Part-Time is best (for me)

[boyd]

I"m starting this thread hopefully to lure beginers into doing this part time before going full time. I've been reading some of the previous threads and I'm truly scared for for people who "dive into this business". I've been doing this for 12 years as a part timer and God has truly blessed my family with it.
In the past 24 hours I've made a little over $300 and this happens quite often. My plan works like this: I lettered my vehicle, put an add in the yellow pages ($75 per month), and sub contract through 2 glass shops.
I get the same tax advantages as a full timer (mileage, cell phone, home office etc...) and don't have the stress of:
rainy weeks, snowy weeks, plain ole slow weeks, price undercutters, or new fleet or used car mgrs. The business almost comes to me. I don't like the idea of having to be a salesman. I am a repairman. I don't want to walk parking lots to "drum up" business. No offense Coitster. I think you could probably sell ice to an eskimo, it's just not me.
I'm sure you could make this into a full time business but again ... it's the best part time business in the world. I get calls during the day and tell the people I can to it at about 4 at their home. They love the time and it works great for me. There are many days I make more going home from "work" than
I do in the previous 8 hours.
I don't want naive people see all the $ signs and low start up investment then get discouraged later. Even if you work at Wal-Mart, have a full time job and start part time first. Or even better yet, if you love your full time job
(like me) and don't want to quit this is a great way to make lots of extra money and to make w/s repair a blessing and not a curse. There are many more advantages to part timing. When you are stressed for business this leads to trying to repair things you normally wouldn't, under-pricing etc...
Last advice. Buy good equip. Learn from someone who has been doing this for years, partner up with a replacement shop and advertise.
Good luck I look forward to the " regular's" remarks.

Boyd (Tenn.)

[Coitster]

Good post Boyd,
I would like to say that I can't sell ice to eskimo's. I wish I could, my sales pitch is extreamly simple, My pitch is no more then 30 seconds. I agree this business isn't cut out for everyone. It takes a special kind of person to decide to go out and do something on ones own. I like to call them Entrepenues .

I digreess though, personaly it wasn't to hard of a choice for me to go full time, I absolutely hate working for someone else and working on their dreams instead of mine. Of course when I worked for other people they always told me I was slightly opinonated. LOL, yea me opininated what where they thinking. Miserable maggots.

For some people you are absolutly right, they should do this as a side line business, some should do full time. It really depends on the individule and how they think. As for my method of selling, that is just one of my ways I get business. I talk about that and teach that on the forum because it does a few things. First off it teachs people how to get out and sell. Once they have that technique down it builds on the rest of their business and they won't loose that. Most people get in this business and think people will just knock down their doors to get them to do work for them. That just isn't true. They have to know how to sell the work and most importantly sell themselves.

The other reason I like to teach this paticulare technique is because it doesn't cost someone a ton of money to go out and do it. I know their are lots of marketing systems out there and yes I am developing one too however they make people believe that if they will go out and spend a bunch of money they will get tons of business. This is also false in my opinion. Many people getting into this business don't have much money. So thats the reason I talk about this way of getting business a lot. Again I just want to thank you for pointing this out to people about some of them not jumping in full time, Some people just shouldn't do it.
David
Coitster

[Layne]

I enjoyed the posts of both Boyd and Coister and I agree with them.

I entered this business part time almost 7 years ago. I have watched it slowly build over the years ...and since I am retired and do not depend on it to provide me with a lucrative life style, it has given me a reason to avoid the "rocking chair".

But here of late, with all of these networks challenging our independence with their slow pay methodology, I have found it highly desirable to sign up with them. Then too, the age of computers promises to simplify the dispatching and processing system, coupled with electronig fund transferring and EDI, it appears necessary to join the mainstream if we are going to remain in this growing system. The costs to get aboard is a "write-off" and will result in a less tax burden for some of us. Eventually, if this effort proves successful, I will probably have to upgrade my equipment, purchase a newer vehicle and consider additional man power (with the resulting increase in overhead) to meet the demand---or just downsize to decrease the burden.

I still enjoy meeting the people and providing a much needed service to the public.

[Ridge Runner]

Boyd & David, Great posts! My approach to WSR is very similar to Boyd's. I like my day job a lot,but mostly the people I work with. I recently started working part time (32 hrs. per week). This has given me an extra 2 1/2 hrs.daily for WSR in the afternoon. David, I am still awaiting the publication of your marketing program with great anticipation.....Thanks for all your great input, Jim

[screenman]

I am sure I am going to upset someone today but over here part time usualy means lower prices due to the fact that you still get paid when you are on holiday off sick rained off or any of the others you mention.

If you work part time and keep the prices up I have no problem at all.

The price thing I tend to bring up a lot when I first started I think they were charging about $45.00 in the US for a chip how much do you all charge now most a lot less I think, this is because someone was either week at sales or could afford to work cheaper over here this was mainly part timers and people whose work was not good enough to compete with real repair techs.

Again I am sorry if I upset anyone but this is my experience as I find it.

Happy Christmas everyone (even those that do not always agree with me)

[Layne]

You have made some interesting points screenman. I haven't seen price undercutting in my area and hope that it does not become a problem. I surmise that it would come fron non-affiliated independents out to establish a market and then raising the price (a la Wal-Mart in some areas).

Even before I joined the networks, I was always contacted by Lynx, Safelite,etc and agreed to what their prices were. I joined the networks to speed up the process with the computer programs available and was influenced by the members of this forum.

Keep posting your opinions, I enjoy hearing from those across the pond and experiencies shared by our counter parts in other areas.

[Ridge Runner]

Screenman: Be assured I,for one,am not upset by your "opinion",however,you are obviously feeling threatened. Did you notice that the 2 "part timers" were 12 & 7 yr veteran "real repair techs"? I myself have 9 1/2 yrs experience,was trained by an independent with 12+ years experience & in March of 2004 received my Delta Kits factory training & certificate. I am a member of the NWRA & in the Spring of 2005 will be testing for NGA Repair Tech certification. I have invested considerable time & money in this "part time" venture because it is something I really care about. I do not think what someone charges has any direct influence on repair quality. I charge the same price for retail work as the two long time repairers with whom I am acquainted (18 & 15 yrs). By the way these "real repair techs" choose not to belong to the NWRA or to seek certification. Some metropolitan areas will support $70.00 for the first repair; my locale will not. As previously stated, I am now part time in my day job. This decision resulted in the loss of the company benefits which you assume we "part timers" have. In my country,many people work full time jobs & still aren't afforded any of the benefits which you describe; our health insurance is not provided by the Government. All these steps I am taking are leading up to my taking that big step & going full time in the not too distant future. Actually I am full time 3 days a week & from what I've read on this forum, some very successful "real repair techs" don't work much more than that anyway. I want to thank you & all the other experienced contributors to this forum for sharing you knowledge,as well as insight. I have learned a great deal from reading your posts. Once again I,for one,am not upset by your post. It has given me the opportunity to express my take on the "part timers & real repair techs" issue.

[Scott Tyner]

I have seen many people come and go regarding windshield repair. Many of the people who offer these low rates normally are "OUT-OF-BUSINESS" sooner rather than later. I think mainly because of the quality of their work. How much time are they going to spend on a repair when they're only charging $7.50 (one guy was charging this)? Needless to say he went out of business quickly.

The thing to remember, is there is plenty of work out there for everyone and there are a great deal of "part timers" who are very serious about their business. Some of who are relying on this extra income to supplement their paychecks and without it would be doing without "everyday necessities."

I personally think that spending time worrying about what the competition charges is a waste of time that could be used thinking of ways that you could improve your own business.

But, not everyone faces the same difficulties or is in the same situation, which "screenman's" situation might fall into this category.

If someone who operates from a fixed location and someone sets up across the street and purposely and drastically undercuts you, could potentially be devasting to that persons business.

Anyway, I'd like to wish each and every one of you a "safe and happy holiday."

Scott

[boyd]

Screenman, I'm not at all upset at your reply. I charge $40 and $10 for each additional one. I feel it is fair. If I did this full time I would charge the same amount. In most businesses there are people who do things part time and charge less than the "full timers". Some people have garages behind thier home and work at night on cars, some mow grass in the summer, some do part time bookeeping or taxes. This is the free enterprise market. How boring would it be without it ? Very. I do however; have a problem with people undercutting prices because they are not getting insurances, business liscenses and paying taxes on the $ they make. That is cheating!
I have learned that most people who get thier business based on prices seem to leave the business early.
That's one reason I started this thread. I have a friend who also does repair work in my town one day a week. He visits several cities and hits all of them one day per week.(that's his style) and it works for him, very well.
A conversation we have quite often is him telling me "Hey Bill I was told by such and such used car mgr. that there was a new guy in town doing repairs for $20 (or better yet for free) just to get in the door. And I always say, "give him 3 months and he'll be gone. And it happens. Every time !!!
For the last 12 years any way.
Another reason for this thread is... I always see the people asking " what add-ons can I do? Leather repair, wiper blades etc ... This is usually after they are not being successful at the repair business. I'm sure there are many add-ons that would work very well. However, I for one, am afraid of the "jack of all trades and the master of none". Stay away from the dentist who will also cut your hair. Not always, but it is my way of doing my personal business. I like people who specialize.

Take care.
BOYD

[glassdoctor]

Screenman's post was not directed at anyone in particular.

There's a lot of truth it what was said, although I can't place the blame for low pricing on "part time guys". But some part-timers may be in a better position to get cheap with pricing.

Also, I don't think Screenman is paranoid or wrong in looking at what the competition is doing. It's absolutely a fact that a market can be affected by cut-throat lowball prices. (fleet and wholesale work)

I have had potential fleet customers tell me "so-and-so does our cars for $15"... that's on the poor side of town, btw.

If other wsr guys in my area all went to that price, why would I be able to continue charging $30 or $40 for the same work?

Ask your mom-and-pop stores what effect WalMart has. $$$ talks.

Fortunately, the low-price wsr guys almost never last very long. But what happens when that $15 guy is actually good, and sticks around?

BTW, aomething else that has a big effect on our business is cheap replacement. Some truck fleets and car dealers have cut back on repairs and prices, or stopped repairs altogether in some cases, because they can get new glass for $100-150 a pop. One semi-truck fleet here just replaces glass on a regular basis as part of their maintenance. So they have no need for me. Sorry to ramble off topic...