Honest shops often struggle. Collectively they get a very small share of the
market and their profit margins are relatively small. This will
continue until consumers select more carefully.
Small Market Share, Low Volume
The good guys don’t use come-on’s, bait and switch
tactics, etc., so their ads don’t have the same value pull
as misleading advertisers.
They also don’t sell as many parts and services on each
car because they only sell want you actually need.
Lower Profit Margins
The good guys operate on lower profit margins because they use
quality parts that cost more, they maintain their information and
equipment so they can to service your vehicle properly and they
hire and train skilled personnel.
Consumers Beware
The following table summarizes. While a substandard shop will prosper
more easily, consumers will more often find cheap parts
and misdiagnosed problems that result in unnecessary work sold
to them.
| |
Substandard Shops |
Quality Shops |
| Parts |
Cheap |
Quality/Expensive |
| Training |
None taken |
Regularly sends personnel |
| Equipment |
Old/No reinvestment |
Maintains/upgrades as needed |
| Personnel |
Low paid, unskilled |
Well paid, highly skilled |
| Garageman’s Insurance |
No |
Yes |
| Unnecessary work sold |
Very high occurrence |
Rare |
| Relative profit margin |
High |
Low |
| Honest shops deserve ALL the business. If you work at an honest, quality orientated shop, please do the following: |
 |
Ask your customers to refer their friends. Shops such as yours depend on
referrals to survive. |
|
Particpate in industry efforts to recognize quality shops. |
|
Participate in industry efforts to establish standards that define quality work and quality shops. |
|
