Well, I have finally got the Amsoil business volume up to the point that Im finally getting commission checks from them. I got my first one for last month's sales. Mind you its not a huge check, but its a check nonetheless and is on top of the retail profits. And I have had enough sales for this month to get another for this months sales as well.
So that is two months in a row that business volume has been enough to do that which Im pretty happy about since I have yet to do any real advertising, but that is coming up. The local cable company is running a special on text ads for July and Im gonna be all over that.
I despirately want to advertise the mobile lube service, but Im on a new schedule at work where I have the weekends off, so that gives me only two days to take care of any customers that would want that done. As well Im not completely ready to handle the customers that would like to use another product other than Amsoil.
So let me ask all of you. If you didnt change your oil yourself, would you wait until the weekend to have someone come change your oil rather than going to quick lube shop. I know the trend is now by a large majority of people to take their vehicles to a quick lube. Fewer and fewer people are changing their own oil. So would it be worth it to you, the convenience and all to wait until the weekend to have someone come do it for you, or would you just go else where and find someone that could do it when you though about it?
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Great to see you're doing so well. Strange though...I've been getting commision checks all along. Even if they are small.
I love the mobile oil change idea. Think it's worth my wait for someone to come and do it on the weekend. Only thing is, can you guaranty when it gets done so I can enjoy the rest of my weekend at the beach?
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Well Ive only really pushed Amsoil for the last three or so months. Its been kinda a side thing for me until MCI started looking like it was in real trouble and the layoff threat was looming. Ive sold here and there, but just recently started pushing it. Ive had the mobile lube idea since last year but again the job situation forced me to pursue that and make it viable. I thought it would take me a lot longer to cross the threshold of being able to get a check from Amsoil, but Im glad it did not.
When you speak of a guarantee Chelly can you be more specific. Do you mean guarantee that your oil isnt going to drain out and that your oil filter is on tight? I have a checklist I go by, around a 25 point checklist, belts, fluids, lights, tires and so forth. I do have the customer sign off on authorization of the work as well I have them sign a waiver if their oil level is low. Ive done three mobile lubes this month and generally it takes me about 35 - 45 minutes to do, but they have all been Amsoil purchases too with the mobile lube service so Ive been using the engine flush before pouring in the Amsoil. The exception being the Dodge Diesel I did last week, it took a bit longer cause that thing held three gallons of oil and the dipstick is about a mile long. However, his engine quieted down significantly, he dropped roughly 25 degrees in operating temp, and he has picked up about 4 mpg while towing on the highway. He's going to be buying a by-pass system next month which Im pretty happy about.
So, any more input out there?
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Waiting till the weekend could be good or bad. If the pl know you are going to come to there house to change the oil than they do not have to worry about stopping in the middle of the day. it would be good for ppl that have nothing to do on the weekends or those that have other vehicles drive on the weekends. On the down side is that they could forget about the appointment or need to rush out to get somthing and not be there when you show up. Also I know that here in NE lots of ppl go away for the summer weekends. It could be a good or bad thing.
Is doing the changes between saw 5pm and 8-9pm a possibillity???? that might work out better durring the week. Another option is if lunch is long enough do an oil change at there work, kinda like the glass ppl... Just some ideas...
Thats a good idea FX3. Definately changes during the week between 5pm and 9pm are possible. The only problem would be during the winter months when the sun goes down around 5 or so. I have work lights and such so its not a huge deal, just a hassle I guess.
I would love to be able to do the changes at work, but Im concerned about what the property owners would say and I also like having the customer there on site so they can confirm everything is in working order when Im done and then hand me a check They can see everything is cleaned up, the car is running and that all is normal.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
The work thing was an idea. I never really thought much into it. But if your good enough you can be done before property management come by . Some places you could get the keys and than have the owner come out when done to check everything and hand you the green.
I mentioned 5-9 figuring you got out at 4:30ish. It may also come down to sucking up the light to get the money. Sorry. And the snowy ground could get to be a PITA and you may just stop changes in the winter.
Actually Dan - What I was eluding to with the "guaranty" was more a time guaranty, like cable etc.
A scheduling time frame for when you'll arrive and when you'll be completed with each process. I know that is hard to judge right now as you are just getting into it. I also know that different cars require different times etc. Just thought it would be a nice way to guage how much work you could complete - thus giving a value to your time involved based on what proceedure you're doing.
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
At the last GTG here one of theguys owns an Audi and it takes about 20 minutes just to take off the splash shield (20 bolts or somthing crazy like that) to access the oil plug and filter. Might want to check with some local shops or dealers to see the factory time frame of changes.
Asked a guy at work here and he said he would NOT use a traveling oil service due to scheduling. He would just stop at a quick lube when he had the time.
Asked a guy at work here and he said he would NOT use a traveling oil service due to scheduling. He would just stop at a quick lube when he had the time.
This is just 1 person's opinion.
ya, well, I know a few of the ppl. you work with...moot point. lol!
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
Chelly, as far as the time guarantee, I want to do that, but it is going to be tough due to the fact that you make money the more you do in a day obviously, but there is travel time and the fact some cars may take longer than others. I havent quite figured out how to offer that kind of guarantee and not get burned on it. I know if I do any in Tulsa traffic is going to be a major issue in the lunch and after noon rush hours. My initial goal is to schedule five changes a day consistently. Which isnt going to pose any scheduling issue at all. Its when I get upwards of 10 a day that that will become a real issue, as far as I see it now.
FX3, I do get off from work now at 4pm, which is really good during the spring and summer months as that will leave me a good 4 - 5 hours of light. And I whole heartedly expect to be laying either in the rain or in the snow eventually and that really doesnt bother me that much. Ive kind of worked that into the plans really, that is getting clothing and what have ya that I can work in that will not make those situations so miserable. However, the real comfort in those situations will be that I will be making money, becoming independent, that is not having to rely so much on someone else employing me for income and what have ya. Though I really want to do this in conjunction with my normal job since I do well there, I like the work for the most part, and I could just stay on there for nothing more than the benefits.
As for my target customers. Im thinking, at this point, that most of my business will come from commercial vehicle owners, those that have just one or maybe two vehicles that they use for thier work or business such as the Dodge Diesel I did last week and the more upscale class that dont necessarily have exotic type cars, but not a Pinto either and are not wanting to get their hands dirty or want to have to find time to take their vehicles to quick lubes. Most around here close at 6pm or so, and are usually pretty busy and you can wait as much as an hour or more to just get your car in.
The people that dont stop to think about what it costs overall to use conventional oil vs. Amsoil arent going to really go for the the initial cost of Amsoil and the service fee. All they see is that you are paying this much up front vs. what you pay at a quick lube. Though, I do have price comparisons already done up based on local prices. And even if you did your oil yourself, using Amsoils 25,000 mile oil, I can save you 50% by using Amsoil vs. using conventional oil for the same mileage.
Since Mobil 1 doesnt guarantee their synthetic for extended drain intervals, and if you saw the test results of their product you'd know why, I can save those using Mobil 1's 0W-30 and such a TON of money. Since you cant get conventional oil in a 0W-30, it has to be a synthetic, it cost plenty if you change it every 3000 miles. Using Amsoil's 0W-30 I can save someone over $250.
So the people that consider longer term costs will probably form the majority of my customer base, which has held true alread for the 4 total mobile lube services I have done already. Everyone of them compared the cost of using conventional oil vs. Amsoil and saw the overall savings. And that doesnt take into account, fuel mileage increases, wear and tear reduction and so on, that just cost for cost comparison.
The Dodge Diesel I did last week is getting around 4 mpg more using Amsoils air filter and their synthetic diesel oil and oil filter. So that has helped lower his business operation costs. However much it is overall, its more profitability for him and now days most businesses are looking for anyway to save money.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
Congrats on the business Dan. I, personally, would be more interested in having someone change my oil while I was at work and not using my car anyway. There certainly could be times when I'd like to get it done at the house on a weekend though. If your rates are competitive, I'd imagine you'd get business.
Also, you're always going to run into jerks when you're running a business, and sooner or later some butthole will say you did something to their car and want to sue you. Definately get any customer to sign some sort of indemnity contract, and you may want to think about getting insurance.
Already in the works. Im getting $250,000 in liability insurance, and I have the customer sign authorizing the work, I have them sign off if the oil level is low when I check it and I mark the oil filter with the date and mileage installed and I got some fingernail polish to mark the oil drain bolt. Ive definately tried to consider all the worst case scenarios that I could.
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
At the last GTG here one of theguys owns an Audi and it takes about 20 minutes just to take off the splash shield (20 bolts or somthing crazy like that) to access the oil plug and filter.
I always change my own, but if I didn't, I'd wait until the weekend, rather than go to a quick change place. I don't have any horror stories about them, but they're really expensive.
FX3 brings up a good point. My wive has a new VW Beetle Conv. I've changed the oil in it twice. The 1st time took me about 2-2.5 hours. The next time I knew what was coming, and I improved to a little over an hour. There WILL NOT be a 3rd time. I told her to take it to the dealer.
German engineering my ass!
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SyntheticShield wrote: LOL, sounds like you need SyntheticShield Mobil Lube Service (shameless plug). Though the traveling costs might be a little over the top, LOL.Hey no plugging here! You never see me do that.
I do hope, and its my plan anyway, to get all the vehicle information when the customer calls to schedule, as would be normal, and from that I hope to be able to prepare for most surprises, though there will probably always be that one out there thats just way more than expected. But if I didnt get out there and at least make a go of it, Id still be stuck in a 40 hour work week job.
I figure if I have to work, then why not work under my values, my vision and goals for life instead of working for someone elses and under the threat of layoffs, cutbacks and so on. At least this way the only person that can fire me is my fiance, and well, I can influence that boss with flowers and chocolates
____________________ My car is a synner! It uses Amsoil Synthetic Lubricants.
2001 Pontiac Grand Prix GTP
It whines a lot, but I like it
excellent Dan!
They can see everything is cleaned up, the car is running and that all is normal.
. Though the traveling costs might be a little over the top, LOL.
Do you have to slap my hand with the ruler now?