nmikmik

I would still ask them to give you a couple, three shop names that they are working with right now so you can call them and ask how they are REALLY doing. CARMandP should have it for about a month now, any updates? Real data v. inflated data, sounds a little "inflating" to me, just like anything else it's in the eyes of the beholder, what the real data is. I prefer to have my own site and pay for the maintenance rather than paying for someone to build and host it. What if it goes all hunky-dory and they double the price? What if they go out of business? I really see more value in mainstreethub v kukui (never used either) because it's 1/3 the price (unless you go premium) and you still can have your own site to drive the traffic to. You can put google analytics on your site now and then compare in a month or two how much more (hopefully) you are getting with whatever you decide to do. GL

Let me try and Pynny (or anyone) can correct me. He is suggesting not to follow the labor guide strictly because then you will NOT be fair to your mechanics and/or yourself. The point here is that you must charge the customer more money per job especially if you know that it will take longer, more involved work for your mechanic to do that job. For example the labor guide will say 2.3 hrs to replace "whatever that is" but your mechanic and hopefully you, see that it's an old car, rusted bolts, "rusted" customer that will require a 1/2hr explanation of the job been done. You need to increase the above 2.3 hrs, to let's say 3hr or 3.2 hr, depending on above difficulty. This way you are not shortchanging (underpaying) your mechanic because they will get paid for the amount of time it took them to perform the replacement of the part. I am going to sound like a broken record, but what you really need right now is training for yourself as an owner/service writer/office manager - that I suspect you are serving as right now. I do not suggest the coaching at this point, but a day or two of "business jump-start" would be very beneficial. If you suspect that you are easy to sell to, don't go because most of these companies are in business of coaching rather than seminars. I saw Mspecperformance gave you a very good suggestion of taking a parts supplier training, they should have less interest in selling you anything else other than training. Maybe find a course on-line you can take, but take something. You will have a much better understanding of the process, terms and your future plans after you take the training. hope this helps,

EXP, in my opinion Yelp or no Yelp, something similar is going to dominate your review market and if you are the first one, it gives you an advantage of just that, been the first one, with most reviews yada,yada, yada. I would actually advise against advertizing with them unless you are targeting a specific competitor that is already taking away your busies and of course if Yelp is prevalent. If most people in Kileen use smart phones, they are or will soon use Yelp as well, my 2c

I guess it depends what is the reason for your site. If you want to drive traffic to your site, you need: a. give them a compelling reason to go there rather than someplace else b. make that reason a focal point on your site Having testimonials and Yelp reviews readily visible on the site is also important imo, I'd be wiling to trade the huge logo to a list of Yelp reviews. That of course if you are proud of them GL

I really don't know anyone that keeps all encompassing inventory of the stuff anymore. When I had Toyota/Honda shop, i did stock filters but primarily because the same filter fit so many cars. I'd call someone like a WorldPack and get a quote on how much it would cost you to have a comprehensive inventory on hand and with their delivery times see if it's even worth it. I used to have a luxury of having a WP warehouse not even a two full blocks away from the shop, so I theoretically could literally walk there.

Joe, I am wondering how do you pay them during those 4-6 weeks of gauging their performance. Thanks!

imo, you must have a huge budget to use direct mail and be very targeted with it to get any meaningful response. I have used Cole and Haines http://www.coleinformation.com/ http://www.haines.com/ They both have their benefits and shortcomings. Not sure if you are able to pull the data based on the car they own, but know for sure you could do it by the household income bracket with Haines.

If hiring a SA is not in your immediate plans, start with computerizing your shop. Doing it by hand is admirable but also a huge pain if you need to make even a minute change in said matrix. You don't have to spend thousands of $ on it either, at least in the beginning. https://www.google.com/search?q=auto+repiar+shop+managemant+soeftware+free&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a http://www.autoshopowner.com/topic/287-what-auto-repair-management-software-are-you-using/

If your goal is to get some immediate business, don't. Save the money and use it on your website's SEO instead, maybe split it with the FB. If you are set on the mailings, replace the map with a QR code of your website. Replace the "As a gift for our neighbors" with "As appreciation to your neighbors" It does not jive to say a gift and then charge them $19.99, imo I realize that it's your logo on the card, but the colors are low impact, so it's a judgement call, but i'd change the colors leaving the same logo picture, just to make sure the card is picked out of the slew of other mail and actually looked at for at least a split second.

For how many years have you contemplated having a quick lube Auto74? I suspect that if you have not done it yet, you may never will. I vote for it been a business and not the height decision If you can financially justify having a pit and have it utilized at least 80%, then just fix what you have, deepen it and enjoy it. There is a possibility that you never went with the quick lube because it is so shallow... If you can justify filling the pit (still a cost i am guessing) purchase of a new/used lift if you don't want to have just empty space, then do that.

Sorry you have to go through this, it's really not funny (i did "like" your post) when customers expect us to fix their problems. I suspect, pretty soon we will be forced to run a credit on the customer before starting the work on their car Never mind, i hope it will never happens. But seriously, you knew when she stated talking about how poor she is, it was a red flag. Phynny, you are a good guy, but instead of offering her a car i'd have started charging her for storage (i really hope you do) the next day it was not paid and picked up. I know, to some I sound like an ahole, but most people like that needed some tough love from their parents, not to grow up dependent on others. If it's apparent that I am rambling, it's only because I had a very similar situation this morning and I am still fuming. Just wondering what was she driving before the Saturn, since she rather drive nothing than something for free?

Hi Joe, Why is the wireless a concern? in what respect? Thanks,

It definitely speeds up the process, especially eliminating confusions created by "fat-fingering" one digit. http://managerforum.net/viewtopic.php?f=55&t=7564

Take some courses, education will set you free Take a test, reorganize the business it will help the bottom line and your sanity (maybe in reverse) - http://www.managementsuccess.com/Intro-Services/Black-Hole-Test/index.asp I am not endorsing these specific people, but something has to be done.

Sorry, I meant that shops I am looking at right now are not even close to 60% margin, and looking and evaluating and dealing with brokers etc. has been a chore. Just pretty much complaining for no good reason

Yes, be fair to the client and don't give him a perception that he is been ripped off. Here you have a panel of people a lot more experienced than me, they can answer your specific question related to a situations similar to the one you described. If you pick up the phone and give them a call, letting them know what's going on, as soon as you see the amount of mess you have to deal with, it will give you a lot more credibility imo. If you let them know upfront that there is a possibility of things braking (rust whatever), needing more/better parts etc. this will make it more of (like phynny said) an estimate. Just don't let yourself convince you that you have to discount/give away services to stay competitive. Most of the time it's not the price you are competing on.

Me too, very surprised your customer did not bock at increased billing. His mind must have been preoccupied with something else.... The reason i am saying this is because customers subconsciously read your ques and if you think they are going to "give you a third degree", they will. Works both, on the phone and in person, more in person imo. Now, if you send him a no-nonsense thank you card and call him in few days to see how is he doing and ASK for referral, there is a chance he will refer someone just like him i.e. - no third degree, and on and on and on

Thanks, that is my problem at the moment (amongst many) is finding a shop with higher profit margin. This has been a job all by itself

Don't know if you had a chance to read my previous post, not that I think it's any more important or informative than any other advise you already received I think you both need to change your mental state first, then you will be receptive to what others are telling you. Try to have your husband complete the "black hole" test, just doing that should help him realize at least 50% of what he is doing wrong. here i googled it for you: http://www.managementsuccess.com/Intro-Services/Black-Hole-Test/index.asp

I suspect that's why Firestone can get away with their franchise fees Was it all "cloud-based" Wes? I bet there is a way and someone reading this, thinking - opportunity!

Hi grifftrans & sorry we have to welcome you on a not so upbeat note, but believe me there is only way up from her The fact that you are not technical is an advantage imo, in actually been able to run the shop like a business and not as a hobby, that I suspect your husband and probably 85-90% of us are treating this business like. I'd highly recommend attending one of the Auto Shop Management one-two day seminars, i don't want to endorse any specific one, just google it.... I would not sign up for their coaching though, at least not yet. You guys need to bring your bottom line up first, then spend the money on marketing and then on coaching, again imo. The fact that you can run the shop and let the hubby turn the wrenches is another benefit (who is going to stay with kids though?) , because you can look any customer/neighbor whoever, straight in the eyes and say – “this is how much it is going to take” If they ask why, you say “this is what it takes for us to stay in business and feed our family” Coming from you, I suspect it has a different weight… And please, do yourself a favor and take this lexicon out of your vocabulary and thinking: “ He's been bad about not separating business with personal, and I understand it's hard when you're a sole proprietor.” How about NO - I don't understand. If his clients really appreciate his honest work they HAVE to PAY him ACCORDINGLY. Sorry for shouting, but I really want to drive this point to you. If you need out support with him, have him join our weekly chat and someone will slap him around a bit to get his "checkup from the neckup" GL

I know it will be another judgment call, but... If you are an introvert as much as you think you are, maybe hiring a kid better yet a girl to distribute the fliers first, then stop buy and introduce yourself, so it does not seem like you are begging for business. Offer them the pickup/drop off - if you can. Coming from experience, it's a big benefit to a business owner GL

There plenty of places that help techs just like the one in question here, to pass the test. http://www.tests.com/ASE-A1-Engine-Repair-Practice-Test Just have another tech smack him upside the head (you as a boss are not allowed unfortunately ) to get the fear out of his thinking. If he takes the mock tests enough times and feels how easy they are, he will pass on the first try. I think that time constrain causes some people (ahem yours trully) to freeze, again practicing the test helps with that as well - tremendously.

From what I understand, there are liability issues related to doing business that way and your insurance company will (most likely) bock at it. If you don't want to hire a "low life individuals" you'd have to be there all the time, then you become a consultant/advisor, then you might as well charge for your service as a full service shop

Thanks, would you mind sharing the link to the article. Seems I can't find it online.