Two Words: Plastic Refinish
As plastic components become more prevalent on auto exteriors, it’s becoming crucial to know how to properly refinish these parts.
Caution: Snake Pit Ahead
Unfortunately, poor business ventures aren’t as obvious as road signs flanked by flashing yellow lights and orange cones warning you of impending danger. (If only it were that easy.) How can you avoid such pitfalls? By learning from those who’ve already fallen prey.
Restyle Your Business: Offering Restyle Products
In 1999, retail sales of specialty equipment products totaled $23.24 billion. You can funnel some of that cash into your own pocket by offering restyle products – from fender flares to floor mats to grille guards – in addition to the collision work you do now.
Decked Out in Decals: They Can Provide Added Income
I’m sure you’ve seen them: Decals of every size, shape and color stuck to vehicles you know didn’t roll off the showroom floor looking like that. Where’d they come from? From shops like yours that know the proper techniques for applying these sticky little restyle items.
Blowing Smoke: Servicing Exhaust Systems
It’s more than likely you’ve seen your fair share of damaged exhaust systems. But without knowing the critical points of inspection, you may have missed something – which unfortunately revealed itself to the customer later.
Can a Three-Day Cycle Time Become Commonplace
Jon McNeill, CEO, Sterling Collision Centers Natick, Mass. Opinion: Yes The average repair has somewhere between 17 and 19 hours on the sheet. If you look at those 17 or 19 hours, there has to be somewhere to cram that into a three-day period – or even 24 hours. What you have to do is
The Good and Bad of Internet Estimating
The most recent trend in Internet application is online estimating or the execution of estimates through a Web service. Is this new trend right for your shop? Consider these pros and cons before signing up.
Profiting From Plastics
There is money to be made repairing plastics.
Giving Customers the Whole Story: Educate Them
Consumers who’ve been in an accident often only know what they’ve been told by their insurer – and what they’ve been told often puts your shop in a negative light. What can you do? Educate them on the repair process so they have all the information they need.
Two Lines, Faster Times: Separating Light and Heavy Repairs
Toyota claims that separating light and heavy repairs into two lines will increase shop productivity by 40 percent – but only if American techs can learn to work together as a team.