Garage Grit Podcast

#001 Auto repair shop owners discuss credit card processing and dual pay options

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About the Guests:

  • Rick: Rick is the owner of First Choice Auto in Huntington Valley, PA. With 25 years of experience in the auto repair industry, Rick took over the business a year ago and has been working to provide excellent service to his customers ever since.
  • Jared: Jared is a second-generation shop owner who recently took over a new auto repair shop. He is focused on implementing effective strategies to manage credit card processing fees and provide exceptional service to his customers.


    • Episode Summary:

    In this episode, Brad from Shop Marketing discusses credit card processing and dual pay options for auto repair shop owners with Rick, the owner of First Choice Auto, and Jared, a second-generation shop owner. They explore the experiences and perspectives of shop owners when it comes to passing credit card processing fees onto customers or managing them in a different way. The conversation touches on the challenges of implementing cash discounts, the importance of effective communication with customers, and the potential benefits of investing in the customer experience. The guests also discuss the benefits of level two pricing for fleet service and the use of digital payment options like Zelle and Venmo.


    Key Takeaways:

    • Implementing cash discounts or dual pricing can help auto repair shop owners offset the rising costs of credit card processing fees.
    • Effective communication and setting clear expectations with customers are crucial when introducing changes to payment processing.
    • Understanding the demographics and preferences of your customer base can help determine the best approach to credit card fees and payment options.
    • Level two pricing can be beneficial for fleet service, as it offers lower interchange rates for business-to-business transactions.
    • Digital payment options like Zelle and Venmo provide instantaneous transactions and can be convenient for both shop owners and customers.


      • Notable Quotes:

      • "The difference is when you're building your shop fees and labor fees to cover it, it's called a tax liability. When you're dual pricing or cash discounting, you're passing the fees onto the customer. It's less money the business collected for something you had to spend." - Rob
      • "It's a matter of getting everybody on board. If every shop in the area is going to cash discount, then people have no other place to go. They're just going to accept it." - Rick
      • "Younger generations are more comfortable with technology and digital payment options, so offering text-to-pay or QR code payments can be a convenient and appealing option for them." - Mark


        • Don't miss this insightful episode where Brad, Rick, and Jared discuss credit card processing and dual pay options for auto repair shop owners. Tune in to gain valuable insights and strategies for managing credit card fees and providing exceptional service to customers. Stay tuned for more episodes where industry experts share their knowledge and experiences to help you navigate the challenges of running an auto repair shop.

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        Garage Grit PodcastBy Brad Hurlock