Guest Editorial: Body Shop Licensing Is the Way to Go
I’m a 30-year-old body technician who has been in the collision repair business for about eight years. I consider myself one of the new breed of bodymen in that I’m an educated person who truly wants to fix cars the right way and be proud of what I do. The Atlanta area is infested with
Capturing the Job by Closing the Sale
Reader’s Choice question: “With the current economy, how would you address the importance of capturing the job during the repair estimate? With volume down and shop efficiency increasing, what are the main issues we need to focus on to increase sales?” – Mark Levell, marketing director, Precision Collision Auto Body, Seattle, Wash.
Getting Paid for Paint and Materials
Reader’s Choice question: “Why is paint and materials tied to paint labor rate? It should be invoiced and marked up accordingly. How do we change this? We went from a 35 percent profit on paint and materials to 2 percent in the last two years.” – Jim Patrick, collision repair manager, Langs Chevrolet, Beavercreek, Ohio
Uniting Body Shops
Reader’s Choice question: “How can we unite the body shop industry in a large metro area in order to protect our rights and not get bullied by insurance companies?” – Kyle Kuzdell, manager, Szott M59 Collision, White Lake, Mich.
Back to Basics: Customer Service
Is there anyone more important in a collision repair facility than a customer? No – which is why you have to do a better job of focusing on managing the customer’s experience, not just the repair.
Buying Welding Equipment for Your Body Shop
With all of the advanced metals being introduced into modern vehicles, repairers need the proper welders to perform repairs to OEM specifications. We take a look at some of the great technology available.
Waterborne Paint FAQs
We asked the paint manufacturers six questions about low-VOC/waterborne paint with the goal of dispelling the myths and fears about this new technology. Their answers may surprise you.
How Cloud Computing Affects Collision Repair
As the use of cloud computing has increased, so too have repairers’ concerns over how their data is being used. So how is it being used? And are repairers’ privacy concerns justified? We try to separate fact from fiction and see if the positives outweigh the negatives.
The Fickle Pickle
I would like to start off this month with a quirky and unsettling statement: “Customers are fickle.” There. I said it. To some, that may seem obvious. Others probably haven’t thought much about it. For those of you who know what I’m getting at, you’re on your way to overcoming the problem. For the rest
View from the Shop Floor
As many of you probably know, I spent the week of Feb. 14-18 working at Nagy’s Collision Specialists and writing daily about my experiences on the BodyShop Business website. My goal was to get out from behind my desk and jump headfirst into the trenches to see what life at a body shop was really
Addressing Memory Functions in Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX
Today’s complex vehicles are forcing collision repair facilities to address repair issues they never had to address a few years ago. The diagnostic age is upon us, and without the proper tools, training and information to properly assess and repair these vehicles’ complex systems, your shop may be forced to outsource many repairs that you
Vehicle Ignition Interlock Devices: What You Need to Know
An increasing number of vehicles are being equipped with ignition interlock devices to prevent repeat drunk driving, so it’s smart to have a plan in place if one arrives in your shop.
