Rental Car Revelation
Andrew Markel, editor of Brake & Front End and Underhood Service, discusses life on the road behind the wheel of today’s rental cars.
Talent Development
Let’s face it, ours is a very dynamic industry. Vehicle are constantly becoming more technical and customers ever more demanding. For this reason, individuals working in the automotive repair industry must continue to hone their skills to meet the changing needs of customers and their vehicles. Your people are your most valuable asset and they
Bulletproof: What 20 Years Can Do To Your Health
I once worked at a repair shop next to a small body shop, and I would occasionally see the two guys who worked there on my smoke breaks. Talking to these guys you could tell that something was not right. It seemed the busier they got, the more drunk they got. But, I never saw
4 Hot Topics For Employers In The Summer Season
With the summer season comes a few things in particular that companies need to consider. Here are a few hot topics that may apply to your business: • Dress Code – The warmer season is a great time to revisit your company dress code and remind employees of what your guidelines are for appropriate work attire
VIEWPOINT: Bad Advice For Lug Nuts
I am a sucker for helping stranded motorists, and this pothole season is no exception. So far I have seen two lower ball joint failures, one u-joint pole vault and a separated tie rod. I think people are at their best when others are at their worst. I recently stopped to help a Subaru at
Barcodes Should Be On Products, Not Customers
I go to the same two gas stations around my home and work. I know the cashiers, and they know me. The cashiers know I like Kona blend coffee, garlic-flavored Slim Jims and that I should not buy the 24-ounce energy drink. Over the past year, both gas stations have rolled out “loyalty cards” so
Google Your Shop – What Do You See?
Go and enter the name of your shop at 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. What did you find? Your shop’s website? Information on the youth baseball league you sponsored?
Technicians Are Modern-Day ‘Code Talkers’
During World War II, the U.S. enlisted the help of Navajo and Comanche Native Americans as radio operators to use a code involving their language to disguise the real message over unsecured radio waves. If they were going to say the word “army,” they would pick one of the native words that represented a word
Strange Requests At The Service Counter
Sometimes, I have to wonder if certain customers’ brains are firing on all cylinders. But as an automotive service professional, I have to maintain a certain level of self-control while answering their questions, even though what they’re asking is beyond rational intelligence. With that said, here are a few examples of the unbelievable things I’ve
Are All Cars ‘Supercars’ Now?
I recently attended an open house at Smokey’s Dyno in Akron, Ohio. The shop was filled with Lamborghinis, Jaguars and other high-end cars. It was a great chance to look under the hoods of some supercars. The shop even had a rare McLaren P1 sitting in the showroom. Growing up in a GM household and
Documenting Inspections: Are You Leaving Maintenance Dollars On The Table?
How do you translate scribbles on a repair order into sales? There is no magic trick involved — the key is to document the vehicle inspection process. The more you know about your customers’ vehicles, and the more you are able to document repairs for their next visit, the greater the possibility that you will
BYOBP Brake Jobs: This Has To Stop
Recently, I was sent a link to a TV commercial on YouTube for a mobile brake business. I will post the link on BrakeandFrontEnd.com. The commercial featured a puppet claiming that the business could save a driver $500 on brakes because shops mark up brake parts by 300 percent. Not that I don’t trust puppets
