{"version":"1.0.0","episode":{"title":"Podcaster Kevin Brown Puts the Auto Repair Industry on Blast About Diag Fees","url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/podcaster-kevin-brown-puts-the-auto-repair-industry-on-blast-about-diag-fees","audioUrl":"https://media.transistor.fm/5bbc0c84/b7845a72.mp3","description":"\n        Like the show? Show your support by using our sponsors.Promotive can help you find your dream job. Touch HERE to see open jobs.Need to update your shop systems and software? Try Tekmetric HERERegister for Tektonic HERE!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 Time15:43 \"Reflecting on Past Mistakes\"19:45 Brake Troubles and Customer Dilemma26:57 Brandon Sloan: Expert in Shop Economics28:00 \"Mechanic's Guide to Business Success\"36:05 \"Value and Pay for Wiper Service\"41:59 DVI and Customer Follow-Through Issues49:01 Tech Reluctance Delays Customer Service50:38 Streamlined Repair Order Process58:53 Reconsidering Technician and Advisor Pay01:02:57 Toxic Work Environment Reflection01:10:55 Road Force Balancing Importance01:15:55 Why I Question Automotive Needs01:18:22 Complimentary Diagnostics to Reduce Costs01:25:24 High Labor Rates Impact Efficiency01:28:42 Faulty Brake Promo Issues01:35:44 September Event Invitation Reminder01:38:53 Networking Opportunity for Experienced Professionals01:47:52 Finding Work-Life Balance01:52:06 Retail Industry's Youth Crisis01:55:25 \"Building Respectful Connections\"\nFollow/Subscribe to the show on social media! TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jeffcompton7YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@TheJadedMechanicFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100091347564232\n      "},"annotations":[{"startTime":299.0,"endTime":327.0,"type":"car","title":"Dodge Journey","url":"/cars/dodge/journey","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/16/%2715_Dodge_Journey_%28MIAS_%2715%29.JPG","quote":"...get to Glendale, California. And that's where the journey really begun, where we learned what our numbers w...","canonicalId":"car:dodge:journey","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Bull-Doser (Public domain)"}},{"startTime":745.0,"endTime":767.0,"type":"car","title":"Tesla Model","url":"/cars/tesla/model-y","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Tesla_Model_Y_%282025%29_MYLE_Festival_2025_DSC_9565.jpg","quote":"...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.","canonicalId":"car:tesla:model y","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":745.0,"endTime":767.0,"type":"car","title":"Tesla Model 3","url":"/cars/tesla/model-3","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/97/Tesla_Model_3%2C_EMS_2024%2C_Essen_%28P1032260%29.jpg","quote":"...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.","canonicalId":"car:tesla:model 3","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Matti Blume (CC BY-SA)"}},{"startTime":767.0,"endTime":779.0,"type":"car","title":"Dodge Charger","url":"/cars/dodge/charger","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/1970_Dodge_Charger_R-T_Hirschaid_22-20220709-RM-120204.jpg","quote":"...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 ...","canonicalId":"car:dodge:charger","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Ermell (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":1130.0,"endTime":1156.0,"type":"car","title":"Mercury Grand Marquis","url":"/cars/mercury/grand-marquis","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/03-05_Mercury_Grand_Marquis_.jpg","quote":"...n example. We freaking did four wheel brakes on a Grand Marquis and the guy didn't tighten the lug nuts up. The g...","canonicalId":"car:mercury:grand marquis","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"IFCAR (Public domain)"}},{"startTime":3207.0,"endTime":3246.0,"type":"car","title":"Chevrolet Silverado","url":"/cars/chevrolet/silverado","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/2022_Chevrolet_Silverado_1500_Z71.png","quote":"...a fleet of rental units as well. So we've got two Silverados right now that have gone to the dealer for that r...","canonicalId":"car:chevrolet:silverado","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"LukaCali (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":3258.0,"endTime":3286.0,"type":"car","title":"GMC Yukon Denali","url":"/cars/gmc/yukon","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/GMC_Yukon_Denali_%28GMTK2UG%29_Washington_DC_Metro_Area%2C_USA.jpg","quote":"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.","canonicalId":"car:gmc:yukon","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"OWS Photography (CC BY 4.0)"}},{"startTime":3979.0,"endTime":3998.0,"type":"car","title":"Toyota Crown","url":"/cars/toyota/crown","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2f/2003_Toyota_Crown_Estate_1.jpg","quote":"...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. ...","canonicalId":"car:toyota:crown","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Calreyn88 (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}},{"startTime":5236.0,"endTime":5245.0,"type":"car","title":"Chrysler PT Cruiser","url":"/cars/chrysler/pt-cruiser","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/06-08_Chrysler_PT_Cruiser.jpg","quote":"...ng a lot of work for him. He had Neons and he had PT Cruisers and all that. That.","canonicalId":"car:chrysler:pt cruiser","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"IFCAR (Public domain)"}},{"startTime":5365.0,"endTime":5392.0,"type":"car","title":"Dodge Neon","url":"/cars/dodge/neon","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8c/1st-Dodge-Neon.jpg","quote":"...Rotors are too expensive. Right. But we did every Neon and caravan and that we hadn't seen in years. All...","canonicalId":"car:dodge:neon","priority":0.5,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"IFCAR (Public domain)"}},{"startTime":5561.0,"endTime":5585.0,"type":"car","title":"Jeep Wrangler","url":"/cars/jeep/wrangler","image":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a7/JEEP_WRANGLER_%28JL%29_China.jpg","quote":"...own maintenance. Like my, I, I've been driving my wrangler for three years. I haven't flushed the fluid yet ...","canonicalId":"car:jeep:wrangler","priority":0.7,"confidence":1.0,"source":"fuzzy","data":{"imageAttribution":"Dinkun Chen (CC BY-SA 4.0)"}}],"speakers":[{"id":"s1","name":"Jeff Compton","role":"host"}],"transcripts":[{"url":"http://getcarcurious.com/episodes/podcaster-kevin-brown-puts-the-auto-repair-industry-on-blast-about-diag-fees/transcript.vtt","type":"text/vtt"}]}