Navigating Setbacks in Difficult Diagnoses
There are valuable strategies to help manage technological frustration and navigate setbacks effectively.

Hollywood, Get it Right!
There have been plenty of movie mishaps overtime.

Your Shops’ Online Presence is Your Strongest Tool
Having a strong online presence is a crucial tool for shops in the industry to thrive in the digital age.

Technician Shortage? Not For Everyone
For top shop owners, there’s no technician shortage because they operate places people want to work.

Goofy Traffic Laws
Here are some of the wackiest rules you might not have heard about in Driver’s Ed.

Why Chasing The Cheapest Brake Job Costs Your Shop In The Long Run
Ever since the 1930s, there has been a war on the price of brake jobs. Eighty years ago, shops were advertising low-priced brake relines on sandwich boards for $19.99, but they complained about “gyps” selling brake jobs for $9.99 on the side of the road. We see almost the same situation today. This time the price point is around $150. Instead of gyps, shops are complaining about some guy on Craigslist who will perform a brake job for around $40 if he is provided with the pads.
Editor’s Notebook: Time On Your Side, Averting Typical ‘Time Stealers’
Time could be your biggest ally at the onset of the new year as you think about ways to increase your shop’s profitability and productivity. But how many times have you said, “If I only had more time?” While you have good intentions of making the best use of your time during the course of your busy day, there are inevitable distractions that prevent you from doing just that.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Real Or Reality TV? Our Profession Is Greatly Underestimated By The ‘Big Screen’
Have you noticed how many automotive reality programs there are on TV these days? I take the time to sit down and take in a few of them here and there. But from my side of the wrench, I have a completely different perspective when watching them.
VIEWPOINT:Monday Morning MIL Light Quarterback
Monday mornings are typically not very productive for me. I typically will hide in my office with the light off to avoid people asking about their latest weekend-induced car problems.
Editor’s Notebook: Marketing To Women Should Be One Of Your Top Priorities
In case you haven’t noticed, female buying power is on the rise. Women account for about 85% of all automotive sales in U.S. households, and 50-65% of customers at automotive service centers are women. And you know what that spells? Opportunity.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Driving, Drinking And Grandpa
On one of many slow days at the shop, I had a small job come in from one of the local tire shops. This rather young girl brought the car to me from the tire shop that’s just a few blocks away. She told me she was the owner and that the tire shop was rude and wouldn’t help her, so I called the tire shop to find out what was the deal.
Gonzo’s Toolbox: Sometimes You Get More Than What You Pay For … But That’s Not Always A Plus
One day, one of my customers called and said he just purchased a car from the police auction, but it had some sort of strange noise coming from the driver’s-side electric seat. It seems that every time he moved it, there was a strange electrical sound. He thought there was something wrong with the seat motor. He asked me, an auto electric technician, if I would take a look at it.