In this episode of Drive By, a question comes in from Brian asking the best way to address long service delays at vehicle pickup. Chris and Christian explain why outlining challenges early and framing realistic timelines upfront is vital for an enjoyable customer experience down the road. Learn their tips for proactive communication, flexibility based on customer preferences, and exceeding expectations through the service process. Mastering advance notice and transparency allows advisors to grab...
Mar 08, 2024•7 min
Things going downhill with your Service Managers? Chris and Christian deliver blunt advice for fixing—or replacing—an underperforming Service Manager. Learn the inside scoop on why a staggering 50% get replaced each year and the key reasons managers fail to deliver profits. Discover straightforward steps to get struggling Managers back on track through proper training and accountability. But don't wait too long to make the tough call if needed—act now before customer satisfaction and your bottom...
Mar 04, 2024•32 min
Managing automotive shop workloads while still advancing technician and service advisor skills poses a common struggle. In this Drive By episode, Chris Collins takes on two insightful questions -one on balancing tech training and capacity as staff shrinks, another on cementing advisor relationships during sales and vehicle walks. His answers touch on adding headcount, taking a long-term view of development, and orchestrating shop flow through defined processes and clear communication. Discounted...
Mar 01, 2024•11 min
Wondering how to maximize mobile service revenue and profitability? Chris Collins draws on decades of dealership experience to break down the principles and strategies to make your Mobile Tech department a thriving profit center. Learn the vital keys around mindset, efficiency, commitment and creative pricing that separate the most successful mobile offerings. If you're leaving easy revenue on the table with your current mobile rollout, it's time to turn things around. 0:00 - 12:00 Should you on...
Feb 26, 2024•31 min
Service industry expert Chris Collins answers a question on the best approach for starting a new auto shop job. He provides insider tips on making a great first impression with empathy, listening, and being yourself. Chris explains why leading with positive energy and interest in others works better than misguided tough guy tactics. This video covers top first day advice for Service Techs, Service Writers, and any Dealership employees. Learn the right mindset to launch your automotive career. Di...
Feb 23, 2024•6 min
Chris Collins pulls no punches exposing common myths around leadership training. He explains why most programs focus merely on gaining compliance and wielding managerial power over inspiring genuine, dedicated followership. Chris provides a rare insider perspective on the deeper personal inventory required for influential leadership centered on serving others. He explains the selfless mindset shift essential for leadership that produces real, transformational results by motivating people through...
Feb 19, 2024•47 min
Express lube upsells losing you profits? See why not lifting vehicles for full inspections allows Dealerships to get stuck leaving money on the table. Learn the right systems to balance convenience while driving more brake, alignment and maintenance business. Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https://bit.ly/Ondemand-Special-offer Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coachi...
Feb 16, 2024•11 min
Do small but critical errors undermine your shop's bottom line? We outline the 9 biggest Service Advisor mistakes that secretly siphon away customer loyalty and revenue -as well as simple solutions to turn profits around fast. 0:00 - 6:00 Intro and Coffee Talk 6:00 - 15:00 News 15:00 - 29:36 9 Mistakes Service Advisors Make #revenue #mistakes #dealership Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https://bit.ly/Ondemand-Special-o...
Feb 12, 2024•29 min
A caller asked how to fill his Service bays now that his shop can diagnose and repair vehicles in a day when everyone else is weeks out. Chris Collins delivers smart marketing ideas to leverage this advantage and capture market share. Tune in for tactical ways this dealer can promote his unique same-day repair capability. Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https://bit.ly/Ondemand-Special-offer Schedule a 15-minute intro c...
Feb 09, 2024•6 min
As a Service Advisor, are you constantly getting objections and declined repair opportunities? It's likely not a product knowledge issue. Chris Collins shares foolproof tips for overcoming customer objections in Auto Service by building trust and clarity from the first interaction. Find out the key to capturing lost sales while earning lifelong, high-paying devotees to your Service Department. 0:00 - 3:00 Will Chris be at NADA? 3:00 - 10:00 News 10:00 - 17:00 Chris Collins Masterclass 17:00 - 30...
Feb 05, 2024•40 min
A caller asks Chris and Christian how to set up a pay plan for a power sports store. Customer service is a huge aspect of the business and it's good to always have bonuses for the advisor in situations of high CSI. Christian also discusses his desire to become a writer and Chris talks about his upcoming leadership book! Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https://bit.ly/Ondemand-Special-offer Schedule a 15-minute intro cal...
Feb 02, 2024•8 min
Is an obsession over pumping up repair order volumes truly the answer for struggling service departments? Or does chasing car count before locking down capacity and infrastructure dig dealerships into an even deeper grave? Chris Collins confronts the realities around repair order count growth done the wrong way -and shares how to implement an RO strategy that skyrockets revenue WITHOUT creating massive dysfunction. Learn why most shops are booked out weeks in advance already, and how to improve ...
Jan 29, 2024•19 min
A caller asks Chris and Christian for advice -should he leave his private auto group role to take over a bigger store at a public dealership chain? They break down key differences in career advancement, pay, corporate dysfunction, politics, job security, and more. Discover which ownership model best suits your skills and priorities before you jump to the "greener" grass. Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https://bit.ly/O...
Jan 26, 2024•7 min
The growing Technician shortage means retention should be every shop’s TOP priority. Yet too many cling to failing strategies that compromise culture and loyalty. Forget the tiny raises and cash bribes! In this episode, Chris Collins reveals 3 counterintuitive approaches to make your BEST Technicians want to stay for the long run. Learn how to keep your A-team engaged, invested, and feeling like family despite the coming crisis. Implement these unexpected Technician retention strategies now befo...
Jan 22, 2024•29 min
Taking over as Service Manager for the first time and inheriting a department already in disarray? Get proven guidance to establish yourself as a leader, set clear expectations, and start transforming toxic culture into accountable results. Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https://bit.ly/Ondemand-Special-offer Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bo...
Jan 19, 2024•10 min
Feel like your Service Department chronically undermines growth despite your best efforts? Learn to break the code on frustrating red flags to pinpoint leadership gaps that allow inefficiencies, bottlenecks, and profit loss to persist. This episode of Service Drive Revolution connects the dots so you can finally rewrite the story. 0:00 - 3:35 Intro and Bodybuilding 3:35 - 7:45 News 7:45 - 26:44 What Does Your Dept. Say About You Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ S...
Jan 15, 2024•27 min
Taking the reins in an under performing Service Department? Get proven guidance to research then reshape toxic culture into accountable results in your first pivotal 90 days. Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https://bit.ly/Ondemand-Special-offer Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bottom line. http://bit.ly/CCIschedule Got a question? Call us at 1-...
Jan 12, 2024•7 min
High unapplied labor killing your Service Department's bottom line? We dig into the top causes allowing profit to slip away from inefficient guarantees to Advisor overflagging and more. Learn actionable ways to optimize shop processes and uncover revenue hiding in plain sight, on this episode of Service Drive Revolution. 0:00 - 2:00 Intro 2:00 - 6:00 Holidays 6:00 - 31:00 5 Ways to Fix High Unapplied Labor in Any Shop Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Disc...
Jan 08, 2024•31 min
In this Drive By episode, caller Josh asks for advice on curbing the recent trend of loop techs quitting at his dealership's service department. Chris and Christian provide tips like creating a detailed career progression plan to showcase advancement pathways, staying connected with tech alumni to learn reasons for departure, and ensuring your management approach attracts talent. Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https:/...
Jan 05, 2024•6 min
Chris and Christian share their bold predictions for 2024 across areas like the economy, politics, technology, and more specifically related to the automotive space. Will used car values tank? What does impending EV adoption look like? Is consolidation coming? Tune in as they peer into their crystal ball to forecast industry megatrends, business model shifts, economic turbulence and even baseball championship outcomes. Whether they prove prophetic or delusional, their sharp analysis provides ple...
Jan 01, 2024•28 min
In this Drive By episode, caller Jose asks for advice on positioning himself to take over as Service Director role when the incumbent eventually departs. Chris and Christian outline tips like actively raising your hand, asking the current Director to mentor you on business operations, and building relationships with leadership to groom yourself as the heir apparent vs. an external hire
Dec 29, 2023•4 min
Being promoted internally or recruited away as an incoming Service Manager feels full of potential...until the harsh realities of leadership hit. Chris Collins outlines the 5 most common yet catastrophic mistakes even high performers tend to make early on in new department leader roles -from failing to reinvent stale elements to constantly fighting fires without a strategic blueprint. Tune in for critical self-evaluations all rising stars should steer clear of should they wish to ascend to elite...
Dec 25, 2023•32 min
In this Drive By episode, caller Richard asks about differentiating responsibilities between a working shop foreman who still needs to log billable hours versus a non-working foreman focused just on overseeing the shop. Chris outlines expectations around time management, mentoring technicians, maximizing efficiency and more based on the foreman's required technician duties. Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https://bit.l...
Dec 22, 2023•7 min
In this episode of Service Drive Revolution, Chris Collins reveals the key mindset and practical winter service sales strategies to drive increased revenue even when the weather outside gets frightful. Learn how thriving Service Managers view winter as a prime opportunity while struggling shops fall victim to the perceived sales slump. Implement proactive planning around marketing events, customer specials, and internal training incentives to make this your best winter season ever. The secret li...
Dec 18, 2023•33 min
Hear Chris Collins' advice to a Shop Manager asking how to address customer worries about labor rates being higher than competitors. Learn why NOT to focus pricing talks on hourly rates. Discover how to frame your Service Team's true value. Call 8333 ASK SDR to get your own question answered, and come away with great swag! Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Description Below ⬇⬇⬇ Special Discount on Our OnDemand Training - https://bit.ly/Ondemand-Special-offer Schedule a 15-minute intro ...
Dec 15, 2023•8 min
Chris and Christian uncover hard Service Department coaching truths in 2023 -who's really growing profits vs just revenue? Learn why accountability and efficiency training is fueling massive comebacks for many dealers while others waste money on partner promises. Discover which automotive headlines shaped strategies, including Tesla's takeover and the eroding "Little Three." Your service revival starts now with the coaching difference for ROI in 2024 and beyond. #servicemanagement #bestof2023 #t...
Dec 11, 2023•36 min
In this episode of Drive By, a listener calls in asking how to progress from his current role into a Service Manager position. Chris and Christian suggest asking his own upper management for mentorship opportunities to shadow and learn while still proving his leadership abilities internally first. Tune in for transparent advice on leveraging coaching programs to prepare for management and leaning into the people side once opportunities arise. Discounted Offers for Training and Books in Descripti...
Dec 08, 2023•6 min
In Episode 270 of Service Drive Revolution, Chris Collins and Christian reflect on the lessons they learned in 2023 with full vulnerability. They realize harboring too many passive assumptions and unchecked expectations of others led to repeated disappointment. Now with a more focused, intentional mindset centered on heightening personal accountability and goals for 2024, Chris and Christian model the kind of candid self-review required to drive success in a new year. Tune in to assess your own ...
Dec 04, 2023•34 min
In this episode of Drive By, Chris Collins answers a caller’s question about how to excel as a Service Advisor just starting out. He shares the #1 key focus area for the first 90 days (constantly practicing and connecting with customers), along with emphasizing building relationships with Technicians. Chris explains how mentoring from Techs can help Advisors improve descriptions, presale inspections, and ultimately boost revenue through customer trust. He advises to not get discouraged by any ne...
Dec 01, 2023•9 min
In this episode, Chris and Christian dish out real talk on the ongoing rivalry between Parts and Service teams at many Dealerships. They share crazy stories they’ve witnessed behind the scenes and 3 key ideas to improve collaboration, communication, and understanding between these critical departments. It all comes down to empathy, inclusion, and mutually beneficial incentives when properly aligned. Chris even describes what to look for in Parts and Service Managers who “get it” and are willing ...
Nov 27, 2023•33 min
