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FEATURE STORY

Time-Saving Tip for Bleeding Stubborn Brakes (VIDEO)

Time-Saving Tip for Bleeding Stubborn Brakes (VIDEO)

Some brake jobs can turn into headaches when small air bubbles get trapped within the caliper itself. To resolve the problem, you could pump the brakes over and over, or you could try this handy suggestion to free the air bubble and move on with the brake bleed process.

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Hot Off the Press

Time-Saving Tip for Bleeding Stubborn Brakes (VIDEO)

Description Some brake jobs can turn into headaches when small air bubbles get trapped within the caliper itself. To resolve the problem, you could pump the brakes over and over, or you could try this handy suggestion to free the air bubble and move on with the brake...

Shop Profile: Hansville Repair

It’s a small village, but Hansville, Washington makes a grand first impression. As Hansville Road crests a hill and descends into town, a breathtaking panorama unfolds—Puget Sound, Whidbey Island, and distant Mount Baker stretched across the windshield like a...

Mastering the Numbers

Running an auto repair shop is about more than just fixing cars. While providing top-notch service is essential, managing a truly successful business also depends on understanding and acting on the financial barometers of the operation. One of the most important of...

Don’t Overlook This Step When Servicing Brakes (VIDEO)

Description A brake service job isn’t complete unless the reservoir cap’s diaphragm has been pushed back into place. This simple step is easy to forget, but it helps to reduce brake fluid contamination and ensure proper system function.Related Videos

Watch This Video On Dry Sump Oil Systems

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Tariff Talk: A Look Backwards at The Chicken Tax

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Watch This Video on the Inventor Who Put Lead in Gasoline

Recently, I went down an internet rabbit hole about why gasoline once had lead in it and how it got removed. In my searches, I found this video on inventor Thomas Midgley Jr., who not only invented leaded gasoline to combat engine knocking but also synthesized...

Surprise: having snacks and phone chargers in your repair shop’s waiting room makes customers happier

by | Aug 22, 2023

If you’re an auto repair shop owner, you’ve probably heard advice before about the value of improving your waiting room. However, it can also be hard to gauge how much that extra expense makes a difference to your customers. Is it really worth it?

Well, we have some data to help answer that.

According to a recent report from J.D. Power on aftermarket service, adding complimentary snacks and beverages increases customer satisfaction by 12%, and there’s a similar increase for providing a device charging station, like power outlets or a bank of phone chargers.

phone charging on table

Keeping a phone charged can really ratchet down a customer’s stress level.  Photo: iStock.com/VivianG

This is not surprising if you’ve ever been hungry, thirsty, watching your phone die and anxious about work while waiting for your vehicle to get fixed. Having some pretzels and coffee and being able to carry on with your normal workday turns a negative experience into a fairly pleasant one. After all, people go to cafes to basically do the same thing; in this case you’re multi-tasking by getting your vehicle serviced at the same time!

Despite this not being rocket surgery, J.D. Power says that only 15 percent of independent service centers offer all these amenities. Only 7 percent give customers a place to plug in their computer!

If you’re in this majority that don’t have these basic, modern features, stop what you’re doing, run to Costco, grab a Keurig and chips, and tell your local electrician you’ll give his Transit a tune-up in exchange for putting in some extra outlets. Some free Wi-Fi and decent chairs couldn’t hurt either while you’re at it. Your waiters will thank you.

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