{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"The Jaded Mechanic Podcast","title":"Dealer Plate Guy Compares Dealer Pricing with the Aftermarket","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":5703,"description":"In this episode, Jeff sits down with Dealer Plate Guy (Austin Conroy), who has a HUGE following on social media. Austin shares his unconventional career path from sales to service manager, emphasizing the importance of building customer and employee relationships in the dealership environment. They also talk about the most common misconceptions about dealership pricing compared to independent shops and the crucial role of technician career development and mentorship programs in addressing the ongoing technician shortage.Timestamps:00:00 International Connections: Jeff & Dealer Plate Guy Meet02:05 Growing Up Near Purdue & Serving College Town Clients03:17 From Car Sales to Multi-Store Manager: Austin’s Journey05:00 First Day as Service Manager: No Wrenching Background Needed07:10 COVID Resets the Department – Building New Structures08:53 Why Techs Should Talk To Customers (and Break Out of the Funk)10:10 Handling Difficult Customers & Flipping the Script13:36 The Unseen Cost of Long Test Drives & Flat Rate Frustrations16:28 Why Relationships Matter: Dealer vs. Independent Shop Service18:31 Career-Oriented Advisors & Building Repeat Business20:44 Managing Pay, Hours, & Mentality in Service Departments24:01 Changing Flat Rate Times: Pushback & Tracking Results29:12 Dealer vs. Aftermarket Parts Pricing: The Real Story33:43 Should Dealers Offer Aftermarket Parts? Educating Customers35:16 The Independent Shop Advantage in “Impossible” Diagnostics38:41 The 20-Minute Battery Draw: Stories From the Bay42:58 Why Dealers Still Need Flat Rate—With Real Solutions44:38 Feeding Your Best Techs: Who Should Get The Gravy Work?46:56 The Reality of Used Car Work, PDI, and Technician Dispatch49:28 Overpromising Service Times: Collision vs. Dealer Mentality52:16 Developing the Tech Career Path: Retaining Talent57:06 Mapping Out Progression Steps & Regular 1-on-1s With Techs1:02:45 Multi-Point Inspections: Making Video Pay Off1:09:29 How Social Media Skits Are Changing...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/Sk2Cxg758d7EdB1ogJfG9vxVkVeo1MgDWAiF0B9gSYw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzQxMjAxLzE2ODI4/OTE3NjctYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}