Customer Service Archives

RR 355: Andrew Emery from Antero Automotive has The Best Job in the World

The Best Job in The World!

Andrew Emery is the owner and operator of Antero Automotive in Greenwood Village, Colorado. He believes if you take care of your employees, they will take care of your customers.

This episode tackles relationships with customers and employees on how it can be your secret sauce to success. Every customer receives a free car wash.

After 22 years in the industry and 10 years as a business owner, Andrew still loves what he does every day. He gets to turn a wrench when needed and he gets to serve others. Andrew started this business to change the way people look at automotive repair shops.

THA 080: Bring Them Back: How To Revitalize a Lost Customer

Bring Them Back: How To Revitalize a Lost Customer

Our lively discussion starts with the Customer Retention Myth and ends with taking extreme ownership of your customer and keeping them in the fold. We talk about steps to get lost customers back, the power of relationships, the power of culture in customer retention and what type of marketing works for retention and revitalization up to and including a phone call.

The panel: Shari Pheasant, owner with her husband of A Master Mechanic, in Reno, NV and is a business coach and president of Horsepower Strategies and Ron Ipach, co-founder of Repair Shop Coach and known as Captain Car Count and David Roman, owner of Done With Care Auto Repair in Merriam, KS.

RR 352: Rocky Khamenian. Uniting The Industry’s Great Divide!

Rocky Khamenian. Uniting The Industry’s Great Divide!

Rocky Khamenian is the owner/operator of Bimmer & Benz Specialists in Costa Mesa, located in south Orange County, CA. He is an active member of both Chapters 48 and 50 of the Automotive Service Councils of California and has served on the Board of Directors for both.

Throughout his 32-year career, Rocky has continually increased his education to maintain the highest possible level of professionalism. He’s achieved the status of Master Technician through ASE and he has completed a wide variety of technical classes on the repair and maintenance of BMW and Mercedes Benz vehicles through WTI. At the present time, he is in the process of being certified as a Bosch Master Technician.

Rocky is the current president of ASCCA Automotive Service Councils of California. He gives some life lessons for every shop owners, shares the importance of association membership and gives us a glimpse of the new ASCCA Degree program at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, California.

The new ASCCA Degree program that has been in the works for years that has just been approved at Cuyamaca College in El Cajon, California 92019. You’ll start to hear more of this groundbreaking program soon on the podcast and through ASCCA. This state-approved credit course will create paid internships for ASCCA shops. This is a post-secondary program like the OE programs but strictly for independents and will help solve the need for entry-level technicians for independent shops.

RR 348: Vinnie and Anthony Lucido from CoAuto – Community Conscious Car Care

Community Conscious Car Care

Vinnie and Anthony Lucido started CoAuto in 2014 at Reno, Nevada. The brothers are both ASE Master Technicians with Anthony holding 15 ASE Certifications.

Their shop CoAuto which stands for Community Conscious Car Care ran Veteran car giveaway every year, Local art display in waiting room which shop doesn’t take commission from sales, High school internship program, Reverse carbon footprint which Partnered with Arbor day foundation and have tree planted with every oil service and Women’s Car Care Clinic.

The brothers are taking a step back from business, letting employees learn by themselves and not micromanaging the company. They remained motivated from seeing the previous employer working to the bone as the owner who couldn’t let go of control and knew they didn’t want to be that type of owner. Both Anthony and Vinnie on a 5-year plan to have the shop run by itself.

RR 345: Leon Martin from Auto Tech Services – The Importance of Soap-Paint and Light

The Importance of Soap-Paint-Light

Leon Martin started his shop on a 60×40 oat-field, in a community with a population no less than 2,200. He started it with pure guts and determination despite detractors that told him that he can’t do it. When Auto Tech was open in Rochester, Washington for appointments, he appealed to the emotion of his customers.

Starting a business has a lot of challenges especially on the financial side of things. Leon shares some tips on how to make a wise financial decision, getting a business coach, advocating shop cleanliness and the deeper value of customer service. He shares his cleanliness, colors and bright days and nights in Soap-Paint-Light.

He always tells his customers Maintenance is easy to schedule, breakdowns are not. His customers will nod in approval while he and his crew extract a smile and a simple ‘what can I do to make your day better’ will work wonders on any given situations.

RR 337: Mandy Pennington from Net Driven – Influence Your Customer in Their Digital Hangouts

Influence your Customers In Their Digital Hangout.

Mandy Pennington is the Director of Internet Marketing at Net Driven and she brings an array of ideas to improve the influence you have on your customer where they interact with you in their digital world.

The more listening and empathizing you are engaged with your customers the more effective you can make your marketing and experiences. Be your customer’s ‘Day Maker’. Take ownership of your website and your social media channels so you can influence your customer in those micro-moments. Meet them where they are.

We talk SEO, your customer purchase journey, and digital marketing trends for 2018 & beyond. We discuss protecting your online Image and the very big push for having a mobile-friendly website. It will make a difference in your digital marketing.

THA 069: Workshop – Service Advisor Roleplay – Part 1

Listen In On Four Different Roleplays of Service Advisor and Customer.

In this new Academy workshop format, learn as four different themed role plays are, played out for you. In each role play there is a customer, service advisor and an observer/coach who sums up in their own words what was great about the role play. The observer also suggests ways to improve.

The ‘actors’ are Lauren Giver, Service Advisor at Los Gatos Auto Service Campbell, CA, Barry Barrett, Director of Training at RLO and Clint White Shop Manager at Coopers Auto Repair Specialists in Tacoma, WA.

Access your own skills as a service advisor with this roleplay workshop. Owners, consider roleplays as a teaching strategy. Find the key takeaways from each role play at remarkableresults.biz/a069

THA 067: Your Ideal Customer Part 2 – Training Your Team To Embrace Your Avatar

Your Ideal Customer Part 2 – Training Your People to Understand and Embrace Your Customer Avatar.

Knowing your ideal customer is an important part of a very successful business and helps define who you want as your customer. Commonly called your customer avatar, or your cardboard cut-out you are defining a customer that trusts you and are advocates for you.

These customers are least likely to stray and are most likely to recommend you because they are also advocates. You must talk to your ideal customer and find out what makes them tick.

In this episode find out the many ways you can engage your team to embrace your ideal customer. Hear from Ron Inchausti Coast Motor Werks in Irvine, CA, a multi-shop owner, Brian Weeks from [atc] Auto Center, a 3rd generation multi-shop owners from Augusta, GA and Patrick McHugh from Bimmer Rescue in Richmond, VA.

Part one is Town Hall Academy Episode 56

THA 062: Come Backs – Prevention, Reputation and the Cost

The Dreaded Come Back: The Keys To Prevention.

Comeback prevention starts at the front door. It is all about communication. Writing enough information to the technician the better he/she can handle the diagnosis.

To improve the end product and to reduce comebacks, you must build quality into the repair process. Quality control checklists at the end of the repair can only do so much. Quality, not quota, is the strategy you need to adopt to reduce comebacks. You should always be looking to improve. Your processes will drive a well-managed quality program.

The quality of parts today is in question and you need to pay attention to comebacks so your costs and reputation are managed. Tracking every comeback is a necessity if you are going to reduce your comebacks.

THA 060: How To Get Value From Recorded Service Calls

How To Get Value From Recorded Service Calls

Listen and learn from Rena Rennebohm, service advisor coach and the Chief Training Officer of ACT Group, Keith Williamson, president of Williamson’s Repair and Tire in Bondurant, IA and service advisor Lauren Giver, from Los Gatos Auto Service in Campbell, CA.

Listening to just one side of a customer call does not do justice in improving and training your service advisor. Service advisers need quality training, no different than technicians and business owners and the recorded phone call is an important element to that training. Save good calls and go over what a good call sounds like. If your shop does not record calls, then get your shop secret shopped. You’ll be convinced.

Find one phone call that works play it over and share it with your team; you will grow your business. Recorded calls and coaching helps to convert and opens the learning to be a better communicator. A great outcome of recorded calls is the opportunity to make changes to your policies. You’ll discover what works and what doesn’t.

THA 056: Your Ideal Customer – Defining Your Avatar

Your Idea Customer – Defining Your Avatar

Knowing your ideal customer is an important part of very successful businesses and helps define who you want as your customer. Commonly called your customer avatar, or your cardboard cut-out you are defining a customer that trusts you and are advocates for you.
These customers are least likely to stray are most likely to recommend you, because they are also advocates. You must talk to your ideal customer and find out what makes them tick.

In this episode find out the many ways you can connect with your avatar, a recommendation on how to get started and who to involve inside your company to help define who is your ideal customer. Hear from Ron Inchausti Coast Motor Werks in Irvine, CA, a multi-shop owner, Brian Weeks from [atc] Auto Center, a 3rd generation multi-shop owners from Augusta, GA and Patrick McHugh from Bimmer Rescue in Richmond, VA.

RR 304: The Battery Shop

Sell More Batteries. Training and Testing is the Key.

Join Michele Zgola the director of Marketing and Communication at Johnson Controls, Jim Bates the Aftermarket Training Center Manager also at Johnson Controls and Patrick Haynes, Executive Director at the Responsible Battery Coalition.

Learn about selling more batteries and how well the industry has rallied to recycle 99% of all batteries. Recycling challenges are coming in the future as lithium-ion batteries will need to be recovered.

RR 303: Jason Soto from Mobilesoft.com

There’s an APP for that!

Ever thought of connecting with your customer with your own APP. Did you know that a smartphone app is a retention strategy?

Ever thought of the challenges with social media to get your message heard? What if you could push a message to a user of your app? Will your customer have a stronger relationship with you if your app is on their phone?

Jason Soto from Mobile Soft Technology talks about the value of having your own smartphone app. Interesting concepts you need to know about. Learn about this tool and how it could work for you in your quest to create customers for life.

RR 302: Lisa and Kevin Eckler

Never Too Late to Get a Business Coach to Help Put the Business on the Right Path.

This interview is for anyone who started a business and took time to discover that their talent as a top technician didn’t help when it came to run a business. Lisa and Kevin Eckler from Foreign Car Specialists in Poughkeepsie, NY bring you a very raw and transparent story of their business evolution.

Kevin shared his story so that you will benefit. His business acumen wasn’t as good as his talent as a technician. He gives great advice to anyone who is struggling to make money.

Lisa is new to the business and they married four years ago. They took their blended family and business struggles head-on. Their story is fit for the ages and I know many can relate to the challenges they’ve overcome.

RR 301: Matt Purselle from Revolution

Treat every customer like you would your mother.

Matt Pursell the guy with the bow tie owns Revolution in Decatur, GA. As a Mercedes Benz and smart specialty shop his customers expect a level of service indicative of the brand of car they drive. Matt shares how they deliver exceptional customer service. The growth rate in the business is 10% with no advertising budget for new customers and referrals has driven his success.

Matt also stands out as a differentiator in other ways. Imagine if you will it is July and you are a customer, you just may go home with a vegetable right from the Revolution garden. How cool is that? Matt explains they grow their customers like they grow their vegetables. His culture and customer service in his company is built upon this premise: Treat every customer like you would your mother.

THA 053: Improve Communication Between the Service Advisor & Technician

Many Problems Are Found in A Lack Of Communications; Therefore Good Communications Can Prevent Come Backs.

Improving Communications Between the Service Adviser and Technician with Jude Larson from Valley Repair in Tenino, WA and also with JML Real Solutions, also Darrin Barney, Owner of Barney Brothers Off Road in Grand Junction, CO and Donnie Carter, Service Manager at Little Wolf Automotive in Waupaca, WI.

Communication is an important tenant in any service business. It is up to the service advisor to bring the ‘novel’ to the technician. Listen hard to the customer and write down the details of their issue or concern.

Technicians results are dependent on getting a good path to follow. Give them a great opportunity to succeed with clear in-depth information. Techs need to do their part and provide clear information back to the service advisor to support the recommendations they are going to provide as a value to the customer.

RR 296: The Digital Shop – A Discussion | Sevart | Connor | Kleinschmidt

The Digital Shop: A Discussion.

If you are contemplating the future and know you’ll need to get there maybe sooner rather than later this roundtable discussion has a lot of information for you. Panelists are Joe Sevart from I70 Auto Service from Kansas City, MO, Bill Connor the General Manager form Craig’s’ Car Care in Allen, TX and AutoVitals CEO Uwe Kleinschmidt.

There are many important info points here to help you and guide you in this inevitable change to your business that will be as important as having lifts in the bays. You may not be ready to implement a totally digital inspection, CRM, and workflow system, however, you’ll want to invest the time in this episode, to you keep your learning curve high and hear from shop owners who have done it and are so happy they did.

The digital strategy is to have the service advisor to do more advising and less busy work. Digital also allows the customer to be anywhere and still see the problems via still pictures and videos.

RR 295: David Eschbach from Spirit One Group on the Service Advisor

The Four Cornerstone Approach to Service Counter Success

David Eschbach shares his method for improving the relationship and experience with the service advisor and customer.

Here is an in-depth discussion on improving your service counter. It is no secret, we have great people on our service counters and a regiment of training brings fresh ideas and helps tighten your customer relationship.

David shares his Four Cornerstone approach to service counter success. It is a simple process as we look to your customer and discover: What is Broke, Why is it Broke, and then give them a Statement of Benefit and Recommendation and finally Explain How are we Going to do the Repair. Of course, money is a byproduct of a great service experience.

THA 049: How to Sell Diagnostics

How To Sell Diagnostics at a Profit?

This is not an easy question to answer. Service professionals must be paid for their expertise because the cost of doing diagnostics is the most expensive service you have in your building.

It is time to move from diagnostics to testing and analyzing. Every shop needs to build a premium product around testing and analyzing. You need to be known as the ‘we can fix anything right the first time shop’. Your motto: “We have the best technicians.” Your shops testing and analyzing skills is the premium product you sell and are known for in your marketplace. No need to go anywhere else. We do the research, test, analyze and discover what is wrong. We present the solution then you decide.

Marketing this premium product requires a strong testing/analyzing process that both the service advisor and technician are totally in agreement with. The benefits allow the SA to confidently sell testing and analyzing.

The diagnostician knows that the SA will sell the value and benefits to the customer because the process dictates the work to be done. A very strong discussion and powerful take-a-ways that will arrest the black hole in your business of profitable diagnostic time.

RR 291: Bambi Crozier from Car Clinic and ASOG

Changing the Image of the Industry; One Customer at a Time.

Bambi Crozier and her husband Neil own Car Clinic in Lowell, AR. They are dedicated to lifelong customer relationships and are working to change their customer’s image of the industry to that of a profession and not just a trade.

With her background in customer service, she and Neil set out on a mission of change. She started by asking her customer’s a lot of questions about their vehicle. She discovered that her customers wanted the down and dirty truth about their vehicle needs.

Listen to her story of startup and transformation. She knows that the rapid change in technology and the way tech is affecting how business is done today will require a smarter, wiser business owner. She believes in the power of the statement: ‘You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know.’

THA 048: Grow Your Fleet Business | AMi Credit

Growth Strategy: Fleets

Fleet business can sustain your revenue during the up and down times of the year. Get started and be willing to change and adjust as you move along. These three experts agree that it may be time for you to ‘Get out of your comfort zone’ and jump into the fleet business.

Learn from Tom Palermo from Preferred Automotive Specialists in Jenkintown, PA, John Constantin from Bison Fleet Service in Buffalo, NY and Bill Nalu from Interstate Auto Care in Madison Heights, MI.

We talk how to recruit fleet customer, obvious reasons to get into fleet business, the how and the challenges of implementing and growing fleet revenue.

RR 289: Tony Adams from Weavers Auto Center

The Leadership Challenge

Tony Adams, Vice President of Operations at Weavers Auto Center in Shawnee, KS, has an inspiring story about change and leadership. Listening to stories like Tony’s, who have achieved success while toughing through challenges and learning from mistakes, can build strength in all who listen.

Tony admits to what all good leaders know; admit your mistakes, learn from them and move forward. It builds strong leadership. He shares his very transparent story. You’ll either relate to it or learn from it.

We all will experience a story like Tony’s at least once in our lives. Never stop learning and build a fire under your team to serve the customer.

RR 288: Jorge Antico from eAutoClub.com

Customer Transaction Data is a Powerful Resource for Organic Growth

With a business and computer science education, Jorge Antico identified the aftermarkets need for transactional service-data aggregation. In essence, a family-owned vehicle fleet service management system.

The data that sits on your server contains a treasure of information that can be served up in just the right way. With the right AI software for natural language predictive CRM, you can do a lot with your information. Antico shares the power of growing your business using the data you already own.

This episode will provide much insight, from a tech perspective. There are many strong thinking moments here that will energize your systems and marketing talents and inspire you to grow your business.

THA 047: Twenty-One TIPS to Get an Edge on the Competition – Part 2

Do you need a quick new idea to implement that will give you an edge?

In this Academy lesson get 21 TIPS (Part 2) to help give you an edge over the competition. These are some very simple ideas that have been collected from successful service professionals in the industry.

Implementation will be the big payoff. If you listen to learn just one thing and do not implement you will not benefit from this listen.