Reputable auto repair shops? (car, business, permit)
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I've never found a shop that lets you bring your own parts, the mechanics I know say it prevents headaches when a part fails and they can't warranty it.
Head to a restaurant and complain that you can buy the same steak for half the cost at the supermarket.
Then ask if you can bring your own steak and see if they will cook it for half their price.
A (fair) markup on parts is a necessary part of the business model of any workshop. Auto Repair facilities are very expensive to operate. The insurance is expensive if you can even get it these days on both workers where there is a high risk of injury due to the work environment as well as the fact that if a repair fails while operating the vehicle could cause damage to not only the occupants but those around them as well. Then there are tools (yes, most mechanics own their own tools but the shop must cover the most expensive tools - the lifts, tire machines, vehicle specific tools, scan tools, etc) technician training, supplies, waste disposal, etc. That's why you will rarely if ever find someone who will install the parts you provide. Certainly no reputable shop will.
If one chooses to purchase parts off the internet or at the parts store also buy the requisite tools, manuals and supplies to install them yourself.
You may find an out of work mechanic who will work from home with customer installed parts (he doesn't have a workshop, insurance, business licenses, taxes, etc to cover) or one who will moonlight at home doing the simpler jobs that do not require a lift.
Head to a restaurant and complain that you can buy the same steak for half the cost at the supermarket.
Then ask if you can bring your own steak and see if they will cook it for half their price.
A (fair) markup on parts is a necessary part of the business model of any workshop. Auto Repair facilities are very expensive to operate. The insurance is expensive if you can even get it these days on both workers where there is a high risk of injury due to the work environment as well as the fact that if a repair fails while operating the vehicle could cause damage to not only the occupants but those around them as well. Then there are tools (yes, most mechanics own their own tools but the shop must cover the most expensive tools - the lifts, tire machines, vehicle specific tools, scan tools, etc) technician training, supplies, waste disposal, etc. That's why you will rarely if ever find someone who will install the parts you provide. Certainly no reputable shop will.
If one chooses to purchase parts off the internet or at the parts store also buy the requisite tools, manuals and supplies to install them yourself.
You may find an out of work mechanic who will work from home with customer installed parts (he doesn't have a workshop, insurance, business licenses, taxes, etc to cover) or one who will moonlight at home doing the simpler jobs that do not require a lift.
Complete and total BS. Carl has installed my own parts for me that I bring in. He is the most reputable shop I have ever known.
Head to a restaurant and complain that you can buy the same steak for half the cost at the supermarket.
Then ask if you can bring your own steak and see if they will cook it for half their price.
A (fair) markup on parts is a necessary part of the business model of any workshop. Auto Repair facilities are very expensive to operate. The insurance is expensive if you can even get it these days on both workers where there is a high risk of injury due to the work environment as well as the fact that if a repair fails while operating the vehicle could cause damage to not only the occupants but those around them as well. Then there are tools (yes, most mechanics own their own tools but the shop must cover the most expensive tools - the lifts, tire machines, vehicle specific tools, scan tools, etc) technician training, supplies, waste disposal, etc. That's why you will rarely if ever find someone who will install the parts you provide. Certainly no reputable shop will.
If one chooses to purchase parts off the internet or at the parts store also buy the requisite tools, manuals and supplies to install them yourself.
You may find an out of work mechanic who will work from home with customer installed parts (he doesn't have a workshop, insurance, business licenses, taxes, etc to cover) or one who will moonlight at home doing the simpler jobs that do not require a lift.
BS. A restaurant is not comparable to a mechanic. Additionally, there are seaside places that will cook your catch and places that let you bring your own wine. I dont care what you think. I have brought parts to reputable mechanics and will continue to do so.
That's fantastic that Carl is willing to install customer supplied parts. Carl sounds like a great guy and a fantastic technician.I've never meet Carl but from all the positive comments on the board he sounds like one of the few reputable independent facilities in the area.
Realize these are rare and isolated examples. The occasional seaside restaurant is not representative of the industry as a whole any more than Carl's willingness to install customers parts. In both cases they represent the vast minority, not majority, of businesses in their related fields.
The correlation between restaurant and auto repair facility, as a business, is that both businesses rely on profits from both labor as well as markup on goods sold. Both operate in retail segments with tight operating margins and stiff competition mandating this.
On the topic of independent Auto Repair Facilities the story generally goes something like this:
Guy works as a technician at a Dealership or, larger Independent repair facility. Guy is the best tech in the place, probably the best in the area. Guy is told by family, friends and customers that Guy should start his own shop. Guy starts thinking "yeah - I should! Break out on my own, be my OWN boss! I'm the best technician in the area! I'll have the best shop in the area!" So, guy sits down with his family and talks it over and decides to "take the plunge". Guy goes out and rents a small facility, maybe leases a few of the larger pieces of equipment needed (there are always favorable lease rates available on lifts, tire machines, etc). Guy is a nice guy and wants to be fair to his customers (who are mostly his family and friends starting out) so, he's offering low rates and will even install the parts YOU provide!!!! Guy saw the way his former employer "ripped off" customers by marking up parts and Guy will not have it! Guy is fantastic! Everyone is talking about Guy!!! Guy gets busier and busier - people are referring Guy like crazy! Guy is working long hours to keep up with the demand (Guy is in a business of selling his Labor by the hour because Guy is a nice guy and lets customers bring their own parts for installation). Guy only generates profit in relation to the time he spends working so, Guy spends more time working. And more time. And more time to keep up. Aside from this Guy is also now the Bookkeeper, receptionist, he's tech support when a computer goes down, etc - Guy is a very, very busy guy. What Guy can't understand is why Guy is so busy but not making any money?? The story goes on where Guy realizes to make any money Guy needs to hire someone. Unfortunately Guy is now underfunded and can't afford the best out there which his customers have come to expect from Guy. People start talking about how Guy's work is slipping, his new "Guy" is not what people have come to expect from their experience in dealing with Guy in the past.
Guy is a fantastic Tech and the nicest guy you've ever met. Guy has tried to be more than fair to everyone - except Guy. Guy thinks he has started a business but, what Guy has done is bought himself a Job - several job's actually. Guy is still selling his time (each labor hour - no additional profits) so, the business will never grow. Plus, Guy has not contributed to his 401K and has forgone health insurance his employer used to provide. He was going to continue contributions and get his own policy but the business has far more pressing expenses to cover. Guy has tremendous overhead to cover and works in a sector with thin profits and stiff competition to begin with.
Guy represents a major reason so many start up's don't make it in America today - people believe that because they have the technical know they should start a business. It's not to say that it never works out but, the odd's are abysmal of a good tech running a successfully managed repair firm. Even those that succeed for a time are usually unprofitable in the end. After 20+ years working in the financial side of the industry I know of a hand full of tech's for every hundred that make a successful transition. And in the end, most of those who do make it skim along by the skin of their teeth, aged, and disgruntled that they worked so hard and achieved so little for all their hard work.
Guy had to realize that the day Guy quit his job and started a business Guy became a business owner, not a technician. Guy had to begin to think like one and act like one - with focus on fair service at fair prices. By giving away profits (not reselling parts at a reasonable markup) he is cheating only himself.
Will you find the occasional shop where you can bring your own parts? Absolutely. I will almost guarantee you they are the one man band's who are less than profitable. Or they are moonlighters or working out of their own house to save expenses.
What you will never find is a sustained business with a long term (10+ years) track record of profitability where you are allowed to bring your own parts. It does not fit the business model of a successful repair facility. It simply does not fit the business model no matter how bad you want it to.
That's fantastic that Carl is willing to install customer supplied parts. Carl sounds like a great guy and a fantastic technician.I've never meet Carl but from all the positive comments on the board he sounds like one of the few reputable independent facilities in the area.
Realize these are rare and isolated examples. The occasional seaside restaurant is not representative of the industry as a whole any more than Carl's willingness to install customers parts. In both cases they represent the vast minority, not majority, of businesses in their related fields.
The correlation between restaurant and auto repair facility, as a business, is that both businesses rely on profits from both labor as well as markup on goods sold. Both operate in retail segments with tight operating margins and stiff competition mandating this.
On the topic of independent Auto Repair Facilities the story generally goes something like this:
Guy works as a technician at a Dealership or, larger Independent repair facility. Guy is the best tech in the place, probably the best in the area. Guy is told by family, friends and customers that Guy should start his own shop. Guy starts thinking "yeah - I should! Break out on my own, be my OWN boss! I'm the best technician in the area! I'll have the best shop in the area!" So, guy sits down with his family and talks it over and decides to "take the plunge". Guy goes out and rents a small facility, maybe leases a few of the larger pieces of equipment needed (there are always favorable lease rates available on lifts, tire machines, etc). Guy is a nice guy and wants to be fair to his customers (who are mostly his family and friends starting out) so, he's offering low rates and will even install the parts YOU provide!!!! Guy saw the way his former employer "ripped off" customers by marking up parts and Guy will not have it! Guy is fantastic! Everyone is talking about Guy!!! Guy gets busier and busier - people are referring Guy like crazy! Guy is working long hours to keep up with the demand (Guy is in a business of selling his Labor by the hour because Guy is a nice guy and lets customers bring their own parts for installation). Guy only generates profit in relation to the time he spends working so, Guy spends more time working. And more time. And more time to keep up. Aside from this Guy is also now the Bookkeeper, receptionist, he's tech support when a computer goes down, etc - Guy is a very, very busy guy. What Guy can't understand is why Guy is so busy but not making any money?? The story goes on where Guy realizes to make any money Guy needs to hire someone. Unfortunately Guy is now underfunded and can't afford the best out there which his customers have come to expect from Guy. People start talking about how Guy's work is slipping, his new "Guy" is not what people have come to expect from their experience in dealing with Guy in the past.
Guy is a fantastic Tech and the nicest guy you've ever met. Guy has tried to be more than fair to everyone - except Guy. Guy thinks he has started a business but, what Guy has done is bought himself a Job - several job's actually. Guy is still selling his time (each labor hour - no additional profits) so, the business will never grow. Plus, Guy has not contributed to his 401K and has forgone health insurance his employer used to provide. He was going to continue contributions and get his own policy but the business has far more pressing expenses to cover. Guy has tremendous overhead to cover and works in a sector with thin profits and stiff competition to begin with.
Guy represents a major reason so many start up's don't make it in America today - people believe that because they have the technical know they should start a business. It's not to say that it never works out but, the odd's are abysmal of a good tech running a successfully managed repair firm. Even those that succeed for a time are usually unprofitable in the end. After 20+ years working in the financial side of the industry I know of a hand full of tech's for every hundred that make a successful transition. And in the end, most of those who do make it skim along by the skin of their teeth, aged, and disgruntled that they worked so hard and achieved so little for all their hard work.
Guy had to realize that the day Guy quit his job and started a business Guy became a business owner, not a technician. Guy had to begin to think like one and act like one - with focus on fair service at fair prices. By giving away profits (not reselling parts at a reasonable markup) he is cheating only himself.
Will you find the occasional shop where you can bring your own parts? Absolutely. I will almost guarantee you they are the one man band's who are less than profitable. Or they are moonlighters or working out of their own house to save expenses.
What you will never find is a sustained business with a long term (10+ years) track record of profitability where you are allowed to bring your own parts. It does not fit the business model of a successful repair facility. It simply does not fit the business model no matter how bad you want it to.
So you went through all that to prove a point that mechanics dont take customer parts? Im sure they dont, but I do, if I know what I want worked on. Im sure little ole me is not going to put "Guy" out of business by bringing my own part. You can continue to get your car fixed how you see fit and I will do the same, this is the internet after all.
Just wanted to update: took my vehicle to carls cool cars.
I had it towed and only had a debit card. Carl loaned me the money to pay the tow, then drove me to an atm in his own vehicle.
Turned out my engine was blown and car is toast. Carl didnt charge me a dime and said "you have bigger problems right now" . He gave me the number of the part place he thought would give me the most money for my car.
Dude is a stand up guy and he knows his field. Would recommend 100%
Just wanted to update: took my vehicle to carls cool cars.
I had it towed and only had a debit card. Carl loaned me the money to pay the tow, then drove me to an atm in his own vehicle.
Turned out my engine was blown and car is toast. Carl didnt charge me a dime and said "you have bigger problems right now" . He gave me the number of the part place he thought would give me the most money for my car.
Dude is a stand up guy and he knows his field. Would recommend 100%
Thanks for all replies
Sorry about the car but that story is just amazing, that's why Carl is the best.
I was frightened to take my Volvo to a none Volvo mechanic. I relented and took it to Carl on your advice and I will never use anyone else again. Love his style...
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