Changing Oil and Changing Times – The Independent Auto Repair Service Dilemma
If you see fewer auto repair shops in your community 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 along with the ‘backyarders’ creating shrinking margins and putting many auto repair independents out of business.
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 at least one 100,000 mile warranty particular person yourself 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 in the difference.
Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab already been adding other value added benefits such to be a loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents are increasingly being forced to give courtesy rides to customers in trying to keep up with the dealers since customers now expect this service.
Furthermore dealers with regard to Mercedes and Ford are now directly offering specials on services making their dealer prices similar to independent repair shop prices.
But it’s and not just competitive pricing that’s the worrying the independents.
The battle for skilled labor is also being won through dealers: the dealers constantly competed for skilled labor and already have got become a great deal more aggressive. With fewer individuals entering significantly repair profession and opting instead for careers regarding example health and technology, fundamental talent pool of the top skilled auto technicians is shrinking.
Increasingly it becoming more difficult for independents you ought to hire and retain these highly skilled employees. A great automotive technician, would you rather appeal to Audi or Joe’s House?
The dealers are picking up the best ‘mechanics’ or as they may be known today, ‘technicians.’ Top-notch end dealer technician can make $100,000 yearly with benefits while a private shop owner would ought to gross over a $1,000,000 one year to make that as well as have to afford their own benefits and social basic safety.
Because of this economic realities many independent owners are usually closing their shops on and on to work for GM, Nissan and other dealers.
This puts the independent auto mechanic shop at a distinct disadvantage when diagnosing and repairing difficult drivability, fuel injection, electronic and computer related problems.
Additionally, any time a diagnosis is made and a portion needs replacing the dealer will have it in stock, not only verifying the diagnosis but greatly speeding increase the repair and also increasing customer care. Big advantage Cadillac and Bmw.
But it’s not only a skilled employee conflict. 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 techniques.
The manufacturers claim that their technical data is proprietary while the independents claim the information should accumulate to anybody that owns or fixes that make of car.
Excel Auto Repair & Sales
94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536
(508) 444-2777
