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Changing Oil and Changing Times – The Independent Auto Repair Service Dilemma

If you see fewer auto repair shops towards you 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 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 ten or fifteen years. Technology has made cars much more reliable with fewer breakdowns, repairs and scheduled maintenances.

Many manufacturers offer kind 100,000 mile warranty particular person yourself the independent will get little chance to work with that car for the most important 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 inside the difference.

Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab are adding other value added benefits such being a loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents are forced to give courtesy rides to customers in a feat to keep on top of the dealers since customers now expect this service.

Furthermore dealers regarding example Mercedes and Ford are now directly offering specials on services making their dealer prices for you to independent repair shop prices.

But it’s as well as competitive pricing naturally worrying the independents.

The battle for skilled labor all means being won by the dealers: the dealers often competed for skilled labor and already have become even more aggressive. With fewer individuals entering automobile repair profession and opting instead for careers such as health and technology, overall talent pool of methods to use skilled auto technicians is shrinking.

Increasingly appeared becoming tougher for independents you ought to hire and retain these competent employees. Being an automotive technician, would you rather are employed by Audi or Joe’s House?

The dealers are collecting the best ‘mechanics’ or as may well known today, ‘technicians.’ An increased end dealer technician may well $100,000 a year with benefits while wages shop owner would ought to gross within the $1,000,000 a year to make that and still have to reimburse their own benefits and social equity.

Because from the economic realities many independent owners are currently closing their shops and going to be employed by GM, Nissan and other dealers.

This puts the independent auto mechanic at a distinct disadvantage when diagnosing and repairing difficult drivability, fuel injection, electronic and computer related crises.

Additionally, if a diagnosis is comprised and a fraction needs replacing the dealer will are in stock, not only verifying diagnosing but greatly speeding within the repair as well as increasing customer care. Big advantage Cadillac and Bmw.

But it isn’t just a skilled employee conflict. Techs cannot fix cars without information and love a long and ongoing dispute between the dealers/manufacturers and independents over technical information access and diagnostic tools.

The manufacturers claim that their technical data is proprietary while independents claim the information should accumulate to anybody that owns or fixes help to make of motor.

Excel Auto Repair & Sales

94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536

(508) 444-2777

https://g.page/excel-auto-repair-sales