Your check engine light comes on. By Roger J Lown.

Dear Reader and potential investors,

Your check engine light comes on. Does your vehicle require a minor repair such as an emission part or is there is serious mechanical problem that requires immediate attention? You as a customer will not know the problem until you bring your vehicle to a mechanic for diagnosis. But will you get a straight answer or will the mechanic-shop owner see you as a dollar sign?

Would you like to see the character of honesty, integrity, and truthful repair needs placed in the auto repair field? I also agree that these quality characteristics need to be sought in the business of auto repair ownership and employee hiring.

Here is my idea for “Old School Automotive Repair Centers” that may interest people who would like to see improved customer care and experience in the auto repair business:

What is the Old School way? When a mechanic sees one customer as a network of customers instead of a dollar sign that’s old school. Have you ever walked into a spider web? You don’t get caught in part of it the whole web seems to cover and cling to your head. It’s all about customer connection. When a mechanic educates a customer by showing and pointing out to them what needs repair on their vehicles that’s old school. If insurance regulations don’t allow customers into the repair area then a camera should be used. A mechanic shouldn’t tell the problem to their customer they should show the problem to their customer. That’s how you gain customer trust and that’s how you do honest business. I gave this much thought. Although I can perform vehicle maintenance and limited repair I don’t profess to be a mechanic. However I would work with a person of quality character who desires to operate an auto repair service center the Old School way. How would I do this business differently? The Old School Auto Repair Center mission will be a commitment to excellence in Customer service and customer experience. I’ll describe it this way:

“When a customer enters the Old School Auto Repair Center they are greeted by an associate who cares. By the way associates who care smile, a genuine smile. When an employer appreciates an employee they smile often. The customer is asked what can be done for them. Once it is established that there is a problem with the vehicle the client is offered an option. The mechanic accompanied with an assistant who will be taking notes takes the vehicle for a test drive with the customer riding along. This makes it much easier since the customer can describe the problem further without embarrassment. The mechanic can listen and feel for sounds, vibration, rattles, erratic shifting, and checking for fluid leaks while he drives. The shop representative listens to the mechanic while taking notes notes. An agreement is signed and the trouble shooting test drive begins. The more the customer knows and is informed the more they trust a business. Auto repair shops who earn their clients trust do good business and stay in business! In return customers need to show their appreciation by paying the repair bills. Trust works both ways. One sign that would be on the wall in an Old School Repair Center would be “We’ll give you Old School service you give us Old School payment. Below are further details of my model for Old School Auto Repair Service Centers:

·     The service center building is in the design of a red brick schoolhouse with a school bell atop the roof.

·     The company name on the building and on the tow trucks and flatbed trucks read Old School Auto Repair. Underneath the company name is the slogan “We educate our customers” on the truck doors.

·     The slogan on the building as well as the slogan on the tow trucks reads, “We educate our customers”.

·     The tow trucks and flat bed trucks have a yellow or distinguished lime-green paint theme to them. Not only is theme similar to school buses the vehicles are visible on highways at night.

·     While customers wait they are offered free classes on oil and filter changes, emergency tire change, and tips and lessons for roadside emergencies. Watching “how to” videos.

·     Classes on how to tell if a mechanic is being dishonest.

·     Old School employees are “graded” on their work and performance. Employees whom maintain steady “grades” are recognized by advancing positions, employee awards in excellence, bonuses, and pay.

·     Employee of the month parking. An employee is awarded parking in the special “employee of the month parking in front of the service center for recognition of outstanding customer service.

That’s the kind of business model I desire to create. The customer is given the best service possible and an experience of being educated. Education is the best defense from fraud.

Roger J Lown

Writer Author Speaker of Possibilities

E-mail: lownjroger66@gmail.com

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