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Happy Monday everyone.

I am finally getting back to the real world this week. As almost all of you know, I was traveling a ton at the end of October. Between a trip to Virgina for an ASE workshop and my trip to Austin for USGP I was toast. But now that I have a week back at work behind me, it’s time to get rolling again.

Today we are talking about a very timely subject. That is what techs can do when the shop is slow. Last week was very much that type of week for me. As techs we know that business is up and down. So planning for slow times, and making the most of them are vital.

Today we talk about:

  • Why is the shop slow:
    Time of year
    Poor shop habits (bad service advisors, advertising, ect)
  • What can you as a tech control?
    Are you looking over every car for maintenance and recall needs?(NOT IN A RIP OFF CUSTOMERS WAY!)
  • What if you have no car to work on?
    Time for training
  • Work around the shop
    Maintain shop equipment
    Review TSBs Learn other jobs(behind the parts counter, service advisor)
  • Learn new cars/ good cars
    Run baseline values and test repairs on known good units
  • Lot Cars
    Check the lot for cars with updates and recalls
    This is mostly a dealer thing
  • Check local car lots
    This is also a dealer thing. Check local used car lots for cars that may have updates

Well that raps up another episode. As always, post your questions and comments below. IF you have a topic for the show you can post it, or just contact me.

Also be sure to follow on all the normal social media sites:

 

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Happy Tuesday everyone!

Today on the Automotive podcast, we are talking about work! We dive into the differences between:

  • Customer pay work
  • Warranty work, from the manufacturer. Think bumper to bumper new car warranties
  • Extended warranties. This would be a warranty you purchase separate.

Many techs have a strong opinion about doing warranty work vs doing customer pay work on cars. There are pros and cons to both types of jobs. This is the Flat Rate video I mentioned in today’s show.

Show Notes:

  • Customer Pay repair jobs
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Warranty repair jobs
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Extended warranty repair jobs
    • Is this the best of both worlds?
  • How warranty work is good for techs sometimes.
  • When customer pay is NOT good for techs

If you are having trouble viewing the video on the blog, see it at Customer Pay VS Warranty Work on YouTube

As always, thanks for watching. What are your thoughts on customer pay repairs vs warranty repairs? I know many of you have strong opinions on this topic 😉

Have an idea for a show topic? Is there a question you have always wanted to ask a tech? Feel free to post them in the comments, or use the contact me form. I want to be sure I give you the types of shows you guys are looking for.

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Happy Tuesday everyone! I hope that your week is off to an awesome start. Today on the Automotive Podcast, I am joined by Rusty from BenchRacingGarage.com. We are talking about being a new Automotive Tech. These shows Rusty and I do are a blast. I hope that you guys enjoy them.

Normally I post the videos with Rusty on Wednesday. But I am still fighting some type of bug or something. So I am taking an evening off, and getting some rest. If you watched yesterday’s Podcast, you will know why I am taking the night off. I don’t get sick that much, but when I do, it kicks my butt for a few days. Don’t forget that every Wednesday is Shop Shots!

Today we discuss:

  • what to expect on your first day
  • What to expect your first week/month/year
  • Ways to get your foot in the door
  • Buying tools
  • Tech Schools
  • Looking and acting the part
  • What NOT to ask a potential employer
  • and more…

As always, your comments and questions are welcome and appreciated. If you have a show topic you would like to see, post that in the comments below, or use the contact me form. Thanks for watching.

One last thing, I am working on audio only versions, once that is live, I will be sure to let you all know.

If you want to watch the video on YouTube, hit this link Being a New Automotive Tech

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Happy Friday everyone.Humble Mechanic Tool Box

Today on the Automotive Podcast, we are talking about tools. It is a subject we have talked about on the blog before, but is always fun to revisit. Today’s view comes from all the years and dollars that I have spent on buying mechanic’s tools, as well as tools for the house.

Today we look at:

  • Tool Brands, Snap-on Tools, Matco Tools, Craftsman tools, Harbor Freight, Makita, and more
  • When to spend the big bucks on Mechanic’s Tools
  • When to save some money on Mechanic’s Tools
  • The tools that are my favorite both in the shop and at home.
  • Questions to ask yourself when trying to decide on which tool to buy
  • Toolbox advice

Thanks for watching. As always, post your comments below. If you have an idea for a shop topic, please post them in the comment section as well. Or you can use the contact me form.

For more information on Mechanic’s Tools, just click that link.