xrac

We locked before rates went up. We got 3.75% guaranteed for 5 years and then it resets.

Take the tech and knock on doors and nitro dunce yourselves ain't a bad idea!

http://dealershipcloseouts.com/products.html Anything of value here?

Joe, is right. You just have to judge it case by case.

Grab it and hold on to it. In this state I can get a mechanics lien.

We have used Regions for several years and were satisfied. However, we are now moving to local bank with four branches because we refinanced and saved $1400 per month. The new bank is also only about 150 yards from our business.

Sean it is good to have. This site is a great resource.

I was not competitive until some new wholesalers started coming into our market. However, I do get nation account pricing from a couple of them for being a Car-x franchise.

On most tires with a wholesale cost less than $100 I try to add $20 sometimes $25 plus $15 for installation. That gives us a final price that it competitive. We have Walmart, Sams Club, Pep Boys, Discount Tire, and a Best One all within less than a mile of us.

Here is my thoughts. Restoration shops are few and far between because that is a niche that is hard to make money at. Most people with restoration type cars that I have known are not good customers. They like to do things themselves or on the cheap. They buy their parts on line or at swap meets. Every year we have the Frog Follies here in our town. We draw about 4-5,000 street rods. I won't work on those cars because there is no money in it. For what you want to do the body shop route is definitely the way to go.

Do you carry concealed while you work?

I am not a big guy or ex-military or a boxer. If I ask them to leave and they give me a hard time I just call 911. I have only had to do that twice in my 14+ years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9s900vZr_k&feature=player_embedded

You can't fix stupid! I am just surprised they didn't ask you to borrow some tools.

Thanks! We use for local print although it could be adapted to a post card. We have used other art work like a stretched out $10 bill that was a coupon and a camel and a gas pump with gas prices were soaring. My main point by posting is think outside the box and don't try to look like everyone ads.

Are you saying you like the selection of eating places we have access to? This is the honest truth. There are at least 15 restaurants within easy walking distance.

Save your money. It is not really needed for most of us and is not important.

Here is a sample of an ad we use. Our goal is two fold. First, have something different and eye catching that separates us from all of the me too automotive repair advertising. Second, have an offer that will attract the kind of customer we want. No Bull Ad.pdf

Worse than that is the best Chinese Buffet is next to Krispy Kreme along with Jimmy Johns, a CeCe Yogurt, and an IHOP. Behind us is the best Mexican restaurant in town plus an Indian restaurant, and a Quiznos. On the other side of Sonic is a Smiling Moose Deli and on the other side of the shop is a Qdoba. Why do you think I am overweight. As I am typing the hot sign just popped on.

Here is my two cents on your postcard. My comments are not meant to be critical but hopefully helpful. Your mailer can be improved in my humble opinion. It doesn't grab you. There is no stated location or map to tell the customer where the shop is (we advertise as next to Sonic across from Krispy Kreme). There is no offer that would give a person a reason to try you for the first time. Things not mentioned in your card that are important to customers is stuff like: Clean restrooms, comfortable customer waiting area, same day service, courtesy rides, dealer type service at non-dealer type price, etc. The things listed may be of more interest to you than to your average customer. I do not think most customers know what ASE means or if they care if we use dealer parts. I don't know that I have more than 1-5% asked about dealer parts.

Welcome to the forum and good luck.

You need to have an offer that catches their attention. Don't do a me too type of advertisement? What kind of mailer did you use?

Timely article. This month is 20 years since I started in business for myself.

We pay $1.25 to have our tires removed.