How to Advertise for Free

(regular advertisers in TechShop, please disregard this commentary. This is for my shop owner and mobile tool distributor readers....) :)

That's right - you can get free press, especially in your local newspapers. All you have to do is submit a "news release" to most papers, and they'll publish it.

Before you sit down to write anything, you should take the time to really think about the message you want to send. An effective news release is not a blatant advertisement. Instead, it should provide insight into a newsworthy top related to your business. For example, for a great effect, tie something about your shop to a recent news story. A recent news story talked about "Hurricane Katrina victims still homeless 2 years later" You might issue a news release commenting on charitable work you or your employees have done, services you've provided to Hurrican Katrina victims.... You get the idea.

When you write your news release, the way it is written is almost as important as the content.
1 - Be sure it has a HEADLINE. This should be short and to the point.
2 - Open the release with something interesting, either a fact or a quote from yourself. There is nothing worse than a dull first sentence - many editors won't get to the next sentence.
3 - It should read like a news story, not an advertisement. Mention how you've been in business, your specialties, etc.
4 - Cite evidence when it makes sense. For example: "The US Dept of Energy estimates that replacing a clogged air filter can save drivers as much as 10% on their gas bills. Harry Magnum, of Magnum's Parts, says that many drivers are wasting money on gas by not maintaining their cars properly".
5 - Keep it short and simple. To the point. No long sentences, and nothing more than 800 words.
6 - Spelling is as important now as it was in 4th grade. Ask someone to proof your work for content, spelling, grammar and punctuation. You are a professional and want to create a professional-sounding press release.
7 - Include your name, address, phone number, and e-mail. Make sure the press can reach you.

Good Samaritan Sees the Light

Does it pay to be a do-gooder? Paul Ferguson, of Salt Lake City, Utah would probably answer an emphatic - YES!

What he thought was a dangerous pipe in the road, actually turned out to be a Cliplight HEMIPRO Task Light. Ferguson was driving down six-lane highway 15 in Salt Lake City when he saw what he thought was a steel pipe in the middle of the road. He pulled over, hoping to prevent it from becoming a potential road hazard, and instead of a pipe, he found a tasklight. Cliplight had recently redesigned this HEMIPRO light, and until it had been repeatedly run over by cars and trucks, it had been new. The access endcap that holds the rechargeable four-hour battery in place was long gone. But Ferguson held the battery in place by hand, flipped the switch, and the cordless 3-LED light actually lit up!

Ferguson is a coordinator in Utah's vehicle fleet maintenance department, so he knew the value of a professional automtive task light. He quickly wrote an e-mail to Cliplight, asking to buy an AC charger and a new end cap. Nick Bush, Cliplight's US Sales Manager, answered Ferguson's e-mail, "we designed the Hemipro worklight to withstand a lifetime of accidental drops by service techs, but I have to admit its successful stint as road kill on a major highway is a little surprising to us." Bush sent Ferguson a complimentary end cap and battery charger for sharing his story.

Cliplight's ads and promotional material on the new generation Hemipro talk about the whiter, brighter, and more even light disbursement than previous versions. "Maybe we should start touting the durability more as well," said Bush. "I guess we now know we're covered if a service tech accidentally runs over the Hemipro in his service stall.

Do you have any amazing tool stories of endurance and capability? If so, just send them my way, to Beth Skove at bskove@babcox.com.

Planning to Retire - What happens to your business?

Many independent repair shops in the U.S. are family-owned and family-operated. Many are second-generation, and a small portion of third-generation shops that have successfully passed from the original owner to the next. But some of you own a great business, you might be in your late 40's or mid-50's, and you haven't given a thought to what might happen when you plan to move on. You're not unique. According to the Wall Street Journal, full half of public and private corporate boards do not have a formal CEO-succession plan in place. Even giant corporations like Merrill Lynch and others who spend millions of dollars recruiting and training employees, don't think about who might run the joint once the "big guy" leaves.

For some owners of small businesses, it's a simple process. You decide to retire, no one in the family wants to carry the business on, so you try to sell your shop as a viable operation or you simply close your doors and try to sell the property.

You might say to yourself, "I'm just trying to get through today, or this week. I don't have time to think about 5 or 10 years from now." But in reality, if your retirement is 5 to 10 years from now, NOW is the right time to begin thinking and planning. In order to build a successful business that will continue to thrive after you are gone, you need to groom the next leader of your business over a 3 - 10 year timeframe.

Succession planning isn't something you do on a Saturday or Sunday, and then consider it done. It is a process of filling a pipeline with talent. And believe me, I speak from experience, it can be difficult to groom the future leader of your company. Sometimes people fire people they are afraid might be "too good" for their current position, they may feel threatened by that person's expertise. You might be better off subordinating your fear, and instead, encouraging the professional growth and leadership abilities of that person. You might be pleasantly surprised.

You should consistently review the performance and talents of your people. Don't surround yourself with people who always agree with you - use other people to expand your own expertise. Be willing to share power with potential heirs, and give them the authority they need to grow. At the same time, give them the tools they need - this may include additional education. Help them handle a variety of challenges. As they grow into the position, you will probably grow as well. Focus on the future of your business, and not on last week's work. Our business models are changing more rapidly than in previous years, and you need to find or develop a leader with strengths and talents that are different from your own. Learn to share the load, embrace the change that will come with new leaders in your business, and eventually you will be able to retire with confidence that your business will thrive and grow well after you're gone.

Ask, Nicely

How do you introduce new technology to your franchisees? Recently McDonald's announced they were going to start selling premium coffee/cappuccino for about 50 cents less than Starbucks. The catch? Their franchisees had to buy the cappuccino machines. This adds financial pain to the adoption of new technology. And, this announcement got me thinking, If you work with franchisess, how do you introduce new technology to them? Sometimes a parent corporation will decide to adopt some new innovation - perhaps a computerized order-entry program. Do you provide the technology at no charge to your franchisess, knowing the savings will come in faster order processing and improved customer service, or do you require your franchisess to shoulder the burden of the cost? Many times franchisees worry that the installation of new technology could disrupt their business, require a major commitment to training, prove unreliable, or worst of all, cost them customers. How do you overcome this reluctance?
Let's take this out of the franchise situation, and instead, put your Tool SalesPerson hat on. How do you overcome reluctance on the part of your customer to adopt new technology? Maybe someone has read about a great new scanner that utilizes never-before-seen technology. They're interested, but frankly, a little intimidated. Here's how you can overcome their reluctance to buy:
1 - educate yourself. Make sure you understand the key benefits this new tool will provide. Make sure you can explain them.
2 - keep it simple. Don't try to explain all the bells and whistles at once. Stick to the highlights.
3 - allow your customer to hold the tool. While they are holding the tool, tell them how easy it is to use, and what jobs it does faster or easier than the tool they use now.
4 - Still not sold? Ask them if they'd like to take it for a "test-drive". Teach them the basics of how to use it, then offer to let them keep it for a week. If, after a week, they don't want it, you take it back. More then likely, the test-drive will seal the deal and you'll sell the tool.
Another way to sell more tools is to create disciples. If you can sell something to the skeptic, sometimes you can turn that person into your best spokesperson.
In the end, of course, the way you sell tools is - you ask for the order.

Technician Customer Friend Professional

I read a lot of business-to-business magazines, and I recently came across an article describing technicians and their approaches to a business transaction. It was basically a description of how tool dealers sell to technicians and it ran through the Mr. This and Mr. That description. And it got me thinking about our business. We all know people who scrutinize a bill before they pay it (My father-in-law had it down to a science when we would go to restaurants. He would actually bring out his abacus and do the math for the 15% tip while we all shrank in our seats...)
But my question is this - do we really want to categorize our customers into smarmy categories based on how they pay? I don't think so. Instead, let's recognize the professional technician for who he is -

1 - generally he or she is a professional who has had some life experience and some formal technical education that led him to this spot as our customer (more than 90% of pro techs are men, so I'll just use the "he" here..)
2 - sometimes they have a bachelors or masters degree
3 - he makes his living using his mind first, and his hands second
4 - he buys a lot of tools over the lifetime of his career
5 - he is typically a family person - if not married yet, he will be.
6 - he truly enjoys what he does for a living
7 - he can be a generalist AND a specialist
8 - if he is just starting out, there is a good chance he will be in this business more than 20 years
9 - many technicians move on/up to own their own business
10 - many techs bring their family members into the business

Now, how do you label a technician who embodies some or all of these points? The only thing I can call him is a customer for life who deserves my respect. Perhaps over the lifetime of our relationship, I could also call him or her, friend.

How Do We Inspire People to Join Our Industry?

When you started in this business, did you think you'd stick around for a while and make a career out of it, or was it just something to pass a couple of years time, so you'd have something on your resume beyond flippin burgers and mowing lawns? Well, I thought I'd do the tool thing for a couple of years to help pay for grad school. But after a year of a full-time job AND going to grad school full-time, I knew something had to give or someone would be picking parts of my grey matter off my desktop and ceiling. Sadly, that career I desired in some glamorous industry did not immediately appear, so in order to stay fed, I dropped the full-time institutionalized education, kept the job, and began my career and informal education in the automotive aftermarket. And I never quit learning.

And now, with more than 20 years into this biz, I can honestly say I love this industry. The people are great, my current job is awesome, life is good. I hope you can say the same from your personal perspective.

So how do we bring more wonderful people (like ourselves, or just a little bit different) into this industry? One way, is to bring them in at a young age, train them your way, and hope for the best. But where do you go to recruit?

Well, my easy answer would be - of course - you should just advertise in Tomorrow's Technician magazine and thousands of technicians would be knocking down your door.
But instead, I'm not going to ask for your ad monies - that's right, not today anyway.

Instead, I would encourage you to go to our newly redesigned website, www.tomorrowstechnician.com and check out the "careers" tab. If you have a job opening at your workplace, please send the information to me at bskove@babcox.com or to our Tomorrow's Technician editor, Ed Sunkin at esunkin@babcox.com. We will post it to our website at no charge to you. We just ask that when the position is filled, you let us know and we'll take it down. Simple, easy, cheap, free.

And if you have an extra minute, let me know what you think about the new website. Though it's just over a month old, we're already looking for ways to improve it.

Right Tool for the Right Job - A Shotgun Works Every Time

They taught us in shop class: Use the right tool
This from the MSNBC staff and news service reports, updated 3:44 p.m. ET, Mon., Nov. 12, 2007
SOUTHWORTH, Wash. - A man trying to loosen a stubborn lug nut blasted the wheel with a 12-gauge shotgun, injuring himself badly in both legs, sheriff's deputies said.

The 66-year-old man had been repairing a Lincoln Continental for two weeks at his home in Kitsap County northwest of Southworth, about 10 miles southwest of Seattle, and had gotten all but one of the lug nuts off the right rear wheel by Saturday afternoon, Kitsap County Deputy Scott Wilson said.

"He's bound and determined to get that lug nut off," Wilson said.

From about arm's length, the man fired the shotgun at the wheel and was "peppered" in both legs with buckshot and debris, with some injuries as high as his chin, according to a sheriff's office report.

"Nobody else was there, and he wasn't intoxicated," Wilson said.

The man was taken to Tacoma General Hospital with injuries Wilson described as severe but not life-threatening.

The deputies did not take a statement from the man beyond what they were able to gather while he was being treated by medics, The Kitsap Sun reported on its Web site.

"I don't think he was in any condition to say anything," Wilson said, according to The Sun. "The pain was so severe, and the shock."

It was not immediately clear whether the shotgun blast loosened the lug nut.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

The "R" Word

Dare we say it? Recession. There are whispers of it on the evening news. It's coming, they say - sort of like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Unlike the holidays, we don't know when Recession, the univited guest, will arrive.

I vaguely remember the last recession - 1981-82, I was still in college and not yet fully-employed. I remember going home during the winter holiday to a house kept a "comfortable" 65 degrees in December and January, an attempt by mother to keep heating costs to a minimum. I also thought it was her unveiled attempt to make me return to college sooner, but that's another blog....

Back to this year's recession...
What do we know about business? Number one - there are business cycles. Just because it's 2007 and a woman may be running for President of the U.S., does not mean the business cycle has been recalled, rejected or repealed.
The housing collapse continues. According to a recent article in Newsweek, New-home starts are now 47% below their peak of January 2006, and still declining. As the inventory of unsold homes continues to grow, their prices come down. Nationally, prices in August were down 4.4% from the previous year, except in Atlanta, Charlott, NC, Dalls, Portland, OR, and Seattle). Go figure.
Oil prices continue to rise. Media-types and industry analysts are predicting $100/barrel before the end of the year.
Credit continues to tighten. The incredible losses being felt on subprime mortgages (typically weak borrowers) are starting to squeeze the lending standards for better borrowers - leading to tighter lending practices.
The good news? Export growth is strong - projected to be up 16% by year's end, and the federal gov't continues to spend - up 7%
So why all the hand-wringing? Is a recession good or bad?
A recession usually means higher unemployment, weaker profits, and more stress at headquarters. According to Newsweek magazine, there have been 10 recessions since World War II, one about every six years, and they've generally lasted 10 months.
There are benefits to a recession - though anyone who loses their job as a result would argue. For instance, a recession will slow inflation. This means prices can't go through the roof, of course neither can wages. Also a recession can help reduce bad corporate investments and risky financial speculation. When credit gets tight, the banks look at investments a little bit differently, don't they? Short-term - a recession can be tough. But long-term, it can make our economy healthier. Quite possibly, it could lead to a reduction in oil prices and further reduce the price of a new home (which could spur new home sales and allow more people to be able to afford a new home).
There are two big questions. What will the Fed do next? What will the big corporations be reporting for profits in the next week or two?

Counterfeits: Do they hurt your business?

This from today's AMN:
U.S. Looking at Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement with Trade Partners

Posted: Nov. 8, 2007, 10 a.m., EST

From AAIA's Capital Report

WASHINGTON -- During a press conference on Capitol Hill, U.S. Trade Representative Susan C. Schwab announced that the U.S. and several key trading partners are looking to negotiate a trade agreement to strengthen the worldwide fight against counterfeiting and piracy. Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand and Switzerland are currently participating in the talks about the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA). The countries are looking to come to agreement on international cooperation, improving enforcement practices and providing strong legal framework for intellectual property rights enforcement. The agreement is not meant to amend any existing agreements. Rather, it is seen as a higher benchmark which countries can join voluntarily.

Other benefits to an ACTA agreement are seen to be the possibility of harmonized standards between countries and an improved ability to combat the increasing danger of health threats from counterfeit pharmaceuticals and foods. Schwab indicated that there is no stated deadline for the conclusion of negotiations, though the U.S. would like to move forward quickly. The initiative has received immediate support from the Copyright Alliance, an advocacy group which is comprised of members from a wide range of industries.

Interesting idea, but I don't see CHINA listed in the countries "looking to come to agreement".

Ripley's Believe It or Not

I received this information from the people at AAIA, but I'm just not sure I believe everything I read. (Plus, there was a typo on it that I fixed.)

Of course, now that it's been posted to a blog, it must be true, right? I read it on the internet. Seriously, this research was conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, so I'm sure the information is correct. It just doesn't "feel" like all these changes are happening yet. What do you think? Are you seeing similar behavior changes in your market area?

Consumers Reach Tipping Point on Gas Prices Spike: Survey Reveals Dramatic Behavior Changes
BETHESDA, MD – Nov. 7, 2007 – With gas prices heading for $4 a gallon, consumers are making dramatic changes in driving and vehicle care behavior to save money, according to results of a new study by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).

Nearly six in 10 people surveyed claim their driving behavior has changed due to rising gas prices. One-third of motorists surveyed stated that they would make changes when the price of gasoline reached $3 a gallon, and another 32 percent would invoke driving behavior changes if prices reach $4 a gallon, according to the survey conducted by Opinion Research Corporation.

When asked how their driving behavior has changed because of rising gasoline costs, 90 percent said they are driving less and 75 percent revealed that they are better maintaining their vehicle. Other specific behavioral changes were carpooling more (31 percent), purchasing more fuel efficient vehicles (30 percent) and making greater use of public transportation (24 percent). Additionally, more than half of consumers claim they are capable of performing light maintenance and repair jobs themselves.

"The fact that motorists are more aware of how proper vehicle maintenance will improve fuel efficiency is great news for the automotive aftermarket," said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. "Properly maintained and operating vehicles are not only more fuel efficient, they are safer and more environmentally friendly.

"And we are delighted to see that 54 percent of consumers consider themselves do-it-yourselfers with light maintenance and 12 percent feel they are capable of doing medium maintenance and repair jobs. This counters claims that the DIY market is dying."

Interviews were conducted online with 500 people, 21 years of age or older, who are responsible for the purchasing of fuel and the maintenance and repair of the vehicle they drive. The data was weighted according to gender, age and geographic region. The maximum error range is plus or minus four points at a 95 percent confidence level.

For more information on the survey, e-mail Rich White at rich.white@aftermarket.org or call 301-654-6664. For more information on tips and advice for simple vehicle maintenance and care to improve gas mileage, contact the Car Care Council at www.carcare.org.

About AAIA
AAIA is a Bethesda, Md.-based association whose more than 23,000 member and affiliates manufacture, distribute and sell motor vehicle parts, accessories, service, tool, equipment, materials and supplies. Through its membership, AAIA represents more than 100,000 repair shops, parts stores and distribution outlets.

News from the AAPEX Show: Auto-Wares, Prime Automotive & Snap-on Tools

Last Week at AAPEX, held in Las Vegas: Fred Bunting Receives Art Fisher Award

AWDA presented the 2007 Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award to Fred A. Bunting in recognition of his passion for training and education. Bunting received this honor during AWDA’s general session, held last Sunday night in Las Vegas.

The Art Fisher Memorial Scholarship Award is presented annually to an aftermarket company or individual that demonstrates outstanding commitment to education and training, either within their own companies or throughout the industry. Given in memory of former AWDA chairman Art Fisher, the award grants substantial scholarships in the name of the award winner to two students enrolled in the automotive aftermarket management program at Northwood University.

Bunting is the founder and chairman of Auto-Wares Inc. Group of Companies headquartered in Grand Rapids, MI. Auto-Wares is a full-line, full-service, full-program distributor servicing more than 600 jobbers. The company employs more than 1,500 people who together operate 336 Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper stores and 630 Auto Value/Bumper to Bumper Certified Service Centers.

For many service professionals in the Michigan region, a high point of the year is the Auto-Wares Tech Expo. Auto-Wares holds two of these events annually in Milwaukee, WI, and Grand Rapids MI. The 10-year-old event is tailored exclusively to professional technicians in automotive, heavy duty and PBE specialties. Last year, more than 3,000 techs visited Tech Expo and attended more than 4,800 training classes.

The success of Tech Expo has garnered the attention of many others in the aftermarket industry. Bunting believes that the more training our industry provides to technicians, the better it is for everyone. He has freely offered the secrets of his success and, in 2006, even granted AAIA permission to duplicate, brand and distribute instructional DVDs that provide other aftermarket companies with the how-to’s for hosting their own training events.

“Without a doubt, this program goes above and beyond in the pursuit of excellence in training and education in the automotive aftermarket,” said Larry Pavey of Federated Auto Parts in presenting the award. “It is a great pleasure to honor Fred Bunting, the driving force behind this outstanding effort.”

On a separate note, Prime Automotive, based in Olive Branch, MS has been purchased by Marubeni, a Japanese company. Prime Automotive is a member of the Tools and Equipment Distributors Association (TEDA), and has been in business supplying parts stores and distributors since 1982.

Here is information from Marubeni's corporate website: Marubeni America Corporation, along with Marubeni Corporation and Marubeni Automotive (collectively "Marubeni"), have acquired the Olive Branch, Mississippi based Prime Automotive Warehouse (“Prime”) for an undisclosed amount. Prime, established in 1982, is an industry leader in the distribution of aftermarket auto parts, chemicals, and tools to its large reseller customer base. Prime mainly markets its products through a monthly catalog.

Marubeni recognized several growing trends in the US aftermarket, including the steady demand for parts and chemicals that keep older vehicles running. According to the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA), the automotive aftermarket market has grown from $138 billion in 1997 to over $204 billion in 2006.

The market for automotive aftermarket parts is competitive and highly fragmented. The transaction will allow Prime to combine its sourcing and mail order expertise with Marubeni’s domestic and international networks. As part of its growth strategy, Prime will consider acquisitions in its current industry as well as new markets that will allow it to further expand its product line.

Steve Friedman will continue as President of Prime and there will be no changes to operating management. Prime will be managed within Marubeni America Corporation's Transportation. Industrial Machinery, and IT business unit. This unit also manages Marubeni’s auto leasing operation, Advantage Funding, and dealership network, Drivepoint.


And how about this from Snap-on? They reported a higher net sales and income in 3rd quarter than expected. With an increase in net sales of 14.5% and an increase in net income of 31.4%! These figures bring their net sales to $680.7 million and net income $41.4 million. I'd say they're having a great year so far!

Sales from the company’s tools group increased $18.1 million,or 7.4 percent, to $262 million. This was primarily because of a 5.4-percent increase in North American franchise sales and strong sales from some of Snap-on’s international franchise operations, primarily the United Kingdom and Australia. Meanwhile, diagnostic and information group sales increased $25.1 million, or 19.8 percent, to $152 million due, in part, to the 2006 acquisition of Snap-on Business Solutions.

Check here later for more news on what's happening with the big tool guys!

Economic & Market Trends in the US - Part Two

On Friday, it all sounded so good - orders are up, prices are up, business is good. It's a bull market! But today, the bear steps in.
New Housing Units Started: Everyone's heard this news. Down, down down. From a high of 2,300 in January, 2006, the new housing starts fell to a low of 1,400 by June, 2007. This is the lowest rate since before 3rd quarter, 2002. Numbers have been seasonable adjusted.
Five-Year Unemployment Rate: Low, low, low. Today it is just over 4.5%. That means that practically everyone who wants to be employed, is working. Makes it tougher to get new employees and to keep them. Could cost employers profit dollars as you develop new ways to recruit new help. Sometimes salary alone is not enough.
Initial Jobless Claims: When initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits start to increase, the result is a bearish market. Claims are climbing my friends! It means some employers are reluctant to hire (afraid of the future?)so those people who have been put out of work, are making new claims.

In summary, the good news comes to us from the GDP, CPI, PPI, factory Orders, Durable goods Orders and Oil Prices. These all bode well for our businesses in the near-term future.
The not-as-good news is in housing starts, the housing index, the unemployment rate, and initial jobless claims.

In our little tool world, here's how the big boys have done recently. Using a sales index that includes Cooper, Emerson, Snap-on, Stanley, Black & Decker, Danaher, and Newell Rubbermaid, by year-end 2006, this group represented a 6.4% increase in sales. Through the first half of 2007, their sales index was up only 3.1%

Economic & Market Trends in the US - Part One

What! Economic stuff on a blog for shop owners and technicians? In an effort to provide a snapshot of our economy that you may find useful to your business proposition, read on - Not to worry, it won't be high-falutin. It's very bare-bones, my take on what's happening in our world and how it will affect our market.
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) - currently Bullish. GDP was a little over 1% in 3rd qtry, 2006, less than 1% in 1st qtr 2007, but through the end of 2nd atr 2007 is almost 4%.
Consumer Price Index - This tells us about out-of-pocket expenditures for the consumer, based on 200 products. When a change is greater than 0.4, the government considers that to be inflationary and is bearish. Growth of 0 to 0.4 is normal and is bullish. Through July 2007, the CPI is just at 0, considered normal/bullish.
Five Year Producer Price Index: the Bureau of labor Statistics PPI measures the selling price that manufacturers get for their goods and services (basically - what you are paying). Through July, 2007 reporting, the PPI is just over 0.05, so it is normal for growth and is bullish.
Five Year Light Sweet Crude: Not even going to give you the numbers. We all know they're on the rise.
Factory Orders: Non-durable goods have been on a steady increase since 3rd quarter, 2002. They dipped a little earlier this year, but appear to be on the rise again. Bullish. Durable Goods New orders: Same story. Though they dipped dramatically in the first quarter of this year, they have been strong since 3rd quarter, 2002 and continue to rise through July, 2007.

Shipping Containers: Your Next Workshop?

Not only are we stuck with a bunch of Chinese tools and equipment, now we have to figure out how to do something with the containers they come in. Check out this post, originally posted on the Toolmonger.com

Toolmonger » Blog Archive » Shipping Containers: Your Next Workshop?
A enormous trade deficit with china has left the United States with a glut of shipping containers stacked up so high that neighborhoods near Long Beach harbor experience sundown an hour earlier than the surrounding area. But the news isn’t all bad: these standardized 40′ X 8′ X 8-1/2′ boxes are being repurposed by people all around the world into low cost housing, internet hubs, and even workshops.

Pretty much any international shipping hub in the US has a glut of these giant lego blocks piling up around their necks. The most common size is 40′, but they come in lengths from 8′ cubes all the way up to 53′ tractor-trailer types.

Companies like Sea Box, Inc. have seized this opportunity and started to market to small businesses and DIYers. While a smaller cubes can be used as a simple tool sheds, the larger versions are a simple platform to add storage and/or workshops to a yard. And while they aren’t light — at about two tons — they are meant to be moved, and hauling companies will drop them on site for a reasonable fee.

A standard used 40′ container sells for roughly $1,500.00, but if you’re going to alter it by cutting out walls and adding windows anyway, you can often find damaged units for much less. A simple pier-type foundation will give the container a good stable foundation. The possibilities are endless once you get one of these set up.

Sea Box’s Example Workshop [Seabox.com]
Shipping Container Auctions [Ebay.com]
Free Storage Container Price Quotes [B2B-Exchange.com]
DIY Shipping Container Construction Videos [YouTube.com]

M. Eagles Tool Warehouse - New Digs Y'all

We're thrilled to announce that our friends at M. Eagles are growing! M. Eagles Tool Warehouse announces its expansion to Charlotte, North Carolina, so now you have a Cousin in the Tool Business in the South as well. This second distribution center will serve all their customers throughout the South and give them selected one day shipping service from the New York/Vermont Canadian border to Atlanta, Georgia, and two-day shipping service will be attainable to most points east of the Mississippi. Eagles will be stocking a 32,000 square foot facility projected to open January 2008. They will be expanding in the original location as well by building a new customer service department geared to accommodate the increased business.

Since 1971, Eagles has been an Automotive Aftermarket Tool Supplier to the Jobber only. Their customers make up an exclusive network of successful business people who service and sell tools to the repair trade. Marketing to their distributors is done through a 156 page full color flier released each quarter, and supplemental eight page fliers featuring new products; their web site is www.eagletools.net.

Eagletools.net makes available secure access for its customers to place/track orders, check inventory availability and product info, or view account specific details. New customers are welcome to apply, and then browse the unregistered area where only products with recommended selling prices can be viewed. Once the distributor verification process is complete for registration, new customers will get full access to the main website.

The fully interactive secure site gives ordering capability to distributors with access to actual inventory and pricing for over 23,000 products. Customers can be assured that merchandise ordered on the website will be shipped the same business day if processed before 2:00 p.m.

For more information, contact Michael or Howard Gering
M. Eagles Tool Warehouse Inc.
The Nations Automotive Tool Box®
Newark New Jersey Charlotte North Carolina
www.eagletools.net
(800) 631-2002

Extreme Pumpkins Require Extreme Tools

It's October. It's Autumn. A chill is in the air. Halloween, AAPEX, SEMA, and the NACE Shows are right around the corner. I found this website sometime last year, and since I love Halloween and all things Jack-O-Lantern-y, I bookmarked it. Tom Nardone is the king of extreme pumpkin-carving, and here are the tools he recommends: (My apologies ahead of time to any specific tool maker who might be offended by Tom's opinions. I think he has a great sense of humor - and I love his Jack-O-Lanterns!)

Lifted directly from his website, with slight editing:

Tools for Terror

Here is some great advice on how to easily carve a pumpkin using power tools. I prefer tools that can make pumpkin carving go quickly because I am lazy.


My favorite Pumpkin Slashing Tool: The Jigsaw.

A regular kitchen knife is a piss-poor choice if you need to quickly carve a pumpkin. The holes that you create are so uninteresting. Beginners will only be able to make square holes using just a knife. Creative types could make triangles, but circles are pretty much impossible. Certainly if we want to write a message on our pumpkin, we need a different tool.

Why doesn’t everyone just use a jigsaw to carve pumpkins? Jigsaws make nice smooth curves and quick cuts. You can start a jigsaw anywhere. Just plunge the blade into the pumpkin and pull the trigger. The blade goes in and out of the pumpkin so easily it is as if you were cutting a lump of jell-o. Even the smallest jigsaw has plenty of power to slice and dice. I do suggest getting the longest blade you can to make your work easier. It is amazing that more pumpkin carvers don’t use power tools.

For Heavy Work: The Reciprocating Saw (Sawzall).

If you were a pumpkin carver in a place where the pumpkins are larger, you might want to choose a reciprocating saw as your weapon of choice. Unlike jigsaws, which have short blades, reciprocating saws can often handle blades 10 or more inches long. A long blade can easily cut through the biggest pumpkin or take the stem-cap off the orneriest pumpkin.

If you happen to grow one of those humungous pumpkins, a sawzall is the only tool to use to carve it. A sawzall will allow you to carve intricate designs on even the largest vegetable. By using a reciprocating saw you can save time too. It will only take you 5 to ten minutes to carve a huge pumpkin. Sawzalls kick butt.

For Flaying: A Router.

In order to be a master pumpkin carver, you don’t need a great vocabulary but lets review one important term: flay. If you were a mass-murderer and your specialty was removing all of the skin from your victims’ bodies you would be flaying them. That is your new word for today, to flay.

If you wanted to flay a pumpkin for a lighting effect when you place a high powered light inside them, I suggest you use a router. A router will let you set the depth of material you remove from the outside of the pumpkin.

By removing just the skin from the outside you can let some of the light from within diffuse outward. This creates a cool, creepy glow.

Clean Up The Crime Scene: A Power-Washer

Pumpkin guts attract flies and get sticky over the course of a day or so. I like to cleanse the grime scene with a power washer. I use only the strongest trash bags as well. I don’t like to drop any pumpkin guts on my way to the curb.

For Detail Work: A Boning or Filet Knife

Let’s face it, when you want to create fine detail, you need something more delicate that a jigsaw. That is when I grab a boning knife. It is long and thin enough to slide into any cut and pop out the chunks of pumpkin pulp.

For Goop Removal: A Big Spoon

Pumpkins are full of goop. Removing that goop goes faster if you have a bigger spoon. I like one made of metal to scrape the guts from the inside of the pumpkin. It is about the same size spoon that the lunch-lady in the high school cafeteria uses.

Tools that don’t work so well:

As an experienced pumpkin carver, I have tried a number of tools. Some don’t work very well. You can save yourself some trouble by not using these.

A dremel tool or roto-zip: The fibrous nature of pumpkins make it difficult to hold rotary tools in a straight line. You can hack-up a pumpkin, but it is difficult to leave them looking artistic.

Torches, plasma-cutters, any flame cutters: Since a pumpkin is made mostly of water, it can’t be burned easily. Don’t worry though, the fact that they don’t burn allows you to light giant fires inside their head without burning down your porch

75 Years and Still in Business!

I just returned from a trip to San Antonio to celebrate the 75th anniversary of an independent sales rep company, Hirsig-Frazier. You think it's tough to run a manufacturing company, a publishing company, or a repair shop for 75 years? Try being a sales rep. Current President, Wally Lyssy, runs the rep agency out of Dallas, TX, but they have a satellite office in Springfield, MO. From an agency that began in Dallas in 1932, it has grown to an eleven-state agency that covers the automotive aftermarket, including traditional, retail, and heavy-duty. Harley Willey, a former co-owner of Hirsig-Frazier said a few words at dinner the other night. He said when he started with Hirsig-Frazier in Dallas, there were over 50 sales rep agencies in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area alone. Today? How many are still in business? Not many. I'm sure you could tell similar stories about your businesses.

I have to say, sometimes a sales rep is considered to be the bottom rung of the ladder - one you can sometimes skip, and still get up the ladder. Over the years, I've seen many companies go through the exercise of dropping their reps, adding regional sales people, dropping regional sales people and bringing independent reps back on-line. The independent sales rep does not have an easy job, luckily for them, smart companies understand the value independent reps can provide.

As a testament to their longevity and their importance to their vendors and distributors alike, more than 80 people showed up to celebrate with Hirsig-Frazier on Tuesday. Many of the discussions centered around the friendships that had been forged over the years, some commented on their success as sales people, others as business people in general in an ever-more-competitive environment. Everyone had a story to tell. Roy Hurley, with the Stant Corporation, has been sales manager for 32 years. He pointed to every Hirsig-Frazier rep in the room, one at a time, saying - "you see him? I trained him in 1989. See him? Trained him in 1993. I've trained every single one of the Hirsig-Frazier guys here today." By the end of each evening, there was a whole lotta lovin goin on.

In addition to recognizing Hirsig-Frazier for 75 years of continued business, Wally Lyssy recognized sales professional, Jack McEvoy. He has been with the H-F Company for 23 years!

Wally acknowledged their rich history in the automotive aftermarket, and their continued commitment to the future. They currently have 28 people employed, four of which graduated from Northwood University.

Congratulations Wally, Stephen, M.J., and your entire team! You represent a great group of professionals, and we wish you the best for (at least) the next 75 years.

(come back next week for photos.)

Maintain a Safe Workplace: Reduce Risks

Here is some helpful information for shop owners, sent to us by our friends at Nationwide Insurance in Columbus, Ohio.

Auto service businesses repair vehicles to get their customers back on the road and on with their lives, but they may pose a threat to these same customers if shop conditions aren’t properly maintained.

Customer and employee safety is critical for building and upholding an automotive service’s reputation. Nationwide Insurance combines simple safety tips with online training courses for a complete safety and loss prevention package. The goal is to assist small business owners with keeping customers safe while reducing risk and insurance premiums.

“Customer service and safety are every small business owner’s top priorities,” says Dave Gettles, vice president of loss control for Nationwide Insurance. “A few preventive measures can go a long way to protect your business and keep customers returning again and again.”

Nationwide Insurance offers online safety-training courses for auto service establishments, many available in both English and Spanish. The training website allows users to select the courses that fit their needs, learn at their own pace and track results. These courses are part of a larger online safety-training resource from Nationwide, which offers more than 300 classes to assist a variety of business needs. For more information, please visit safety-training.nationwide.com.

These simple tips from Nationwide Insurance also offer easy ways to maintain a safe workplace for employees and patrons at minimal or no cost:

§ Maintain the interior and exterior – Keep parking lots and sidewalks in good condition. Provide dusk-to-dawn lighting for the exterior of the building and vehicle storage area(s). Protect utilities (gas meters, transformers, etc.) with physical barriers.
§ Keep walking areas free and clear – Make sure areas where customers walk are in good physical condition and are clear of equipment. Clear exterior walking surfaces of ice, snow and debris.
§ Use signage – Clearly post personnel signs to indicate restricted access, delivery routes and vehicle drop-offs. Post signs in reception areas citing lack of liability for any items left inside vehicles.
§ Security measures – Monitor exterior grounds with surveillance equipment. Store all vehicle keys (company and customer) in a secure place. Educate employees with proper training and establish key control procedures in the event of an emergency.

Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the world, with more than $160 billion in assets. Nationwide ranks #104 on the Fortune 500 list. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, motorcycle, boat, homeowners, life, farm, commercial insurance, administrative services, annuities, mortgages, mutual funds, pensions, long-term savings plans and health and productivity services. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, the Nationwide Framemark and On Your Side are federally registered service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

Opportunities Abound for the Independent Repair Shop

October is Car Care Aware month. You may have noticed information about Be Car Care Aware on your local network. The Care Care Council recently announced the results of last year's vehicle check-up events during Car Care Aware Fairs across the country in April and October 2006. What do you know? People just aren't taking care of their cars like they should. The CCC revealed that nearly nine out of 10 vehicles need service or parts, underscoring the huge untapped DIY and DIFM sales opportunities for the automotive aftermarket. The unsatisfactory condition of vehicles also reinforces the continued need for consumer education about the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair.

An analysis of nearly 1,000 vehicle inspection forms, submitted from event coordinators in 16 states, show that 88 percent of the vehicles checked during National Car Care Month in April and Fall Car Care Month in October needed parts replacement, service or fluids. The top problem areas were motor oil, Windshield wipers, air filters, belts and hoses and lights. Any time a customer brings their car into your place for service, you should ALWAYS ASK, "May I check your oil, wipers, filters, belts, hoses and lights? Or at a minimum, have a place to check them on your work order, so you can discuss their condition with the vehicle owner.

“Vehicle check-up events are typically the focus of Car Care Aware Fairs sponsored by repair shops, parts stores, distributors in cooperation with local vocational schools, media, civic groups and others,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “While these events are free to consumers and serve as community-relations builders, most aftermarket businesses who participate experience an increase in sales and customers as a result.”

When checking lubricants and fluids, the three top failure rates were: low, overfull or dirty motor oil at 30 percent, inadequate washer fluid levels at 28 percent, and low, leaky or dirty coolant at 28 percent. Transmission, brake, power steering and clutch fluids were also checked and had failure rates of 26 percent and below.

Approximately 15 percent of vehicles had front windshield wiper failures and 9 percent needed service to rear wipers.

At least one belt was reported as unsatisfactory in 22 percent of the vehicles inspected and 14 percent required at least one new hose. New air filters were needed in 25 percent of the vehicles, while 8 percent needed new PVC filters. The “check engine” light was on in 8 percent of the vehicles.

Battery cables, clamps and terminals needed maintenance in 17 percent of the vehicles inspected, while 9 percent of the batteries were not properly held down. Eleven percent had either a green, dark or clear/yellow charge indicator light.

Improperly inflated tires were found on 20 percent of the cars and 11 percent had worn tread and were in need of replacement.

The leading failure rates for vehicle lights/vision were: license plate lights at 18 percent, brake lights at 10 percent and side markers at 8 percent.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For more information, visit www.carcare.org.

Car Care Council 7101 Wisconsin Ave. Suite 1300 Bethesda, MD
Tel: 301-654-6664 Fax: 301-654-3299
www.carcare.org

The End is Near: HCFC Production Coming to an End

International Agreement Reached to Accelerate Phase-Out of HCFC Production

The 191 parties to the Montreal Protocol announced Sept. 22 that they came to an "historic" agreement to freeze production of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) by 2013 and accelerate the complete phase-out of production and use by 10 years. Under the original protocol, HCFCs had been slated for full elimination by 2030 in developed countries and 2040 for developing countries. However, according to signatories, evidence was mounting about the growing use of HCFCs, as well as the potential benefits to the ozone layer and climate change of an accelerated freeze and phase-out of HCFCs.

Specifically, the agreement commits developed countries to freezing in 2013, their production of HCFCs at the average production levels in 2009-2010. Developed countries would be committed to reductions in production and consumption of HCFCs from base-year levels of 75 percent by 2010 and 90 percent by 2015, with full elimination of production and consumption by 2020. Developing countries would be required to reduce HCFC from the base-year level of 10 percent by 2015, 35 percent by 2020, and 67.5 percent by 2025, with full elimination of production and consumption by 2030. Developed countries further committed to support, at a currently unspecified amount, the continuation of the Multilateral Fund for implementation of the Montreal Protocol when it comes up for renewal in 2008. The fund is directed at assisting developing countries in implementing the protocol.

Looks like we'll be looking for new refrigerant-exchange units in the near future....

Automechanika - Canada

Went to the show on Wednesday in Toronto. It was held at the International Center by the Toronto airport. Got there about 11 a.m., and walked every aisle, just to get a feel for who was there and how many exhibitors were in attendance. Then I went back through and started talking to the exhibitors. It was pretty small, and by 1 p.m., it still did not seem overly well attended. I think there were about 200 exhibitors, maybe 220. The majority were Canadian manufacturers, however there were a handful of U.S. exhibitors as well. Some of the Canadian exhibitors were strictly regional - selling to Eastern Canada only, some were national, and some were international. The tire and tire repair service was well represented by Cooper, 31 Inc., Prema, Tech Internationl, Myers Tire, and ESCO. There were only several tool guys there, and just a few equipment folks. The majority of the exhibitors appeared to be hard parts related. Whereas the AAPEX show has an entire floor designated to country "pavilions" (everywhere outside of the U.S.), the Automechanika show had a small section for non-North American Exhibitors. Ironically, it was the Iranian Pavilion. I think there were six booths in it.

I have to tell you, I thought I would go back the next day to see who I missed, but I was able to see and talk to everybody in six hours. I'm sure the experience would be different for distributors and shop owners - but that's my take on the show.

On a personal note, it was a pleasant surprise to see and speak with Daron Misakyan of Nortool. His company distributes tools and equipment out of Toronto and had been a former customer of mine.

Right to Repair - Does it matter to you?

Took this from the AAIA website.

Right to Repair Sponsor Count Hits 30
The Motor Vehicle Owners' Right to Repair Act (H.R. 2694) hit a milestone last week as three new legislators were added to the co-sponsor list. Joining chief sponsor, Rep. Edolphus Towns, D-N.Y., were Reps. Jo Ann Davis, R-Va.; Jim Gerlach, R-Pa.; and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md.
With this "success", I have to question how important this issue is to the shop owner or the individual technician. Who among you is willing to get involved?

Couldn't Happen to a Nicer Guy

This just in - Bob Pond is being promoted to President of Central Tool on October 1. Be sure to drop him a line or shake his hand at the AAPEX Show. He's a great guy and the promotion is well-deserved. Their official notice is as follows:
Central Tools, Inc. of Cranston, RI, a company that will be 100 years old next year, has announced that Robert Pond will become President of Central effective October 1. Bob has been Executive Vice President of Central since 2005.
Bob joined Central as Vice President of Marketing and Sales in 1999 and started his career in the automotive aftermarket in 1984. Bob’s most recent experience prior to joining Central involved many years of automotive systems training for ITT AIMCO and Allied Signal.
Pond has played a critical role at Central as market conditions have led to the substitution of imported products for traditionally US made product. While Central continues as a manufacturer of many items at its factory in Cranston, a transition to more imported products continues to alter the everyday operations of the company. Many highly successful new product introductions have come regularly at Central thanks to Bob’s active leadership role.
Alec Dawson, the Chairman of Central, has described Bob’s job as “the lead into the second century for our company”.

For Further information contact
Bruce Dawson at Central Tools, Inc., 456 Wellington Ave. Cranston, RI 02910
Phone 401-467-8211 FAX 401-461-5670 www.centraltools.com

Market Indicators that Affect Our Business

While the general media is forecasting doom and gloom, I would like to offer my predictions for the remainder of 2007 and into 2008 for our section of the economic world. The big economy news is the housing slump and the GM/UAW strike - both are dramatic and are sure to affect even the smallest shop in the smallest town. Or will they?

July numbers show that home prices had their steepest drop since 1991. Before you get overly excited - it was only a 4.5% drop! That means a house that may have sold for $125,000 last year would sell for $119,375 this year. That's a healthy drop, and I have to admit, I'm glad I'm not selling my house this year. But the numbers don't matter until you go to sell your house. And, is it time to slit the wrists? I don't think so.

Now, consider the UAW strikers at General Motors. The strike will cost General Motors 12,000 cars or $270M each day. In the first month, GM could lose $8.1 billion, in the second month $7.2 billion (I don't know why October is expected to be more expensive than November, I just report the news, I don't make it.)
What will it cost the workers? It was reported by ABC this morning that the average Union worker makes approximately $65k each year, and the average non-union worker maker $45k each year. But during the strike, these UAW members will make $200/week. Personally, I can't see the strike lasting that long. We've all got bills to pay, and $200 would barely cover my grocery bill to feed two teenage boys and a working husband! Do you know how long it will take them to make up their lost income? A lengthy strike does not make sense for anyone in 2007. If it does last more than a month, we will all begin to feel the effects. It has been estimated that for every GM worker, there are 10 people working for a GM Supplier. If GM business dries up, so does the business for the supplier. And this is where the strike could begin to affect our business.

But these are the short-term indicators. Do they affect the economy? Of course, but I would say they are more short-term blips than long-term tools to use when forecasting your own business cycles.

That being said, later this week I'll review how some of the more historical market indicators are faring and what they might mean for your business in the near future.

2 shops, 2 comebacks, 2 weeks: My Life

In the past month, I've had more than $5,000 worth of repair work done to my vehicle. About $4,600 of it was due to a collision with an uninsured motorist. Fortunately my insurance company picked up the entire bill, less the deductible. I had the work done at a shop that was associated with a local dealership, because they have some sort of deal with my insurance company, AND they were conveniently located 50 feet away from the appraiser. When I picked up my car (earlier than they predicted - YAY!), I looked at it in dismay. What had been a 6-year-old Toyota front-end, had become a new-looking front-end, but something was not right. The missing license plate? The color? No, they did a great job matching the color. The headlights? Yes. They looked funny, and once I drove around in the dark, I found out they lit funny too! We looked under the hood - Mr. Polite Service Writer speaking slowly and evenly as he described how they replaced this, recreated that, and re-arranged the other, using some new, some re-furbed, and some parts from the local salvage yard (I am opposed to none of these - they all have their place in repair work). I asked about the cut-outs in the felt under my hood, "why are these spaces cut out?" "Oh, there should be information stickers there, I'll check on that for you." Hmmmmm. I was surprised they were able to make that hood look as beautiful as they did. Besides having left it looking like a wrecking ball had been dropped on it, late last year I blew a psiton through my engine, which shot like a bullet into the hood. The hole in the felt was still there, but the hood was as beautiful as the day it was born. Yet, even though I did a cursory walk-around with the service writer, and nodded as he told me the work that had been done, I was not happy and felt a slight sour feeling deep in my gut. My 6-year-old baby was no longer mine - it had become this re-habbed, re-furbed something other. The lines betwen the pieces and parts of the front end of my car were no longer parallel. One side had a slightly bigger gap than the other side. At another point, the lines widened - the fit and finish that Toyota is known for, was no more.
And yet I drove it home.

As I pulled in to my driveway, headlights askew, I bravely honked my horn to announce my arrival to the family and dog. Instead of that Asian two-tone horn I've grown accustomed to, I heard a weak single-tone bleat - as tho someone had stepped on a cheap red bicycle horn. That was truly the last straw.

The second bit of work (in my $5,000+ 2-week span)was to repair my front brakes, for a mere $500 or so. I had them repaired because after the accident, even tho the insurance company approved a "visual" of the brakes and the collision center reported them "ok", I didn't feel they had the same stopping power as they did the minute before the accident.

Short Story, Part One: Took the car back for additional bodywork. They fixed the horn, showed me where to find the stickers on the inside of my hood if I ever needed to read them, and re-pointed the headlights. Nonetheless, I can still put all the fingers from one hand through the gap between one of my headlights and the body of my car - NOT a Toyota finish, but because my insurance company and the shop guarantee the work for the time I own the car, I'm not going back a third time to complain. I am left wondering about the effect of additional exposure on my engine and all things under the hood that those extra spaces will make possible. But that's not all, the more I look at the way the hood and the front-end lies in relationship to the body of the car - it's just a case of hurry up and get it out the door. I am disappointed in the quality of their work, to say the very least. Very nice people, but.

On to the brake job.

The Excellent Mechanic

It's Tuesday, September 11, and based on the number of e-mails I've received today, it looks like many of our readers are just now getting to the August issue of TechShop. Here's a very nice response from Bob Minnick, owner of Courtesy Car Care in Texas.
Beth,

Several years ago (1991?) I received a proverb from a seminary professor (who I knew, had worked on his car, and sat in his class). He based it on Proverbs 31 - which actually described the excellent wife. He changed the proverb to address the excellent mechanic. I hang it in my shop and have had several people want copies of it. I am sending it to you after having read your article about the mechanics creed. It's not perfect but it was an excellent gesture by a customer and friend. The proverb was written by David M. Fouts, ThD. I have lost contact with him but I believe He is teaching Pensecola Bible College. I had him as a Hebrew professor at Dallas Theological Seminary.

I thought you might like this. I copied it below as well as attached it in a Word document.

Blessings,

Bob Minnick, owner
Courtesy Car Care
Duncanville, TX


THE EXCELLENT MECHANIC

An excellent mechanic, who can find one?

For his worthies far above tools

The heart of his patron trusts in him
and he will have no lack of gain

He does good work and not evil
All the hours of his day

He looks for noises and bumps,
And works – his hands are a delight

He is like a fine craftsman,
He brings his skill to bear
He rises also while it is night
And brings relief to the motorist
And calm to shaking motors

He considers a part and then buys it
From his wisdom he installs it

He girds himself with strength
From coaxing rusted bolts

He senses that his work is good,

His droplight does not go out at night

He stretched his hand for the air wrench,

And his hands grasp the wheel rim

He extends his help to the poor
And gives needed discounts to the needy

He is not afraid of economic downturns

All his co-workers are helped by him

He makes coveralls for himself

They may be striped or bibbed

His wife is well respected

By all whose cars he has fixed

For the extra hours he gave

He makes good repairs and numerous
And supplies timing belts to those who need them

Strength and integrity are his clothing
And he smiles with a greasy face

He opens his mouth in wisdom
And the encouragement of friendship is on his face

He looks well to the way of business
And never eats the bread of idleness

His children will rise up and bless him
And his wife also, and she praises him, saying’

Good mechanics are hard to find
But you excel them all

Flashy advertising is deceitful
and nationwide chains are in vain

But the mechanic who fears the Lord,
he shall be greatly praised

(source: David Fouts, ThD )


Thank you Mr. Minnick (and Mr. Fouts). Very nicely done, though I take exception to the comment about flashy advertising. :)

The independent automotive repair person and repair shop represent the salt of the earth, ana indeed, should be treasured.

The Big Best Box Buy

Sometimes I can be a little opinionated, and sometimes I can be a little cranky. Today is one of those days when I am both. I am a fan of customer service, I am a BIG fan of GREAT customer service. I HATE BAD CUSTOMER SERVICE. Can you see where I might be going with this?

I recently had the opportunity to test the customer service-ability of one of the Big Box electronic companies. Our family had purchased a $99 I-Home for my son's I-Pod and, big surprise, it stopped working correctly in less than three months. Actually, as the story from my 14-year-old unfolded, the volume control quit working after three weeks, and only worked on VERY LOUD. He told me about it three weeks later. From that day forth, I tried to get him to wrap it up so we (WE) could take it to the Best Big Buy Box store to exchange it. On a good day, my son does not like to shop, leave the house, or go anywhere that does not utilize a scooter or bicycle. But on this day, this Sunday, I made him go with me to the store, broken I-home and all the wiry components clasped lovingly in his arms. As a last thought, I asked my other son to round up the other various equipment we had purchased over the last 18 months, including two digital cameras, a digital video camera and something else... All told - we had spent more than $3,500 at this place in a short period of time.

We get to the "CUSTOMER SERVICE" counter with our broken I-Home and ask if we could exchange it. Here is the verbal exchange that ensued:
Store: "Do you have a receipt?"
Me: "No, but I bought it around April 18" (knowing that with any electronic purchase the information is stored on their computer system, probably right next to the place they reserve for fingerprints and eye-scans)
Her: "Well let me check our system. Yes, you bought it on April 18. I'm printing your receipt now." Time passes as the receipt prints.
Me: (Thinking) If they know I bought it here, why do they need to waste time/paper printing the receipt?
Her: I'm sorry, that's out of manufacturer warranty. Did you buy the extended warranty?
Me: No. I think if I pay $100 for something it should work longer than a few weeks and I shouldn't have to pay even a penny more for it to last a while.
Her: Well it's out of manufacturer warranty and we can't exchange it.
Me: When did the warranty expire?
Her: Yesterday.

Imagine at this point how you might feel. Both of my sons took a look at my face, cringed, and took two steps back.

I think at that point I may have raised my voice a little.
Me: You mean, that you won't take back something that broke within three weeks of use, because the warranty ran out YESTERDAY, and I'm returning it today?
Her: I'm sorry, that's corporate policy. Once it's out of manufacturer's warranty, we can't take it back.

Me: (I may have stuttered or thought to myself - this can't be really happening.) This cost me $99, I'm fairly sure it cost your store somewhere between $35 and $45 AND YOU CAN'T EXCHANGE IT? May I see your manager?
Her: I am the manager.
OK, so long story short, she stuck to the party line and did not budge. I give her a lot of credit, she remained professional (making it tough for me to get really crazy). But, store manager? She's about 22, her name is Kristi (no last name, company policy) and I'm certain she dots her i with a heart! She made the wrong decision.

Me: I can't believe that a company this size does not allow their store manager to make the decision to keep a customer happy. I have spent more than $3,500 here in the past 18 months and you won't exchange something for less than $100? May I have the name of your CEO?

Her: I don't know his name but you can call 1-800-WeLuvCustomers.
Me: Thank you, buh-bye.

HONEST TO PETE!

What does this have to do with your business? Think about it. Do you honestly take care of your customer or do you toe the company line and hide behind "policy". If your product or service has a dollar value, then you should have the integrity to stand behind it. Your people, whether they make minimum wage or $25 an hour, should be allowed to make the right decision to keep customers happy. I am not saying anyone should be a doormat to their customer, because the customer is not always right. But I am saying this, because of this so-called manager's decision, I will NEVER buy from this best Box Buy place again. No, they have created a new HH Gregg customer.

Other takeaways: My kids learned that it is ok to ask for better service when you feel you are not getting it. They asked me if I was embarrassed to talk to a total stranger the way I did (I was a little loud at one point) - Absolutely not! Again, it doesn't matter if I paid $100 or $1,000, we all work hard for our money and want stuff to last. That I-home went directly from the box to my kid's bookshelf - there was no reason in the world it should not have lasted 5-10 years! Look around your home or office - I bet you have plenty of things that cost less than $50 but are more than one year old (I think immediately of my $19.99 alarm clock - still works after 3 years and I didn't buy the extended warranty. go figure.)

Think about your own "policies", but more importantly, think about the freedom you have to do the right thing and make sure your enterprise understands your philosophy on customer service. It can make the difference between a one-time customer and a customer for life.

Why is Gas So Expensive?

At least once a week, someone comments on the price of gas. It went through the roof, it came down again. Why? Why does it fluctuate so much? Did you know that the price of gas at the station reflects more than just gasoine? As of May, 2007, unrefined crude oil was 46.1% of the retail price. Refining costs and profits accounted for 27.9%. Federal and state taxes were 12.7% and distribution and marketing costs were 13.3%. For more up to date statistics, go to tonto.eia.doe.gov/oog/info/gdu/gaspump.html

Toyota Backs Off Lithium Ion

via The Truth About Cars by Frank Williams on Aug 09, 2007Toyota is delaying introducing lithium-ion battery-powered hybrids because of safety concerns. Forbes reports that the Japanese automaker is hanging fire (so to speak) due to worries that the cells might overheat or explode. Toyota doesn't expect to have hybrids with Li-Ion batteries until 2011. They've also delayed plans for Tundra and Sequoia hybrids. Whether or not this will affect GM's hopes of lithium-ion powered Volt is yet to be seen. Meanwhile, commenting on an earlier TTAC post, Tesla spinmeister Darryl Siry claims their Roadster's Li-ion battery pack passed UN and DOT protocols for safety "when shipping" which "can actually be harsher than safety when in a car."

I can't believe someone would actually be quoted as saying "shipping" is "harsher than safety when in a car". What exactly does that mean? I would bet that every li-ion battery pack shipped is safely bubble-wrapped to prevent that famous "damage during shipment", yet you don't see too many bubble-wrapped vehicles driving the roads these days. Li-ion batteries have to withstand the harsh abuse of American drivers, accidents on the road, and under-trained technicians. Hope Toyota has taken that all into account.

Also - wonder if a similar effect would occur with the new li-ion tools coming to market recently? From the December, 2006 issue of TechShop, our editors wrote, "Lithium ion is not as durable as NiCd, and can be dangerous if damaged". However, according to the tool manufacturers, most have taken this into consideration when they were developing the components of the tools and have protected the batteries accordingly.

What has been your experience? Let us know!

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Forge anything with a Brake Drum

I saw this on Toolmonger this morning and had to share it. Forged tools are a significant part of my manufacturing background, and I found this unique approach to forging interesting. I'm happy to report that in my previous life, we were able to generate heat in a more controlled environment, and at no time was duct tape in use.

From The Flickr Pool: A Brake Drum ForgePosted August 2nd, 2007 10:28 am by Chuck Cage

NickNaylo posted this great pic of his brake drum forge to TM’s photo pool, proving once and for all that you don’t need major cash to try your hand at blacksmithing. He says he assembled this little rig for a whopping $75 in parts — including a scavenged squirrel cage fan, some pipe fittings, and, of course, a brake drum.
It even looks like he’s rigged up a dimmer to control the speed of the fan — handy for controlling fire temp to avoid simply burning your workpiece into nothingness.

If you would like to recreate this forge, here is some additional information to consider:

Brake Drum Forge
Brake drum forges are often built as a first project at many blacksmith schools and beginner workshops. Then every student has a forge to take home. Note that a brakedrum forge has almost no coal reserve and is only useful for small projects as a hobbiest or starter forge.
Brake drum forges vary with the diameter of the brake drum. 10" to 16" (25 to 40cm) will work. They make a pretty decent firepot but are not nearly as heavy as commercial firepots therefore will not last as long. Brake drums are typically a cast iron rim with a pressed or formed in steel center of 1/8" plate. A few are solid cast. Some wheels are suitable for the same purpose. See My first forge
Fittings also vary according to your budget (new or scrounged). New are not prohibitive but it all depends on your view point. Current cost runs about $18 US. The drum I have left over from the JYH is 12" (30cm) diameter (inside) and about 6" (15cm) deep. It has a 3" (7.6cm) center hole and 5" (12.7cm) bolt circle. Fittings will be a 2" heavy steam flange (about 5/8" thick), a 2" close nipple, a 2" x 6" long nipple, a 2 x 2 x 3" reducing T, and a 3" x 6" nipple. Schedule 40 pipe is standard but 80 or 120 will last longer IF you can get them. The two long nipples have one end sawn off or may be cut from a longer piece of pipe. The 3" piece is cut about 1/2" beyond the threads and the 2" x 6" has the threads cut off OR left on depending on the blower type. A counter weighted ash dump is fabricated and hinged from the 3" pipe. A sliding door held on by a single screw pivot point also works and is easier to fabricate. Although most people prefer the dump type many commercial forges came with a sliding door. A pull made from heavy wire can be rigged so that you don't need to crawl under the forge to dump the ashes.
The legs on the above drawing should be spread out more for stability. They are attached by flattening the end of the tube, drilling or punching a 3/8" hole and bolting on with the bolts holding the flange to the brake drum "pot". The blower shown is a little 120 CFM model I use on gas forges. A hair dryer, furnace blower, or any type of squirrel cage fan will work. Blowers with a lot of pressure and CFM such as those from vacuum cleaners or leaf blowers will need an air control. The little 1/30th HP shaded pole motor on the blower above can be controlled by a room lighting control.
NOTE: A grate should be made to reduce the amount of coal that falls into the tuyeer. One or two pieces of 1/2" (13mm) steel or stainless steel bar will sufice. If you get fancy and fabricate a clinker breaker type gate a grate is not required.
Copyright © 1998 - 2005 Jock Dempsey

Me and My Scooter

To all of you who wondered what I look like on my scooter, here I am, zipping through town. That's right, since joining Babcox, I added a scooter to my fleet of vehicles. This one tops out at 45mph, but it gets over 65 mpg! Since I only drive 3 miles to work one way, it seemed the smart thing to do - save gas, save the environment. But don't worry, in case you think I've abandoned the automotive aftermarket - remember - I live in NE Ohio. It rains a lot, it snows a lot, and I can generally only ride my scooter about 45 - 120 days out of the year, leaving lots of days for me to drive my 4-wheeled gas-sipper and support the aftermarket. (I wanted a pink Power Ranger type of motorcycle jacket, but my kids bought me the jacket and matching helmet. I couldn't say no.)

For motorcyclists and scooter riders too, the MSF has five critical messages:
Get Trained and Licensed - Take an MSF RiderCourse and get licensed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. Visit www.msf-usa.org, or call (800) 446-9227.

Wear Protective Gear - Wear proper protective riding gear - all the gear all the time - most importantly a helmet that meets Department of Transportation standards.

Ride Unimpaired - Never use alcohol or other drugs when riding.

Ride Within Your Limits - Don't ride faster or longer than your abilities allow.

Be a Lifelong Learner - Regularly return for refresher rider training courses to brush up on skills and knowledge.

For car drivers and other motorists, the MSF says:

Look Out for Motorcyclists - Use your eyes and mirrors to see what's around.

Don't Be Distracted - Hang up and drive, put down the food, the pet, the personal grooming gear, the MP3 player, and the reading material and save it for later.

Give Two-Wheelers Some Room - Don't tailgate or get too close.

Use Your Turn Signals - Signal your intentions. It's also the law.

More Info on Gen Why-ers

I had to find another reason to use this photo again.

From a USA Today national survey of young people, aged 18-25, we learn that

• 67% believe that immigrants strengthen American society


• This generation's top life goals are to be rich (81%) and famous (51%) (more on this from Eric Chester)


• 32% attend church at least once a week, yet 20% have no religious affiliation or are atheist or agnostic


• 48% identify more with Democrats, 35% with Republicans


• 36% have a tattoo and 30% have a body piercing in a place other than an ear lobe, 25% have dyed their hair a non-traditional color


• 84% say their life is excellent or good

Who is this "Generation Why?"

I recently attended a conference for automotive instructors, on behalf of my other magazine, Tomorrow's Technician. The keynote speaker for the General Session was Mr. Eric Chester, noted author and speaker. His specialty is the Generation Y (or Why? as he calls them). This is that group of people born between 1980 and 1994, the 14 to 27 year olds who are going to be running our country soon. You know them, they're generally well-tattooed and well-pierced. One person generalized them as that group of young people who look like they were caught in a fishing lure accident. I look at them and think, no thank you, I don't want you to work with me, for me, or serve me coffee. They are not like you and I, but, they are our future and here are some of Chester's observations:

2 of every 4 of them come from single mother homes.

1 of every 9 12-year olds, already have a credit card

They have never played solitaire with a real deck of cards

For them, Michael Jackson has always been white

They have never known a world without MTV, rap music, air bags, Howard Stern, and AIDS

They have always lived in a world with XTC, crystal meth, crack, terrorist attacks, PCs, and cell phones

They live in a world where an angry kid will kill another kid. Just because.

They have never known a world withouth credit cards, ATMS, or a tv remote.

What do they mean to you and your business? They are your customers, your employees, your peers, and quite possibly, your employer. What do we know about them? According to Mr. Chester, they are commited and loyal, they have a tendency to be impatient (patience is no longer a virtue), and their entire process of thinking is radically different than the generation before. They are skeptical. They need to feel like they are a part of the program. Inclusion is important, but has to be more than lip service. They have to feel engaged. Chester says they would pick physical torture over boredom. Remember that when you look at your new employee. (Perhaps that is one of the contributing factors to the whole body-piercing thing..)

These are the people who will be turning lug nuts on wheels, fixing aircraft, sharing the road with us, and building the road. We need to understand who they are and what drives them. Because they are our future: customer, peer, boss.