Carmasters 1st Quarter 2020 Newsletter
I would like to bring everyone up to date.
First, I would like to wish everyone the best in these difficult times. With Automotive repairs and services being considered essential services by Virginia and most states, we have stayed open especially with so many of our customers also working in essential jobs such as military, 1st responders, health care including government vehicles we service. We are taking even more precautions than normal to reduce the risk to our customers and team.
Since our last newsletter, we have added to our team as well as our equipment, capabilities, services, and warranties.
Everyone, please welcome to our Carmasters Automotive LLC family:
Technician/Richard Quinn
Richard has over twenty years of automotive service experience. Richard has his Associates in Applied Science in Auto Technology. HE holds both ASE and Ford Certifications and specialized in VW/Audi. He is also an avid motorsports fan as well as a semi-professional Race Car Driver/Owner. When he is not at work you can find him home with his wife and three boys, friends, or working on Racecars.
Richard will primarily be working at Carmasters with the Service Advisors Team but will help out in the shop as an ASE certified skilled Technician too.
Technician/Jackson Hartje
Jackson is a 10-year dealer technician, achieved BMW master tech status 4 years ago. Grew up in the garage with his dad working on racecars and BMWs. Raced go-karts from 8-13yrs old and won Missouri state karting association championship. I am still passionate about working on cars but excited for the opportunity to try something new in a service advisor position and being in a more customer-facing position. I will still be servicing Carmasters BMW/Mini vehicles in addition to supporting the service advisor team.
Service Manager/Joe Garvin
I started in the automotive industry at the age of 8 in a family-owned parts store in West Virginia. Which had a machine shop, we do valve jobs, engine rebuilds, including boring engine blocks.
I joined the army at the age of 17, doing the split opt training in between my junior and senior year of high school, becoming a combat engineer.
After leaving the army I worked union construction, after leaving the construction industry to raise my two daughters I came back to the automotive industry and became a technician in which I held several ASE certifications, the automotive industry has always been a passion for me, after leaving the shops, I went back into the parts side of the industry and hold a valid ASE parts specialist certification.
I managed the local NAPA for the past 5 years at 1307 East Little Creek Rd before coming to Carmasters Automotive, while under my management, it became a store of the year for 2017, and Carmasters Automotive became the first Gold Certified Auto repair facility in the Hampton Roads area.
Carmasters Warranties And Services:
As most of you know, since becoming a NAPA GOLD Certified shop in January 2019, one of the 1st in the nation, most of our vehicle repairs include a 36 month, 36,000 miles Nationwide Peace of mind warranty. We are pleased to announce that we are now able to offer a lifetime warranty on many of the premium parts from NAPA.
We are also working with NAPA and warranty administrators and exploring ways to make a lifetime labor warranty available as well. We will keep you informed!
RepairPal.com Fair Price Estimator and Guarantee!
We are RepairPal Certified TopShop with experts specialize in service for your car with guaranteed fair prices. We are often lower than the prices listed and promise we will not exceed the maximum price listed on REPAIRPAL.COM website even if the price is mistakenly too low. To be a certified RepairPal shop, shops must have a minimum of a 1-year warranty with 2 years preferred. Even if we price to guarantee a repairpal.com website estimate you will still get our 36 month, 36,000 miles Nationwide Peace of Mind Warranty on most repairs.
Keeping with Our Goal of Maintaining The Best Available Resources:
We replaced our oldest tire changer with a new Heavy-Duty tire changer that can handle up to 26-inch wheels and is easily upgradeable to 30-inch wheels if needed. We can mount up to 45 in tires.
We also replaced our oldest Snap-On Air Conditioning machine with the new dual refrigerant machine, capable of servicing both R1234yf and R134a Hybrid Certified vehicles. Starting with Fiat Chrysler and General Motors in 2014, many vehicles since have been manufactured with R1234yf refrigerant.
We replaced our alignment computer system and 4 post lift with a new 14,000 rated scissor alignment lift and new alignment system, both having some of the best available capabilities than the previous systems (that had been the best available when we purchased them years ago).
In addition to having some more than a dozen of the best of the aftermarket and dealer diagnostic tools, 5 different lab scopes for component testing, thermal imagers, electronic chassis ears, electronic stethoscope, we have also added the BMW dealer level system so we can diagnose, code and program most BMW and Mini vehicles.
Keeping You Safe Is Our Priority!!!
Carmasters Automotive LLC has both a dropbox as well as a lockbox that can be used for drop off or pick up anytime to not only maintain social distancing but can save time when we are helping other customers. By calling ahead we can provide you with a combination code for our lockbox. We are regularly disinfecting both our lockbox and dropbox. We can also utilize digital estimates and invoices as well as payments over the phone. As team members availability permits, we can also provide pick up and drop off services including our rental vehicles, please call 757-456-0722 for details.
We are extending the same service to our customers to help keep you safe. While many of the un-ethical are trying to take advantage of others in a time of need by unreasonably raising prices, while supplies last we are offering 50% off the cost of cabin air filters and automotive HVAC disinfecting sanitizer. YES, half off the normal price of both!
Parts, labor, tax out the door, for a vehicle’s automotive HVAC disinfecting sanitizer service with 50% off without a cabin air filter is $49. With the cabin air filter replacement prices vary, but with 50% off most are under $109 out the door! We can also do a combination of Evaporator cleaning, disinfecting, deodorizing and cabin air filter replacement for the Grand Slam of protection.
We Are Hiring!
We have an opening for an apprentice general service technician. This is a paid position that includes benefits. We will provide about $3000 worth of tools to use and upon successful completion of an 18-24 months Department of Labor approved Journeyman online course and if you opt to stay at Carmasters Automotive we will give you the tools.
Giving Back
I am offering to mentor and provide training to up to 4 people. They must be able to come to my shop for training as well as do online training courses (will need access to the internet for online training). I will provide several written assessments related to the service advisor, and sales including Carmasters paying for Wonderlic.com Sales CPP testing (yes, WONDERLIC, the same company that tests new prospective NFL quarterbacks at the draft time) and share assessments with applicants, so they know before spending too much time if they are a potential fit for this career and new line of work.
Expect the process to take several months for fastest, hardworking, and dedicated. Training will include safety (shop and vehicle), customer service, sales and general automotive. There would be no obligation to work for Carmasters Automotive upon completion as this is to help the individual. There would be no charge (or pay) to participate. Anyone who attains the minimum entry-level skills may apply to if desired at Carmasters. Having some general automotive knowledge is a plus but not required, so would be having customer service experience such as waitress/waiter.
This offer is not for currently working service advisors, they can apply for a paid position if desired. This is for those that cannot afford a $15,000 to $30,000 trade school or college and need an opportunity.
I will be using feedback from those who participate to improve and formalize the process to help others in the future.
If interested please message me with your contact information and why you think you would be a good candidate for this opportunity
Sincerely,
Jim Bennett
Owner Of Carmasters Automotive