DUFRESNES

We try all different things. We send out magnets with our name to new customers (list we buy) We use seals on our envelopes marking our years in business. We have done Band-Aids with our name, bags with our name and now we are going to do Air Freshners. We will put in each car, not opened, It is in the shape of a car with our name, phone number and website. We try to keep our name and phone number in front of our customers. If anyone wants to know where we get out goodies, let me know and I'll send you his information. FYI We are still toying with the idea of charging for the credit card. It is my understanding there is a 3% fee for one and all except for debit cards. Legally you can't charge, if they use their debit card. At least that is what our credit card person said.

As an after thought, we have been asking our customers what their opinion would be. So far, they have said, everybody is doing it. I know that doesn't make it right or wrong. Just a thought. Our credit card bill averages $3500. a month

I know California is different in their laws. Yes I should have said that, check the laws of your state.

We have been charging shop supplies for over 25 years. It is a necessity in my opinion. Every dealer and dealership in our area has always charged for shop supplies. I see now, most dealers are either charging for credit card fees or are getting ready to charge for them. I am going to have our auto association put our a survey and see who all is charging for them. I will let you all know .

I have always believed it was part of doing business. I am questioning it now. Other than the doctor's office, I have been charged for everything I put on a cc. as much as 4% and as small as 3%. I am paying over 3K a month. Had a flooring company come out and give us a bid for flooring, yes they added a % on top or I could pay with a check. Yes, I paid with a check. My question is how many of your shops charging a fee.

After the pandemic, we don't give rides period. We have 5 loaner cars with Liability insurance only on them at over $800.00 insurance for each one. It has made all the difference in the world. We don't give out a loaner for oil changes, only for any other work We do give them to our Business Builders group even for oil changes. It comes to them full of gas and they need to fill up with gas at the service station a few blocks away. If they don't fill it up with gas for the next person, we charge them $2.00 per mile. It makes a big difference in getting people to commit to bigger jobs. Its not always the money, it is time without their car.

We give employees cost for their cars and IMMEDIATE family's cars. They can't use their CC or add 3%. With all that said, No to buying parts to use fixing other peoples car for their profit on their own time. If family wants us to fix their vehicles through the shop at regular prices, then discounted 25% Not sure this will make sense. Employees did not like this at all. They felt I was taking their extra profit away. Make your rules and then stand by them totally.

We need better resources for diagnosing European cars' DTC's. I'm talking about 8-12 year old models, in the prime years of major repair, that our primary tool, AllData has no information on. They may have many other codes listed for these vehicles, but not what we seem to need. Example: 2014 MB GL450 with codes u0121-87, u0147-87, c2321, c030a, p179a-12 and several others, with symptoms of not being able to drive car, a warning of "transmission not in park, vehicle may roll" illuminating. This is for illustration purposes, but if you happen to have experience with this in particular..... We hate sending our customers to the dealership, or specialty shops. Is there better scanners. We use for the most part AUTEL and Snap on Verus

I need help on taking care of our customer and our technician. Our warranty is 2 years. The car is a 2009 Ford Escape Hybrid We put in a rear evaporator assy, a Ford dealership OE part. It failed and we replaced it under warranty again. Also you should know there is only 1 year for this vehicle. Now it has failed again and the part is discontinued. Total parts and labor $1835.43 We put in the assy and now the aftermarket only comes as a core. Ford will eventually refund the part. This aftermarket core has to fit in the box for this vehicle. Both technician and service writer has been paid on this job.

True story. Jacob, our mechanic, owns a 96 Dodge Pu 2500. He travels a long way to work and back 56 miles one way. On the way home, one night after work, blew his radiator. He knew he had to do something, so he found a large rock and pounded it in to plug the radiator and added fluid he had bought for his other truck at home. He made it home. Unbelievable. I thought it might be interesting to have a fun topic, just saying.

Every work order that is written, we have to answer the source where they heard about us or how they found us. In ROW you can't go by without answering the source. You can print that report any time. Always make sure on your advertising that you put a different coupon for each kind, another way of finding the source. If it doesn't work quit doing it and move on

I came back from Business Builders this morning and no place to park. Yes, it is a good thing, yes and no. We just keep doing all the marketing that we have always done. Tracking it always, to make sure it is still working. We still do snail mail as long as it is working. You can't let up, school is coming, vacations are over and then it might slow down if you let up on your marketing.

I just went out and counted, we have 30 parking spots, if you count the 5 bays with cars in them. We can't have people leaving their cars more than the day we call them that it is finished. Most customers are great because they can see our lot. This picture was before they redid the street, sidewalks and signal light. Business is good, but we need parking. We did put in 1 up and down parking hoist. The guys really don't like using it. This was taken in December, before the street was redone. We could still park on the street then using it.

We have been buy all this year. We have such a small parking lot, we have to plan our days very carefully. Sales are up, but some due to raised labor rates. Curious if every body is experiencing his. We are having problems with parts mainly

replying to both of the above. We normally only have a couple of really hot days, so no problem. This year we are having a lot of hot days. When the weather was over 100, we had all employees come in at 6 and go home at 3pm. We usually have 3 of us come in and 6 and the others come in at 8. I am thinking of adding it as soon as possible, probably for next year. Thanks for all the input