“Shop Talk” is where the rubber meets the road for our newsletter. It’s news about events actually happening in our own shop, mixed in with a little auto info here and there. It’s where we announce any discounts we may be running, any contests we may be having, or tell you any stories about unusual happenings. We added a couple new features this year and we have plans for more new ones next year, so please stop by from time to time for a virtual chat with our guys. Here’s what you missed in 2013…
January, just like this year, was our look back at last year. In 2012 we told you about “The Scan Scam”, explained why we changed our tire rotation policy (it’s for your safety), explained yet again why we don’t pave the lot or wash your car, and came clean on all our BAD reviews. Quite a year in the rearview mirror!
In February we explained how to look into the future, and how to know what evil mechanical jack-in-the-boxes are waiting to pop out from under your hood.
In March we reminded you to keep an eye on your oil level between oil changes. Cars leak oil, and the older they get the worse the leaks get. Checking once or twice between changes keeps the leaks from adding up to an empty crankcase.
April marked the beginning of another Free Carwash Season, and for April Fools Day we told you about Kale Auto, your source for “rare, unusual, and hard-to-find auto parts”. You just have to check it out to understand.
In May we ran a special Pre-Summer Discount to encourage you to get your vehicle in shape BEFORE the demanding Summer driving season.
In June not much was going on, so we told you about the sad fate of a rodent we found trapped behind a client’s bumper. Strangely, this was one of the most popular Shop Talks we’d ever had!
In July we passed on tips for worry-free Summer road trips. On the heels of our successful June rodent story we also told you a story about a kitten who got trapped INSIDE a car’s engine for a 1000-mile trip. (BTW, the kitten came out much better than the rodent). We also began featuring a list of the month’s automotive recalls from the NHTSA.
In August we said goodbye to one of our Master Techs, Mike Launder, who left us to join Tesla Motors working on the next generation of electric vehicles.
September saw the debut of a new Moneysaving Program, Automotive Amnesty. Clients could save 15% on labor charges for repair recommendations that had been building up in their maintenance files. We also ended Free Carwash Season for 2013 and told you that beginning in 2014 consumers would be able to search a new database for vehicle repairs and recalls.
October was pretty quiet as Automotive Amnesty continued, we told you how important Referrals are to us, and we gave you another Auto Recall list.
In November we laid out our holiday schedule and told you why cleaning leaves off your windshield cowling does more than keep your vehicle looking sharp.
We closed out the year in December by answering a client’s question about our position on Washington 522 and telling you the fate of the Tom Dwyer Dart Team, “The Mechanics”. Trust us, it wasn’t pretty.
Now you’re up to speed for 2013. We hope to see you in Shop Talk often in 2014, when we plan to add a few more fun features we think you’ll enjoy. Before we move on to this month’s Recalls, we’d like to say again how critical your reviews and referrals are to us. Your comments keep us on the right track to providing the service you deserve, and your referrals give us the constant stream of new clients we need to thrive. And, more than anything else, we’d like to say
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Latest Automotive Recalls
Automobiles are just like any other product; occasional flaws in manufacture or design can cause problems once they leave the factory. When an issue is identified the manufacturers and government work hard to bring the vehicles back in for refit or repair, but not all recalls make the front pages. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration maintains a constantly updated list of recalls from every manufacturer. Clicking the button at right will take you to the full list at the NHTSA website.
