Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric talk about customers trying to dictate repairs, when personnel get fired and then rehired, Eric's trip to Phoenix, fixing other dealer's mistakes, standing behind your work, the Covid update, a much-needed tool room organizing, the importance of good documentation, a shop emergency, why it's important to know the product you sell, the frustration of having a lack of work or too much work, and Cheryl's little red Corvette. Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google ...
Aug 12, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 50
In this special episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, Eric, Kevin, and special guest Norm Glazier talk about the importance of not cutting holes in your own vehicle, proper write ups, being a contestant on "The Sammy Show", oil changes and maintenance, shop politics, how getting Covid sucks, side jobs, the Liability update 2.0, claiming actual time on repair orders, safety inspections, #garthwherearethebodies #ymh #yourmomshouse, we discuss Norm's affinity for creating art from scrap metal for @stovokor_met...
Aug 05, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Season 2Ep. 49
In this titillating episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric discuss flirtatious Ali, after oil change "problems", the Mazda fuel pump recall fiasco, being stretched thin, taking time off, Mike's gentleman's weekend in Vegas, the Liability update, tipping performers, Jake's diminished capacity, winning the shit lottery, and a little homage to My Cousin Vinny. Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twitter and Instagram @Customer_S...
Jul 29, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 48
In this strong beverage fueled episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric speak about playing manager, Jake's car troubles, handling heaters, taking responsibility, labor operations, constructive criticism and how and when to give it (or take it), lack of communication, Flat Rate Tech Podcast, trash removal struggles, an extreme number of tangents driven by alcohol, and Mike's horrible joke. Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Tw...
Jul 22, 2022•1 hr 22 min•Season 2Ep. 47
In this episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric explore diverse topics such as Hannukah Harry, stupid customers, dead batteries, the late great Sir Sean Connery, trimming "rotars", making ends meet, removing yourself from the dealership, more tongue twisters, cartoons, lunch break rituals, appropriate compensation, and of course, many tangents! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twitter and Instagram @Customer_States, Email u...
Jul 15, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 46
In this emotionally charged-up episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric talk about shoes, Ali's raise, a slight bit of uncool, Miata owners, loaners and rental agencies, janitorial staffing issues, people who think they know everything, the importance of planning for the future, overextended budgets, and of course, many tangents! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twitter and Instagram @Customer_States, Email us at CustomerSta...
Jul 08, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 2Ep. 45
In this explosive and festive episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric discuss cleanliness, taking a break, respecting each other, Mike's dog Koa and a broken A/C unit, emergency vehicles, Eric's rechecks, getting locked in, Jake's car troubles, work ethics, bracelet explosions, other explosions, 4th of July explosions, and strange bathroom habits. Happy 4th of July everyone and stay safe! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Tw...
Jul 01, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 44
Jake, Mike, Ali, and special guest Rich Gold have exciting conversations about the proper way to eat Pop-Tarts, being "in the biz", lost time, dinosaurs, inflation, knowing your role, how "mechanically inclined" Jake is, rolling the dice, efficiency (redux), warranty times, and plenty of opinions on all of the above. Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twitter and Instagram @Customer_States, Email us at CustomerStatesPodc...
Jun 24, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 43
Listen in as Jake, Mike, Ali, and special guest Eric Jennings talk about how cyclical the automotive industry is, used car gravy, "local clutch shops", losing your cool, knowing your worth, efficiency, how to get along with other employees, mechanics egos, many fun filled tangents, and a very special Listener Mail. Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twitter and Instagram @Customer_States, Email us at CustomerStatesPodcas...
Jun 17, 2022•1 hr 20 min•Season 2Ep. 42
After a brief hiatus, the gang is back! Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric bring you exciting subjects such as Mike's big secret, Womens wrestling, "technically experienced" customers, Ali's phone call to Eric, awkward conversations in traffic, people you want to strangle, Mazda A/C issues, door rates, Human Resources experiences, how NOT to make more work for yourself, TSBs that don't fix anything, telling customers to F*** off, Mike's new position, new writer woes, learning to take a chill pill, and lo...
Jun 10, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 41
In this tequila fueled episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric have hilarious conversations about electric turbos, wearing many hats, stolen cats, chasing the dollar, educating techs instead of educating the customer, wheeled chairs, sausage fingers, Jake gets a raise, how your day is dictated by your attitude, almost too many tangents, and a very interesting Listener Mail! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twitter and Insta...
May 27, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 40
Jake, Mike, Ali, Eric, and special guest Will Tomczak have a grand old time as they dip into sensitive topics such as come-backs, rechecks, recheck time periods, "locally obtained parts", rich slobs, stopping certain things in the service drive, how important it is to clean your car before you bring it in for service, the non-existent "48 hour cool down period", purposeful obsolescence, an exploding tire, why you shouldn't trust the forums, Jetta owners, and how not every job can be quoted over ...
May 20, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 39
CustomerStatesPodcast.com for merch! Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric bring you an interesting episode fueled by disgusting alcohol which induced divulgence into topics such as hanging up your stapler, asking for a raise, new vehicle inventory, Jake's bone to pick with Mazda Warranty, the "Rule of Two", flapping inside your ear, "The Great Flood", a unique Listener Mail, and of course, many tangents! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming pla...
May 13, 2022•1 hr 18 min•Season 2Ep. 38
Even with multiple interruptions, Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric bring you another exciting episode full of topics such as supercharged engine oil misconceptions, how Eric missed the fact that New Orleans IS actually in Louisiana, "catastrophic" Drive Mode Unavailable messages, Eric goes to school to get certified, tongue twisters, keeping secrets, Dick Drops and "Donald Ducking it" with sunburnt raisins, one key/two vehicles, ridiculous programming times, USB cords are indeed not chew toys, service ...
May 06, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 37
In this tumultuous episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric argue over the proper time to say things, the numerous and insane Prior Approval hoops to jump through from the manufacturer, a satchel full of Richards, we impersonate each other, the super important reasons to follow ALL dealership rules and procedures ERIC!, delicious chicken and few company BBQs, lot damage, IT issues resolved (mostly), The Princess Bride, the great Shop Foreman Juggling Act of 2022, basic part number quizzes and the obvi...
Apr 29, 2022•1 hr 23 min•Season 2Ep. 36
Hold your collective pinkie's out for the wine fueled episode as Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric talk about pay plans and pay structures, laundry list customers, safety issues and how manufacturers should deal with them, learning on the job versus learning at a trade school, parts ordering fiascos, know-how versus know-why, causing ripples at a corporate level, why your terrible story will result in a back-flag, warranty Electric Vehicle repairs and the importance of being certified to work on them, a...
Apr 22, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric bring you topics such as everyone's disdain for Mondays, oil cap alignments, CASH 4 CLUNKERS, security updates from the parent company that disrupt normal operations, red sheet rechecks, a broken Miata, and an exploded Explorer. Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twitter and Instagram @Customer_States, Email us at CustomerStatesPodcast@gmail.com to send us a voice memo, Listener Mail, topic idea...
Apr 16, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Sit back and relax as Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric walk you through the whimsical world of geographic locational awareness, the VW diesel scam, Over-The-Air Updates and the havoc they can wreak, lots of warranty and warranty admin talk, would techs make good parts people or warranty admins, does the volume of warranty repairs you dealer does depict the quality of the product, dealers not performing recalls, and of course, many tangents! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRa...
Apr 08, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Jake, Mike, Ali, Eric, and special guest Dale Follett take you on a special journey through the forest of dealership life with stories of parts cannon-ers, glass coffins, customers who don't know how to use their vehicles, the "80% or less club", Frank Sinatra, TRAINING! Eric, Amish talk, Green House Gas Warranties, 131 slides of doom, everyone makes mistakes, a bunch of edits, big dealer vs small dealer slightly expanded, ruined birthday celebrations, and sooooooo many tangents! Check us out on...
Apr 02, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Happy one-year anniversary to us! And thank you to all of you, our listeners! Sit down with Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric while they rejoice in fond memories of the previous year of podcasting, tell dad jokes, talk about plexiglass dividers, Jake's first Thermal Event, dealing with customers, how does the service writer to tech relationship work, Listener Poll results, ocular problems, how the customer's ignorance should not be covered under warranty, instant denial of the spontaneous combustion the...
Mar 25, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 31
While Kevin and Isa play a loud game of Monopoly in the background, listen in to our special St. Patrick's Day episode, where Jake, Mike, Ali, Eric, and special guest Brady Weidebusch discuss topics like sloppy seconds, big dealer versus small dealer, JAKE CAN'T DRIVE STICK, the Satan's Blood Challenge expanded version, Sling Blade, shop morale and a failed Pizza Party attempt, pay scheduling, "working under the Shade Tree", blocking nine bays, "multiple dings in your brain", being a "profession...
Mar 18, 2022•1 hr 16 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric bring you topics such as "Well, I read on the forums that...", black boxes and party packs, horrible jokes, three loose chickens, the Flat Tow Story update, Mike's cover was blown, topping off, annoyances, intentional misuse of the vehicle, breathalyzer interlock devices, and of course, many tangents! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twitter and Instagram @Customer_States, Email us at Customer...
Mar 12, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Jake, Mike, Ali, Eric, and special guest Dustin Gelbard (an independent exotic car repair shop owner), crack themselves up with talk about difficult customers, how to pay your techs, customers who cannot accurately describe their vehicles problem, a trainee's finger, CSI scores (Customer Satisfaction Index), why Yelp is so horrible, feeling out customers, we get to know Dustin, let the listeners ask him questions, read the finalists for the Dealer Drama stories and announce a winner! Check us ou...
Mar 05, 2022•1 hr 32 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric discuss Eric's mom, PDI rechecks, comebacks, full send Raptor noises, tall people in small cars, saying "Hoyaaaaaah!" to customers, the Equinox update, Mike gets worked up, See What I See systems, the whole "I know the owner" gimmick, tech handwriting, warranty stories, and workplace shenanigans. Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twitter and Instagram @Customer_States, Email us at CustomerState...
Feb 26, 2022•1 hr 12 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Listen along as Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric bring you interesting topics such as Jake's bet with Ali, Jake's doorhandle story, Jake gets called out by a listener, stories about drugs and druggies, lots of acronyms, Ikea furniture, thicker than a snicker, kicking out "customers", how sometimes the problem has nothing to do with the vehicle, many tangents, and of course, Listener Mail! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twit...
Feb 19, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Buckle Up. In this episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, Eric, and sometimes Kevin talk about interesting and strictly car related subjects such as Eric's trip to Vegas, Mike's side job with Kevin doing lighting, Doug TV show references, and a porter named R2D2. Topics also include Flexing on Flex's, Raptoring a Raptor, another edition of "That's Not Warranty!", pay to play diesel, how Dale Follett of Twisted Builds LLC continues to shock and amaze us, and of course, many tangents. Check us out on Spotify, ...
Feb 12, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 25
For the 50th episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, and special guest Nastasia Dodd bring you exciting new things such as Dealership Drama, Pharma Ford, teaching a man to fish, end of day rushes, odd noises, another flat tow victim, playing pranks on Mr. Ugga Dugga, corporate vs franchise, consumer power vs dealer power, Eric phones home, rental car talk, many tangents, and of course, Listener Mails! The song "Hungry Like The Wolf" courtesy of The New Waves! Check them out on Facebook and Spotify! Check us o...
Feb 05, 2022•1 hr 14 min•Season 2Ep. 50
Jake, Mike, Ali, Eric, and special guest Kevin Waters bring you topics such as staying late to meet a promise time, training, recalls, flat towing your vehicle improperly, how not to do an oil change, a special surprise for a special someone, maybe too many tangents, and of course Listener Mail! The song "The Metro" courtesy of The New Waves! Check them out on Facebook and Spotify! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, YouTube and many other streaming platforms! Twit...
Jan 29, 2022•1 hr 19 min•Season 2Ep. 23
In this intoxicating episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, Eric, and the host of Flat Rate Tech Podcast consume adult beverages, talk about employee dedication in inclement weather, interesting interior design motifs for cars, gun talk, tech to warranty admin relations and tech to service advisor relations, overweight service managers, tons of horrible customer and car stories, and of course, Listener Mail! The song "Turning Japanese" courtesy of The New Waves. Check them out on Spotify and Facebook! Check ...
Jan 22, 2022•1 hr 21 min•Season 2Ep. 22
In this revved up episode, Jake, Mike, Ali, and Eric discuss cowboy hats, wardrobe malfunctions, customer surveys, attempted thefts, more back ordered parts, the seat cover story update, Kevin's "special" drink mix, good ideas on how to retain and reward techs, fire mapping, "The Great Muffler Debate", and of course, many tangents! The song "I Ran (So Far Away)" courtesy of The New Waves! Check them out on Facebook and Spotify! Check us out on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Cast, IHeartRadio, Y...
Jan 15, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 2Ep. 21
