xrac

We are closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Years Day. We have normal hours on New Year's Eve. The week of Christmas no one has a day off other than Christmas Eve. That is everyone's day off for the week and Christmas Day is a paid holiday. My guys normally work a 5 day week so we will usually have one tech off each day. We have found the extra man power will produce more revenue than we would by being open one-half day on Christmas Eve. If 5 guys have one day off that is basically 40 man hours. If we had 1/2 day on Christmas Eve that is apporximately 20 man hours. This way we gain 20 man hours and it is more productive time than Christmas Eve usually is.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNDtHdG5mVk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNDtHdG5mVk

Your wives will enjoy this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws3MoSZrb58&feature=player_embedded

Too bad we could't have the members of the forum get together and sing it with Gonzo leading!

We have a room but it is not used except for eating lunch. The guys do not hang out in it. Sounds to me like your break room is too inviting. Make the room off limits except for maybe first thing in the morning or lunch. Make it off-limits during work times or get rid of it completely.

We stock Anco Professional Series, the 31 numbers, in 13" to 28". Everything else we have delivered as needed. We like the Anco because they are good quality and direct fit.

Easier to do more things from one place without moving among screens. Better inventory management. Easier parts ordering from multiple vendors. Too many bells and whistles that Mitchell didn't have. http://www.omnique.com/LearnMore/BuyersGuide.aspx

I have been evaluating software and I am very impressed with Omnique. I like it better than Mitchell. However, my hold up is the costs which is $250 per month. Monique is the salesman I spoke with and she was really knowledgeable and pleasant.

Good news!

Talk to Brian Boland at 216-325-9060. They do all of the shop insurance for the Certified Auto Repair insurance program. Brian is a good guy and may be able to help.

Look at Omnique it is worth a look. This is funny but ask for Monnique.

Wes, what are you using?

We installed a few new "Tough One" starters and alternators from Advanced about 6 months ago. We immediately had problems and do not use them now.

Mmotley, has a good point. You can often avoid giving a quote by beginning a conversation and asking questions. "It may not be the starter but just a battery. Bring it in and we will test it." "We rarely see cooling fans go bad on these vehicles maybe it is just a resistor." "Often on these vehicles the abs sensor isn't bad but it is a break in the wiring harness." "How do you know you need brake rotors? Has anyone measured them?" By showing an interest in the customers situation and by suggesting other alternatives it seems to create a willingness on the customers part to come in and to trust us without ever quoting a price. I think it is because we show genuine interest, alternative thinking and not just making the highest dollar repair.

We never close the day after Thanksgiving and it is always reasonably busy. We do close all day on Christmas Eve and let that day serve as everybody's day off for that week. Ofcourse, everyone gets Christmas Day as a paid holiday.

I tend to agree with you. It has not been a big problem.

That was a very interesting initial post.

That guy has a car he has no business owning because he cannot afford to maintain it.

I purhase from Supply Source http://www.supplysourceonline.com/ in Kennesaw, Georgia. This is a direct distribution from the Scott Paper Company. We buy center pull wipes (Z-03124nw) that are seconds. My last price was $54 per case. If I order three or more cases and pay within 10 days I do not pay the freight. They are shipped UPS. We buy wipes, hand towels for our bathrooms, toilet tissue, and handsoaps from here. We have an outside sales rep.

You have the money to buy the stuff and do not have to have the tool guy carry it. Plus, you aren't worried about getting tools warrantied like they are.

Alex, fortunately we don't get a lot of this kind of stuff.

I simply tell them that we do not install customer supplied parts. If they ask why I tell them that labor alone is not enough to cover all of our overhead expenses: i.e. rent, taxes, equipment, etc. and that we make money on parts. This is necessary for us to provide warranties and stay in business, I suggest they look for a small shop that doesn't stay as busy as we stay. If they want to supply something like a water pump or heater core I explain that that is not smart at all from a warranty standpoint due to the fact that labor is the big cost in these situations. Invariably with customer supplied parts you run into situations that it is the wrong diagnosis, the wrong part, or you are having to straighten out other things done improperly. If we drive enough of the right kind of business to the shop we can let other shops deal with these time wasting less propfitable jobs. I do make exceptions sometimes. Occassionally I will take something if we are really slow or if someone has some custom performance parts.

Mostly we do not installed customer supplied parts. Occassionally we make exceptions. Go up as much as you think appropriate. I am thinking at least 20-25%.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/dx5ZE5nE9X8?rel=0

Gonzo what time are you/were you on?