Blog
Short, practical notes on running service, parts and body shop departments that customers come back to.
Take Action
Take Action The average age of vehicles in the United States has reached 12.2 years of age. This is the fifth year in a row the average age has increased. With new vehicle inventory remaining hard to get, this trend will continue for the foreseeable future. The reduction in new car sales is causing…
It’s Not a Fun Topic
Are you a Dealer that is NOT taking advantage of the new laws? “It’s Not a Fun Topic” I know it’s not a fun topic, but we need to talk about your warranty. The laws passed in all 50 states allow dealers to request retail pricing on warranty Parts and Labor. This is typically worth an additional…
Finding Talent in a Competitive Market
It’s Tougher Than Ever Regardless of the industry you are in, finding the talent you need to fill positions has become increasingly challenging. Shortages of Technicians, Managers, and everything else including Porters, leave very few options. Many dealerships have reduced their employment standards for applicants, hoping to fill the need quickly. Although I understand the sense…
Know Your Numbers
Whenever I’m looking at opportunities for improvement with dealership clients, our discussion involves a lot of numbers. Some common threads in fixed operations should be looked at together. The largest issue starts with a lack of communication. If you don’t inform and train your advisor, parts, and technician staff on correct policy and procedure practices…
Parts Availability Issues
Parts Availability Issues One of the largest concerns in today’s car dealerships isn’t talked about much. We have heard of chip shortages and the effects on new car sales. Take that concern and multiply substantially, and you are in the parts department. Whenever a technician comes to the counter and asks for a part, the…
Your Warranty Audit
Most dealerships are afraid when they hear the words warranty audit and with good reason. Warranty audits are rising, and most dealerships haven’t prepared. Warranty audits shouldn’t matter because your confidence in staff and processes are being done consistently. Trouble begins when compliance with the policy and procedure manual is never looked over and discussed…
Finding Your Target
Our world of automotive dealerships is fast pace with just getting through the day’s issues requires a lot of time. How we spend our time is vital to getting the results everyone desires. The best practice is always be thinking ahead resolving issues before they affect our business. Finding opportunities in your operations requires time…
What the Manufacturers don’t want you to know
Retail pricing on warranty Parts and Labor The laws that enable dealers to get retail pricing on warranty parts and labor have been passed in all 50 states! If you do not take advantage of the new laws, you are literally walking away from thousands of dollars. Why accept less from the manufacturer than you…
Being The Best
Our drive and passion as a company are clear and simple. We constantly ask what we can do to be better for our clients. No matter if it’s onsite coaching for your fixed operations team, Margin Plus warranty submissions to get retail pricing on warranty repairs, or any other fixed operations issues, we are always…
Are you receiving retail pricing on your warranty work?
Have you taken advantage of the law that allows you to receive retail pricing on your warranty work? If you have, did you review the opportunity to increase this year (once a year you can apply for an increase).