ohlmannr

We used Sherwin Williams Armor Clad for the first time this year. I was pretty happy with the results. The fumes were pretty strong vs products in the past. We get a crew together from the shop. Prep on Friday night, roll paint on Saturday morning.

My Hunter rep came in recently and brought me a book detailing all the safety features that are being built into cars and the systems that need to be calibrated. The book details a wheel alignment and a safety system alignment. At first it got me thinking that I needed to start looking into this a little more and plan for the future. My current scan tools have always calibrated the steering sensors when needed. They are quick and easy. Today we had in a 2017 VW. The procedure that need to be done was much more in depth. So, the question is. Where do you all see the future of menu priced alignments going? How are some of you handling this and thoughts about how it needs to be handled. I’ve seen discussions about the price of some new alignment machines. I know how most on this forum feel about doing work for free. I think we have an emerging service we will be able to sell. How will you sell it ? I like to keep things simple so I personally I like raising prices across the board. Some will need to be calibrated after, some wont. I hate the thought of having my advisors putting they stipulation of this is the price for the alignment but your vehicle’s safety systems may need to be calibrated and that is extra. But that may get the least amount of push back. Especially from those who’s vehicles are pre safety system vehicles.

Also, read this fourm. A lot of good info here. Read from this https://www.ratchetandwrench.com/ Listen to this http://remarkableresults.biz/

#1) I think this depends on what kind of business you have or want to have. Our shop is mainly undercar so I basically have little need for a master tech(Right now). We have a great business using really good B techs. Whatever level tech you think you need for your business, hire really good people. Don’t hire average to save a few dollars an hour. You will get mediocre work, you will be out in the shop helping them and looking after them. Defeating what you are trying to accomplish. #2) If you want to and do hire good help I think flat rate or hourly with bonus ( which is what we use) would work the best. All have advantages and disadvantages. Have a discussion with the tech, how do they prefer to work? Set your hourly rate at what you need in order to hire that really good tech. Next put together a system to track his hours and productivity and hold them accountable.Reward them when they over achieve. I also hate come backs so you have to monitor that, but you need a quick wrench. You will make your money in labor. I have a old army helicopter mechanic. He hardly ever has a come back, but he is slow. The labor dollars between him and my most efficient tech would make your head spin. So now we use him to do really good inspections and turn the wrenching over to the big dogs and let them work. #3) Can’t answer this one. 3rd generation. #4) You wont be able to run the business as a service advisor either. Not the way you want to or need to. Also hire a great service advisor( When you’re ready) and hire a really good one. They are the face of your business. Make sure they offer great customer service. I look at Chick-fil-A as I’m moving forward with the business. The ones around us are always busy. Inside and out. Everyday, except Sunday. They are more expensive and I don’t personally think their chicken is that much better. So why do people love it so much. It’s their customer service. People love it and keep coming back. My 2 cents.

I’m really surprised to see a sub $130 rate in California and to hear it’s among the highest. You mentioned labor GP %. The cost of living and going rates for tech’s from each of our areas I’m sure is different so that will have an effect. I like the fact you are paying top dollar for techs. I’m moving in that direction and the only way I can do that is to continue to raise my labor rates. I wont actively poach other shops, but I wouldn’t mind if word got out that we have a great place to work, good car count and we pay well. If anyone has looked for techs lately you know they are hard to find. I believe anyone who wants to survive in the coming years is going to have to raise their rates a significant amount to retain your current tech’s or attract new ones.

My experience in the past two years I went from $85 - $95 then $95 - $105 my car count has increased. Industry standard is around 2 hrs per RO I think. So if you raise your rate $10 per hr the increase average is about $20. If a customer doesn’t come back over $20 either you don’t want that customer or you haven’t built enough value into your repairs or service.

https://www.ratchetandwrench.com/articles/4841-how-to-price-to-gain-customer-loyalty This was a good read concerning this topic.

I completely agree with the change coming. With a shortage of Techs the industry will need to raise wages to get people interested in the trade. I’m trying to stay ahead of the curve. Local dealer has an add out with a $10,000 signing bonus. I had seen $1500 - $2500 in the past two years and have had trouble finding 2 good tech's myself but things must be worse than I thought.

$105 Louisville Ky. Will be doing area checks in the next 2 weeks. Looking to go up. $110 - $115

I imagine every shop is set up differently. Hourly, salary, some work more hours than others. There are many reasons for paying everyone differently. And no, my $13.50 guy doesn't make me the same as my $20 an hr guy. That's why he's only paid $13.50 an hr. I've profited almost $100,000 from my top guy than my bottom guy.

$1000 Service Advisors. $500 Tech's

We are new to Mitchell and QuickBooks. Previously we had YES System from PACE so our Invoicing and accounting system were all in one system. The problem I'm running into is with QuickBooks. We had accumulated a 75,000 customer database .QuickBooks Pro only accommodates 15,000 I believe. It has been suggested we go to QuickBooks Enterprise. We are one location and we currently service about 400 cars per month. Anyone doing similar numbers and what version of QuickBooks are you using ? Thank you !

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