Repair Shop Advice

Archive for November, 2016

How to Gain Business with a Positive First Impression – Repair Shop Websites Webinar

November 30th, 2016

Do you struggle to attract potential customers? What about turning customers into lifelong customers?

Join Repair Shop Websites Team Lead, Stephen Bus, as he explains what your auto repair shop should be doing to make that great first impression – the type of impression and experience that will get customers in your shop and keep them coming back for years.  During this webinar you’ll find out what your customers are looking for in a shop and how to provide them with the best experience. We’ll share tips and important information on how to get them in the door and to form that long-term relationship.

https://youtu.be/g7hkH4oxyok

Coppa’s Service Center & Towing, Providing Middlesex County with Superior Automotive Service Since 1977

November 29th, 2016

Coppa’s Service Center & Towing Inc. is an ACDelco Service & Towing Center that has been family owned and operated for over thirty years.  They can handle anything from Factory Scheduled Maintenance, Tire Repairs and Balancing, NJ State Inspection and Emissions, Brake and Rotor Repairs, and a variety of towing services.  Give them a call today 732-297-7530 or stop by the shopat 1 Moore Road North Brunswick, NJ 08902 to see what everyone’s talking about!

Warzecha Auto Parts |The Best Place for Car Parts!

November 22nd, 2016

Warzecha Auto Parts is the preferred auto parts store in Zimmerman, MN.  Their qualified auto parts specialist are there to make sure you get the right automobile parts the first time.  They don’t want you to second guess.  Located at 26233 2nd St. E Suite 400, they can get those hard to find auto parts.   They have the state of Minnesota covered for all of your auto parts needs.   Call 763-854-3850 to see why they are the #1 auto parts store in MN.

Millennials and your Auto Repair Shop

November 15th, 2016

Entrepreneur magazine ranked Millennials as the top small business trend in 2016. How can a whole generation be a trend? As the oldest millennials reach their early 30s, they now make up a significant portion of the consumer and employee base for small businesses. Successful businesses must increasingly focus on meeting their desires and interests, including independent auto repair shops.

What defines a Millennial? Entrepreneur magazine highlights three factors that are unique to this generation, and here’s how they apply to automotive websites:

Comprehensive Leadership and Growth Opportunities

Young technicians often complain about the lack of training opportunities in shops. They get stuck fixing tires without the chance to collaborate with experienced technicians. However, smaller shops require employees to be versatile since there may not always be tires to fix. This creates opportunities for younger techs to assist Master Technicians, which wouldn’t be possible at dealerships. If your shop offers such opportunities, emphasize it in your job descriptions to attract ambitious technicians eager to learn advanced skills.

Ability To Rapidly Spread Information is Key

In the past, some businesses had an online presence while others didn’t. Now, it’s more common for businesses to have an online presence managed either by themselves or by external parties like customers, competitors, or information brokers. Even if a repair shop doesn’t have a website, it can still have online reviews. Customers, and even impostors, may be discussing the shop and influencing potential visitors. Managing your online presence is crucial, ensuring professionals monitor and project the best image of your repair shop. Negative perceptions can take months to address if left unattended.

Embracing Technology for Efficiency

Millennials are adept at quickly switching tasks due to the fast-paced world they inhabit. They maintain extensive communication networks through social media, engaging with a large group of people. With numerous demands on their attention, they’re unwilling to spend as much time as others on tasks and decisions. They may choose a shop after just three minutes of online research and expect to book an appointment within another three minutes.

Conclusion: The Repair Shop Websites Difference

  • Phone numbers are placed very prominently on our sites, in part because of the number of users you lose after only ten seconds on your site!
  • Many of our customers take advantage of our online appointment request forms, because some customers prefer not to communicate via phone at all.
  • We also provide drop-off forms for shops that want to allow key drop-off before work.

We can help! If you’d like a marketing partner that can help you perform well in local search, call us at 855-294-6397 or schedule a meeting with us at a time that’s convenient for you!

Dealer Connection, Offering Dependable Automotive Repair!

November 7th, 2016

Dealer Connection has been providing motorists in the Bedford, OH 44146 area with trustworthy and reliable vehicle repair services since 2000.  Their services include the following: General Services, Car & Truck Care, Inspections and Emissions, Undercar Services, Alignment, Brakes, Tires, Engine & Transmission, Engine Maintenance, Transmission Services, 4×4 Services, Heating and Cooling Services, Electrical Services, Electronic Services, Miscellaneous Services, Domestic Cars & Trucks, Import Cars & Trucks and Quick Lube Services.  Stop by 25 West Monroe Ave or call today (440) 786-8986 to schedule your next maintenance appointment!

Five Tips to Turn First-time Customers Into Long-Term Customers

November 4th, 2016

Last week, we discussed the best ways to convert a shopper into a customer in a short phone call.  But it’s much more expensive to gain a new customer than to keep an existing one.  So once that customer decides to give your automotive repair shop a chance, how do you convert them into a long-term customer?

Here are five tips that will help your shop stand out in a sea of uncaring franchises and dealerships.

  • Be available. Customers want a hassle-free experience that fits into their schedule. If it’s a drop-off service, make sure to minimize the amount of time they wait before they are talking to someone who’s working to get their questions answered and get them out the door.  If it’s a longer repair that needs to be scheduled, give them several options, and make sure you’re giving them times when they can be a priority as soon as they show up.
  • Show sympathy. It’s nothing personal, but unless they’re dropping their car off for a detail, they’re probably not happy to be in your repair shop. Best case scenario, they’ve shown up for routine maintenance like an oil change or new tires, and they’re spending time and money they’d prefer to use elsewhere.  If it was an unplanned repair, their entire day probably just got wrecked by their vehicle. When you’re dealing with customers like this, ask yourself what would be the best thing that could happen to you if you were in their shoes, and try to offer it.  Maybe they need a referral for a rental car that can come pick them up, or you have a loaner you could offer them.  Maybe they’d appreciate it if you could offer them some certainty as to what the problem is or how long they’ll be out of a vehicle.  Even acknowledging how frustrating it is for that to happen can make them feel better.  It’s uncommon to get great service like this these days – those conversations stick out in a customer’s mind.
  • When telling the customer about any unexpected repairs that need to be made, make sure to mention things that are in good shape, and other things that may need to happen later but you wouldn’t recommend yet.  This indicates that you’re not trying to find every possible thing wrong with the car and get them to fix it today.  It also makes them feel less like their car is ‘bad luck’, which can cause frustration that they might take out on the nearest person (that’s you).
  • When recommending unexpected auto repairs, also make it clear you know it’s a surprise and you want to be as transparent as possible. Offer to show them the issue on their vehicle.  If there’s another vehicle in the shop where you can show them what it should look like, show them that too.  If it’s a serious issue, indicate that, but take extra effort not to come off as pushy, especially on their first visit to your shop.
  • Meet your price and time estimates. A shop being able to meet their price and time estimates is not just a sign they are honest and customer-focused. It also means that a shop can accurately diagnose a problem, how long a car will be ‘in line’ and how long it will take to fix.  If you run into ‘unexpected delays’, customers might wonder why you weren’t expecting them. That being said, no shop can meet their estimates 100% of the time.  Sometimes digging further into a problem reveals more problems.  Sometimes part suppliers are flaky.  If you are unable to get the vehicle back to a customer when they were expecting it, apologize, acknowledge the impact that’s going to have on them, and work with them to make sure they aren’t left stranded.

To learn about how Repair Shop Websites can help you better serve your shop’s customers, call us at 855-219-7506 or email us at Team_RSW@repairshopwebsites.com.

Trim’s Automotive Repair Is Here For All Your Automotive Needs!

November 4th, 2016

Trim’s Automotive Repair offers a full-service center to cover all of your vehicles needs. We have been servicing the Lebanon, Pa. area for over 45 years, specializing in all types of repairs from minor to major services. Specializing in Foreign, Domestic as well as Truck and Suv.  Trim’s offers general service from Oil, Filter and Lube to Complete Engine and Transmission Service and Rebuilding. State Inspections and Emission Testing, Diagnostic work, Tune-Up, Brakes, Heating and Cooling, Air Conditioning Service, Drivetrain and Suspension Repairs, Electrical and Fuel Management Systems as well. Wheels, Tires and Accessories such as Tonneau Covers, Rain Guards, Exhaust Systems along with a variety of OEM and After Market Specialty items available through our Parts Store.  Call us today at 717-273-4348 or stop by 888 Kimmerlings Rd. We look forward to seeing you!

Trustworthy, upfront, and honest at Auto Service Mall

November 3rd, 2016

Auto Service Mall provides a variety of services ranging from factory scheduled maintenance, oil changes, alignments, brakes, transmission services, engine maintenance, and also electronic services.  They offer honest and reliable vehicle repairs and only fix what needs to be done.  Stop by 2522 Brandt School Rd Wexford, PA 15090 or call (724) 964-4019 to see what they can do for you!

All You Need To Get Your Car Inspected…Are Your Keys & Current Registration!

November 3rd, 2016

Since 2005, Apex Inspection Center has provided motorists in the Apex, NC 27502 area with the best customer service experience while getting their annual State automotive inspection and emissions tests! Our services include Inspections and Emissions and Auto Maintenance Services that include wiper blade replacement and headlight & bulb replacement. Our goal is to offer the best service available to get you back on the road in no time.

Honest and reasonably priced repair at A & B Automotive Inc. in Matthews NC!

November 1st, 2016

A very busy shop at 475 Stallings Rd in Matthews, NC 28104, A & B Automotive Inc. makes every visit a pleasurable, headache-free experience! Call 704-821-8045 to schedule your appointment today or drop in to say Hi!