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
Picture it now: the service manager, service advisors, and the rest of the front-end service team have just completed an intense training session. The difference is palpable. There’s a fire in their…
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
It’s no secret there’s an industry-wide shortage of automotive technicians. These 5 strategies will help your shop beat the drought by hiring the best in the business. Firestone Complete Auto Care has…
Ted Ings4 min read
Service Drive
Two departments that seem worlds apart are service and the F&I office. One deals with vehicle financing during the sale and the other only comes into play months later, right? As automotive…
Ted Ings2 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
A friendly and efficient walk-around is undoubtedly a best practice in the service drive. The service advisor should greet the customer with a smile, welcome the customer by name, and be genuinely…
Ted Ings2 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
Dealership service department door rates are averaging beyond $175 per hour - or more. A technician with 100% productivity generates $1,000 + of revenue per day in labor alone, and some technicians…
Ted Ings1 min read
Service Drive
When you visit a dealership, where do you find the service manager? Typically, hiding in the office, buried under a stack of papers and a load of emails. But it shouldn’t always be that way. To engage…
Ted Ings3 min read
Service Drive
Imagine you have a major appliance like a washing machine that’s stopped working. It’s been good to you and it’s an expensive appliance, but you head to the store to find its replacement. Now picture…
Ted Ings2 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
Everyone is short on time, and the pinch is felt by everyone in the service industry. Fast food chains make their money on feeding people quickly. Speedy service centers promise an oil change in ten…
Ted Ings2 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
Both the sales floor and the service drive emphasize a walk-around process. It takes the customer along for a journey that involves them with the vehicle. On the showroom floor, it’s to explain…
Ted Ings2 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