Is The Fixed Sector of the Business Changing?

[pjpeery]

Here's my 2 cents worth

we used to have maintenance to do now we get the problem jobs that no one else can fix . we get these jobs after they have been everywhere else trying to avoid coming to the dealer . i only for see this just getting worse .. the aftermarket picks and chooses the work they want .. (read that and the easy stuff) and the dealer gets things that take a lot of time for diagnosis .. and i do charge for this ..

my predictions for GM .. someday much smaller dealer base .. selling Chevrolet and Cadillac .. maybe Saturn .. everything else gone

ford.. ford and Lincoln everything else gone ..

Chrysler .. gone or merged with nissan/Renault

happy new year

paul

[MHI]

Our industry has certainly changed, but some of the persons in charge at dealerships certainly haven't. I can't wait for the day that the new guard takes over. To some dealerships represented here I say "congratulations you are leading the way". There are others, that still live in the deep, dark, past and do the same stupid thing over and over and think they are going to get different results. Thanks Dealer Edge and DP for lighting the path. It is much appreciated.

Top 3 Changes 2008

1. Mcdonaldization of fixed op processes.
2. Web based technology changes counterman to parts puller.
3. ?

Have a super and profitable New Year!

[Jeepman55]

Fixedopsjunkie, I am indeed one of the few GM/DP's that get it. I do not refer to the backend while thinking A**end. I consider it just as I said a second sales department. I previously owned 2 different dealerships and they were run that way as well. I grew up in a store that had 100% absorption out of the PARTS DEPT. So I understand and appreciate the backend and what it brings to the table. In my current role as GM I find that the DP I am dealing with on a daily basis doesn't have the grounding in daily operations that us "oldtimers" who grew up in the biz have.