.

Read the thread, bstewart, answered your question on post #13

Mike, why make it a pissing contest? I like to put everything in writing to avoid miscommunication. Ask Mr King to put his grievance in writing and to verify his claim and sign his name. If he tells you are in breach or default tell him to put it in writing and the facts for his determination. Make sure you know the terms of your agreement, if the truck man is not an agent for SnapOn credit, I can see where someone may have been led astray. But if "King" thinks that he can just trample on another man, he may just get a rude awakening. I used to get into this long winded disputes when I was young, not any longer. I have them put everything in writing and I do the same, look at the facts and proceed accordingly.

Joe, likewise, wishing you and everyone here a Happy Easter!

That's a nice subsidy the state is getting from you guys. I bet you it costs you more to slap that rejection sticker than the $12.78 you collect.

Depends on the product. These guys have good consistent products that have checked out on the lab samples I have done. http://www.weberoil.com/index.php Call them up and ask them for a quote. Although you couldn't use them as they may not be local to you.

This is really a great question. I have struggled and continue to struggle with this question. I have made many mistakes dealing with this and have not really settled the matter. The closest compromise that I have reached is that I have a sales team paid a base and commissions. For example, their work entails keeping up to date and servicing the account, plus deriving a 1.5 to 3% of the gross billing above the cost of their base. There is a one time commission on new account acquisition too. A very good sales guy should be bringing you about $2.5mm is gross business minimum. You want good credit worthy accounts that pay on time and no hassles collecting your money. Having said that, this questions always leads me back to the most fundamental question which is, how much should I be making out of my business for my time and investment? I am certain that you will reach a point where you will have to choose to take your money and run from the industry, or stay invested and continue to work in the business.

http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/Inspections/tailpipe.htm They did away with the safety portion in 2010, take a wild guess what has happened to the auto repair business? http://www.state.nj.us/mvc/PressReleases/archives/2010/071610.htm It's all political wrangling, yet the people that have a vested interest in the matter are not represented. At the end of the day, it seems to me that one must become politically involved.