GENUINE

The best decision I ever made was to subscribe to this service! Worth ever penny! Don't hesitate - subscribe you won't regret it! Dwayne

I too struggle with this issue. My customers either truly don't understand the difference between price and value, or truly can't afford value and must for financial reasons decide based on price alone and cross fingers and hope for the best. This is always a dilema for me. Even if you explain why your price might be higher than the bait and switch shop down the street, if the customer truly cannot affor a quality repair, you have given them the impression that "You're too high" and that's the reputation that you will develop within their circle of friends. And while their circle may not truly be the customers that you want, their circle may overlap, and/or be related to, the circle that you DO want, and that image of "They're really high" is being conveyed to them. Maybe they're bright enough to understand, but maybe not. If they've never used you and have a need, and what they remember is Aunt Sue saying how she called you and you were really high....well... On the other hand, if I refuse to give a phone quote and insist (politely and with explanation) that for me to give an accurate and fair estimate of their needs I'll need to see their car and will give them a written estimate that they can hold me to....well then I'm arrogant and unreasonable because the last 6 shops she called gave her a price! I once was taught that "you can't make fix a car over the phone. You can only make a sale once the car is at your door!" So all you can do on the phone call is sell YOURSELF, and sometimes that can be really hard! As someone said, the impression you present on the phone is so important. Business is tough. And getting tougher I think.

I had a fleet customer call today looking for an interesting device for their busses/bus drivers. He wants a "device" that can be wired into the vehicle that includes a button on the rear wall of the bus that the driver must press before leaving the bus. This is to ensure that the driver walks the bus checking for "left behind" kids before leaving the vehicle....good idea, but surely he's not the first to come up with it. As I began devising my own ideas, I realized that it's a little more involved that it might appear on the surface. It will essentially be like an alarm system, it must be sensitive to ignition, wired into the horn circuit, and have a switch to disable, and adaptable to a variety of vehicles. Is anyone aware of a company that might offer items of this kind? Or any thoughts on the idea would be appreciated! I'm in brainstorming mode! Thanks in advance. Dwayne

Anyone have an actual "formula" for calculating accurate shop labor rate? I had help calculating mine "accurately" years ago, and now just adjust it accordingly (wing it) as situations change and as expenses come and go, but would like to start from scratch and see where I am. Thanks guys. Dwayne

Thanks for the reply and abundant information. Looks like I'll be shopping as well. Dwayne

Good morning all! I'm interested in getting a Tech 2 to accomplish tasks that we are frequently finding our Scanner UN-capable of doing. Can anyone give me some insight, please? Such as; WHERE do I purchase one of these? How much can I expect to spend? What kind of ongoing expense to keep up to date? Is it reasonable for a small independant to own one or will the price exceed the return unless your a GM dealer?....That's all. Thanks in advance. Dwayne

Thanks for your thoughts. As far as my complainer...he's been like this for a long time....really not the new hire issue that's brought it about. He's a good wrench, just has a really bad attitude - always has. Funny, in one breath, he's complaining because of the raise issue, and in the next he's complaining because "if we had another guy out here...." impossible to please NO MATTER WHAT. we've had sit downs several times about his attitude, I even posted here about it some time ago. I'm really looking to replace him - he's not technically aware that i'm actively looking for this reason though. Gotta make a change in 2011 - gotta bring morale up and get things moving in a forward, POSITIVE direction for everyone - especially me.

Where have you all found to be the best resource for hiring new techs? I've found the "want ad" to be very ineffective, bringing in the....less than qualified...Our business relationships tend to be hesitant to recommend potentials. Suprised in this economy that we aren't seeing more walk ins too....any thoughts? Dwayne

Despite the best of intentions and most thankful of hearts, that's sometimes hard to accomplish if your spreadsheets are hemorrhaging red.........

I'd like to see one as well... [email protected] Hmmmmm....interesting, you've added at least a half dozen e-mails to YOUR contact list............

Ditto. I've also had pretty good success with them. They bought out one of the big local yards here several years ago. that's how I got connecterd with them. Had a few "issues" but they were easy to work with in resolving them.

Thanks all for the input. Just didn't want to make any rash decisions. It has NOT effected his work or this would be an easy termination, much easier than "I have to let you go because your crappy attitude and sour puss is giving me an ulcer!" I've given this plenty of time and now it's like it's just become a goal of his to stir the pot...he's just not happy here and want's everyone to know it, but won't leave. We've considered bringing in a shop "helper", but I hesitate to bring anyone else in as he will surely corrupt moral. I like to think of myself as fair and easy to work for - I know I'm a LOT easier to work with than some of my bosses in years past - maybe that's the problem, I want a friendly atmosphere but I expect to be given the respect I deserve as the one paying his salary too. I think it's time for a breath of fresh air and new attitude. Again, Thanks for the input. Keep posting if you've been through this, good to know I'm not alone! Dwayne

Hate to be a downer as my first newbie post, but I figured this was the place to get an real world answer. I've been having trouble with an employee that has a growing attitude - a bad one-that is now crossed the line into insubordination in my opinion. I run a small shop, just myself, a partner, and one employee who handles most all of the repair work. So I am the service writer, the secretary, the accountant, the put out every fire that comes up guy as well as his BOSS. He's never been a happy guy, but recently has lost all respect for me as a boss and or employer and finds it easy to tell me what he thinks about whatever might be bothering him that day - weather it's his place or not! If I take the wrong "tone" when asking him something, If he thinks I'm asking him to do something that isn't really "his job" like picking up trash in the parking lot instead of walking over it, or dumping the trash when it's slow instead of me doing it after hours...etc. Never "good morning" never a smile, just a grunt when I say it to him. Says only what he must about repairs and expects me to figure out the rest, gets flustered if I have to ask him to explain something. Never happy with his pay or the comission check he gets. Even though I never short him hours even when slow - and we have been very slow- he's never missed a 40 hour paycheck. He punches his card to the minute and makes sure he never gives me a minute more than I paid him for. And lets me know it. I've skipped many weeks pay last year but he got every single week - but that never means anything. He's doing me a favor by shopwing up and doing his job every day. That's his mindset. He basically walks around with a chip on his shoulder waiting for something to make an issue over. Making my day miserable. The bad thing is that his work is near perfect. No comebacks, doesn't need me to hold his hand, and works at a respectable pace. Always at work early.I guess my question is this. Where's the line in a small shop like this? When does an employee's "personal problems" become insubordination? At what point do I say that's enough! Shouldn't I be able to expect some respect and be given it, as the person who signs his checks ? What are your thoughts? Discussing this with him always turns into a blowup - he's always right - and I've had enough, I'm ready to let him go. How far do you all bend to accomodate a problem employee because he does good work? Thanks for the input. Sorry for the length. Really troubling me.