Happy New Year!

Today is our year end, our month end, GST remittance day and as with all of Canada, the day we submit our taxes.

While it is a long work day for us, trying to get reports ready for our accountants, the preliminary reports are positive! Everyone knows that the past year has been a tough recession year for all, but it looks like we might be ahead of the previous year by just tiny bit (about as thick as an eyelash!) Now don’t quote us on that, it has been a long day and there is a chance that we can’t add anymore!

Anyway from us to you – we wish you a Happy New Year! And we hope we can continue to grow in the next year with great clients such as you!

Until Tomorrow.

What's the Going Rate?

Our daughter posed this question to us today. She is trying to figure out what her commission rate should be on a painting. This is a hard question to answer.

Sometimes it is hard to figure out what your services are worth. Here at the shop our rate is based on a complicated formula that takes into account the local labour rate for technicians plus the operating costs (you know, water, heat, phone, lights) for the shop plus all the other little items (computers, pens, paper, etc.). See boring just thinking about it!

So yes, our services might seem costly to you, but just think of all the others we are keeping employed at Enmax, Telus and Office Depot!

So what should our daughter charge? Well, we are still trying to figure that out and would appreciate any advice you can give us!

Enjoy her painting:
Until Tomorrow.

Where's the Door Handle?

This is not a sight we see everyday here at Verl’s….

Today we had to do an Out of Province Inspection on a tiny 2009 Lotus Elise. This pretty little red car has only 58 km on it! But because it was registered in BC and the new owners live in Alberta, we have to follow the rules.


It was almost too small for Spencer to get into, after he found the door handle!

Yup, just like we said last week – we can do it all here!

Until Tomorrow.

Keep or Toss

Sometimes we get vehicles into the shop that are not worth repairing. We have one here this week. Our client brought the car into us for service, but after diagnosing the problem the cost of repairing the vehicle is more than the vehicle is worth.

So, what to do? Well, our job first and foremost is to advise the client. We could sell him the repair, but a $1,000.00 repair bill to a car worth only $500.00 will not increase the value of the car. It will still be only a $500.00 car. If the client really wants the vehicle fixed, of course we will fix it because all we can do is advise – YOU have the final say.

What did this client do? Well, today they will come and say goodbye to their car.

Until Tomorrow.

340$ Free

We try hard not to use this blog for advertising purposes, but in this case I am going to make an exception.

We have a couple of customers who own many vehicles.   In the past 3 months both customers have had 3 separate vehicles in here in one week, resulting in large bills on all of them. 

Now if you want peace of mind for your auto repairs our 340$ Free will be the one for you.   Basically it is a budgeting system so you never have to worry again about breakdowns.   If this interests you at all, please give us a call, 403-223-4621.

We do everything possible to make owning a vehicle stress free.   Those people who are on this program will tell you that it really does work and if you want to ask them yourselves, stop in and we will tell you who they are.

Until Tomorrow.

No Rest for Us

So while today might have been Sunday, we spent the day preparing for the next month.   We picked out the car care gifts for May and will spend Monday putting them together for us and the other 2 shops we prepare them for.   We will be making over 350 car care gifts!   Wow - that number just keeps growing!  If you want to know what they are you will just have to stop in!

Enjoy my picture from today in the few minutes the sun did shine!

Until tomorrow.

Welcome Back

Today we picked up Ariel from Red Deer College.  She has completed the first year in Art School.  That means Ariel will be coming back to work at the shop the first week of May.  Now we just have to find somewhere to put everything she brought home with her!

Until Tomorrow.

Yuck!

I know we have shown you this before…. But some things bear repeating. We had a Pontiac Montana van in for service yesterday. When we looked at the cabin air filter we saw a filter far overdue for change. Not every vehicle has one, but those that do should be changed because there is no way this filter is doing its job! The cabin air filter protects YOU from the germs that are found inside your car. Pretty important, huh?

Until Tomorrow.

Bike Day!

We gave a local girl's group a lesson in bike maintenance today at the shop.   Ryan did a great job explaining to them how to check their tire pressure.   Verl greased up their chains and pedals.   Everyone got to enjoy a sucker after the lesson.  Like we said earlier this week - we can do it all here!   Enjoy the pictures from our impromptu party!

Until Tomorrow.

Report Card Time

Thanks to you we have scored 25 out of 25 in the past 3 months for customer service here at our shop. How do we know this? Well, when you get the thank-you either by email or regular mail from us you have a chance to go online and give us a report card to an independent third party.


We do check this each week because if you are unhappy then we really need to fix things!

Good news all around for us today. Our daughter Ariel received an A minus at Art School. Perhaps we need to celebrate – ice cream on us!

Until Tomorrow.

Attack of the Killer Sludge

Sounds like a horror movie doesn't it?  For the owner of this car, I believe it is....

Today we had a car that was making a “noise” come into the shop. When we did a diagnostic on it we found that the car had been attacked by killer sludge. “What is that?” you say with astoundment (no, not a word, but I like it). Well consider what happens to your teeth if you don’t take care of them with regular brushing…… Cavities and decaying teeth. Same thing here – no oil changes (teeth brushing) and the car is dead.


Believe the funeral is tomorrow.

PS - Verl spent the afternoon at the dentist that is why the tooth analogy fits!

Until Tomorrow.

Yes Sir - We Can Do That!

Spring is in the air – that means the other side of our business is beginning to appear. Our first tractor of 2010 has arrived at our door. Soon to follow will be lawn mowers, pumping units, golf carts and even the occasional boat.


Yes, I guess you can say that we are a well rounded shop! Now if I see an airplane pulling up to the door I might have to call in reinforcements!

Until Tomorrow.

Looking Forward

We have a busy week beginning in a couple of hours  and are looking forward to seeing you stop in!  

Hope you got out and enjoyed today - what a gift!  

Gotta love Spring!

Until Tomorrow.

Our Other Family

So when you are feeling blue or down who do you turn to?   We are lucky to have 2 families in our lives.   Our immediate family and our Autopro Family.

Today we spent a good part of the day in Calgary and got to visit with some members of our Autopro family.   Sometimes having good friends that are almost family is just what the doctor ordered to help put the world in perspective.

Thanks to Rob and to Steve for lending an ear, giving advice and for just being there to tell stories with and joke around.

Until Tomorrow.

Gone Fishin'

Well, another tough week has come to an end for us.


We try very hard not to let anyone notice that we are in a rough patch. We truly try to practice the fish philosophy. I know I have mentioned this before in a blog way back. There are 4 main principles to this:

1. Be There – truly listen to you, be emotionally present.

2. Play – be creative, enthusiastic, have fun.

3. Make Their Day – find a simple way to serve or delight you.

4. Choose Your Attitude – take responsibility for what life throws at you. It is how you react that determines your future.

Tonight, the rough patch became a little rockier, but we are determined not to allow it to interfere with our relationships with you.

So tomorrow we are going to take a drive, clear our heads, and take a “mental health day”.

Until Tomorrow.

Digging Out

Well we hope the worst is behind us. Hopefully Mother Nature doesn’t have any more surprises like that in store…..

We had to spend the first part of today digging out the shop doors. With the warm sun hitting the roof all the snow fell off and landed right in front of the doors. No way in and no way out! Poor Verl and Spencer had to re-dig out everything they did yesterday.

Our lot is a soupy mess, but we are not complaining, it is gorgeous out!

The phones should start to ring again Friday at life returns to normal.

Until tomorrow.

Snow Day

What a day! We had a traveler come through who got stuck right in our yard. This is enough snow for a while – my tulips are shaking in their roots…..


The shop is quiet, but with all the wet snow out there – that is only to be expected. Everyone is either stuck, or without power or smart enough to stay home on such a day. There is so much snow now sliding off our roof that we are unable to have any vehicles enter the bays anyway!

Will this be one of those times when you ask people where they were in the blizzard of 2010?

Until Tomorrow.

Can't live with it, Can't live without it

Today working away we had a power spike.  I am sure it has to do with the snow falling outside.  (I thought we told the weatherman no more snow til November?) 

Right after the spike we lost our internet connection.   Calling in to Platinum, seems we were not the only ones.   Isn't it strange how the one thing you need to work at that very moment is the one thing you can't have?    Couldn't access bank accounts, radio, All Data, Mechanicnet, Napa Fix or Facebook.    Grrr.  

Even 5 years ago loosing internet connection wouldn't have bothered us at all, funny how times change!

Until Tomorrow.

Just the Facts Ma'am

What? This means we quote each job before we do it.

Today we spent a lot of time completing quotes for people whether it was for a pre-purchase inspection or if they should keep the vehicle and repair it or invest in a new one.

Yes, when you bring your car here we quote the job with all parts, labour and gst included. That way you get no sticker shock when you pick up your car. Less stress for us and no stress for you. And that makes everyone happy.

Until Tomorrow.

In a Rut

So if you are in a car you back up and try a different way, right? And if your life is in a rut what to do?


Well try something different.... Drive a different way to work, or brush your teeth with the opposite hand. It
might not seem like much but little actions lead to larger actions and that will get you out of the rut!

What changes have we made lately? Well on the way home the other night from Red Deer I listened to country music instead of rock. Those of you who know me know that is truly outside my normal self! Now, if I can listen to country music, then perhaps I can get Verl and Spencer to eat a tomato!

Should we try liver and onions next?   
 
Until Tomorrow.

A Breath of Fresh Air

Wow,  what a difference 24 hours makes.  

The sun shone and the wind was minimal.  When a day is as nice as today was we owe it to ourselves to play hookey.  

So the GST didn't get looked at and the filing wasn't completed at the shop.   That just means a little extra effort on Monday.   Days like today don't come along all that often in Early April.  Hope you enjoyed your day.

Until Tomorrow.

Parenthood

Sometimes as a parent we have to go the extra mile.   Or in today's case we had to go many! 

Ariel had open studio in Red Deer today.   That meant that the mom had to leave the shop at noon, drive to Red Deer, go to the college, tour the facilty and admire the art she has worked so hard to produce this year.   Then after 2 hours, drive home.  

Total time gone, 11 hours.   Experience with daughter, priceless.

Until Tomorrow

Enough Already!

Wind, Wind, blow away! OK, we might be used to some wind around here, after all the days where there is absolutely no wind we can count on our hands, but this is a little bit ridiculous!

We can see the fields lifting from our shop. That will make highway driving today a little bit hazardous to your cars. If you were looking for a sand-blasting to get a new paint job you have come to the right region.

Take care driving out there today.

Until Tomorrow.

Stormy Weather

The main reason we try so hard to maintain our great rapport with our customers is because the customer relationship truly is a cycle. Once you are our customer, we have to work just as hard to keep you coming back. Our supplier has forgotten this.

There is no marketing dollar to what a happy customer is worth.

As a business at no time can we just assume that you the customer will blindly do as we say. You do have the freedom and the choice to shop elsewhere.

Verls, as the customer, is experiencing issues. We know that sometimes these relationships have to end, and for us the end of a relationship might be in sight.

I just know that Verl will see the silver lining of this storm cloud...

Until Tomorrow.

Not Your Average Loan Shark

Looking through our mail today we saw a business credit card application from American Express.

Now, we did have a tough month in February (which we are still recovering from) so for a moment it was tempting to fill in the application online. You know it is like the devil is tempting you – right on the front of the application it says “Apply online….. and you’ll receive a response in 60 seconds.” They make it so easy to dig yourself a deeper hole!

Well, you know that saying, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is”, so we had to look very hard to find the interest rate charge. Wait for it. It took us 5 minutes to find it. Wait for it…… OK, we found it! 30%!!!!! Wow, I think Bruno the Loan Shark will break your legs at 25% - wonder what these guys would do????

We won’t find out here at Verl’s – the credit card application is now at the bottom of the shredder.

Until Tomorrow.

Priorities

Today at the shop we thought we had the day all mapped out. But then, as usual, something happens to toss that right out the window!

Travelers always have to take priority because they are in trouble and need to be on their way. Having been in that predicament ourselves traveling in the US a few years ago, we can empathize with them.

Now, did we treat them any different than our regular clients? No, they receive the same treatment as the rest of you. Perhaps they will not get their vehicle washed, but that is just because they in a hurry to be on their way to their final destination.

For them, we are nothing but a pit stop!

Until Tomorrow.

Gorgeous Days

Wow, what a difference a day makes when the wind doesn't blow (at least as much!)

People are smiling, outside playing with their kids and the easter toys that Easter Bunny dropped off to them. It is nice to see such a nice day. Believe it will make returning to work tomorrow that much easier to bear!

Best part of all? The grass is greening!

Until tomorrow.

Recognize Talent Where Ever You Find It

We are fortunate in our family to have a talented daughter attending art school, a couple of aunts and uncles who are artists who paint as well.

We all have a special talent and if we are lucky enough, our talent is recognized by others. And if we are really lucky enough, we get to earn a living by our talent!

Ariel is setting up a facebook page to showcase her art, why not stop by and take a look!

Until Tomorrow.

Home for the Weekend

Ariel is gracing us with her presence this weekend. What does this mean? Well the house is suddenly filled with art projects, hair supplies, clothes and makeup. Just what every girl needs for a 48 hour visit.

She will be home from her first year of art school before the end of April. So look forward to hearing her voice on the other end of the phone reminding you of your upcoming appointment and checking up on the work we performed.

Yes, our "call-girl" will soon be back.

Until Tomorrow.

New things learned

So, after much trial and error we have managed to put our newsletter on line.

So for those of you who have requested an online version of the newsletter – this is for you! On the left side of the blog you will see a link for Fuel for Thought Newsletter. Double click that and you can bring it up in a new window. Double click it again and it should enlarge so you can read it! And the really cool thing is that by clicking your mouse at the edge of the page, the page will turn!

Maybe it is possible to teach old dogs new tricks! Maybe!

Thanks to client Holly Puskas for showing us the way to create this. We really appreciate any time a client can help us improve….

Little tip? You Tube can almost teach you how to do anything….

Until Tomorrow.