CARMandP

My missus forced the change.....wasn't much option for me. Kinda hard to function for most of last year....So I had my midlife woman crisis allowed. LOL

I feel your pain. I turn 40 next year and after a terrible year both in my business and in my personal life I have had a lot of the same thoughts. The sad part is I owe too much money and don't have much choice So off to work I go and hope that I can make enough money to keep the bills paid.

I pay the hourly rate to the guys. Don't pay travel expenses because I am driving normally.

Welcome to the site. Good to have you here.

Not getting paid anymore in middle TN either. Blaming it on the lower gas prices or some kinda crap like that...

Used Dayco hydraulic tensioner on a Pilot timing belt a few years ago and it failed within about 20k. Won't use them again. I'll stick with Gates or Aisin.

You probably can't control what goes on outside of your shop but I would address it inside the shop for sure.

Cost me $540 a year and I decided this year I had other things that needed that money. My new secretary couldn't believe it was something that I had to pay for. Her comment was its something that you can buy? What does it stand for then? That helped me not renew.

If I owned the building it would be flush mount. I do a lot of lowered vehicles and it just takes time with a lift that isn't flush...

For used stuff I almost always start by contacting LQK. www.LKQonline.com They are one of the biggest suppliers of used parts in the country. They will deliver and pick up for free and if you have less than 100k on the engine it normally comes with a 12/12 warranty and of course the option of paying a little extra for the extended if you want it. They aren't always the cheapest but I have bought a bunch of stuff from them and the only time I have ever had a problem was with a VW transmission and they promptly replaced it with another one.

Sounds like its time to find a new used parts supplier. I just got to eat an engine myself that I screwed up (very long story but it was my fault) so I know the pain. Lost all last months profit on that job...

"I have you do all my work"....been here twice in the last 3 years. LOL

I'll gripe here in Middle TN. 2 weeks of the white crap. It can go away. LOL Strangely though I had a really good month of Feb in spite of being closed several days because I couldn't get out of my driveway.

Been using Kukui for a year and a half. Kinda pricey but well worth the expense. Be glad to answer any questions.

Welcome to the site. Its good to have you here. Don't be afraid to ask or answer questions.

I agree completely with what was posted above. I am the problem in my business. A bad year emotionally and financially has me completely upsidedown and its either pay the money and follow through and make the changes or let it go. You have to be willing to invest the time to actually do what the coaches say. That's a hard thing to do when you spend 60 hours a week at the shop trying to make enough money to keep the lights on. Forget getting paid yourself or keeping current on other bills. My advice to you, get the help now before you get yourself into my position or as Joe mentioned above you end up on that place. Its sucks big time. I have used and am currently using Gary Gunn at Turn Around Tours. Like was mentioned above, don't just pay someone with a hipe session if they are not what you really want your business to be.

I got on amazon and bought a call blocker. Cost me about $100 and the first time the number calls and they either hang up or are trying to sell something my secretary hits the block button and it never rings my phone again. Has cut back on a lot of wasted time answering calls about crap I don't need. You won't loan me 250k, you won't save me money on my credit card company and I get my office supplies where they are cheapest. LOL

That's funny. Saved it for future reference. LOL

If you say you are going to give me a price do it. I had 3 reps from the same company all at the same time visit my shop talking about how good of a business they have and blah blah. Got nothing from any of them. Guess they are not interested in selling their products to me.

Will be reading this post with interest as I am looking into this as well. I have some experience with Bolt-on so I am familiar with their products. Just wanting to see what else may be out there.

I have tried at least 3 times to contact AAA in my area and have never received any kind of response back from them. I guess they don't want me to be part of their network. I looked into it a few years ago and its about a 90 day process because they inspect your shop and its a fee every year to be a part of what they offer. Am considering looking back into it again because there isn't anyone in my area that is linked to them and I am very close to the interstate so the traffic flow would be nice.

Just read this article yesterday. Didn't pay attention to who wrote it. LOL Great job.

My local Oreilly's store struggles to turn rotors correctly. No way would I send PCM reflashes to them. Nothing against the store but....

My Snapon Solus Ultra will program them and I use a KTI-71990A TPMS tool that I got from Oreilly's. Have been able to do almost everything I need to TPMS related.

It was actually something that one of the guys at ATI mentioned. By doing that number nothing even comes up even.