Changing Oil and Changing Times – The Independent Auto Repair Service Dilemma
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 will 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 which means that the independent will get little chance to operate that car for one 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 up the difference.
Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab happen to adding other useful benefits such as the loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents are forced to give courtesy rides to customers in trying to keep lets start work on the dealers since customers now expect this service.
Furthermore dealers such as Mercedes and Ford are now directly offering specials on services making their dealer prices for you to independent repair shop prices.
But it’s simply competitive pricing naturally worrying the independents.
The battle for skilled labor may also be won using the dealers: the dealers have been competed for skilled labor and already have become a great deal more aggressive. With fewer individuals entering automobile repair profession and opting instead for careers regarding example health and technology, the total talent pool of methods to use skilled auto technicians is shrinking.
Increasingly it is becoming harder for independents you ought to hire and retain these highly skilled employees. Regarding automotive technician, would you rather are employed by Audi or Joe’s Drive way?
The dealers are selecting the best ‘mechanics’ or as they may be known today, ‘technicians.’ An increased end dealer technician earns $100,000 twelve months with benefits while wages shop owner would to be able to gross within the $1,000,000 a year to make that and have to pay for their own benefits and social basic safety.
Because in the economic realities many independent owners have started closing their shops and going to work for GM, Nissan and other dealers.
This puts the independent auto repair center at a definite disadvantage when diagnosing and repairing difficult drivability, fuel injection, electronic and computer related crises.
Additionally, any time a diagnosis is comprised and a part of needs replacing the dealer will have it in stock, not only verifying diagnosing but greatly speeding within the repair time and increasing client satisfaction. Big advantage Cadillac and Rolls royce.
But the goal wasn’t a skilled employee struggle. Techs cannot fix cars without information and love a long and ongoing dispute amongst the dealers/manufacturers and independents over technical information access and diagnostic applications.
The manufacturers claim that the technical data is proprietary individuals independents claim the information should be for sale to anybody that owns or fixes create of motor.
Excel Auto Repair & Sales
94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536
(508) 444-2777
