davine4real

Estimates are good. Keep it quick, simple, and be sure to state its only an estimate. I'd get name, phone #, and car info. I wouldnt push for tag and vin. How many customers actually know this info upfront?? I don't want them to feel like they have to work just to get a quote... They're already frustrated by having to fix their car. The note pad method works if you don't get that many. Otherwise save it in your manage system as a quote as long as it's searchable by name later. Learning to give a QUICK estimate is the key. Definitely a good idea to try to get the diagnostic appointment to make sure the repair is needed. But nowadays with you tube, many folk try their own diagnostic. That's fine too. Give the estimate, do the work, when it doesn't solve issue, offer paid diagnostic for the 2nd time, and move forward. All in the presentation. Not all price shoppers are bottom feeders. Many have been to shops that have ripped them off so theyre apprehensible. Try for 60 seconds rough estimate and label it as such and keep it moving with a smile

I post a labor rate. But I also post that we charge labor hours based on a combination of all data, Mitchell's, and professional experience. So with that combination they'll only know a price for a job by asking for a quote. What I'd do for the old customers is give them a discount card that you sell say for $199/year. Let them get the first 3 months as a trial. There are a lot of examples of a discount card. 4 free oil changes and good discounts throughout. It'll give them a break while keeping their business. Also will line your pockets in advance by having the purchase of the card upfront.

I've tried it both ways... Paid and unpaid. From a mechanic standpoint, paid is the only way to go. But from a business marketing standpoint, there's a benefit to the the "take it off if you get the work done". It's all in #s, and wording. And yes you will need to be creative AND sleesy at times. That's why the marketing way of looking at it solely is hard to do. But I've found a nice in between for MANY scenarios: Mark the repair labor hours up, require customer purchase parts from you in order to get the "free diagnostics"... U make part money, cap the free diagnostic time to 1 hour, or cap on the type of diagnostic (electrical not included, removal of parts not included). All of these worked for me but it's all in the wording. But I'll tell you what works BEST.... Give them something else for FREE that they value in exchange for paying you for diagnostic. Example : FREE towing with paid diagnostic and repair (up to 20 miles radius). I grabbed MANY folk with this one. The tow was $50, my diagnosis started at $85....and i marked up the labor to compensate for the difference.... I win, they pay regular price, car is purring.

Wow! I had a "are you serious" expression on my face just reading these lol.

For the record is difficult to accurately diagnose evap codes without it. The other uses like lean codes, wind inside the car all are super useful. Had a 1995 Buick with lean codes. Thought since it was old it was gna be easy to check for vac leaks.... Car spray the hoses. We'll after chasing my tail I put the smoke machine to use. 3 tiny hoses were cracked.... Fixed in 5 minutes once bought some more hose. In conclusion, this isn't just for new cars, it's for anybody who is SERIOUS about diagnostic and accuracy!

Smoke pro is good. I have the blue point but it sprung a leak within first 6 months. Still can use it but disappointed with the quality for $1500!

$15 diagnostics?? Lmao! Man I would've GLADLY paid you for that p0300 code that wound up being timing off (still ran), or that p0171 that wound up being leaking brake booster, or that p0455/456 that wound up being fuel temp sensor..... If you're diagnosing all codes in less than 15 minutes... You rock! (because that's about all the time $15 gets you).

Seems like the job shouldn't have been performed to begin with....unless I'm misunderstanding something. If the car came in with a big hole in oil pan...wouldn't first step be to ask customer what happened? Did they run over something, etc?,bc aside from from running over something, it seems that internal damage is most likely. So before even taking down that pan...you tell the customer and then sell him an engine or roll it out! I mean the hole had to come from somewhere. Seems like maybe you didn't want to pass up the dough so you let the customer choose to proceed. Problem is that the customer is NOT the professional in this case...YOU are.

#17 is funny lol. But I think you have a good setup and the right number of employees to be on your way to owning a business not just a job like a one man show. Reviewing your shop process from the customer intake to the custome exit would help. Example: make sure techs using forms to document any upsell opportunities. Then you sell them or at least try EVERY TIME . And try different marketing ideas to increase car count . I don't. Think. You're doing as bad. As you think.

No freebies! code scan is $25 or take it to part store. wipers installation included in price. bring your own and pay $10 and up. filters not free. labor is individual line item. returning customers get the perception of a freebie....they pay me well for the repairs they do get so they have "paid it forward" so it all works out. New customers wanting freebies off the bat get the higher tier pricing if I notice it in time. a usual $200 job may cost them $275....but since their new customers, I'll do the job for only $225 😄. if I provide parts then the labor is at conservative rate $85 plus shop fees. if customer provides parts it's a little higher and a little more labor hours to compensate. so even if something appeared to be free, it's really not. they don't work for their bosses for free, and neither do I 😁

Lol man I somehow need to incorporate that into a video for my website! Bc everybody and their momma thinks they are qualified tochange their own brakes these ddays!

I say it is good for techs to have a business card. But only with company info. I disagree with the giving out second biz card even if AFTER the service writers cards. What REALLY is the purpose for 2 biz cards?? The customer can still request you by name, they don't need your cell #. We've all been there done that....let's be real.

Alfredauto hit the nail onthe head! Wake up people! It'salla sham! All costs will rise. Furthermore, this only weakens the dollar. That's the result of inflation. If it takes $100 to buy what currently costs $50....then who has been helped? Only the folk who could afford it to begin with...the Elite. This is just a precursor to the dollar falling. So as a shop owner I must charge more...why? My techs living expenses rise so they need higher pay. The part stores employee needs higher pay so part store charges more for parts. The landlord living expenses increase so they want more income so my rent goes up....so everybody loses! Whether you pay tech my hourly or percentage... you will have to pay more and charge more. I predict these results within the first year of wage increases. Think about it, it won't take me long to realize that my expenses have surpassed my income...n I'll need to adjust my pricing. Not rocket science.

I've had decent success with used cars. Here are some good tips. Charge yourself a wholesale rates at least for the shop. Put it up for sale as soon as you do final test drive. Keeping for couple weeks sounds good, but notinreality Cars break. At somepoint, yours willtoo. Sell It as is and offer discount on future repairs if you want. Better idea is to sell away from your shop bc customers think since you're a mechanic the car should be perfect. And if you charge for the repairs to yourself, then techs are motivated to get it done bc you are a customer. It's working for me thus far. Oh yeah, n don't put too much into a car. $4000 outlay for $800 profit isn't optimal, but it does happen. .

Best thing to dois price the customer for the BEST qualitycat you canfind aka oem. Ifthey don'tlike the price, then allowthem to get they're own cat and offer no warranty. Don't let the customers wallet dictate your parts that your shop warranties.

Sounds likerepair pal. Quality is something that you can build on, notsolely price. I invite people to bring their AutoZone diagnosis. I make twicethe money lol. Once when AutoZone diagnosis doesn't fix it, and again when they pay me to find the real problem. I don't"double check" AutoZone diagnosis for free either. Customer can pay me for diagnosis or run with their own.

Theanswer to your original question is that it willall depends on if you already have a preexisting relationship with the dealership Ifyou don't it won't matter if you're a customer or mechanic. At the end of the day theyare in the business to make money. If thetech who gets your car is greedy n wants to stretch the ticket out....he will. If thetech isn't knowledgeable, thenhe'll cost youmoney just like you're costing the customermoney on an engine that didn'tsolve the problem. So justgo with the truth Because lying won't save you in this case. . , .

The point of the matter is this...nothing is guaranteed. You already soundready to sign on the dotted line. So now is just a matter of trying to set yourself up for success. Firstthing I'd do is be sure I have the budget for at least 1 more A tech and clean up crew. The old guys are on the way to retiring real soon so unlessyou plan on turning your own wrenches, getanothertech first! Clean upcrew can work on yourbeauty projects while yourun your business. Plan on losing a good portion of clientele....to previous owner. Think of your expandability. What elsecan youoffer that previous owner didn't? Tires? Exhaust? ALeo if I was goingto makea investment of that size, I wouldn'tplanon putting myselfin a position...like register. Put in budget for experienced service advisor. This will allowyou to float andbe more effective at increasing your businessinstead of getting . Over whelmed and can't see theforest for the trees. . ,

I usually require plug wires with spark plug change or at least give customer the heads up that they mayfall apart. So if customer isn't prepared to handle worse ccase scenerio then I. Decline the job. Not worth the dumbfounded look n "what do we do now" moment.

Right now you guys have high paying JOBS. if you want a business then you'regoing to have to hire people to work in it. I'd startwith anoffice personnel that can do MORE than write tickets. This position is often under valued. I also agree thatyou should have dedicated roles in whichyou get paid for. The profit split would be just that..a 50/50 split. I thinka 51/49 or 70/30 is indeed a power trip o . of some sort. Hireworkersso that at some point you 2 can step out of the employee suit i ifyou so desire...otherwise you just have a very high paying job.

It's possible that you should rethink the "rip off" argument. Open your business because it will satisfy your desire to do so, not because of your theory of "rip off" artists. Your examples: " brakes at $450". Do a brake job on Nissan Frontier at 3.2 hrs book time @$95/hr and buy 2 new rotors AND bearings and pads, all with GOOD QUALITY parts and sell it for under $450...lol. You're in the RED on your first job. The radiator fan and fuse: most often if a fuse blows its because a circuit was overloaded. The fan fuse hence the replaced fan. The customer will Love you when you send them on their way with a $25 repair bill....but Will SUE YOU when their head gasket fails when car over heats because the FAN stopped working with your NEW FUSE. I'd definitely suggest staying focused on being the best owner you can be, not on who is ripping who. As for the $100k for 2 years....well it's definitely a great start. But if you think the shop will float "hook or crook" with just that then no it won't. But honestly you can Start with a lot less. Heck You can pay your first month rent and get a cheap lift and air compressor for under $6k. As to save time and money....lol no way! It will cost you that $35k yr in rent alone. Not to mention salaries, etc. Also, you mention that money isn't the issue because you have a loan longed up for 100k if youwant. Well that means money IS an issue if a loan is needed. $100k will cost you more than $100k to repay...unless the bank is handing out long-term INTEREST FREE loans. If so send me the info lol.

I have felt like that before. But I don't force techs to stay. I immediately let the customer know there is an unforseen delay. I've stayed later myself if necessary. HOWEVER, I do make note of who stuck In there and who DIDN'T! When paychecks come around, I Round up for the tech that stays. When someone wants to bring their own car in on a weekend to use the lift, I'm conveniently NOT available for the tech that bolted. When there's extra gravy work unattended, the stuck around tech gets first dibs. I won't penalize for leaving. But if you don't look out for ME then I won't do anything EXTRA to look out for you. You work for your pay check, I don't OWE you anything else...no extras. It's life.

I simply show them where the waiting area is and put up the chains of the service bay. Give them a longer than necessary expected time of completion. When Asking too many questions I'll direct them to buying a book for their car or taking a class. Sometimes I'll even work on a totally different car for a while on purpose.

I think it depends on the type of business and setup. It may work in rare cases but not on a normal basis in my opinion.

It's better to under promise and over deliver. Let the impatient ones walk.