Podcaster Kevin Brown Puts the Auto Repair Industry on Blast About Diag Fees
About this episode
Kevin Brown, a seasoned automotive entrepreneur, shares his candid insights on the auto repair industry, particularly focusing on diagnostic fees and the challenges of running a successful shop. He discusses his journey from technician to shop owner, emphasizing the importance of fair pricing and valuing technicians' expertise. The conversation also touches on the struggles of shop owners in maintaining profitability, the impact of customer perceptions, and the need for better training and processes in the industry. Kevin's straightforward approach and experiences provide a unique perspective on the evolving landscape of automotive repair.
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In this episode, Jeff is joined by Kevin Brown, a multi-shop owner and technician from Michigan with over 35 years of experience in the industry. Kevin shares candid insights on what it takes to run a profitable repair business, emphasizing the importance of charging for diagnostic work and paying technicians fairly for their time and expertise. The conversation delves into the challenges of managing people and processes, fostering a strong company culture, and establishing sustainable business systems for long-term success.
00:00 "Podcast Clash with Kevin"
08:32 Charging for Diagnostic Time
15:43 "Reflecting on Past Mistakes"
19:45 Brake Troubles and Customer Dilemma
26:57 Brandon Sloan: Expert in Shop Economics
28:00 "Mechanic's Guide to Business Success"
36:05 "Value and Pay for Wiper Service"
41:59 DVI and Customer Follow-Through Issues
49:01 Tech Reluctance Delays Customer Service
50:38 Streamlined Repair Order Process
58:53 Reconsidering Technician and Advisor Pay
01:02:57 Toxic Work Environment Reflection
01:10:55 Road Force Balancing Importance
01:15:55 Why I Question Automotive Needs
01:18:22 Complimentary Diagnostics to Reduce Costs
01:25:24 High Labor Rates Impact Efficiency
01:28:42 Faulty Brake Promo Issues
01:35:44 September Event Invitation Reminder
01:38:53 Networking Opportunity for Experienced Professionals
01:47:52 Finding Work-Life Balance
01:52:06 Retail Industry's Youth Crisis
01:55:25 "Building Respectful Connections"
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Dodge Journey
"...get to Glendale, California. And that's where the journey really begun, where we learned what our numbers w..."
Tesla Model
"...d, what? He's like, I sold my car. I bought a new Tesla Model 3. He was happy and I was happy for him. Yeah."
Tesla Model 3
"...t? He's like, I sold my car. I bought a new Tesla Model 3. He was happy and I was happy for him. Yeah."
Dodge Charger
"...I said, I'll come over your house and hook up the charger for you. I said, I know how to do it. They don't ..."
Mercury Grand Marquis
"...n example. We freaking did four wheel brakes on a Grand Marquis and the guy didn't tighten the lug nuts up. The g..."
Chevrolet Silverado
"...a fleet of rental units as well. So we've got two Silverados right now that have gone to the dealer for that r..."
GMC Yukon Denali
"We're not gonna, you know, we probably won't even sell these to, you know, on our lot to a customer because we don't want to see it after the fact. We'll probably ship it to auction because it's a six, two and a Silverado. Right. Like you do. What has that done to my wife's freaking Yukon? Denali, ultimate freaking price that I paid a hundred thousand dollars for. Now when I go to trade it in. So they're going, I don't want this piece of shit. I'm gonna say it has a new engine. Oh great. So all the bolts are gonna fall out of it because you know what, we got that thing, my guys picked it up and I do business with this dealer, my son and My main guy, I was up north. He went and picked it up. Jason said to the service advisor, hey, the trailer hitch covers missing. He said it was not on it. He said, she doesn't pull anything with it. He said he got an attitude, walked in the back, and guess what? He came out with it and put it on. Then Jason took it over. He's my lead guy, my vice president. He took it over being him. He's like me. He took over and put it on the hoist."
Toyota Crown
"...l go drive it. So we go drive it. I get it on the crown of the road. I put it in the middle of the road. ..."
Chrysler PT Cruiser
"...ng a lot of work for him. He had Neons and he had PT Cruisers and all that. That."
Dodge Neon
"...Rotors are too expensive. Right. But we did every Neon and caravan and that we hadn't seen in years. All..."
Jeep Wrangler
"...own maintenance. Like my, I, I've been driving my wrangler for three years. I haven't flushed the fluid yet ..."
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