atobias

Excellent, I’ll incorporate into our procedures!  Here’s our torque policy.  We have our employees sign this agreement and put in their personnel folder:
Torque Specification Verification Agreement
The employees of Tobias Automotive strive every day to be the best in their field and perform auto service and repair to the highest standards. T…[Read more]

Excellent, I’ll incorporate into our procedures!  Here’s our torque policy.  We have our employees sign this agreement and put in their personnel folder:
<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>Torque Specification Verification Agreement </span></p>
<p class=”p1″><span class=”s1″>The employees of Tobias Automotive strive every day to be the best in th…[Read more]

Excellent, I’ll incorporate into our procedures!  Here’s our torque policy:
<p class=”MsoNormal”><span style=”font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;”>Torque Specification Verification Agreement </span></p>
<p class=”MsoNormal”><span style=”font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;”>The employees of Tobias Automotive strive every day to be the best in…[Read more]

I don’t know why this isn’t more accepted practice.  You go to dry cleaner and pay extra to get express service.  You pay the plumber for express service.  I recently took a radio in for repair and they offered $20 extra to diagnose within 8 hours.  Seems very reasonable.

so happy Mitchell Management Software does that. Even with just the license plate too!

I just had my reels “rebuilt”. Cost $2,500 for 15. They are Balcrank. Bought them in 2001 and they started leaking around the swivel. Price includes replacement of all the hoses, ball stops, and water bibbs. Most of the cost was in the lift required to reach them 30′ in the air.
I’d say that’s pretty good service.

I wish I could help. I installed air reels, drop lights, and drop extension cords when I built my shop 16 years ago. Have had some issues with drop lights and cords but none with air or oil reels. I think they were Lincoln but cannot be for sure. They are 30 feet up so not easy to get up and look at either.

I have had to replace 1 or 2…[Read more]

I wish I could help. I installed air reels, droplights, and drop extention cords when I built my shop 16 years ago. Have had some issues with drop lights and cords but none with air or oil reels. I think they were Lincoln but cannot be for sure. They are 30 feet up so not easy to get up and look at either.

I have had to replace 1 or 2…[Read more]

I agree with most of the respondents. I’ve been in business 29 years and have fired 3 clients. I was sued once and prevailed because documentation was correct. Furthermore, I retained that client and has been very good.

Either you have a bad client base or some retraining needs to happen. It’s always better to settle than to contest. No one…[Read more]

Jeff,I assume you are talking about Bolt On’s inspection process.  When Bolt On presented it to me quite some time ago the start up cost was more than $5k with hardware etc.  Way too expensive to find out it either doesn’t work for us or not practical.  Plus it’s an additional monthly cost.  AutoVitals as presented to me so far is the same price…[Read more]

Funny, we are looking into this right now.  We currently subscribe to Bolt On for the Report Pro / Lube Sticker Pro / Messaging Pro.  It is $100 per month per store.  We also subscribe to Labor Profit Management for time keeping.  We also subscribe to Repair Shop Solutions for vehicle inspection software.  All of these combined is more than…[Read more]

We treat it on a case by case basis.  First, when the client calls you can determine who it is (usually a younger person, car enthusiast, or just someone who’s looking to get a deal).  Once you find out who you’re talking to you can educate them on your policy and why you do what you do.  We let some of our clients buy their parts, especially hard…[Read more]

I think your biggest problem and liability is going to be support of your program.  This person is going to use it in ways you didn’t think about, know about, or anticipate.  Wait until the OS upgrades and crashes your program.  You’re going to get calls when it doesn’t work blah blah blah.Just my 2cents.Btw, I’m very impressed in your…[Read more]

.2 for 1 tire. .5 for 4 mount and balance.  Charge flat rate to client.  It’s a loser.  

Personally, I don’t like torque sticks.  First, they are inaccurate when new.  So much depends on the amount of force the air tool applies and how long the tech hits it with the air tool after initial bottom occurs.  Then as they are used their performance degrades rapidly.  I have followed my techs with a torque wrench after they have tightened…[Read more]

We made a collective decision to choose one estimating software. They all have time variances but in the end most average out to be the same. We found a couple of years ago employees would shop each for the highest number. Just no fair to anyone. Clearly, we also take into account the difficulty of the job and it has to be reasonable.

If your tech produces 50 hours per week at $24 per his gross is $1,200.  Using this plan, the tech would have to bill 58 hours per week to stay even.Flat rate is like capitalism.  It’s not perfect but it’s the best we have.  

Please indicate for each feature listed1 Very important2 Somewhat important3 Not important__3___ Caller ID for customers in database__1___ Email customer from the RO__1___ Integrated paperless inspections__1___ Instant view of all maintenance service history and services due ___3__ Job pricing (invoices display total prices only for individual…[Read more]

1: Which ones have your tried?  Mitchell 1 and Protractor (Mitchell Enterprise), Mitchell12: Which one do you use now?  Mitchell13: On a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being the best), how happy are you with it?  8.  I wish Mitchell were more responsive to the needs of its clients.  We never know what they’re thinking or working on.We were using Mitchell…[Read more]

Aren’t oil change reminder stickers obsolete?