Keep the Car in Shape by taking It to a Good Auto Repair Facility
If you see fewer auto repair shops in your area 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 may 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 at least one 100,000 mile warranty which means that the independent will get little chance to operate 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 in order to their service departments to make inside the difference.
Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab in order to adding other value added benefits such as the loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents are increasingly being forced to give courtesy rides to customers in hard work to keep lets start work on 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 comparable to independent repair shop prices.
But it’s and not just competitive pricing is actually not worrying the independents.
The battle for skilled labor may also be won from dealers: the dealers have been competed for skilled labor and may have become a lot aggressive. With fewer individuals entering significantly repair profession and opting instead for careers with regard to health and technology, the total talent pool of methods to use skilled auto technicians is shrinking.
Increasingly it is becoming more difficult for independents to work with and retain these competent employees. Being an automotive technician, would you rather work in Audi or Joe’s Shed?
The dealers are discovering the best ‘mechanics’ or as they may be known today, ‘technicians.’ An excellent end dealer technician actually make $100,000 yearly with benefits while a self-employed shop owner would require gross within the $1,000,000 one year to make that and have to purchase their own benefits and social protective measures.
Because of this economic realities many independent owners are usually closing their shops on and on to work with GM, Nissan and other dealers.
This puts the independent auto repair shop at a definite disadvantage when diagnosing and repairing difficult drivability, fuel injection, electronic and computer related crises.
Additionally, in the event the diagnosis appeared and a portion needs replacing the dealer will achieve it in stock, not only verifying the diagnosis but greatly speeding within the repair along with increasing client satisfaction. Big advantage Cadillac and Mercedes.
But it is not just a skilled employee showdown. Techs cannot fix cars without information and you’ll find a long and ongoing dispute with the dealers/manufacturers and independents over technical information access and diagnostic solutions.
The manufacturers claim that the technical data is proprietary in terms of independents claim the information should accumulate to anyone who owns or fixes build of motor.
Excel Auto Repair & Sales
94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536
(508) 444-2777
