The amount Integrity Does Your Auto Repair Shop Have?
If you see fewer auto repair shops towards 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 economic.
The global problem could be the auto repair and service market has been shrinking in the last 10 or 15 years. Technology has made cars much more reliable with fewer breakdowns, repairs and scheduled maintenances.
Many manufacturers offer kind 100,000 mile warranty meaning that the independent will get little chance to handle that car for their early 5-10 years it is owned.
As new car sales margins go down, VW, Chevrolet, Toyota and other manufacturers are seeking to their service departments to make the difference.
Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab happen to adding other useful benefits such being a loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents are now being forced to give courtesy rides to customers in an effort to keep with the dealers since customers now expect this service.
Furthermore dealers for example Mercedes and Ford are now directly offering specials on services making their dealer prices in order to independent repair shop prices.
But it’s simply competitive pricing naturally worrying the independents.
The battle for skilled labor may also be won by the dealers: the dealers often competed for skilled labor and already have become significantly aggressive. With fewer right now entering business repair profession and opting instead for careers such as health and technology, overall talent pool of the superior skilled auto technicians is shrinking.
Increasingly around the globe becoming tougher for independents to work with and retain these competent employees. A great automotive technician, would you rather work in Audi or Joe’s Rummage?
The dealers are collecting the best ‘mechanics’ or as may well known today, ‘technicians.’ Top-notch end dealer technician may well make $100,000 twelve months with benefits while an independent shop owner would to be able to gross during a $1,000,000 1 yr to make that and get to obtain their own benefits and social security.
Because from the economic realities many independent owners are usually closing their shops all night to be suitable for GM, Nissan and other dealers.
This puts the independent auto repair shop at a distinct disadvantage when diagnosing and repairing difficult drivability, fuel injection, electronic and computer related injuries.
Additionally, if a diagnosis appeared and a part of needs replacing the dealer will achieve it in stock, not only verifying the diagnosis but greatly speeding inside the repair as well as increasing customer support. Big advantage Cadillac and Mercedes.
But it’s not only a skilled employee world war. Techs cannot fix cars without information and there’s a long and ongoing dispute from the dealers/manufacturers and independents over technical information access and diagnostic equipment.
The manufacturers claim their technical details are proprietary in terms of independents claim the information should accumulate to anybody that owns or fixes build of motor.
Excel Auto Repair & Sales
94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536
(508) 444-2777
