Just thought I’d see what thoughts everyone has on this topic.
I don’t have a workshop, there is a separate business attached to my premises with workshop, they do pretty much all my work, servicing, repairs, mot, tyres etc. Like most of us, these modern cars are sometimes just too complex – the diagnostic machine doesn't always tell us what’s wrong, so the odd one or two are trial and error, not ideal [After saying that, I’ve had some cars sent to the main dealers and they have also been trial and error] just a general few questions about repairs / workshops to see what happens out there.
• What do most of you do with repairs/ diagnostics?
• Do you encourage customers to come back for serving repairs back to you even if you don’t have your own workshop?
• What marketing do you do get them back?
• Do you provide courtesy cars? Free? Collect & deliver etc?
• If you have a workshop what qualifications do your staff have and do you send them to any training courses [main dealers obviously do] which ones?
• How do you keep your staff motivated in the service dept and do you pay them on performance or simply hourly rate?
• Is there any diagnostic equipment you would recommend or not recommend?
• Do you find main dealers helpful if you have problems with cars that you/ your workshop can’t find faults with?