[elonblock]

I agree there are other better ways to increase your profits and bottom-line. Today’s more educated, internet-driven customer is sensitive to these methods. If you copy and paste this link into your browser, you will see a number of online reviews where customers are very vocal about their dislike for these charges:
http://bit.ly/shopsuppliesfeedback

I was in a shop last year when a customer told the service advisor, “when I go to a restaurant, I’m not charged a supply charge for napkins and condiments. So, I don’t understand why I have to pay for your shop’s rags and chemicals.”

In an industry where pricing is already a mystery to the customer, it’s important not to give them any reason for mistrusting your business practices.

[elonblock]

This is a great tip! The average age of vehicle on the road today is 11 1/2 years old, so you’re correct when you say, almost every car will be due for something.

The system you’re suggesting needs to include a step-by-step sales process that does two things:

1) It eliminates 100% of the doubt in the customer’s mind that the maintenance or repair is needed and the true benefit of getting the work done.

2) It also needs to include a benefit-driven reason why that shop is the best shop to do the work.

My experience has been: most service advisors are battling to sell to today’s internet-driven, “more educated” customers because they don’t have an effective selling system.

So, they attempt to sell scheduled maintenance. However, if they’re not successful at it, they quit trying.