How to Identify and Prevent Costly Warranty Fraud
A dealership’s profit margin often disappears through small, hidden gaps that are difficult to track. Dealing with warranty fraud presents a serious challenge, costing your business money and damaging your reputation with manufacturers. Issues like ghost repairs and parts substitution might seem minor at first, but they can quickly grow into massive financial leaks. These […]
How to Sell Cars Out of the Service Drive: The Fixed Ops Guide | SDR # 371
Dealerships across the country are facing tough conditions on the sales floor. Traditional showroom traffic fluctuates, margins on new inventory continue to shift, and customer acquisition costs remain high. Yet, one of the most profitable sales opportunities in the entire dealership arrives at your location every single morning: the service drive. Converting service customers into […]
How Service Managers Can Solve Technician Shortages Fast
Dealership service bays across the country are sitting empty while repair orders pile up on service counters. The lack of qualified mechanics directly limits labor capacity, lengthens turn times, and drives down effective labor rates. Learning how service managers can solve technician shortages requires a combined approach focused on modern recruitment, modernized pay structures, improved […]
Declined Service Follow Up Scripts for Advisors 2026
How much potential revenue slips away when a customer tells your service advisor, “I’ll wait” on a recommended repair? Well, guess what. Most customers decline services not because they don’t see the value, but due to immediate budget or timing constraints. Such a common occurrence means a substantial portion of your service department’s income often […]
How to Find Your Optimal Price & Profit Sweet Spot
Quick Answer Find your optimal price and profit sweet spot by understanding your dealership’s direct, indirect, and break-even costs. Next, you must evaluate market demand, competitor pricing, and customer perceived value to position your offerings effectively. Implement proven pricing strategies, enhance value through ethical tactics, and continuously audit your approach to guarantee sustainable profitability and […]
How to Make Your Dealership Service Department EV-Ready
The EV wave is our present reality. It’s already here. So if your dealership’s service department still operates with a 2010 mindset, you’re missing out. Electric vehicles fundamentally reshape fixed operations, moving us away from high-volume, routine maintenance. This shift means fewer traditional service opportunities and a direct challenge to your established profitability model. Now […]
Why Prioritize Customer Retention Over New Leads
Every dealership strives for growth, often pouring significant resources into attracting new customers. Think about all the marketing campaigns, advertising budgets, and sales efforts dedicated to bringing unfamiliar faces onto your lot. Have you realized that? Yes, such pursuit of fresh leads is vital. But more often than not, it comes at a steep price, […]
SDR Live Academy: Complete Fixed Ops Training Guide
Walk onto almost any dealership service drive during the morning rush, and you’ll see the same story playing out. Repair orders pile up, advisors scramble to keep up with phone calls, and technicians sit in the shop waiting on missing parts or vague diagnostic notes. These small daily breakdowns quietly destroy your effective labor rate […]
What Does a Fixed Ops Director Actually Do?
Dealership profitability often hinges on a consistent, well-oiled fixed operations department. Yet, without clear leadership, service, parts, and body shop teams can operate disconnected, creating inefficiencies, missed revenue opportunities, and frustrated customers. Such a fragmented approach is a recipe for disaster, silently eroding your dealership’s financial stability and customer trust. That is why it’s important […]
How to Reduce Parts Obsolescence in Your Car Dealership
Service Drive Revolution — Episode #370Official Full Transcript Host: Chris CollinsGuests: Adam Krey and Chris HoglandPublished: August 3, 2026Duration: 45:18 Listen on Apple | Listen on Spotify In Service Drive Revolution Episode #370, Chris Collins, Adam Krey, and Hogi answer a question from a Parts Director about the differences between automotive and heavy-duty truck Parts […]
How to Ace Your Next Manufacturer Warranty Audit
A manufacturer warranty audit can often feel like a targeted attempt to claw back your hard-earned revenue. These reviews occur randomly, regardless of how well your service department performs. Pulling hundreds of VIN records manually consumes valuable labor hours and risks misplacing vital paperwork along the way. And when you fail to provide a single […]
How Can a Service Manager Fix Shop Underperformance
Empty bays and falling labor hours often signal more than just a slow week. Many dealerships face persistent underperformance that drags down morale and erodes the bottom line. Without a clear process, problems go unaddressed until they reach a breaking point, leaving everyone feeling frustrated. That lack of structure puts a heavy burden on the […]
