Car Care 101 Workshop Teaches Women Basics of Auto Repair -

Car Care 101 Workshop Teaches Women Basics of Auto Repair

Mountain Mechanical repair shop in Durango, CO, recently held a workshop for women who were interested in learning more about their cars. The women learned everything from how to check and refill the oil, coolant and brake fluid to what a muffler does and how an alternator works. They were also given tips on how to find a good technician and told what rights they have as customers.

Mountain Mechanical repair shop in Durango, CO, recently held a workshop for women who were interested in learning more about their cars. The women learned everything from how to check and refill the oil, coolant and brake fluid to what a muffler does and how an alternator works. They were also given tips on how to find a good technician and told what rights they have as customers.

Below is the article as it appeared on The Durango Herald website.

Go on, girls, pop the hood

By Emery Cowan Herald Staff Writer
Friday, January 14, 2011

Car Care 101: Dave Crom, center, owner of Mountain Mechanical, talks to a group of women about car basics. At left is lead technician Ed Smith. (STEVE LEWIS/Herald)

Ed Smith moved around the open hood of the canary yellow ’91 Geo Metro like a performer on stage.

He deftly opened air filters, cranked off hubcaps and even shined his light on a dry oil rod with some drama.

Occasionally, he paused for “oohs” and “aahs” from the crowd.

Smith, the lead technician at Mountain Mechanical in Durango, and Dave Crom, shop owner, spent Thursday night showing 12 women the basics of car mechanics. The class, called Car Care 101, was the first in a new series of Empowerment Workshops put on by the Women’s Resource Center.

The idea is to teach women practical skills they may not otherwise learn so they can take care of themselves, said Deborah Uroda, the center’s marketing and fund development director.

“It gives women power to know what a car is all about,” Uroda said.

To read the entire article, visit The Durango Herald website at http://durangoherald.com/article/20110115/NEWS01/701159954/-1/s.

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The True Cost Of Comebacks

Comebacks are a hot topic today. You need to track all comebacks, determine the reason (tech error, part error, training issue, other) and then calculate the true cost of the comeback.

By Joe Marconi of Elite
Comebacks are a hot topic today. You need to track
all comebacks, determine the reason (tech error, part error, training issue,
other) and then calculate the true cost of the comeback.
Here are a few things to consider:
• The loss of time when performing the comeback; time that the tech can use to
perform other work and generate profit;
• The misc costs, such as overhead costs, supplies, cleaners, etc.;
• Towing costs, rental, etc.;
• Cost to morale;
• Reputation damage; and
• Reduction to your profit margin.
For every part issue, you need to
inform your supplier. Sit down with suppliers on a regular basis. Don’t return defective
parts until you have listed the parts, and maintain a report. Document
everything.
Part issues are increasing. Every shop
owner I speak to is frustrated over this.
Remember, comebacks kill your bottom
line. The more comebacks you have, the more they’re killing your profits.
This article was contributed by Joe Marconi.
Joe is one of the 1-on-1 business coaches who helps shop owners through
the Elite Coaching Program, and is the
co-founder of autoshopowner.com.

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