UsedTireShop

Is anyone using Mitchell CRM with success? I am not sure if I am getting any ROI. I also dislike the reporting and I hate that I can not read the recommended emails that they send to customers. Any input would be appreciated.

I use Bolt On for my texting service. I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!. Bolt On nailed their Messenger Pro program. Have you ever called a customer to discuss an estimate and they are in the middle of cleaning up little Johnnies spilled milk while the 2 dogs are barking uncontrollably? Not me anymore. I simply select the customers name and then select my quick template which reads: "Don Your 2007 Infiniti G35 has been diagnosed and an estimate prepared. Please call 4016814994 so we can discuss repair costs & completion time, Thanks." When the customer has a few free minutes they call me for the price. I can not tell you how much easier it is to close a sale when the customer is calling you when they have the time. Texting also makes your shop look up to date on technology. This is a must have tool for any shop.

I hope we get a cold and snowy winter here in the Northeast. I hate cold and snow but I need the money.

Activant / Epicor does this but you have to look up each vendor individually. Parts Tech's idea is a one and done application. Parts Tech just really sucks right now. I hope the continue working on their site. They seem to show me everyone selling a part rather than my vendors.

Be careful with AutoVitals. They have a 1 year contract that you can not get out of. So if you don't like it or find a bigger better deal your are locked. I used them since January and then I discovered Bolt On Technologies last month. I still have to pay AutoVitals. I think it is a crappy thing to do to people.

Thank you for all the replies. So far I have not heard from AMEX. I provided them a SIGNED copy of the credit card slip and a text from my automated system stating the car was 100% 2 days after the repair. Time will tell...

We are stumped on this one. This van was limped to us by the customer who tried to fix it himself. Truck was skipping and barely running. We shimmed the new crank sensor. Reset the distributor (it was off 2 teeth). We repaired the common ground issue this vehicle has. Changed the dist. cap and rotor with Eclin parts. Truck ran great for one day. Day 2 it was limped back to our shop. We found that we had to cycle the key to get the fuel pressure up. We replaced the clogged fuel filter. Truck still wouldn't start because of no spark. We changed the ignition module and the truck started and ran fine for a little bit. The tech noticed that the voltage gauge was pinned in the red. We assume the high voltage cooked the module. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

I have text's from her. ME: Lisa, this is Jeff, manager of RI Tire and Service. I wanted to make sure our work on your Volvo went well. Everything OK? Customer: Hi Jeff the car runs 100 percent better thanks for checking in I appreciate that ME: Awesome I am happy for you. Have a great weekend. Customer: Lisa, Call Jeff at the shop when you are free. Me: Lisa. Before we change out the battery and alternator you must have these wire fixed. They are causing issues. The car runs great but after it sits all night it is hard to start until we wiggle the wires. Customer: How much will that all cost? ME: We need to find an automotive electrical shop. This is not something I feel comfortable doing. http://www.volvomechanics.com/volvoshops/rhode-island/ Customer: Thank you for your help do you know of anyone that could do this ?

Hello, I received my first charge back today. Does anyone have experience with this? The story: Lady came in with a Volvo that ran poorly. We pulled the code and followed the diagnostic tree. The result was to replace the throttle body. I ordered a new throttle body from Volvo. After we installed this part the customer came in and used her AAA to tow it to a local foreign car specialist to have it programmed. We pick it up from the repair shop and brought it back to our shop so she could pick it up. 3 days later the car came back running poorly again. I called the shop that programmed it to see if they could add any tips. The technician then informed me that they use generic programming and the vehicle should be programmed by the dealer. I paid and towed it to a Volvo dealer. Next day we pick it up. After payment we went to the car and it wouldn't start. The Volvo tech came out and shook some wire and the car started. We drove it back to our shop and it was running poorly. I soon realized that I have no right or desire to mess with the God awful Volvo wiring. I paid once again to tow it to a different foreign car specialist. As of late last week the car was still there. Today I receive a pre charge back from AMEX for $1,230. I have until July 4th to send them my answer. Any feedback would be appreciated.

The original guy went out of business for a reason.

Does anyone have "What to expect" sheets? If not would anyone like to join forces and create them? What is a "What to expect" sheet? This sheet is a paper given to a customer during the check out procedure and it contains things that the customer is to expect after a repair. For example after an exhaust job the sheet would read something like: Our trained technician has installed a high quality exhaust on your vehicle. You may experience an odor from the vehicle. This is normal and should dissipate in 30 miles or so. This smell is caused from oil that used in manufacturing your exhaust. We want to thank you for choosing us to service your vehicle and we look forward to serving you, your family and friends in the future. Jeff Service Advisor - RI Tire and Service. (401) 555-5555 I always set the expectation of what the customer is to expect but I think it would be classy to hand them a sheet. On the back of mine I will add a flyer or story of some sort. I also plane to used pastel colored paper.

Our labor rate is $105.43

I offer customer financing through Paramount payment. I really like them but they are getting harder to use because they require that my customers have a check. So many people do not use checks anymore. Can anyone recommend a finance company that does not require checks? Jeff

I am really paying attention to my numbers. Do you close out an invoice when the customer pays or when the job is complete? Some folks do not pick up for days making one day look great and the other no so good.

I run a good car care club. It locks people in. Message me and I will email you a copy of my Car Care Club Card.

We have a regional chain store that often offer $99 brakes. We often place our sidewalk sign out and it reads... We Fix $99 Brake Jobs!

I agree with dfrisby. The tech should be paid the same. My question is how much do you pay for insurance on a loaner car? My insurance guy wanted $1,600 per car per year. What if the car comes back with the tail light in the back seat. Does the customer pay for the damage?

10% is achievable for us because of 2 factors. 1. We went from a used tire shop to a complete repair facility. 2. In 2014 and 2015 we were in the middle of a construction zone. The construction crew is still in the area but not in front of our shop. It was hell from July 10, 2014 until mid August 2015.

The 10% is what I feel is a minimum growth a shop should have.

Does your insurance company know that you sell used tires?

Okay... here is the story. I actually have 2 companies. I started as RI Used Tire in 2008. In 2009 I began to add tires to a web site. My customers like it so much that I hired an outside source to help me design a database that I could easily add and subtract my tires online. 1 year later UsedTireShop.net was born. My software company has grown and grown and now we have tires shops all over the world using our software. In 2014 my insurance company sent me a letter stating that I could no longer sell used or aged tires. So I switched from RI Used Tire to RI Tire and Service. At this time I was okay with it because we were under a construction nightmare and there was no way I was getting my usual 80 - 100 cars per week. There is awesome money selling used tires but you have to get at least 80 cars a week. Fast forward to today and I am looking to change from RI Tire and Service to Primary Care Auto Repair. I hate selling new tires because of the low profit margin. I will be glad to get the word TIRES out of my name. We are currently a value added shop. We pick up and deliver, We wash and vacuum every car and we have an impressive marketing program. An that is my tiring life in a nutshell.

I do not sell used tires any more.

Thank you so much for your response.

I am working on a white board for our shops goals for this coming June. This board will include monthly goals for sales, car count and average repair order amount. As the owner I expect at least a 10% growth. My confusion is 10% over what? Last month or last June? My shop seems to have a life of its own depending on the month. How about your shop?

I paid Yelp for months and saw no measurable return. Do not fall victim to their 1 year contract. My landlord got a 3 month contract with them. Yelp is good in some areas of the country and not so good in others. I would search auto repair shops in your area on Yelp and call them. Some will tell you if it works for them or not.