nmikmik

What i meant was that you pretty much have to be independently wealthy or sell your soul to the credit cards in order to afford them, hence the quotes.

The important question(S) is "Does your technician know how much it costs you?" and "Did you move either pole or the employee"?

Well, with this kind of thinking would you suggest for your own customers to pull their money together, go buy their own parts and negotiate a "wholesale deal" with you. Not "really" picking on your shop's name, but with "discount" in it, already probably happening Businesses like Identifix are relying on shops paying the full price for service, if everyone would do what you are suggesting, they would go out of business or would have to increase their prices to compensate for stealing. I am sure it is costing them extra right now to investigate the IP addresses etc. to prevent/deal with the issue.

Another point to be noted in the "Employee Handbook" - Your tools is your responsibility, that includes the purchase/trade or non-work related handling of which. Lunchtime is the perfect time for the "poor-man-truck" to stop by.

I agree and suspect that this last part "*On top of that, what if the car lot they bought it from recommended they come see you to have the car worked on and serviced?" makes it the most difficult to tell them the "whole thing". Depending on your relationship with the selling "dealer" that recommends them your services. I'd talk tot hem and see if they are willing to recommend your prepurchase inspection to prospective buyers. I'd also recommend hanging a sign i the shop "We DO a (put down whatever # point) prepurchase and presale inspections, please tell your neighbor" or come up with something on the funny side.... That way, when all bunch of goodies are discovered, you can point to the sign, smile (depending on the damage) and say "I wish you came to me first"

I have read/heard, whatever somewhere, don't quote me on that That, if at least two of your customers don't tell you that you are too expensive or charging too much, it means you are not at your "optimal" hourly rate. So think of it as a compliment from them. Now, if those two customers are the only ones you got in for that week, that's a problem, isn't it? As far as "price sensitive" (lmao not at them, but with them at myself) customers and responses to their complaints, i usually ask what they do for living and if they wouldn't mind doing the same job for about half the salary. This usually takes care of the highly analytical types, others just won't hear you no matter what.

I thought I have seeing this topic recently, here it is from the forum search; http://www.autoshopowner.com/topic/9137-employee-handbook/?hl=handbook

I second and third the above There is so many things to be taken into consideration, close to impossible to recommend... I'd say, ask yourself why did he offer it to you. Who will benefit the most from the "transition"? I recommend getting your C1 ASE first, shadow the writer for couple of hours a week (2-3 weeks), so it does not negatively affect your earning ability. Then start saving and stashing the money away. That way if you make any kind of move, you fell safer, bolder and more confident at whatever you end up doing.

Write something you'd write on Facebook. Something you care about. What the latest and greatest BMW snafu, what makes maintaining one car more important than the rest of them. Have something funny or quirky about your area where you are at or about your shop. Make it as personable as possible so people who read it can relate. Include the latest special, so they know to look for it in the latest publication. Most important put it on your schedule to create one every whatever the period you want it to go out and 2 weeks in advance of the actual date so you don't have to drop everything and start haltingly writing the stuff. m2c

I actually really liked it too & whatever Wes said. If your URL belongs to you not the Kukui, i'd load your pictures using Picasa service. this way (only guess on my part) Google may like your pages better than otherwise. also if you have regularly issues newsletter, leave a spot on the page(es) for the customer to be able to sign up for it..

Erosion of the middle class and not the technology that will have the biggest impact on our business imo. Look at all the people that postpone major safety repairs and decline maintenance on both their cars and homes. Is it because they don't know or see that it's a necessity, no, most likely it's because they are in debt up to their noses and have other bills to pay. Technology is moving faster and faster every minute, there is no stopping it. The only question, who is going to be able to afford the latest and greatest. I suspect that some of the cars by 2050 will be an absolute technological marvel but most of the population will be either riding buses or other public transportation. The rest 10-15% will be either driving a trowaway car or maybe even sharing a car as a service rather than item they own.

You have few options here imo. But FYI - I am only a part time shrink jk. I didn't quite understand if you said that you can or can not loose him, assuming you can't at this moment. He is spending minimum half of his daytime hours with you, right? Try to influence what goes in, you will most likely influence what comes out. Silly as it may sound, but what radio or TV station is on during your working hours? If it's a talk radio, change it to whatever music you both can appreciate. Implement some kind of training procedure (i know you/him whatever, don't think he needs it) just to keep him busy (he is going to complain about that too, so be prepared) when he is not working on the cars. Make you shop environment more fun for him, he must like something. Please note I am not promoting pole dancers or anything like that While doing it all, try looking for a replacement. Not saying you must replace him, but if it comes to that, better to come from you and expected rather than from him and with two weeks notice. I do believe that people can and do change, as rare as it may be, but only under extreme external circumstance. One more thing, try to see how often you are complaining yourself. Just put a tick-mark somewhere you can refer back to at the end of the day/week. Sometimes the employee is subconsciously saying what the employer wants to her. We tend to her others more than we hear ourselves speak...

5 Star, Looks like you need a good integration software, unfortunately i have no suggestions.... Don't know why my second link ended in the oblivion, here is a copy that hopefully work; http://www.autoinc.org/archives/2013/july2013/mechanical.htm i'd also like to direct you to the ASO forum specifically dedicated to shop management software, maybe there you can find a post or posts that would help you choose what you need; http://www.autoshopowner.com/forum/37-management-software-web-sites-web/

I don't use anything right now... Bu the one I used before was the AllData and it was not very smooth.

I never called them to price it out, but from what I heard they are both outrageously expensive. I have posted regarding ADP before, but for a different reason. It seems you will be able to find a software (seems like they are sprouting like no tomorrow) that fits your shop and management style the best. Considering the fact that you are a detail shop and repair shop in one, AllData is probably not the best to handle both. Here is a couple of links. http://www.autoshopowner.com/topic/9098-dealership-experience/ http://www.autoinc.o.../mechanical.htm

Speaking of learning something, WOW. I am surprised I was able to write this much, cause I am speechless. Thank you Xrac

"I feel like it would be rude and unprofessional for me to ask for money up front but I think that is where I am headed so that I can weed this thing out. It is very frustrating." Don't you feel they are rude to you, by practically lying to you about their ability to pay? I suspect that in a short period of time you will be able to "read" their telegraphed messages and figure out what's inside'em. I am wondering if your prices aren't too low Pj, If you don't have a couple of people a week complaining that you are too high, you are most likely too low. Low prices tend to attract people that can't pay. If you feel that you can't up your rates instantaneously, at least post a big sign - Storage fee $37.76 a day If they ask why such a weird number, tell them it's $7.00 for storage and $30.76 for the aggravation. See how that works for them...

Waring a uniform and taking care of it i.e. not ruining it, is responsibility of the tech and should be a part of our employee handbook. If the friendly and groomed service writer is face of the front shop, the clean and groomed tech is the face of the back shop. Regardless of the age of the person, certain universal "common sense" should apply to all in the shop, no exceptions. Some people will not understand until you hit them in the pocket. Maybe it's time?

The Carfax integration into our management system is a nice perk, but we pay for the management systems. Why should we pay for the second time with our customer's information? Good bad of indifferent, this information should stay with the customer, not with Carfax and be available only through a court order imo. It shouldn't be our choice or responsibility to police who does what with their cars. If opting out from sending the info to Carfax is not an option, I'd say we should have a check-box on the repair order (maybe with place for initials next to it) to allow the customer to choose what to do with HIS information.

Lol, Good thing she was not allergic to one of the ingredients or just hates chicken salad

hahaha, that's why they say never assume ha? At that rate, you may be better ranting i guess. Or maybe it make a lease with option to buy if you feel like it.

Not sure what the real long term effect of that program will be, but here is some fairly detailed post regarding the program http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2011/10/cash-for-clunkers-two-years-later.html imo, nothing that is artificially takes away and/or inserts something into economy can have any long term benefit, but I am not economist, just a regular Joe Schmo, what do I know. What I think I know, is that people are still going to buy new cars because they are shiny and well marketed and we buy on emotions not on logic. Some of them will default on their loans, but car is already in "circulation", so it will go to the auction and another "Joe Schmoe" will end up buying it. Depending on how many hands it will change the reliability of that specific car will be effected and so will our "opportunity" to see it in the shop. I really wish there was some kind of generic chart, showing - "Buying a new car with payments vs keeping the older car with maintenance". But again, that's logic and people don't use it in general, especially when it comes to new and shiny things

The only "I wish I did this" for me personally is Going for a shorter lease term a 3 year instead of 7 year and a two longer options like two 10 year options instead of one 15 year option. Owning your own place is another, hoping it is still achievable for me and others.

So the "winning" shop not only gives up the very last bit of possible profit (please note I am not using it as a dirty word) but also has to pay for it. I mean, that's a great business model for the Mr. Fred Yu, but for the shop is literally and figuratively speaking a loosing proposition. If the "bait and switch" tactics used to be pretty much a move out of despair, now with the "improved system", it will become a rule of the road for these shops.

I agree with you Joe, The statement above sounds like an oxymoron, but unfortunately does not surprise me a bit. What i think (and hope) this will achieve, is to do exactly what it is intended - give the "price shopper" customers the lowest possible price and give the "car count only" shops what they want - the car count. It should also give us another boost to remind us why are we in this business and why we should give our customers reasons to not even consider a service as "Repair Jungle" . I'd really like to see the Yelp (and alike) reviews of the business after it goes through the "Jungle". They may as well call it a "Bait and switch Jungle" imo I am also wondering how much this "service" cost to the shop. I doubt it's free even to the customer, considering his "satisfaction"