A great quote only gets better with age. It can stand up to changes in society, technology and morals. Here are six quotes that every shop should live by:
“People like to talk about a job well done and equally like to complain when a job is badly done.”
– Fred G. Wacker, President, Ammco Tools, May 1973 issue
Fred made this comment in 1973 long before Facebook, Yelp or Twitter. People like to talk about a job well done and give a glowing review online even more than they want to give a negative review.
“Profit is a dirty word if you put it ahead of servicing and satisfying your customers.”
– C.R. “Dick” Bowers, Vice President of Amermac Inc., July 1973 issue.
It is OK to make money fixing cars, as long as you are honest and have the customers best interest in mind. Never feel bad about recommending a service or repair that could make a customer’s vehicle safer or last longer. Fixing car for a living is not a vow of poverty.
“Have enough faith in yourself to advertise your service. Buy advertised products in order that you may safeguard the confidence of your customers.”
– Edward Babcox, founder of Brake & Front End, March 1933 issue
This rings true even today! In the past decade, it is possible to get a part for less and from more competing sources. But, it is hard to trust a product just on price and maybe an online review; they could be here today and gone tomorrow. Advertising is a sign that a manufacturer or brand is in it for the long haul with you.
“You may have a perfect understanding of wheel alignment and front-end geometry. But, if you can’t communicate in “layman’s language” just what is wrong and how to correct it, you are not using one of the most important sales tools you have.”
– Lee Hunter, founder of Hunter Engineering in an interview in March 1973 issue.
Lee Hunter changed the automotive service equipment business with innovative battery chargers, wheel balancers and alignment systems. He realized that communication is key when selling services to the motoring public.
“A market is never saturated with a good product, but it is very quickly saturated with a bad one.”
– Henry Ford
“A business absolutely devoted to service will have only one worry about profits. They will be embarrassingly large.”
– Henry Ford
