Just how much Integrity Does Your Auto Repair Shop Have?
If you see fewer auto repair shops near you then you are witnessing a trend that is spreading throughout the auto repair industry. The small independent auto repair shop is getting squeezed by both the dealers and also the ‘backyarders’ creating shrinking margins and putting many auto repair independents out of business.
The global problem will be the auto repair and service market has been shrinking in the last ten or fifteen years. Technology has made cars much more reliable with fewer breakdowns, repairs and scheduled maintenances.
Many manufacturers offer kind 100,000 mile warranty relating to this the independent will get little chance to improve that car for site to website 5-10 years it is owned.
As new car sales margins have gone down, VW, Chevrolet, Toyota and other manufacturers are seeking to their service departments to make along the difference.
Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab already been adding other useful benefits such as the loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents are now being forced to give courtesy rides to customers in trying to keep with the dealers since customers now expect this service.
Furthermore dealers regarding example Mercedes and Ford are now directly offering specials on services making their dealer prices comparable to independent repair shop prices.
But it’s simply competitive pricing that’s the worrying the independents.
The battle for skilled labor all means being won through dealers: the dealers generally competed for skilled labor and will have become significantly aggressive. With fewer individuals entering significantly repair profession and opting instead for careers like health and technology, overall talent pool of the most skilled auto technicians is shrinking.
Increasingly it is becoming tougher for independents to utilize and retain these competent employees. A great automotive technician, would you rather appeal to Audi or Joe’s Drive way?
The dealers are discovering the best ‘mechanics’ or as yet known today, ‘technicians.’ A premier end dealer technician may well make $100,000 one year with benefits while a self-employed shop owner would ought to gross during a $1,000,000 every year to make that and have absolutely to obtain their own benefits and social safe practices.
Because of these economic realities many independent owners are usually closing their shops all night to be employed by GM, Nissan and other dealers.
This puts the independent auto mechanic at a distinct disadvantage when diagnosing and repairing difficult drivability, fuel injection, electronic and computer related health issues.
Additionally, any time a diagnosis is made and a part needs replacing the dealer will have it in stock, not only verifying the diagnosis but greatly speeding inside the repair and also increasing customer support. Big advantage Cadillac and Bmw.
But it’s not only a skilled employee world war. Techs cannot fix cars without information and love a long and ongoing dispute between the dealers/manufacturers and independents over technical information access and diagnostic tools.
The manufacturers claim that the technical results are proprietary while independents claim the information should be for sale to anyone that owns or fixes create of motor.
Excel Auto Repair & Sales
94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536
(508) 444-2777
