Add Car Lifts to Your Mechanic Shop to Make Your Work Easier

Car lifts can make life as a mechanic much easier, whether you own an auto shop business or like to tinker with mechanic work in your home shop or garage. Automotive lifts make it easy to lift your vehicle off the ground so you can get to those impossible-to-reach areas. Let's explore how these work and what to look for when making a purchase.

Safety Counts

Auto lifts provide a safe way to lift your car off the ground while doing mechanic or body work. Any time you're doing work under a vehicle, there's a risk that the car could fall. You or your workers could be seriously injured or killed! Car lifts are designed to prevent these types of accidents. They are made of heavy-duty materials such as rolled steel, with various designs and weight capacities for any type of vehicle. High quality lifts have an asymmetric design and use a hydraulics system for lifting.

Once up on the lift, the vehicle can be secured from falling, which gives peace of mind while working on the vehicle.

Types of Car Lifts

There are various types of car lifts to choose from, depending on your needs. Some are designed for small spaces with a low ceiling. These work great for small home shops. Others are taller and made for continual daily use in an automotive shop (for businesses). There are two post car lifts as well as four post car lifts. Four post lifts are mainly for larger vehicles, such as large SUVs and trucks. There are also motorcycle lifts, wheel balancers and tire changers, so it's easy to find exactly what you need.

Features to Consider

When shopping for auto lifts, look for features that suit your needs and the space available. High quality and safety should be your primary concerns. Make sure the product is finished with powder coat paint to prevent rust. Look for features such as an extra long carriage (for less strain on the slider blocks), automatic electric override, telescoping arms, dual cylinder direct pull lifting (without having to use roller bearings and chains), single piece columns made of continuous rolled steel, and single point lock release. Some come with standard stackable truck adapters.

You'll also need to consider the specifications before ordering a car lift. The weight capacity for lifts can range from 9,000 pounds to 15,000 pounds. Also, consider the overall height and width as compared to your shop space. Other specifications include lifting speed and lifting height, low pad height, drive through width, motor rating and width between columns.

Ordering Automotive Lifts Online

One way to find exactly the type of lift you need is to order online. Find a website that specializes in auto lifts to get more detailed information and to find a variety of lifts. Read the manuals and descriptions for each auto lift to see what's available. Don't forget to check the shipping weight and how much it will cost to ship the lift. If you need installation, some Web stores work with local installers depending on your city and state. Be sure to read the site's warranty information and return policy before ordering.

Ordering online enables you to view photos and read and compare lift options from your own home without being pressured by a salesperson. Check out a variety of products, including 2 post car lifts, 4 post car lifts, scissor lifts, wheel balancers, tire changers, etc. to see which will best fit your type of work. If you own a business, a car lift can increase productivity and add value to your services. The purchase can be counted as a business expense on your taxes too, so you'll have nothing to lose.

Best Way to Generate Auto Repair Leads for Your Business

How To Generate Auto Repair Leads

If you are in the automotive repair business and you want your business to be successful, part of your business plan should include finding regular auto repair leads. Regularly finding and following up on new leads plays an important role in fast tracking your business and its growth. Even if you have a well established repair business, it is inevitable that, with time, you will lose customers and in order to compensate for this you need to be finding new customers continually. If you want to accelerate your growth, you will need to gain even more customers. How can you do this? By generating auto repair leads.

There are many different ways to generate these leads. Perhaps the simplest way is to sign up with a company that offers to sell you leads. There are many opportunities for this offered online, where companies have already done the difficult part of gleaning leads from your area. Usually these companies require you to sign up for a specific length of time where you pay either a monthly subscription fee or a fee-per-lead. In return, they will supply you with potential customers' names, addresses and other contact information, and vehicle details. Then it will be up to you to follow up on the leads given.

There are other ways you can generate your own leads, however. Most perceptive business owners and managers probably already do this in some form or another. A great way to get leads is to offer a discount to loyal customers for any referrals they make. Leads gained in this way will often turn into regular customers, as people tend to heed their peers and friends' recommendations above any other form of advertising.

You should also set up your own company website where you advertise your services, offer discounts, and regularly showcase promotional sales. The more you can encourage interaction between yourself, your site and those reaching your website the more chance you will have of getting fresh new leads. Forums, where people can ask questions and you offer advice is a great way to reach people. Surveys are also very useful in generating fresh leads. Give something away for free and in return ask for the person's contact information. These are all simple ways to start to generate your own leads.

Auto Repair - Top 5 Reasons It's Your Fault You Paid Too Much

It's easy to blame the auto repair industry for excessive car repair prices, but sometimes these extra expenses are the customer's fault. Like a computer, if we supply incorrect data, we'll get garbage. For car repairs bad data means unnecessary and/or excessive auto repair costs.

Here's a brief example to put things in context.

A customer with a headlight issue assumed that his bulb was burnt out. He purchased a new bulb and brought it to his repair shop to have it installed. The repair shop installed the bulb, and billed the client the appropriate labor. After installing the bulb, the light still didn't work. Who's at fault?

In this case, the client was forewarned that his particular vehicle has a Xenon head lamp system and that it should be diagnosed first, as it may be a tad more complicated than a bulb. Nevertheless, the client requested the installation, and agreed to the labor charges. When the light still didn't work, the shop called the client to ask if he wanted to authorize an additional hour of labor ($110.00) to diagnose the headlight issue, and pay another $55.00 to remove the bulb and install the original bulb. As you can see, this customer quickly racked up a bill (including a $358 non-returnable Xenon bulb) and his light still didn't work.

This is merely one example of the very common "customer-diagnosed/supplied part" scenario.

It gets even more complicated when customers lie, mislead, or don't provide all the facts. Now, a good technician won't proceed until he is clear on the client's exact issue and can reproduce the complaint. However, good technicians are scarce (see a great article: Why You Can't Get Your Car Fixed Right @ http://www.repairtrust.com/articles_fixright.html). For now, let's focus on what the customer does wrong.

Top 5 Mistakes:

1) Diagnosing the problem rather than explaining the symptoms. As in the example above, the client assumed his headlight was burnt out - a $523 mistake

2) Supplying your own parts. The repair shop installing your part has no obligation to rectify the situation or supply any type of guarantee if the part fails. Here's a real life example: customer supplied a used alternator. Shop installed it, but the used part didn't work. The customer had to pay again to have a new alternator installed - a $250 mistake

3) Lying. This should be self-explanatory, but here's an example. A customer stated that his air-ride suspension lights kept intermittently flashing. After hours of diagnostics and testing it was revealed that the client's real issue was a minor suspension squeak - no dash lights had ever come on. It turned out that the client thought that if the mechanic checked the air-suspension computers and electronics that his vehicle would be more thoroughly evaluated - a $1,200 mistake

4) Suggesting unnecessary work. This may sound strange coming from the customer, but it happens. Some car repair customers will blurt out "just tune it up" or, "change my oil" even when they know it isn't required at the time - these can be very costly mistakes - 100's, even 1000's of dollars are lost this way to repair shops all too eager to take your money

5) Assuming your repair shop will figure it out. This type of thinking is dangerous. Your repair shop needs your input because, despite any lack of automotive experience on your part, you know your vehicle better than any one. Here's an example: a man dropped his car off for what he called "a loud grinding noise." Despite the best efforts from a service advisor and technician, the noise could not be duplicated, nor could any other information be gleaned from the client as to the conditions under which the noise was heard. A road test with the client did not produce the noise either. Nevertheless, the client was adamant that something was dreadfully wrong and agreed to pay to have it checked out. After a $200 inspection, the vehicle was given a clean bill of health. The client paid and happily went on his way. Ten minutes later, he walked in screaming that the noise is so obvious you'd have to be deaf not to hear it. He jumped back in the car with the service manager, simultaneously, his cell phone went off (in vibrate mode), which he kept tucked between the seat and center console - what a "grinding" noise that made!

There are a number of other ways to pay too much, but if you can spare yourself from these 5, you'll be way ahead of the game. In short, don't diagnose your own car, and avoid supplying your own parts. Don't lie or mislead. Tell the truth even if it's embarrassing. I once had a woman tell me that her boyfriend shot her radio with a hand gun. Not only did this information help with the diagnosis, but also the extent and breadth of the damage.

Remember, don't suggest unnecessary work. Stick to your manufacturer's recommendations and play an active role in helping your repair facility diagnose that pesky grinding noise, or bullet-riddled radio.

Windshield Repair and Questions to Ask

The auto glass replacement and repair industry has grown rapidly over the last few years and there seems to be a new auto glass shop on every corner. But how do you choose one, and how do you know they are reputable? Here are some of the basic things you need to know about your car in order to get the correct windshield, and some questions to ask to know if you are dealing with a stable, reputable company who will give great service and be around for years to come.

Windshield repair questions: What is their installation warranty?

Most reputable glass shops have some sort of guarantee on the quality of their work. This applies to the actual installation and is not a guarantee against breakage of the glass due to an impact from a rock or other object, or against manufacturer's defects. It should cover any problems such as water or air leaks in the windshield seal, and peeling or detachment of the moldings. Some companies offer a lifetime warranty guaranteeing the quality of our windshield repairs. If you ever have air or water leaks coming from the seal of your windshield or if your moldings peel back or become detached, we will repair the problem free of charge as long as the glass we installed is in your vehicle.

Windshield repair questions: What is their glass warranty?

Most shops will also offer a limited time manufacturer's warranty against pits, chips, air bubbles, lamination defects and other problems with your auto glass that originated with the manufacturer. Ask what is covered and what amount of time you have to report a problem. Most manufacturers' defect will show up during installation or very shortly thereafter. Most companies allow a full 60 days from the date of installation for customers to report manufacturer's defects, and offers a full, no-charge replacement when such defects are found.

Windshield repair questions: Is there a warranty against other forms of breakage?

Some, but not all glass shops will also offer some form of warranty against other forms of breakage that were not due to a manufacturer's defect. This may include glass breakage due to rocks from the road, vandalism, theft, etc. For windshields repairs most companies offer an unlimited warranty against all forms of breakage other than manufacturer's defects, and will replace your glass for the cost of labor, which is $69.95, plus any applicable mobile service fees. This helps to eliminate much of the anxiety of wondering if your windshield will get broken shortly after installation, particularly if you live in an area where there is a great deal of road construction or other hazards.

The Cost of Repairing Your Car Bumper

If you're involved in a collision and your car bumper is damaged, your car insurance should be able to cover the cost of repairs. Over the years bumpers have increased in size, effectiveness and aesthetic appeal. As a result they're now more costly to repair or replace so it is worth checking specifications relating to bodywork in your car insurance policy.

The UK is home to a large number of car insurance providers. If you decide to compare different car insurance policies online, be aware that cheap car insurance policies tend to offer limited cover and may not necessarily include your bumper.

As cars have developed, bumpers have become more effective. They now help to reinforce the vehicle, protecting passengers and engine parts during a collision. There were 170,591 road accidents reported to the police involving personal injury in 2008, 6% fewer than in 2007 [1]. One of the reasons why this figure keeps decreasing year on year may be the increased effectiveness of bumpers along with other improved safety features.

However, whilst bumpers are now more effective in serious collisions, they may not fare so well in minor scrapes. The original purpose of bumpers was to protect vehicles going over low speed bumps. This meant that bumpers were relatively simple, unglamorous parts of a car and could be cheaply and easily repaired or replaced.

The ergonomic design of many modern bumpers may increase the overall attractiveness of a vehicle, but this design change also has disadvantages: although bumpers now form an integrated part of the vehicle's overall aesthetic appeal, they no longer function as effectively as sacrificial, shock absorbers.

Rather than cushioning low impact bumps and grazes, modern bumpers are easily marked, scratched, cracked and dented. Although bumpers were originally designed to protect your car, it is now possible to buy buffers to protect your bumper! In addition, because bumpers are now an elegant part of a car's overall bodywork, if you're involved in an accident and your bumper is damaged it can often be more complex and costly to repair.

After an accident if your car can still be driven legally and is roadworthy, reputable car insurance companies will deliver a courtesy car to you when your car is picked up for repairs. In this way, car insurance providers can keep you mobile while your car is being fixed. Before long your vehicle should be back with you, looking as good as ever.

[1] - http://dft.gov.uk/pgr/statistics/datatablespublications/accidents/casualtiesmr/rcgbmainresults2008

Online Video Advertising Campaigns Bring Good ROI

Companies connect with new customers each day with online video commercials. Many brands are harnessing the power of the internet to expand their marketing footprint. Local companies that rely on their neighborhood for business have incorporated online video advertising in their marketing budgets. Modern technology allows one to create engaging videos that deliver your brand to millions of viewers online. These ads can be served on both TV and internet. There are many companies online that will create engaging ads for your campaigns.

Digital technologies are taking over and the expense on video advertising has dropped as compared to online advertising. Companies find online advertising more affordable and the recession has accelerated the migration from tradition forms to digital media.

When you want to draw more customers just set an online advertising budget to get fast results. The video production house will build your video ad and the online marketing company can build your PPC campaigns, so you can get paid listing and be viewed through out Google Display Network. Placing your video ads on PPC campaigns will bring you better results as compared to traditional forms of advertising.

People looking for what you have on offer will find you at blogs, websites and search engine results pages when they search for your keywords. The video ad will highlight your offers and bring prospects closer to the products or services.

Private practitioners such as chiropractors, dentists, plastic surgeons and optometrists benefit from local online advertising campaigns. The commercials allow prospects to make an informed decision. The same commercial videos can be posted on other social media channels such as Facebook, YouTube and Google+. Yahoo local and Bing local are also great for neighborhood businesses. Private practitioners can also use the same commercial for advertising on cable TV. Using various advertising streams at a low cost helps bring a good ROI.

The following businesses are currently benefiting from posting video commercials online:

繚 Auto Repair Shops

繚 Chiropractors

繚 Computer Services

繚 Dentists

繚 Florists

繚 Home Improvement Services

繚 Optometrists

繚 Plastic Surgeons

繚 Real Estate Agents

繚 Restaurants

繚 Salons and Spas

Online marketing companies help local businesses get an edge over their competitors located in the neighborhood. Local businesses now recognize the value, accountability and measurability of online video commercials as compared to traditional TV commercials. Search engine tools allow you to analyze visitor data that can be used in creation of new campaigns. Connect with your target market and get better conversions with the use of commercials advertised online.

Combine Cars and People Skills As an Automotive Service Advisor

If you've ever wondered how to combine your interest in cars with your people skills, look no further than the position of Automotive Service Advisor. It's an exciting and critical role that you can break into by enrolling in an Automotive Service Advisor Training program.

The position of advisor is very unique in the automotive world, as it combines technical knowledge of cars, trucks, and other vehicles, with the soft skills required to interact with the public on a daily basis. The basic job responsibility is to understand what the issue is from the customer, explain it to a service technician, and then respond back to the client with the technical diagnosis using easy-to-understand language. Perhaps partly because the position requires a mastery of technical and soft skills, Automotive Service Advisor Training program graduates can look forward to attractive salaries. While actual compensation figures vary by region and city size, most advisors earn $40,000 to $60,000.

Program graduates can find employment in a number of different types of organizations, including:

繚 New and used car dealerships

繚 Automotive repair facilities

繚 Automotive specialty shops

繚 Aftermarket stores

繚 Heavy duty truck repair facilities

繚 Vehicle rental companies

Within these different areas, Automotive Service Advisor Training program graduates can hold a variety of jobs, either as entry level positions, or as more senior positions once they have accumulated more experience. Some examples include:

繚 Service Consultant/Service Writer

繚 Daily Rental Consultant

繚 Assistant Manager

繚 Service Manager

繚 Rental Car Manager

繚 Fixed Operations Manager

Because of the technically complex - and ever-changing - nature of cars today, Automotive Service Advisor Training programs are very comprehensive, covering a wide range of automotive knowledge. Students learn the fundamentals of engines, transmissions, fuel injection systems, auto bodies, sound systems, etc. Just as importantly, students are also taught the critical soft skills they need to converse with customers and provide excellent service. Soft skills covered in a typical program would include learning how to greet customers, take note of customer's comments and concerns, explain repairs to customers, and handle complaints. Students will also be trained in the more administrative aspects of the field, such as writing service orders and customer comments, estimating repair costs, and test-driving vehicles to ensure that all necessary repairs have been made.

So if you're always wanted to combine your facility with public relations with the excitement of the car industry, look no further than an Automotive Service Advisor Training program.