FROGFINDER

Agree.

Eating mistakes tastes best with Grace and getting the task resolved in order to meet the next challenge.

True, Sad but true. Automotive skills. and 100 grand worth of tools , like common knowledge is not so common in today's world.

You focus on your game and let the cheaper guy focus on his. I wish all phone shoppers the best of luck and remind them i do used vehicle inspections for $99.00. Talk is Cheap

I tend to direct people to a very good tire shop two blocks down from us. If the tire is to be dismounted and inspected and repaired it gets done safely at n/c to the customer. Many times the problem tire has internal damage, age or wear that dictates the need for a new tire. If so they are at the right place. I will ask for the customers prayers and referrals. It's all about Prayers and Referrals.....The harder i work the Luckier i get-The Frogfinder

Whatever the cost of a part you must make the profit that you need to stay in business period. With information age it is tough and it will get tougher. We are in a war.

Hard hearts=zombie service.

That's the way we see it.

After spending time and money at everywhere else and the problem is still there....the customer tells me he/she is broke but can i take a look to see what's wrong for free like -------- does. The truth is many people cannot afford my help anymore after they have wasted the money elsewhere.

Some of my mentors won't hire a person that can't write or spell.

The Texas summer sun is taking it's toll on a/c and cooling systems. Trip checks and used car inspections on all car's. You don't want a customer to break down in another shop. .

"A man has to know his limitatons" Dirty Harry 30 % of my work is fixing other people's cheaper repairs.

The "Do It Not " segment is growing and that's what effects all of us. Last one out turn out the lights. Many businesses/brand's (American Motor's, Pontiac, others too numerous) have bit the dust but bless the The Lord and Family i worked today.

The generation that maintained vehicles is graying/dying off. Many people think that a trip thought the fast lube, a stop at the gas station and a drive through the car was is all that is needed. That being said most every car you see on the road needs $200.00 worth of something. The need is great but many customer's are broke.

I often tell people if they don't bring the car to me-take it to the dealer. I get referrals from the surrounding dealers as well. When asked about cost of a repair being done at another shop if it's sounds fair i say stay where you are. I offer to look at the car for a second opinion or a visual look over to see if the repair looks good. I often get the callers return phone number and call them up in a few days to check on how things went.

I remember take a number and stand in line at the auto parts store in the early seventies. Fathers and son's would be doing brake jobs, tune up's, water pumps, fuel pumps, engine job's,etc. I think something is lost when a family can't fix their own buggy.

Referrals in our waiting room is music to our ears.

Wishing you comfort and peace. Dog's are living unconditional love. Someday i hope to be as great as my dog thinks i am.

Watch the Total Out Rate. Modern vehicles are designed to sacrifice themselves for the safety of the occupants. I see many late model cars that drive and look repairable be totalled due to the cost of all the air bags,expensive HID headlamps, a/c condenser and radiator.Cars that just a few years ago would have been repaired are now recycled to make other products. I have also seen a rise in vehicles that have been wrecked but the customer could not afford full coverage insurance so off to pick a part it goes or they drive with the damage.

Yup. You are like a doctor and should NEVER discuss your customers situation in public. When you can share great news to a customer you should shout it from the roof top.

The voice contact is the most important contact with another human being that we have. Phone quotes are people reaching out to us. Impact the caller and they will refer others to your shop. Ask how they heard of your shop. Ask them for the vehicles vin number,get callers name, phone number and address. Ask them to come by for a free visual inspection Tell them you will call them back. Make sure they understand where your shop's location is and your hours of operation. Call them back with your fair gue$$, are the parts avail?, time to completion and offer them a courtesy ride/pick up when done. Call them back within 24 hours asking how they and the vehicle is. They should praise you for calling back and thinking of them. Remind them that you need thier referrals and prayers more than thier money.

We try to schedule the brain teasers around the vacations.Most customers are ok with it when they know that we will be all hands on deck next week.

What hurts me is that more and more people no longer afford my help help. I am seeing people in thier late twenty's and thirties having to get grandpa and grandma to pay for the repairs.

Thanks to all Veterans and Families.

In our market the basic services that vehicles have needed in the past are being "given away". I read in one pole that dealerships are satisfying consumers better than independents for scheduled services. I stopped by the local Acura dealership one saturday morning a few weeks ago and saw at least 40 people sitting/milling around the free entertainment/coffee bar area. I went to a tire store and saw 28 people plus with no more parking left. The Stand alone quik lube/car wash was packed selling synthetic Mobil one oil changes for $29.95. When was the last time your shop had more that twenty people waiting for your help? . I remember when working at the auto parts store in 1973 we would have twenty people waiting for us to open. Many of them had rotors and drums that needed turning, tune up parts to match up, starter and alternators that needed testing, etc. Sometimes i think there is more money to be made collecting the rent and franchise fees from the auto repair shop owner/sweat equity invester than servicing the plastic appliances on wheels that pass for cars today. The mass public expects an oil change For $1x.xx and a four wheel brake job for $9x.xx while they wait or they must have a loaner car. It's getting harder to spend time and effort to provide those services and still pay the bills. That being said Map out the turf around your shop and locate the vehicles that you want to work on. Contact as many people within the map and let them know about your shop. Make an impact for your shop in your area every day. ps Thanks to all the veterans that have protect us so we can have a auto repair shop.