How does one approach a car dealer?

[benswindshieldrepair]

You're probably the coolest 16 year old I know of. Way to go man! I have read many of your previous posts and not chimed in. The only advice I can give you is to just be confident. You have a valuable product/skill so act like it. That also means having INDUSTRY pricing. Charge the same (or around and about) price that reputable competitors charge. Good luck to you young man and great job!!!

[groofop]

He doesn't look much different from what I looked like at 16. Arms folded saying I'm bad!(typical for someone that age) At 18 years of age started my first business and for 16 years did very well until business opportunities dried up. Give him a break! He's a young but extremely motivated individual. Wish he lived in my area so I could mentor him. I have two nephews unemployed that I've tried to work with but neither will commit because they're just to lazy. Groofob will do fine given time.

Haha! That's my natural pose I got to when someone points a camera at me.

Thanks for the encouragement, it really helps. I would love to have a mentor...I wonder where I could find one.

You're probably the coolest 16 year old I know of. Way to go man! I have read many of your previous posts and not chimed in. The only advice I can give you is to just be confident. You have a valuable product/skill so act like it. That also means having INDUSTRY pricing. Charge the same (or around and about) price that reputable competitors charge. Good luck to you young man and great job!!!

Thanks alot! It's reassuring to me to see this kind of stuff, I just went out to the dealers for the first time today. Walked the whole South Tacoma Way automall strip, a good 3 miles in 7 hours. Didn't get any money (most used car managers were gone due to 4th of July being so close) but I made some future business for sure.

Got sunburned too

[usmc68]

I like to play the Devil's Advocate, so here goes.
Get a business hair cut, Justin Beiber looks very gay. Learn the definitions to two words-prostitute and whore. A prostitute charges what the market will bear, and a whore just gives it away. Don't you dare offer $5 repairs-you will become a whore forever-never able to raise your prices, and you will help to ruin the business in your area.
Do 200-300 practice repairs before you ever charge a customer. You had what-6-8 hours of training- and you think you are well trained?Son, I am approaching 22 years and am still learning from this forum! You are already talking about how good you are-just unbelievable to me!
I do admire your drive for your future and wish you the best.
What will you do if you luck up and get a dealer, and he calls you on a spot delivery for a repair at 2 pm, oops, you are in English class, and Mom can't get to you for three hours-have you even thought about that scenerio? You just lost that dealer!
Do you think you might need to rework your business plan? Maybe insurance work, but wait, you have to be in business for a year to get on the program.
You might not like me, but I will be honest with you, no BS.
Good luck.
Bill

[screenman]

I did indeed use a motorbike for working from, quite a large one at that.

[DryStar]

groofob,

I personally will never try to sell to a dealership on a Monday or Friday. Last thing a used car manager wants is to see a salesperson on these days. He's already up to his a** with more important things then you or me. Best days for me were always Wednesdays or Thursdays when they had less going on. The last thing you want to do is agitate them! Have to be patient and work within or around their schedule.

[groofop]

I like to play the Devil's Advocate, so here goes.
Get a business hair cut, Justin Beiber looks very gay. Learn the definitions to two words-prostitute and whore. A prostitute charges what the market will bear, and a whore just gives it away. Don't you dare offer $5 repairs-you will become a whore forever-never able to raise your prices, and you will help to ruin the business in your area.
Do 200-300 practice repairs before you ever charge a customer. You had what-6-8 hours of training- and you think you are well trained?Son, I am approaching 22 years and am still learning from this forum! You are already talking about how good you are-just unbelievable to me!
I do admire your drive for your future and wish you the best.
What will you do if you luck up and get a dealer, and he calls you on a spot delivery for a repair at 2 pm, oops, you are in English class, and Mom can't get to you for three hours-have you even thought about that scenerio? You just lost that dealer!
Do you think you might need to rework your business plan? Maybe insurance work, but wait, you have to be in business for a year to get on the program.
You might not like me, but I will be honest with you, no BS.
Good luck.
Bill

Thanks for the advice :] Yes, I had 9 hours of training. That's all you need to learn the basics though imo, I've also done about 50 practice repairs on an RV windshield I got.

Why would anyone do 200-300 repairs? That's a waste of time and money, I just made $95 today no problem and only been doing this for 2 weeks. I understand that a person should practice, but if you can complete work, why not paid instead of "practicing"? No, I'm no where near a pro, or even intermediate...but it's not rocket science.

It just takes attention to detail and patience. Fact is, it's not hard to be "good" at windshield repair, unless everything that the veterans at DeltaKits told me is bs.

I actually just got my hair cut, and I couldn't agree more with you on the JB thing.

I've gotten 3 appointments for dealers by the way, I'm not trying to show how macho and "good" I am, I'm simply saying that it's not as hard as your making it out to be. I'll let you know if anything happens that supports your opinion though, I've only had a few real customers so maybe the truth in what your saying will reveal yourself eventually.

Thanks again!

Also, I'm done with school. I don't see what 2 more years of highschool will do for me, I'll just get my GED.

[Dave M]

groofop,
You had me believing in you until your last sentence! OMG, what are you thinking, quitting school and going after this business?
This may not be rocket science but it is a business which will have it's highs and lows. I pray that you will be ready for the lows.

[screenman]

Just lost it all with me as well. Not listening to experience, big mistake. How many wet repairs have you done?

[benswindshieldrepair]

I'm your biggest cheer leader bro. But in all seriousness, don't bag on school. This is a good business today but one never knows what will come tomorrow. Preparation for tomorrow is ALL about education. STAY in school. Eff the haircut, who cares. 200-300 repairs? Who cares. You got valuable training and you know what good work looks like. Do what you are doing. BUT keep your eye on the prize. Stay in school. Go to college. This might feed you while you are there. Look up Deco windshield repair in Canada. That guy uses DeltaKits stuff and he didn't do it by not getting a college education. He's a BIG deal. I just did a repair for the father of one of his guys today in Montana at a remote RV camp. Almost anyone can do business. But if you wanna do BUSINESS you gotta be educated. Godspeed young man.

[t4k]

I have to agree with the crowd here. Education is the most important thing in the world.