Practical articles for dealership teams on the service drive, the sales floor and in the F&I office.
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Service Drive
Do you know what your service department actually sells? Many automotive professionals have no idea what the service department sells. Is it parts? Knowledge and skill? Indeed, all of these are pieces…
Ted Ings2 min read
Service Drive
It isn’t rocket science: the quicker you can get cars in and out, the more successful you’ll be. Yet many service departments have inefficient practices that slow workflow, reduce profit and waste…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
Being promoted from service advisor to service manager can be both exciting and intimidating Now you’re the one at the helm, in charge of the entire department. Obviously, you want to do the best job…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
Many consumers think they’re getting a better deal on oil changes at the quick lube shop. But are they really? An oil change is an oil change, right? At least that’s what many consumers mistakenly…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
Make the most of your real estate: decide how many bays your shop needs The number of service bays in the United States has steadily been on the decline. In 2011, a study by Digital Dealer found there…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
If you were ever on a sports team, you probably recall the coach walking around with a clipboard, hastily scribbling notes. Your athletic performance was dutifully noted with each stroke of the pen…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
With the renewed focus on keeping vehicles on the road longer, customers now realize they have more choices for auto repair than ever before. Competition is fierce and you must work extra hard to earn…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
A customer hands you the keys to their car expecting a brake job by EOD. Although you have good intentions, time slips away and suddenly, it’s closing time and their vehicle remains untouched…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
Business is good. Really good. Unfortunately, all that work has saddled you with a four-week backlog. What’s a service manager to do? Get caught up with a backlog of work Shops across the country are…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
A long time ago, in a faraway galaxy, a Star Cruiser dealership was struggling to meet service and parts fulfillment. The problem stemmed from supply chain issues brought on by intergalactic turmoil…
Ted Ings4 min read
Service Drive
So, your top service advisor is a Rockstar when it comes to selling. Unfortunately, they’re also surly and impolite. To make things worse, because their sales figures are so high, they’re cocky and…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
All too often, there’s confusion regarding a service advisor’s job description. Fortunately, we have a definition that makes the role crystal-clear. Global employment website, Monster, says a service…
Ted Ings5 min read
Service Drive
Service and parts have always been major money makers for dealerships Most locations count on these “fixed ops” departments to bring in a fixed income great enough to cover operating costs; hence the…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
You may think you know as much as the technicians in the back, and perhaps you do, but that doesn’t mean you should do their job. Diagnosing vehicles on the service drive is a risky habit that can…
Ted Ings4 min read
Service Drive
Tool Debt Hurts Technicians and Crushes Team Morale Most people don’t know a Snap-On toolbox can cost as much as a new car, nearly $20,000. High-end models can push $30,000 (Google the 144″ 26 Drawer…
Ted Ings4 min read
Service Drive
Hours Per RO is an important metric that indicates whether a service team is sitting back selling oil changes, or eagerly hunting down additional work. Mathematically speaking, it’s the number of…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
In our previous article, we began discussing the seven essentials District Parts and Service Managers must check during a dealership visit. Today, we continue to explore the topic. What to check…
Ted Ings5 min read
Service Drive
While the conversation surrounding the Service Business Development Center (BDC) is often about whether or not your dealership needs one, this conversation is about how to manage, develop and execute…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
One aspect of the Service Business Development Center (BDC) that is often overlooked is the relationship between the Service Advisors and BDC Agents. If the two teams do not work together it makes it…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
To hold a full-time leadership position and run a successful business, you have to be a mastermind, like David Foy. Known appropriately throughout the industry as the Fixed Ops Mastermind, David works…
Ted Ings2 min read
Service Drive
There are two ways to look at the word “declined.” One of them being negative and the other as an opportunity to not only refine the multi-point inspection and interactive walk-around yet also…
Ted Ings5 min read
Service Drive
Texting is an integral part of our day. It’s arguably one of the most used applications on the phone, which is why it is crucial that we get it right. That is understanding not just the “purpose” of…
Ted Ings6 min read
Service Drive
Mistakes are part of human nature, so there will always be an occasional car that doesn’t get fixed right. But when improper repairs happen on a regular basis, that’s a problem. The good news is, even…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
Do First Impressions Matter? Whether you are answering the phone at the dealership, greeting a customer on the showroom floor, or booking a vehicle in for a service, the customer will form an opinion…
Ted Ings5 min read