xrac

We do replace more than we machine. We have went round and round on this subject. My former service manager wanted to machine every rotor. My new service manager believes we should be replacing instead of machining. My former service manager thought that by machining we would replace more rotors because the rotors would then require it for subsequent work. This is a situation where I see both sides. It is hard to do brakes and reuse the rotors if they are not machined due to pullsation, rust rings that cause noise and lips on rotors. However, if they are machined they are more subject to coming back quicker with pullsation issues. Machining may save money to the customer up front but cost more in the long run. Brakes lathes aren't cheap, require service, need lathe bits, silencer belts, etc. and take time to set up and operate besides they create a lot of dust.

When we first opened we had two lathes. One was set up for drums and one for rotors. We only have one now as that is enough. At one time I wanted to buy a Procut on the car lathe now I never will. I don't think I can justify the cost or the time involved in using it.

I hate the results of running cheap oil changes. Lots of headaches, no go on additional work, and little profit. I like it when my competitors run cheap oil changes. I figure they fill up the bays with bottom feeders and don't have time for the profitable stuff but I have time.

What are the limitations of this tool?

For me this is a nice to have can't afford item.

I have found Advance, Auto Zone, and O'Rielly to be higher on filters. In our market I have found O'reilly to be our most expensive call. Recently a gasket was $9.95 from NAPA and $18.95 from O'Reilly.

The performance market is full of a lot of people who want a whole lot of stuff for as little as possible.

Those hours would probably work better in a larger town. You might market to fleets that you can work on their vehicles when they are not in use because of your hours.

Glad that you found us!

On any fluid leaks that there are doubts as to the source we will often degrease and dye oil, ps fluid, coolant, etc. the vehicle is driven and then brought back. This often allows us to be more accurate in pinpointing the source of a leak.

I have done that too. Believed what someone else told me and found out otherwise too late.

Yes and denied it all until we got the police involved and got a video from Walmart with him charging the Xbox and using the card.

There needs to be a good reason why the tech wants to relocate. A good tech should be able to have employment where they are located.

My service manager gave an employee a credit card to get 5 gallons of gas on a Friday and forgot to get it until Tuesday. We found out he charged over $500 worth of stuff including an Xbox.

Good one Gonzo. People are something else. In December we had a young woman come in for an oil change on a referral from another customer. We changed the oil and she went on her way. No problems. One hour later she showed back up with a very nasty attitude informing me that she had an extremely low tire and it wasn't low BEFORE she came into our shop. Her tone implied either negligence or sabatoge on our part. We assured her we would check it but it was probably a nail or something. Guess what? There was a small sheet metal screw in the tire. Not the type of fastener used on a vehicle and not something you would find around our shop. We did the repair and charged her $15. She never apologized for her attitude. Now she is burning up facebook because we sabotaged her car and laughed at her. We didn't laugh but may have had amused smiles because she was adamant that it turned out to be what she said it couldn't be.

CRazy, the only one who wins is the attornies.

The same to you Joe and to all. May 2014 be a better year for us all. May this make you smile: https://www.youtube.com/embed/n6mbW-jMtrY?rel=0

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tGUBNq9MMTE&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DtGUBNq9MMTE

For a short time we install the interlock devices and serviced them. It was too time consuming and some of the people with the devices were too much bother. We dropped it.

Wow! Great post. You never know.

Joe, do you have a written description if what you are going to do in each instance?

Thanks for a smile.

Here would be my understanding of this situation here in Indiana: 1)I could jump through the required hoops and get a mechanics lien title. This would take me about 2 months and costs about $125 plus my time. If you can do 2-3 of these at a time it spreads out the cost. As the big expense is the newspaper ad. 2)I could call the tow company that removes vehicles for the city and have them tow it off. It would go to their impound yard where the owner would receive notice and would eventually be sold or scrapped. I might have to pay for the tow. 3)I could push it out onto the street and let the city remove it as an abandoned vehicle. 4)I do know some scrappers who will take cars without a title. I could call them. Number 1 and number 2 are perfectly legal. Number 3 & 4?????????????? I would not dispose of a car without giving legal notice (certified mail) to the last know legal address.

Most of the business they get and the customers they have are not the ones we REALLY want with some exceptions.

Joe and Alex I thank you and I wish you and all of those on the forum a very Merry Christmas.