3 more IMS reports

[Ghostrider 310]

Nothing wrong with making a profit, the issue is paying to be recommended. It carries the same stench as finding out the Hollywood walk of fame is a track of purchased awards or when whose who in HS students puts you in Christmas lights for a fee. Ethics is everything, when we leave this life our wealth pile isn't what people remember us for, it's the moments and deeds. The honest wrenches in my town have full schedules they don't need no stinking badges.

[mikefocke]

So you expect that Charles will maintain a list of several hundred shops with all the data entry/update/verification that that entails for free? Maybe he does a credit check or a Better Business check? Maybe being on the list implies that the installer can call him for help if he gets stuck in doing your job?

(I come at this as the President of a home owner's association of 305 lots where the maintenance of the data base of names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, etc is a several days a month job.)

Recall that Jake had to stop selling IMSR kits because the overhead of supporting those trying to do the installs was forcing him to have a full time employee just answering the phone. When your reputation is on the line and someone out there is doing the work and you are a long way away it is a tough situation. Will the car owner blame the XYZ shop or that darn LN kit installed by the guy that was on your list?

[Ghostrider 310]

So you expect Charles will maintain a list of several hundred shops with all the data entry/update/verification that that entails for free?


It's not like he has to do it on an abacus, so um, yes, yes I do. I had to maintain volumes of dealer information and MSDS sheets, never charged a customer one dime for any of it. If you can market yourself in national magazines you have to give some simple customer service along with the quest if you intend to see dramatic sales results and loyal customers.

PS Since you brought it up how much is the fee? Share that with me and I'll be able to tell you if it's a "Missouri boat ride".

[JFP in PA]

I think most are totally missing the point in Charles charging to be on the LN “recommended” installer list. I’m sure Charles gets a lot of requests for known or “approved” installers; so he maintains a list and charges the shops to be on it. Think of the fee as an advertising expense, if you pay the fee and get on the list, you will get access to business opportunities that you may not otherwise have come your way. So paying the fee is no different, and one Hell of a lot cheaper, than a small shop running ads in national publications focused on Porsche owners.

I also have to say that I totally agree with Jake’s comments; for some reason, there seems to be a decidedly anti entrepreneur bias on the web; and in particular on one other Boxster oriented website. I for one am totally unapologetic in the fact that I make a pretty good living by trying to fix these cars faster than you guys can try to break them. But I am also the guy with the investment in tools, equipment, and hired talent required to be ready to make that happen if your car decides to throw a code or fail to start next Tuesday. People that complain about what repairs or replacement upgraded components cost also seem to forget that if it wasn’t for people like Charles Navarro and Jake Raby, and the investments they made in their businesses, you would still be getting hosed by the dealer, searching through the junkyard for a decent replacement engine, or selling your prized Porsche for scrap metal prices if the engine let go because the IMS bearing decided to go south. Jake and Charles made the investment and gave you new choices; as such, you do not have to take them up on these options, but you should also not be critical of the fact that they make money doing it.

[feelyx]

Its unfortunate how people perceive LNE's list. I would think it would be good advertisement to be on it, so why not let LNE to capitalize on it?
I don't advertise, and work by word of mouth only, and wouldn't pay to be on a list. But, that doesn't mean there shouldn't be one, people needing the service will have an idea on where to turn to.
We all have to earn a living, isn't that the American Capitalist way? :chicken:

[Jake Raby]

When Charles got tired of people whining when shops FUBAR'd the install he pulled the list offline completely.. Then people complained.. Now that he charges to be on the list people also complain.

Whats the bottom line? People whine no matter what.

Charles is a lot more tolerant of people's bull**************** than I am.. Holding a gun to my head won't get a recommendation from me! I'd rather be shot as deal with whiners.