HTI.WERKSTATT

Well hope they get it fixed for you in a timely manner. I just lost my Genysis EVO 4 due to my dad's old shop re opening, and have no scanner. I'm really not wanting to go after a Snap On, Mac, etc... And just recently had issues comunicating with a 99 A4 with the Genisys, and out of desperation I drove it down to Autozone and used there scanner and it pulled the codes, ehhh how frustrating that was. Snap On wants an arm and a leg, and to me there only good for there hand tools anymore. As far as the Genisys I loved it price wise, and bang for buck. I'm looking into autoenginuity deal,... But will be waiting to hear back on your dealings with the company before making any decisions.

I'm personally a fan of Automotive Expert, it actually learns from you. It will store part numbers, all written estimates with customers information, as well as all previous invoices for each customer. Will also maintain vendors, tech tracking, accounts receivable, and a customizable parts mark up that you control with multiple labor rates. Prints out very professionally. It also has a built in function for time line service reminders for each customer that can be printed off and mailed to the customer. I've used the Mitchell and still do on occasion if I'm having issues looking for O.E part numbers. But with the onslaught of 29.95 - 49.95 brake jobs , and 9.95 oil changes, I find it very hard to sell alot of the retail pricing that is built into that program. On a side note though being such a new shop its hard to stay afloat and give work/parts away for next to nothing. But there is always the psychological advantage of making the customer feel better about spending a little bit more with you than anyone else.

I have to know why, why are you running for parts? As well could you afford at this point to have a flat rate tech that you can hire? And since it would be just you and potentially another flat rate tech, you could offer an incentive such as "If the job pays four hours, the two of us are both on it together for four hours, you'll still get paid for four hours, but keep in mind I may have to break away to answer phones, order parts, and etc... So plan on possibly doing most jobs by yourself, but as we grow so will your weekly hours, and may turn into salary, etc...." I have one tech who keeps jobs moving along, anything he touches, or makes it possible for us to take on more work, or allows me to write repair orders etc... I'll pay him on. I do majority diagnostics, and oversee most technical and heavy jobs. But he is my life saver, I'm currently hoping to hire another tech or two, and soon promote Mark to a Service Manager or reward him someway for all his great work,effort, and spirit. He is worth every dime, and I find the shop making more money. I am only hesitant on bring on another tech due to the fact of what happens if I run out of work for the two of them, and what happens when we get the next tsunami?

I as well in the begining would agree to install customer owned parts. Then, the customer got me the wrong part, the customers car was stuck tying up my one and only bay at the time. I was outside in 100 degree hot sun working on the ground on other customers cars waiting on him to take his time to pick up the wrong part, return it, bring it back and I lost a whole days work. This line usually works well for me, but I may come off a little gruff when I run it by the customer: "I charge 55.00 an hour labor, this is extremely affordable compared to 90% of the shops in the area. If you want me to install your parts I will, BUT, You will pay 75.00 an hour, AND if you get me the wrong part, or bad part, I am not going to call you, tell you, wait for you to return / exchange, take the kids to soccer practice, stop for lunch, and show up the next day appologizing something came up, HERES THE PART, AND CAN YOU HAVE THIS DONE TODAY!?!? ABSOLUTELY NOT... I AM GOING TO GET THE PART MYSELF, YOU ARE GOING TO PAY MY (40% MARK UP) PRICE ON THE PART, I AM NOT GOING TO CALL YOU AND LET YOU KNOW THAT THE PART IS WRONG, I WILL CALL YOU LET YOU KNOW YOUR VEHICLE IS READY TO PICK UP AND FAULTY PART IS READY TO BE RETURNED ON YOUR OWN TIME. HERE IS YOUR BILL, IF YOU DONT LIKE IT STORAGE WILL START IN 72 HOURS AT 18.00 A DAY. I usually know at the point of which this conversation starts that I don't want to do business with this person. ( You should see and hear speak some of the people I have to deal with on a daily basis!) Although some are understanding and compassionate enough to say that makes sense. At which point I try to reassure them that they aren't paying 350.00 for a starter from AutoZone that they could buy for 175.00 themselves. But peace of mind, old fashioned honesty, and accuracy that they won't be able to find anywhere else.

I as well am looking into this tool, I found that you can buy it on ebay from the manufacturer/supplier for about 220.00, but its really hard to do decipher what all is included. I personally do allot of foreign car repair. It does seem that you have to buy the adaptors for SRS, ABS. The blue tooth to PDA seems nice but cumbersome, although i do like the idea of the wireless add on. Let me know what add ons you got, and what you think.

Hey Guys, It's great to be here, and where I'm at now. I'm 29 years old and been working on cars/race cars etc since I was old enough to read numbers and fetch wrenches for my father. He owned a shop for quite some time ago and sold it. He was and still is trying to keep me out of this line of work, but with a wife, two kids, and the economy it really didn't seem like a good idea to go back to college and get into health care (LOL). I just started my shop last June. I'm currently renting space (500.00/mo) from a good friend of mine who has been selling import performance parts and acessories in the same location for 10 years. He already had a tire machine, and balancer, and has been selling big 24" tires, and low profile tires to the import crowd but doing everything on the ground as far as tire service not much for appearance or profesionalism. I started back in March of last year helping him out here and there with tires (just hanging out mainly), having no idea or want to get back into working on cars again. It started with some tie rods on a sebring, working with what little tools he had. Turned into wheel bearings, sway bar bushings, etc. So I went home grabbed my carry around tool box loaded a few tools to finish the job without banging my head trying to go through his harbor freight collection. About a week later I moved MY tool box in, put his tools back in his bucket, and back in the closet. Went to my storage unit grabbed torches, welder, and everything else. Called Snap On, got Automotive Expert, comercial accounts with local parts stores, imc, worldpac, lake county, etc, etc, etc. My friend and I had talked about opening up a shop together for the last eight years or so, him as the money player so to speak. Well when it came down to it after the previous mentioned snow ball effect of additional work for me in the shop. His butt hole started to pucker at the cost of some of the equipment, and thought that it wasn't the right time due to the economy to try to start a shop out of his existing cluttered warehouse. So I kept on keeping on as Joe Dirt once said. Found ebay as a great source for the nickel and dime tools I never had to have, or I worked around not having them. Picked up a Branick wall mount spring compressor for 125.00, started doing alignments w/ string, salt, tiles, level, ruler, and calculator. Since thats how we did things primarily at the race track, and relativley inexpensive compared to pricey alignment machines, and equipment I couldn't afford. Brakes and suspension for the most part kept me going just from his tire sales. I found a used Snap On circa 1985-1992 WA5000 alignment rack (in good condition), with matching Snap On alignment machine (string type), moved to the shop, I installed it for a total of 1800.00. The machine didn't work, Snap On wouldn't support it, they gave me the run around, said they couldn't even calibrate it, only wanted to sell me a new machine for 50K (HAD TO BE A LINE OF BS). I politely told them that I would only be buying hand tools from them and to never come back and try to sell me any shop equipment ever again. So I found a Hunter C111 (string system) with 8 heads for 500.00, and am doing alignments now, (faster than before). Just recently picked up a Genisys Evo 4 w/ smoke machine for 2500.00, cash payments when I can afford to from another good friend ( with no interest) All in all now I am glad his butt hole puckered. I have no business partner. I have one technician working beside me six days a week flat rate, and piece rate on tire changes. I'm definately not raking in the dough. But I'm happy, stressed, but yet content. I pay 480.00 a month for rent, and all expenses for the building/ shop space I use. And have been steadily busy for the past three months. Hoping it stays this way, and goes along way. Hopefully I'll be able to learn alot from this site, as I am in just the early stages, and sure can use all the help I can get. Thanks, Ben Bingamon HTI WERKSTATT A Division of High Point Dynamic Huber Heights, OH