joefordyce

You will come out ahead if you get the GM kit.  Saves a lot of time trying to bend everything just right.  There aren’t that many that require that you actually have to lift the cab or bed to do them.  I think the last kit I bought from my Chevy dealer was $49 on RepairLink.  How could I not buy it?  Even if you have to make one or two, or join…[Read more]

I have taken a different approach in the last few years that is really working well.  I prepare a full estimate for the work needed, using parts that I would normally source, and a labor rate higher than normal (you know why).  After calling the warranty company, I subtract what they will pay from my estimate, then tell the customer that the w…[Read more]

The Hunter rack interacts with the Hawkeye alignment system, so I would just go for that.  Automatically unlocks the turnplates, and if you get the tire inflation system, it interacts right on the screen (plus it prints it on the alignment results).  Yeah it’s more money, but you get what you pay for, especially in this case.

By logging in to the AAA Portal, they want you to show who owns the vehicle, what was repaired, how much you discounted, and how much you charged.  Yes they are farming, but they disguise it as creating a database to inform their members about possible upcoming failures on their vehicles.  For example, if the 2009 XMachine is known to need a water…[Read more]

We bill out separately, tires are the parts, and M/B is the labor.  I have raised the dollar amount on tire markup to cover us on the cost of wheel weights.  All other pieces like TPMS rubber valve stems and regular valve stems still get added as needed.  Tire disposal is a separate line item also.

There are very few exceptions, but our rule is that WE will supply the parts to do the repairs properly, or we aren’t doing the repair.  Once you let someone furnish their own parts, you lose control – of quality, warranty, and profit.What exceptions I will allow:  part is a specialty or rare item that cannot be sourced easily (and I have a…[Read more]

Bar Rescue is my favorite of that bunch.  Also, the older versions of Gordon Ramsey on the BBC channel is a little more colorful than American TV, and is good viewing, in my opinion.