If you see fewer auto repair shops in your area 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 the ‘backyarders’ creating shrinking margins and putting many auto repair independents out of business.
The global problem could 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 some sort of 100,000 mile warranty relating to this the independent will get little chance to improve that car for site to website 5-10 years it is owned.
As new car sales margins go down, VW, Chevrolet, Toyota and other manufacturers are in order to their service departments to make along the difference.
Additionally many dealers such as Porsche and Saab are adding other useful benefits such to be a loaner car while repairs are being made. Independents are now being forced to give courtesy rides to customers in trying to keep lets start work on the dealers since customers now expect this service.
Furthermore dealers regarding example Mercedes and Ford are now directly offering specials on services making their dealer prices comparable to independent repair shop prices.
But it’s and not just competitive pricing is actually not worrying the independents.
The battle for skilled labor may also be won using the dealers: the dealers constantly competed for skilled labor and already have got become significantly aggressive. With fewer conserve entering effect on repair profession and opting instead for careers regarding example health and technology, the total talent pool of physical exercise skilled auto technicians is shrinking.
Increasingly is certainly becoming harder for independents to hire and retain these highly skilled employees. Regarding automotive technician, would you rather improve Audi or Joe’s Drive way?
The dealers are discovering the best ‘mechanics’ or as they are known today, ‘technicians.’ Top-notch end dealer technician may well $100,000 yearly with benefits while an unbiased shop owner would require gross during a $1,000,000 every year to make that and get to afford their own benefits and social basic safety.
Because in the economic realities many independent owners are currently closing their shops all night to be suitable for GM, Nissan and other dealers.
This puts the independent auto mechanic shop at a definite disadvantage when diagnosing and repairing difficult drivability, fuel injection, electronic and computer related crises.
Additionally, if a diagnosis appeared and a part needs replacing the dealer will purchase it in stock, not only verifying the identification but greatly speeding within the repair along with increasing customer care. Big advantage Cadillac and Rolls royce.
But it’s not only a skilled employee war. Techs cannot fix cars without information and you will find a long and ongoing dispute among the dealers/manufacturers and independents over technical information access and diagnostic equipment.
The manufacturers claim that the technical details are proprietary everybody is making independents claim the information should be for sale to anybody that owns or fixes help to make of motor.
Excel Auto Repair & Sales
94 E Falmouth Hwy, East Falmouth, MA 02536
(508) 444-2777