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I only get excited when Kentucky is in it. Last year was great but not this year but just wait till next year.

Rent followed by insurance.

Great story Gonzo! We are running into more and more leap of faith stuff all the time.

You guys may find this interesting. Not my shop and probably operator error.

Our lowest paid guy makes $18 and we guarantee a minimum of 25 hours as a base.

I like the look. Will take a little getting use to.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5mHPo2yDG8

Welcome to Autoshopowner.com. Glad that you joined us.

In some of the markets Valvoline is taking over operating the Tire and Lube business inside Walmart. If they run them like a regular quick lube the whole format will change and they could become serious competition.

Phanter001, where are you originally from? English is not your native language is it?

I owe too much money not to.

It is great that you joined us. How has it been running a second shop?

Our Wal-Mart refers a lot of stuff to us and we do repairs for them.

If a customer has something like a broken wheel stud those places put the customer through hell because they can't deal with that sort of stuff where you and I replace the stud.

Congratulations!

Very nice look. Sounds like exciting days are ahead.

I am considering Bay-Master.

Find an independent agent who sells Auto Owners and get a quote. The poster is in Fountain City, Indiana. Auto-owners shows five agencies within 15 miles of you. I recently got quotes from two other companies and Auto Owners was the cheapest. They are also easy to deal with on claims. http://agency.auto-owners.com/default.aspx?z=47341&state=IN#top

Scenario 1: Jack goes duck hunting before school and then pulls into the school parking lot with his shotgun in his truck's gun rack. 1957 - Vice Principal comes over, looks at Jack's shotgun, goes to his car and gets his shotgun to show Jack. 2012- School goes into lock down, FBI called, Jack hauled off to jail and never sees his truck or gun again. Counsellors called in for traumatized students and teachers. Scenario 2: Johnny and Mark get into a fist fight after school. 1957 - Crowd gathers. Mark wins. Johnny and Mark shake hands and end up buddies. 2012 - Police called and SWAT team arrives -- they arrest both Johnny and Mark. They are both charged with assault and both expelled even though Johnny started it . Scenario 3: Jeffrey will not be still in class, he disrupts other students. 1957 - Jeffrey sent to the Principal's office and given a good paddling by the Principal. He then returns to class, sits still and does not disrupt class again. 2012 - Jeffrey is given huge doses of Ritalin. He becomes a zombie. He is then tested for ADD. The family gets extra money (SSI) from the government because Jeffrey has a disability. Scenario 4: Billy breaks a window in his neighbour's car and his Dad gives him a whipping with his belt. 1957 - Billy is more careful next time, grows up normal, goes to college and becomes a successful businessman. 2012 - Billy's dad is arrested for child abuse , Billy is removed to foster care and joins a gang. The state psychologist is told by Billy's sister that she remembers being abused herself and their dad goes to prison. Billy's mom has an affair w ith the psychologist. Scenario 5: Mark gets a headache and takes some aspirin to school. 1957 - Mark shares his aspirin with the Principal out on the smoking dock . 2012 - The police are called and Mark is expelled from school for drug violations. His car is then searched for drugs and weapons. Scenario 6: Pedro fails high school English. 1957 - Pedro goes to summer school, passes English and goes to college. 2012 - Pedro's cause is taken up by state. Newspaper articles appear nationally explaining that teaching English as a requirement for graduation is racist. ACLU files class action lawsuit against the state school system and Pedro's English teacher. English is then banned from core curriculum. Pedro is given his diploma anyway but ends up mowing lawns for a living because he cannot speak English. Scenario 7: Johnny takes apart leftover firecrackers from the Fourth of July, puts them in a model airplane paint bottle and blows up a red ant bed. 1957 - Ants die. 2012 - ATF, Homeland Security and the FBI are all called. Johnny is charged with domestic terrorism. The FBI investigates his parents - and all siblings are removed from their home and all computers are confiscated. Johnny's dad is placed on a terror watch list and is never allowed to fly again. Scenario 8: Johnny falls while running during recess and scrapes his knee . He is found crying by his teacher, Mary. Mary hugs him to comfort him. 1957 – In a short time, Johnny feels better and goes on playing. 2012 - Mary is accused of being a sexual predator and loses her job. She faces 3 years in State Prison. Johnny undergoes 5 years of therapy.

Congratulations on taking the plunge and welcome to the forum. I would also chime in that since late summer this has been a very difficult business environment. Most of the shops in our area are reporting lower sales and car count. Sales at existing stores were down 6% overall last year in our group. The best thing you can do is get out and knock on doors and meet people and let them know you are there.

I agree but I am happy we have 1,000. Congratulations Joe and Alex.

What a great idea: http://www.youtube.com/embed/RoY2gyyIYL4?feature=player_detailpage

In the smaller communities (we are less tha 200,000) word of mouth works wonders. If I want a service I don't go to the internet I start asking people.

Close to Joe but a long way from Indiana.