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 as well as the ‘backyarders’ creating shrinking margins and putting many auto repair independents out of economic.

The global problem may 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 getting 100,000 mile warranty so that you can the independent will get little chance to operate 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 the difference.

Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab have been adding other value added benefits such as a loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents think you are forced to give courtesy rides to customers in a shot to keep lets start work on the dealers since customers now expect this service.

Furthermore dealers for 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 together with dealers: the dealers have been competed for skilled labor and already have got become significantly more aggressive. With fewer right now entering effect on repair profession and opting instead for careers such as health and technology, fundamental talent pool of the most skilled auto technicians is shrinking.

Increasingly it is becoming harder for independents to utilize and retain these highly skilled employees. A great automotive technician, would you rather work in Audi or Joe’s Shed?

The dealers are discovering the best ‘mechanics’ or as may well known today, ‘technicians.’ An excellent end dealer technician may well $100,000 yearly with benefits while an unbiased shop owner would ought to gross over a $1,000,000 every year to make that as well as have to purchase their own benefits and social equity.

Because from the economic realities many independent owners have started closing their shops all night to enhance 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 injuries.

Additionally, is not diagnosis is made and a fraction needs replacing the dealer will have it in stock, not only verifying the diagnosis but greatly speeding up the repair period and increasing client satisfaction. Big advantage Cadillac and Rolls royce.

But it’s not just a skilled employee war. Techs cannot fix cars without information and you’ll find 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 in terms of independents claim the information should be available to anyone who owns or fixes help to make of automobile.

Excel Auto Repair & Sales

94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536

(508) 444-2777

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