If you see fewer auto repair shops in your community then you are witnessing a trend that is spreading throughout the auto repair industry. The small independent auto repair shop is getting squeezed by both the dealers and also the ‘backyarders’ creating shrinking margins and putting many auto repair independents out of economic.
The global problem will be the auto repair and service market has been shrinking in the last 10 or 15 years. Technology has made cars much more reliable with fewer breakdowns, repairs and scheduled maintenances.
Many manufacturers offer getting 100,000 mile warranty particular person yourself the independent will get little chance to handle that car for site to website 5-10 years it is owned.
As new car sales margins have gone down, VW, Chevrolet, Toyota and other manufacturers are looking to their service departments to make the difference.
Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab already been adding other value added benefits such as the loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents are now being forced to give courtesy rides to customers in a feat to keep up with the dealers since customers now expect this service.
Furthermore dealers for example Mercedes and Ford are now directly offering specials on services making their dealer prices in order to independent repair shop prices.
But it’s and not just competitive pricing that’s the worrying the independents.
The battle for skilled labor all means being won together with dealers: the dealers often competed for skilled labor and now have become significantly more aggressive. With fewer folks entering the auto repair profession and opting instead for careers with regard to health and technology, the total talent pool of the most skilled auto technicians is shrinking.
Increasingly appeared becoming tougher for independents to rent and retain these highly skilled employees. The automotive technician, would you rather improve Audi or Joe’s Garage?
The dealers are picking up the best ‘mechanics’ or as they may be known today, ‘technicians.’ Top-notch end dealer technician may well make $100,000 one year with benefits while an unbiased shop owner would ought to gross within the $1,000,000 twelve months to make that and get to afford their own benefits and social safe practices.
Because the hands down economic realities many independent owners have started closing their shops and going to enhance GM, Nissan and other dealers.
This puts the independent auto mechanic at a definite disadvantage when diagnosing and repairing difficult drivability, fuel injection, electronic and computer related rrssues.
Additionally, is not diagnosis is intended and a part needs replacing the dealer will are in stock, not only verifying the diagnosis but greatly speeding up the repair as well as increasing client satisfaction. Big advantage Cadillac and Mercedes.
But the goal wasn’t a skilled employee world war. Techs cannot fix cars without information and love a long and ongoing dispute between the dealers/manufacturers and independents over technical information access and diagnostic techniques.
The manufacturers claim that the technical results are proprietary individuals independents claim the information should be available to anyone that owns or fixes build of car.
Excel Auto Repair & Sales
94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536
(508) 444-2777