Viewpoint: Downturn or Upturn? You Be the Judge
I have been asking a lot of shop owners and technicians one question, “how’s business?” In all honesty, I’ve been surprised at the responses. At the shop level, we are not doing too bad during these tough economic times. It is safe to say that we are in the worst recession in more than 20
Viewpoint: The Green Card
Recently, a local radio station did a story on a shop that was turning away SUV drivers who could not justify owning the large vehicles. I could not believe my ears, a shop owner turning away work? Maybe your shop cannot afford to have these convictions, but it started me thinking about the whole “green
Viewpoint: Half Full…How to Sart Feeling Better About Our Industry
As the editor of BRAKE & FRONT END, I regularly encounter the “glass is half empty” side of the industry. My email and voicemail is sometimes filled with bad news, doom and gloom. It was starting to rub off on my daily attitude last month. But, I found the best cure. I committed back in
Viewpoint: Out of Date, Need an Alignment Spec?
When I receive a call from a shop looking for alignment angles, it is usually a rare or exotic vehicle. It might be that 0.1 percent vehicle that has rare options like manual steering, off-road package or all-wheel-drive, that is not in most alignment spec databases. I can usually find the specs. Try me, (330)
Viewpoint: Googling Your Shop
Go and enter the name of your shop at www.google.com. Try putting “quote marks” around the name of your shop, like “main street auto care.” Now try entering the city where you are located with the name of your shop. I don’t care if you’re a two-bay operation, or have multiple locations. What did you
Google Links
Google: GO HERE FIRST AND ENTER YOUR SHOP’S NAME. www.google.com Google Maps: Are you on the Map? If not, get a Google Account and put your Shop on the Map. www.maps.google.com Article On How Google Works in Simple Terms http://www.google.about.com/od/searchengineoptimization/qt/improverank.htm Crash Course on How To Improve Your Ranking www.soswebdesign.com/articles/googlecrash.cfm More Extensive www.courtneytuttle.com/you-blog/how-can-you-move-up-in-googles-rankings/ Great Article On
Viewpoint: Pricing Out Fear
For 2008, I changed my health care insurance from a traditional plan to a Health Savings Account (HSA). Basically, it means that the first $2,000 (pre-tax) of medical expenses are on me. I was scared at first, but I soon found that it did have some entertainment and educational value. I have found myself pricing
Viewpoint, Quality not Price
Last month, I offered up 50 tips to improve your business in 2008. Tip 31 was “Ask suppliers for better pricing. The worse they can say is no.” I received an email from a reader about it: I’m the third generation in a parts jobber/warehouse. We specialize in fleets, especially cab fleets that experience rough,
Viewpoint: 50 Tips to Improve your Shop in 2008
Increase the labor rate. Chances are your customers will not notice. Send fewer cars to the dealership. Buy better uniforms. Secretly shop the competition. Attend more training. Take down all the old, dirty or out-of-date “push/pull” or “we install” stickers off your front door. Use your shop management system more effectively. Explore all menus and
From Rivets to Hooks: The Changing Brake Attachment Market
Relining and Rivets In the early days of BRAKE & FRONT END, the brake job was known as a reline. The technician would pull the drum and attach fresh friction material to the shoes at the shop. In 1931, a complete reline with adjustment could be had for $10.00! The shops could buy friction material
Viewpoint: Can Your Retirement Meet the Reserve Price?
For the past five years, I have been a shopper of eBay Motors. I not only shop for parts for my project cars, but for tools. It is almost an addiction for me to find the best deal or rarest tool. In the automotive tool section, I have been noticing a disturbing type of listing.
Brake Fluid Q & A
Mike Evangelo of Dynamic Motorsports and Rossion Automotive e-mailed me with six questions about brake fluid. I like a challenge, so here are my answers. 1. What are the fundamental differences between synthetic fluid and conventional DOT 3 and 4? Simple, it all comes down to the base stock. Both synthetic and conventional brake fluids