UsedTireShop

I created a pretty good pay scale. Here it is: Efficiency Hourly Rate 100%+ $30.00 90-99% $27.70 80-89% $25.40 70-79% $23.10 60-69% $20.80 50-59% $18.50 40-49% $16.20 This is for techs.

I agree with everything said here. I tried Mudlick last year.. EPIC FAILURE.

Can someone who uses a white board successfully post a picture of their board please.

I love our digital inspections as well. The work needed up sells itself.

I am looking for someone to tell me if my shop did something wrong. I would prefer a technician who knows Hybrid Prius's. I am a 30 year tech but I know nothing about hybrids. Here is the story: Young man comes in for an oil change and tire rotation. We perform these services, wash and vacuum the car and off he goes. 30-40 minutes later we get a call from this young man saying his car won't go. He drove the car about 15-20 miles. So I have it towed in. The next morning I start the car right up. It ran great but I noticed the high voltage battery was at 1 bar. After reading Identifix I ran the car with the ac on high for a couple of hours. The battery stayed at 1 bar. I have the customer take the car and on the way home it charges fine. I recommended for him have the car checked and she was told that the only thing that can do that is leaving the key on. Could this be possible? He is looking for me to refund his $90 tow. TYIA

I simply place this on the RO: SAFETY WARNING Customer was advised and understands that this vehicle is not safe to drive. Customer also understands that driving this vehicle could result in an accident, injury and/or death. Sign:____________________________________________

Code 1391 keeps poping back on after several re-starts. We have replaces the crank shaft sensor, Camshaft sensor unit. Everything is aligned but the damn light comes on. Any help would be appreciated.

I have talked to Elon several times on the phone. He has always been insightful and truly seems to care about me and my shop. Elon offers help for shop owners to maximize their time profits and sales skills. Where do you think he should look for new clients? McDonald's?

We always inform the customer that our initial diagnosis is FREE. We spend 10-15 minutes diagnosing the car. After the 15 minutes we inform the customer of the findings and state that we have to perform a "Specialty Test" which is usually $45 to $75. The main idea is to offer a free initial diagnosis over the phone to get the car to OUR shop.

I think that if your are losing your customers to a mobile tech then you have not built a very good relationship with your customers. Our shops goal is to find 1,200 customers who spend $900 a year on their vehicle. That would be a MILLION DOLLAR business. Once we find these (preferred) customers we give them the white glove treatment. This week we had a customer who was flying out of our local airport on Wednesday. She was going to have a friend get up at 4 am to give her a ride. I recommended that she let her friend sleep in and that I will go pick up the car from short term parking at 8am when I get to the shop. On Friday I washed her car, vacuumed it and added an air freshener. We then picked her up at 1pm on Friday. (total cost to the shop $21) She has spent over $900 this year with me so far. We call this "CUSTOMERS FOR LIFE!" Do you think some other shop or a mobile tech can take her from me? I think NOT! Find the GOOD ones and give them the WHITE GLOVE treatment. Plow their driveways, cut their grass, wash their cars. Whatever it takes. Find 1,200 keepers and you will be good.

Do not let one Slippin Jimmy ruin your profits. Get cameras in your building and take the customers out to their vehicle to see first hand.

Wish I read this thread sooner. I am in a real bad situation right now. My tech is leaving Tuesday and I have no one in the pipe line. I have posted everywhere and I have not received any resumes at all. I am offering $22 to $28 hourly flat rate with a $1,500 signing bonus.

Funny I was thinking the same thing on my way home from Dunkin Donuts this morning. They use this method next door to track their car sales. Automotive pin striping is great to use for the lines. How were you planning to set it up? Daily or weekly?

Sorry Guys, I told my tech to go on my laptop and check the forums for a quick fix for the Passat he was working on and then I see this post. This is a typical case of the customer not having the money to repair the car. To start off this car needs a battery and a negative cable which leads me to a question about battery testers. This battery tested good with an electronic tester but when I tested it with the toaster battery tester it failed miserably. This is my second electronic tester in 5 years and I find them unreliable. Has anyone else had an issue with these types of testers?

Can anyone direct us in repairing this Passat? No crank and only repeated clicking is heard with dash light flickering?

I can not believe no one has mentioned Maxx Traxx by Scott Systems. I absolutely LOVE this system. It has everything I was looking for in a POS system.

A successful Monday for you may depend on how their weekend went.

I am looking for some input as to "it's part of the job"! Does your shop charge extra for the following services:? When performing an alignment and you have to heat frozen tie rods or other adjusting bolts. When mounting tires and the rims are corroded and you have to get the wire wheel grinder out to clean the bead. When the customer looses the lug nut key and we have to remove it with a turbo socket. Stick on weight tire balance. I do allot of work for the financially challenged so I sell allot of single tires. This week I sold as many single tires as I did pairs. Would you charge more to mount and balance 1 tire? It is the same amount of phone time, paper work and it takes the same amount of time to set up and inspect the vehicle. I would like to know how the additional service are handled by your shop.

I like Joe's reply to the "I do all my own work" DIYer.

I had a shop many years ago with my brother and we let a handful of customers charge. When I moved and left the shop we had $45,000 on the books which was never recovered. When I started RI Tire and Service on my own I made a deal with the bank. They promised not to fix cars and I promised not to give credit. I love when the customer says "I'm Good For It". I tell them that I am sure that they are good for it so it should not be a problem to borrow the money from a friend or family member. This is an easy one in today's market place. Simply do not give credit. Customers are reluctant to ask for credit because they know financing and credit cards are apart of our everyday life. If you want to make credit available and make a few points at the same time then you should contact a company that specializes in credit. I use http://paramountpayment.com/

I am very concerned about other customers. What happens when this burn out leaves and the 68 year old grand mother walks in? She may not want her vehicle fixed if she believes it is me or my staff smoking weed. I am getting Fabreeze today.

Marijuana is legal in my state of Rhode Island (I am sure it will help things). 2 to 3 times a week I have customers in my waiting room who stink to high heaven. This stale pot smoke is extremely smelly and lingers long after the customer leaves. How do I handle these idiots? My gut tells me to boot these inconsiderate morons out the door but lately I need the money. I am also concerned about my techs getting pulled over test driving a car containing marijuana, which would be illegal with no pot license. How would you handle this situation?

We use Maxx Traxx from Scott Systems which also has a built it loyalty rewards program. I give 3% back if invoice is paid by credit card and 5% if paid by cash. This program is new to us and so far I feel like I am giving away money that I would have already gotten. I need to find a way to market this program so I can actually see the customers are coming in for the rewards program. I currently mail out a custom letter the Maxx Traxx generates. I often will add money in their loyalty account. I will add like $6.36 to their account and mail them the letter along with a letter of the recommended services.

I would also like to get a copy of the questions. In Rhode Island the law states that you can not send an employee for drug testing after hire. Only before you hire can you test for drugs.

I like to think that the repair shops are doing a better job sending oil change reminder emails and post cards. At my shop we take the date and mileage of every car's windshield sticker. We then send an oil change reminder along with a coupon 3 weeks before the oil change is due and again 1 week before. We do the same for the state inspection.