Unplanned automotive repairs create a financial emergency for most middle and lower class consumers that live paycheck to paycheck.  The slower general economic condition has led many consumers to repair their own cars. But for vehicle owners who do not possess the skills, they are left with no option but to go to auto repair shops.

The vast majority of auto repair facilities hire automotive repair technicians that are commission-based. Technicians are not motivated to perform the least expensive repair but rather the most expensive one – driving costs to the consumer up and customer satisfaction down.

Our technicians are salaried, not commissioned.  We teach and assist customers that are willing to “turn the wrench” so that they can experience significant auto repair savings – providing as much or as little assistance as the customer needs.

We provide our DIY Auto Repair Shops service today in an 8 bay former Meineke repair shop facility located in Westminster, Colorado.  We allow our customers to significantly reduce the costs of auto repair, helping them understand more about their vehicle through free classes, and empowering them to control vehicle maintenance costs.

We offer three service models:

• This includes the bay, vehicle lift, tools, pneumatic air tools, workbench, mats, and lights.  Shop supplies (including towels, hand cleaner, gloves) are included in the price.  This compares to an average 7% shop supply charge at a dealer or independent repair shop.
• Automotive fluids (e.g., oil, brake fluid, radiator fluid) are a separate charge and are marked up 35% on average over cost.  This compares to an average 50% markup at a dealer or independent repair shop.
• Automotive parts are a separate charge and are marked up 35% on average over cost.  This compares to an average 55% markup at a dealer or independent repair shop.
  
  
   

• This includes the bay, vehicle lift,tools, pneumatic air tools, workbench, mats, and lights.  Shop supplies (including towels, hand cleaner, gloves) areincluded in the price.
• This includes an average of 15 minutes per hour of mechanic assistance in diagnosing the vehicle, providing education and guidance on how to repair the item, and or assisting them in making the repair (as needed).
• Automotive fluids (e.g., oil, brake fluid, radiator fluid) are a separate charge and are marked up35% on average over cost.
• Automotive parts are a separate charge and are marked up 35% on average over cost.
  
  
   

• This includes our facility and labor cost.  It does not include costs for parts and fluids.
• Automotive fluids (e.g., oil, brake fluid, radiator fluid) are a separate charge and are markedup 35% on average over cost.
• Automotive parts are a separate charge and are marked up 35% on average over cost.
  
  

An important facet of our business model is that customers can blend their jobs to include all three pricing models for any one job – providing flexibility and cost savings.

David Duncan, President

Successful entrepreneur and marketing executive. Developed corporate market strategies for consumer products and services and ran marketing campaigns and programs for numerous consumer brands including Imation, TDK, Memorex, Whirlpool, Amana, Yamaha, Bissell, Princess Cruises, Brunswick and others.  Founder and President of a technology company, ENCRYPTX, that was acquired by Imation Corporation in 2011.

Craig Wallace, Vice President

An automotive industry veteran with over 25 years of experience in performing, managing, scheduling and ensuring the profitability of automotive repair operations. Mr. Wallace started his career in the automotive repair industry in 1985 as an apprentice level service technician.  Mr. Wallace has extensive experience in diagnosing and repairing all domestic and selected foreign vehicles.   Mr. Wallace worked his way up to managing other technicians and running service operations for independent automotive repair facilities – the last 8 years running service operations for Johns 4X4 in Boulder, Colorado.

Our Tiered Service Model appeals to a large audience with fixed rate
pricing structure.
 

Knowledge empowers our customers to rent our bays.

Some DIY auto repair facilities have a low hourly bay rate but charge a rental fee for every tool you use. They also charge for shop supplies.
 

People aren’t scared to work on their vehicle.  Our facility is appealing.  Each customer is provided their own bay so that they have their own personal space to work out of.  We even provide work coats so that our customers don’t get their clothes dirty.
 

The Automotive Industry has a black eye with consumers.  Lack of trust is a result of the industry commission and quota based model.   We have a small staff that is paid an annual salary.   Our employees are incented to help the customer save money on auto repair, not inflate their costs. We expect minimum employee turnover because of the salary based model plus benefits.  The stability of our model should allow us to attract some of the best in the industry, and as a result, more senior staff will be available.

One of our biggest differences is that we are an honest repair facility.  We have nothing to gain by selling anything to the consumer.  The consumer has the ability to bring their own parts and to do their own repairs.  We provide education, mechanical assistance, facility and tools.  We are the trusted advisor.
 

We are open when our customers have time to work on their cars – nights 
and weekends.

• Normal auto repair facility is open 5 days a week, 10 hour s a day
•  We are open 6 days a week, for 80 hours – more availability, and less people required.  50% of our available hours are weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) and Tuesday, Wednesday andThursday are weekdays.  Also, our hours of operation are geared towards evening hours for people that come home and want to work in the evening on their car.
• We take advantage of technology to optimize our scheduling with customers. e are using a SaaS Shop Automation software system and database that allows us to track the average amount of time it takes a customer to repair a car in any of the three service models.
   

• An Average 9-5 auto repair facility, 8 bay model would need 4 technicians, 2 support staff, 1 general manager, and 1 admin assistant (8 person average team for a 50 hour a week operation).  Our facility needs only 5 people for an 80 hour a week operation.
   

• Our average repair invoice to a customers is $120 compared to the industry average of an average repair cost of $350, saving our customers over 60% of the average repair cost.

DIY Auto Repair was only launched on September 22, 2012 with October 2012 being our first full month of operation and yet we have already surpassed the objectives we have set for the first year.

5 Star Ratings