Joe,
I spoke with Repair Pal about their Top Shop Program. It is pretty expensive, I spoke with the one shop that is listed as a Top Shop in the area, the owner at that time did not feel that the number of referrals/tow ins was worth the monthly fee that they charge. The program has very limited visibility in my area.
Russ
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Any updates on Repair pal? I'm thinking of signing on as a paid shop. We are busy 99% of the time but I like new customers, it makes me feel more secure .
I did sign up for their "Top Shop" program about 4 months ago. I like the concept of what they are doing, but the return on investment just has not been there. I've had a total of 6 phone calls on the number that is in my listing. 2 of them were computer sales calls. The other calls were shoppers from outside my market area. I have had 0 tow ins. All of that for only $299 a month. I have cancelled my enrollment in the Top Shop program.
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I signed up today - $99 for the 1st month. We'll see how it goes, I'm going to try it until the college breaks for summer - about 3 months. I quit radio commercials, newspaper ads , and yellow pages which brought in basically nothing so I have some advertising budget to spend. Google Adwords has been working very well , although the free word of mouth referrals from happy customers really is what brings people in.
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I've been contacted by these guys. Their sales pitch on the phone bothered me. They said, "We will bring in new business at 2000.00 a month. More new customers and customers that won't want it done cheap. We pride on the fact that we only have top notch customers for top notch shops. Your increase in profit will be very worthwhile."
Anytime someone makes such a claim I want to see results not hype. I told him, "If you can guarantee that I'm interested. If not it sounds like a lot of smoke and mirrors."
He couldn't and I said no.
I'm always very curios of new ways of creating new business, but when you claim you can do something and can't back it up, it's like buying golf balls that have "Avoids Trees" written on them.
Your results may vary....but...in the real world and years of doing this... I've seen these so called great ideas fade away.
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I would like to expand on the question about RepairPal. Has anyone compared their prices to the RepairPal estimates? I'm trying to guage how accurate they are so I can compare them to our invoices.
Scott
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June 1 Update. 3 months $500 spent got me no tows no AARP and 3 legit phone calls. 1 customer came in and actually got work done, 2 wanted a deal on head gaskets which we don't normally do. I got a couple calls asking for free DIY help over the phone which I helped with cheerfully. One guy didn't call but came in and I helped him DIY which cost me about an hour, he was real nice so I was hoping for a tip or the job but no go. The 1 customer that called and came in and signed a repair order brought their own parts and was very concerned with price. Summary: I am going to cancel. Repairpal did call my last 60 customers and got unbiased reviews from them, it stoked my ego because they were almost all very good to outstanding ratings. They also checked me out and verified ASE status and things like that. The webpage is pretty nice, tracking is excellent. Props to the company for checking out who they promote. As far as effective advertising goes, at least in my area, not as many people as they would like you to believe goes on their website. I also feel it attracts undesirable customers. One guy already knew from the website that it should only cost $800 to do head gaskets on his Northstar Cadillac. The other girl wanted head gaskets on her 4.6 Ford and timing chain too while I'm in there. She had some of the parts in her hand. "How long is is going to take I need to pick up my kid at 1" Oh yea and don't change the oil she said my husband does that. Yea OK call the dealer have a great day.
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CARMandP
My information is listed on their site as a free option but I don't pay for anything that they offer. Just another place for people to find out about my business.
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