This seemingly-impolite question can defuse tense situations in the shop or auto parts store.
The aggressive question you can ask that instantly calms a customer down
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HOT OFF THE PRESS
Which road maintenance fleet has the best snowplow names?
Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Vermont, even Arizona, and many other state and city government fleets have held naming contests for their winter service vehicles. But who has the best?
December Automotive Horoscopes
We read the astrological signs and predicted your automotive future.
An open letter to automotive customers about Christmas gifts (and tipping)
You don’t need to do anything—but if you do, there are only a few things worth doing.
SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
The importance of testing engine coolant (VIDEO)
Peter Meier discusses the importance of testing coolant and how mechanics can use simple strip testers to keep cooling systems safe.
Can the flat rate system work better for a team?
Turning all jobs into team efforts promotes knowledge transfer to the less-experienced techs, who pay tuition in physical labor.
Boomerang business cards: a quick sales tip
Here’s an easy guerilla marketing trick to get your customer counts up by selling on your days off.
What kind of car is that? A primer on esoteric body styles.
Everyone knows about sedans and pickups, but what about shooting brakes and pony cars? Here’s an incomplete guide to the rarer designs on the road.
Take it from a moron like me: giving customers advance notice of preventive maintenance works!
Giving customers like me a heads-up about recommended maintenance will help us, and yourself.
ABOUT SHOP PRESS
Shop Press is the news and idea hub for everything related to working on cars and trucks, focusing on repair, technology, and wrenching lifestyle. With interesting stories from around the world, features on creative people and solutions, and all kinds of other stuff that’ll make you use your mind and your hands.
SHOP STUFF
Auto care news and advice you can use.
Customer states truck was vandalized… Do you know what happened here? (VIDEO)
Each line item confirms it—cheating doesn’t pay.
Serviceability Hall Of Shame: CDJR batteries
Who puts a battery in a fender? Quite a few mechanics, that’s who.
Is it OK to plug a tire? (VIDEO)
Some sources say you should never, ever plug a tire … despite the fact that trained professionals have been doing it for decades. We debate.
The real history behind the fake turboencabulator (VIDEO)
Turning absurdly specific jargon into a joke isn’t a new idea, but that didn’t stop us from turning it into an April Fools’ joke.
Whaddya call two hybrid Toyotas?
Latin is a language, as dead as it can be/It killed the ancient Romans, and now it’s killing me.
VIDEOS
Is side work OK for service techs?
Does the shop retain right of first refusal, or is moonlighting A-OK?
Ranking the best fictional TV mechanics
From Colonel Hogan to Mr. T to Fonzie, here’s a completely unscientific list of television wrenches.
Jeep Spotter’s Guide (VIDEO)
ID Jeeps generation by generation with a few easy tricks.