Vdubfixer

I agree that a little bit of flexibility, accommodating your customers wishes, is a great way to gain loyal customers who will tell their friends about you. Sometimes it might mean staying a few minutes late waiting for them, sometimes it might mean installing something they bought elsewhere. I think the key to this is making sure they know you were being nice and not allowing them to expect this from you every time.

I've always kinda wanted to punch the engineer responsible for the lock rings on Beetle headlights... It's no fun telling the customer that it's going to be at least an hour and they need a new lock ring for a light bulb that's probably like 10 minutes or less by the book.

I've had lots of cars that hang around for months... there are 3 usual reasons. 1- Big project, small budget. One way I can keep the cost down a bit for them is to use it to fill any dead time I may have and not otherwise let it get in the way of better paying work. 2- Engine damaged beyond repair, can't find another one. If the customer really doesn't want to give up on the car they can pay a small fee to leave it with me and we keep looking for an engine. 3- Customer decided car was not worth repairing. Sometimes I see one I like and buy it, but it will have to wait til I have dead time since it is my own pet project. It's very rare that they hang around because I don't know what's wrong with them and when I do get one that difficult it's a week or two, not months.

I think the answer to this depends on who your customers are and how they are comfortable communicating. Many of my customers prefer to communicate by email so we don't need to interrupt each other's busy day. This only works for the people who are constantly aware of their email, not the old lady who has one but can't remember the address or the last time she used it. Who are your customers?

Couldn't live without my large whiteboard.

Hey, I'm Emma and my shop is Vdubfixer. I spend my days working on Volks and Audi. I'm so happy to have found you guys, to feel I'm not alone. I'm 4 years in working alone in a shop I started with nothing, it's been rough and I'm kinda burnt out but just at that point where I'm starting to do well. If I can hang in there just a bit more my shop could do quite well. It makes a big difference to me just knowing that many of the challenges I face are shared by the rest of you and to hear how other people handle these things. Thanks so much for being here!

One woman shop here. Been this way 4 years, it's a rough go but I'm hoping to build on this and will probably have a helper later.