It would definitely be a great idea. I see a few draw backs though.

I don't think a technician would want to stand there and tell you how to do things when they can do it themselves. Especially in the case of ignorant people and cocky people.

Regardless of the technician knowing short cuts, if a novice is performing a task there is definitely no way it will go by faster.

Those two things alone would be a big hold up.

But if you could provide a nice environment with friendly and helpful techs then it is a possibility. You would also have to stand behind your work and have some type of problem/issue policy. All in all it is a great idea best of luck with it.

 

my friend was in the marines and they had something like that at his base.....there was lifts and everything and a few ase techs that would help you out for free.....

 

im pretty sure this would be a hit if you had the customer base. If you catered to just evo owners you wouldnt make much. If you catered to all cars you would need to hire more experienced techs for each type of car. Also the liabilty issue is big becasue if sombody breaks there hand or car whos fault would it be.

 

im game

 

I think it's a great idea ! it just might work! but how many people are going to wan't to spend extra money to learn how to install if they can just get it installed professionally? I think you should offer the regular let a tech himself do it service and also the tech/novice service!

 

I like this idea. It's not just about paying less to fix your car, it's about learning to fix it yourself--learning to be a mechanic. The value of being trained to work on your car is hard to calculate. Learning to do certain things, like remove your tranny, teaches you a lot of the things you need to know to do other major jobs like remove your motor.

I'd gladly pay $50/hr for assistance, tools, lifts, and training. It's $50/hr the first time, and free the next time when I do it myself.

 

I think it has to be set up as a school on one side and a shop as the other.

School:

We teach you how to work on your car while you get hands on experiance. The time spent by the guy should be tuition for the class. I think that would be better for insurance liability. Also there should be a set price tuition per class (the average time it would take a newbee) this way the guy will know what to expect to pay in the end and won't get supprised by paying for 10 hours because he couldn't do it in the 5 hours normal. Extra tutorial help is available at $50/hr. If you can get some sort of credentials for the school you might be able to get federal funding.

Shop:

If a guy after trying for 10 hours with tech help still can't do it. Charge him to fix his screwup. Also sell parts. Put in food and a few tables. Try to make it a hangout for car enthusyists.

mjo

 

If there were a place like that near me, I would be there all the time.

 

Also it would be like a hang out after hours. With the food kickin, the lounge with full bar. I have seen places in Hawaii for motorcycles....Kickstand cafe is one of em. I just want to provide an alternate to going out and streetracing. Although it would turn into where you meet up and negociate the race...lol. I want somewhere to have all car guys together, good food, good fun. Something different!

 

They have these at most military bases, but not where I'm stationed. If there was one in the city I would definitely pay for it. I would recommend checking with a nearby base if possible to see how they operate if you are really thinking of setting something like this up.

 

Sounds great but the bar would be the problem. That's why I didn't suggest that. There is a huge liability there. Near me years ago was a bowling alley that served drinks. One guy got **** faced and drove home killing and cripplng a couple in another car. The bowling alley got sued and the other side won for more than there liablitly and umbrella policy together. If this is the way you go make sure the real estate is seperate from the business and make sure the business has no assets that can be attached.

mjo

 

Yep...This is where a lawyer would be hired. But I am sure there are holes to slip us through....No drinking and driving guys!

 

I just talk to friend who is a shop owner....He owns Extreme Boost here in Florida. We are really on to something.
After talking to some people, this morning my voicemail was loaded with people that couldnt sleep....blah,blah,blah. I got this bug started and now it's growing like wildfire!
Basically, I am putting my job as a loan officer off to the side for now, and going full force with this starting today. I was up late last night with a friend that is a Commercial realitor and we looked through a data base on industrial zoning. I found a butt load of prospects that would be perfect...reasonable too!
I do alot of side jobs for friends locally that need evo parts installed. Basically Frank has taken me in and said what ever you need. So now I am bringing all my tools and equipment to his shop. I made an appointment with a lawyer and CPA to find out what exactly we can do, or how it has to be done.....keep yall posted as it unfolds.

 

I think the idea is fantastic. I'd personally love to use a facility like this, but like all others who've brought up the downsides... I'd say the risk/reward factor just does not justify. The way I see it, no matter what waivers you have people sign, we still live in the US of A! Freedom to sue, regardless...... Regardless of your attorney or attorney team, there's always gonna be someone out there who's gonna sue for their own negligence and stoopidity.

No insurance carrier in my mind would keep paying claims if things were to happen either. I've been around enough people who *think* they know what they're doing when it comes to little repair works, until they do something stoopid and hurt themselves or their cars.

Lastly.... like others have brought up too... this business is essentially a service oriented business. You HAVE to deal with all sorts of people and cannot pick and choose your client base. With something like this, you can't turn away bozos if they are paying customers and demand 100% of the time and energy from your onsite technician. What if they wanted their hands held throughout the clutch job. The others in the shop will be neglected, if that were the case.

 

Make sure you get a good one in a larger partnership that has good insurance. My sister sold a small business and took back a loan. All the documents were signed and were worded properly but the attorney forgot to file the lein against the property and he sold it without paying her. Now you have to get an attorney to sue the first one because he let his insurance laps.

mjo