CAautogroup

Thanks for your input. Yes, we current offer both appointments and utilize a multi vehicle inspection report. The problem being we are slow in the mornings and pick up around noon time. And things just are too hectic over the weekend when customers have time to bring in their vehicles for repairs on a walk in basis. We would like to keep our techs busy during the morning time but how can we get customers to come in during those hours? Offer a discounted price, shuttle service, etc? Thanks for your thoughts and opinions.

Has anyone tried Early Bird Specials? If so, how was the outcome and what exactly did you advertise for? We are very slow in the mornings. The guys are walking around with nothing to do (shop has already been cleaned, trashed out, inventory stocked,etc). We are thinking of running some specials to take advantage of this down/slow time. Thank you in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

What time do you typically take in your last customer for the day? We are open from 7am-6pm Monday-Friday. We normally get customers coming in after work. We recently had a customer come in at 5:55 and asked for a basic vehicle inspection that normally takes anywhere from 10-15 mintues. Would you provide the service for this customer? Or would you ask the customer to return in the morning? We are a growing business and every penny matters. Though the guys at the shop, including the inspectors, do not seem to realize this. How would you handle such a situtation? Thanks for your thoughts and opinions.

How so you go about servicing Tpms? What scan tool would you recommend for reprogramming / flashing newly installed sensors? How do you typically go about charging for servicing such an item?

No vehicle is released until payment is made in full........ Simple as that.

Any particular brand of dye you would recommend?

How you would you handle this situtation. A customer brings in her vehicles insisting on a certain repair to be performed in hopes of solving her vehicles problem, but she does not want us to perform nor pay for a diagnostic. She stated she already had a diagnostic performed elsewhere and that the requested part to be replaced was the source of the problem. Would you willingly perform the repair? Do you have a document/waiver/disclaimer outlining that she denied a diagnostic to be performed by you and still wanted to go thru with the repairs?(If so, can you share a bit of it I would greatly appreciate it). As a professional in this industry, do you assume responsibility if you know that the requested repair will not solve the problems the vehicle is experiencing but still do the repairs? I hate to see jobs literally walk out the door, but I would also like to avoid as much headache as possible (though that seems inevitable in this type of business). But, it also makes me wonder why she did not go through with the repairs at the shop she got it diagnosed at.... Thanks for your thoughts and opinions!

We have the same problem at our shop. I know exactly how you feel. Most of the time we state that it takes 10 min or less and that in it self makes the sale or brings back customers later on down the road. I would also like to hear other shop owners suggestions regarding this topic.

Well, we have had the same experience in the past and this is the main reason as to why we do not accept personal checks. When we had a bounced check or check with no sufficient funds, we took it to the local small claims court house and filed the appropriate paper work. They ask for a copy of the check, customer information, etc. Its amazing how fast someone will pick up the phone with the caller id "____ Court House". We had customers wanting to pay over the phone in addition to the bounced check fees! We preferred not to deal with these haggles and eliminated check as a form of payment. Best of luck!

First off, Wow! $19.99 oil change? Where is the margin profit in that? We tried that for a while at our shop and had the same end result as you. Seemed to attract customers who did not care much for their vehicles, or the type of oil recommended. Additional services were always offered but almost never purchased ( filters, fluid flushes, etc). These customers always seemed to cause problems (my car was not like this before, noise now, leak now, etc). So, we stopped and have changed up our tactics and now are upselling better oil and additional services.

Hello all, I was wondering if any other automotive repair shops out there have waiver forms for customers to sign? I.E. using customer supplied parts (no warranty), using a different oil than what is recommended by the manufacturer because it is more cost effect for customers, not wanting to repair a safety item / not safe for the vehicle to be driven, etc. If so, what do you include in your forms? Or do you just document it on the reciept? Thank you for your thoughts and opinions.

What kind of notes do you take while servicing or even before servicing a vehicle? Safety items only ( tires, lights, etc)? Fluid levels? Do you short had any notes or any items of extreme importance? (CEL, ABS, TPMS)? For CELs do you write out the code and a short description? For vehicles left for repairs, do you ask the customer to write out the problem they are experiencing in their own words and sign it? Thanks in advance for all your thoughts and opinions.

Consider your expeneses first. Who will be dropping off and picking up customers? Will you have to hire additional help or will you or one of your techs be responsible for this? From prior experience at our shop, we have had to work around the customers schedule when to pick them up, which can sometimes be a haggle - yet, they do appreciate it. We provide a shuttle service to select customers, meaning, if they are leaving their vehicles for major repairs- not a simple oil change, rotation, inspection, etc. Liability is also a factor to consider.. accidents, tickets, etc.

Hello all, How many auto repair shops / quick lubes / etc follow up there repairs by filling out a Multi-Point Vehicle Inspection Form? I would like to introduce this concept to our facility in hopes of obtaining future jobs and to tell customers about any present or future problems. If you currently use a form, did you design it yourself or purchase a generic form? Do you give a copy to the customer or just keep it for your records (carbon copy)? I am not too sure about other shops, but I also feel it is somewhat of a liability if an item is overlooked or not properly examed and checked or marked off in acceptable condition. Do you ask the customer to sign off on the inspection form so they are in reciept of it? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Hello all, How many here have an actual employee breakroom? We have an office we have dedicated as a breakroom, but now I feel it turned into a bad idea. Several employees seem to be taking advantage of the area. Make them selves comfortable when there is no work, lounge around, take more than the alloted time to eat their lunch, and sometimes even grabbing a book or magazine to read. In our state, we are not required by law to have a break/lunch room. Thoughts as to how you would handle this? Should we just eliminate the room and have more office space? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Hello all, I had a few concerns when it comes to test driving a customers vehicle for various reasons (diagnostic, test drive, overheating, noise, etc). Do you limit the length of time (minutes) a technician/mechanic is allowed to test drive a customers vehicle or the amount of times a technician/mechanic can test drive a customers vehicle? Any thoughts or opinions? Also, would you test drive a customers vehicle if the plates/tags/registration/etc are expired? How would you handle this situtation after you have repaired the vehicle? or about to repair it? Thanks in advance for your answers.

Hello all, I would just like some feedback from current shop/lube owners who offer windshield chip repair services. We are thinking of introducing this service at our auto repair facility this coming year. Do you have any particular brands to recommend or any kits to be used?? How do you go about determing charges? Do you offer any sort of warranty? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Hello all, What policies / procedures / rules do you have and enforce on your employees that represent your business? ie no cell phone use, professional attire, etc. We seem to be having a tough time at our facility of the employees following direct orders. What steps do you take to enforce rules in the work place? ie probation, time off? Do you have a handbook you follow? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Recently, I discovered that an employee of ours mocks and makes fun of me (the owner) during my time off. They take my words out of context, poke fun at the way I talk and work the business, and most of all just disrespect me. Should I confront this employee? If so, what do I say? I have had meetings in the past with the techs and tell them if they have any comments, suggestions, concerns, complaints, etc. to come to me directly and it will be handled accordingly. But rather, they choose to criticize my actions, and mimic me. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Hello, We are curently expanding our quick lube due to high demand. I would like to know how other quick lube owners go about running their shops and their daily routines. Do you charge extra for cartridge oil filters, removing skid/cover plates, etc, waste removal/shop fee? What are your procedures in place for upselling? Do you take the customer out to the vehicle? Speak with them in the waiting area? We currently have a program in place, sort of a check list that we go thru to ensure every item is checked visiually. We also document our findings in our programs to avoid any future problems (i.e. the CEL was on before we serviced the vehicle,etc). Thanks for your thoughts and opinions in advance.

What are your thoughts and opinions when a customer comes into the office and asks directly speak with the mechanic? I have noticed this to be a far too common issue in our automotive repair facility. Most are seeking free advise and repair the vehicles themselves or else where. Yet, once I mention a diagnostic fee... they leave. How would you handle this matter? How would you also approach customers speaking with mechanics privately? I do trust my mechanics to a certain extent, but I have a feeling side jobs are in the talks. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions, Nick

Hi, our automotive repair facility is looking to purchase a new welding machine to start repairing catalytic converters, exhaust systems, and mufflers. Any suggestions for a particular brand to recommend? Also, any insights for any distributors or where to purchase catalytics from? Thanks in advance for your help and opinion.

How do you guys control your in house inventory? Do you have any programs in particular that may be of any use? We are currently doing are inventory every week by pen and paper, and yes, it does led to mistakes of "not" having a product in stock, when in fact we do. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

How do you deal with authorization of repairs when a vehicle is left for the diagnostic and a customer agrees to fix the vehicle over the phone? Do you ask the customer to come to the shop and sign off on the estimated costs of the repair? Or take the verbal agreement over the phone? We have had problems in the past with customers "claiming" the price we told them and which they agreed to over the phone is different than what we are charging them, which is not true. Also, we had an incident the past week that a customers brought in their vehicle for a diagnostic. They filled out the work order form and left. The customers husband comes in about 20-30 min later and demands that we don't touch the vehicle and does not want us to diagnose anything, yet my techs have already spent a considerable amount of time searching for the problem. How would you approach this sitation? Would you still charge the full diagnostic fee? Thank you in advance for your thoughts and opinions.

Thanks for the insight. If after road testing prior to the alignment, you believe the alignment will not help or solve the problem they are experiencing would you charge for a diagnostic? What would you do in that position? Thanks.