Service Advisors Refusing Walkarounds? Scheduling Chaos? Customers Who Can't Afford Repairs?

In this episode of Service Drive Revolution, Chris Collins answers real, unfiltered questions straight from the service drive.

From why advisors resist walkarounds, to how to properly schedule service appointments, to what to do when customers can't afford diagnosed repairs, this episode is packed with practical leadership insight and real-world systems thinking.

🔥 Topics Covered in This Episode:

✅ Why service advisors push back on walkarounds (and how leadership creates that problem)

✅ How non-negotiable systems outperform "freelancing" advisors

✅ The Service Drive Judo philosophy: using customer momentum to create structure

✅ How top-performing dealerships enforce consistency and accountability

✅ Smart service scheduling strategies (when to stop booking appointments)

✅ Loading the shop early vs. booking to close

✅ Managing waiters without overwhelming advisors

✅ How to handle customers who can't afford repairs before diagnosis

✅ Why repair authorization upfront protects both the customer and the advisor

✅ The leadership lesson hidden inside system design

🧠 Key Leadership Insight: Bad systems ruin good people. Good systems help average performers perform above average.

This episode is a must-watch for: Service Managers Fixed Ops Directors Dealership Leaders Service Advisors Anyone responsible for customer experience and profitability in fixed operations

🛑 OnDemand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

🛑 Book a free 30-min. discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12

🛑 Best Selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/

🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR

🛑 Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

Service Managers, Fixed Ops Leaders, and Dealership Executives — Why do some people and teams consistently outperform everyone else… while others stay stuck?

In this episode of Service Drive Revolution #339, Chris Collins and the team break down what elite leadership actually looks like — and why intentionality, preparation, and standards matter more than talent, location, or luck.

Using a surprising leadership case study (yes, even outside the automotive industry), this episode explores why the best performers: - Practice harder than everyone else - Prepare long before results are visible - Set expectations higher — and refuse to lower them - Build systems instead of relying on motivation - Create an experience focused on the customer, not themselves This conversation applies directly to service managers, advisors, directors, and Fixed Ops leaders who want: ✔ Better team buy-in ✔ More consistent performance ✔ Stronger culture and accountability ✔ Higher productivity without burnout

If you're tired of average results and excuses like "market conditions" or "staffing issues," this episode will challenge how you think about leadership — and what's actually possible in your service department. 👇 Watch now and rethink how you set goals, lead people, and build a winning operation.

Service Managers, Fixed Ops Directors, and Controllers — this is one of the most misunderstood numbers in your dealership.

Unapplied labor quietly destroys profitability, inflates your cost per hour, and masks the real performance of your service department. Most dealerships don't even realize how much money they're losing — because the problem is buried inside the financial statement.

In SDR #338, Chris Collins and the team break down why unapplied labor is often joked about as being "made by the devil" — and more importantly, how to fix it the right way.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅ What unapplied labor really means (and what it is not)

✅ Where dealerships mistakenly hide unapplied labor on the financial statement

✅ Why cost per hour skyrocket even when the technician's pay hasn't changed

✅ How two-man lube teams and poor shop design increase unapplied time

✅ Why throwing more people at a problem usually makes Fixed Ops less profitable

✅ How to correctly track unapplied labor so you can actually fix it

✅ How systems, minimum standards, and accountability reduce waste

If your service department struggles with: - High labor cost per hour - Poor productivity - Inconsistent technician efficiency - Confusing financials - Or unexplained losses in Fixed Ops

👉 This episode will change how you look at your shop.

#UnappliedLabor #FixedOps #ServiceManager #DealershipTraining #ServiceDriveRevolution #ChrisBulldogCollins

🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

🛑 Book a free 30-minute discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12

🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/

🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR

🛑 Grab Chris's New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

🛑 Book a free 30-min. discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: https://calendly.com/cci-schedule/30-minute-discovery-call-with-chris-collins-inc?utm=SDRPod&month=2025-12

Service Managers and Fixed Ops leaders — are you overlooking the easiest revenue in your entire service drive?

In SDR #337, Chris Collins and Christian break down the LOW-HANGING FRUIT in Fixed Ops that instantly boosts profit, customer experience, and team efficiency — without adding techs, buying software, or spending big money.

You'll learn the exact strategies that dealerships ignore every day, including:

✅ The simplest profit opportunity in every store: technician optimization

✅ The "Petting the Dog" method that creates unforgettable customer experiences

✅ How to increase revenue FAST using your existing customers

✅ Intelligent pricing — without racing competitors to the bottom

✅ How one body shop delivered world-class service (and what dealerships must copy)

✅ A system that multiplies net profit without increasing RO count

If you work in Fixed Ops, Service Management, or the Service Drive, this episode is packed with real tactics you can use today.

📌 Watch until the end — the fastest path to doubling your department's net profit is simpler than you think.

#FixedOps #ServiceDriveRevolution #ServiceManager #AutoService #DealershipLife #CustomerExperience #TechnicianLife #CarDealership #ServiceAdvisorTraining #ChrisBulldogCollins #AutoRepairBusiness

🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

🛑 Book a free 15-min discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/

🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR

🛑 Grab Chris's New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

Most people will make resolutions, download a new app, join a gym… and quit by January 15th. In this episode of SDR #336, Chris and Christian break down why goals fail — and reveal the intentional goal-setting process they've used for years to hit targets in business, leadership, and life.

This is the conversation every service leader needs before setting their 2026 goals.

Inside this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The #1 difference between novelty and intentionality — and why it decides who hits goals ✅ The truth about motivation: why most advisors and techs quit early ✅ How "fresh eyes" and outside coaching collapse your learning curve ✅ Why NOT hitting a goal is often harder than achieving it ✅ The real reason New Year's resolutions fall apart ✅ How to build accountability systems that force you to level up ✅ Why 2026 will disrupt Fixed Ops — and how to protect your career ✅ How partnership goals at home directly affect performance at the dealership ✅ The mindset shift that separates high-level leaders from victims of circumstance

Whether you're a Service Advisor, Service Manager, or Fixed Ops Director, this episode will show you EXACTLY how to create goals you'll actually hit — and how to build the systems that guarantee results.

If you want 2026 to be your breakthrough year, watch this episode from start to finish. Your future profits—and your future career—depend on it.

#FixedOps #ServiceManager #ServiceAdvisor #DealershipLife #AutoIndustry #GoalSetting #Leadership #ChrisCollins #ServiceDriveRevolution #TechnicianTraining #MechanicLife #MindsetMatters #AutomotiveTraining #DealershipManagement #ChrisBulldogCollins

🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

🛑 Book a free 15-minute discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/

🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR

🛑 Grab Chris's New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

Dealers, Service Managers, and Fixed Ops leaders: Are you frustrated with the direction of our industry? Do you feel like the people responsible for leading automotive into the future are asleep at the wheel?

In SDR #335, Chris Collins unleashes one of his most honest, unfiltered rants ever — and it's the conversation the industry needs but refuses to have.

If you've ever wondered why training is weak, why profitability is inconsistent, why NADA never changes, why techs aren't improving, why customer retention is declining, and why competitors like Tesla are stealing market share… this episode is a MUST-WATCH.

In this episode, Chris and Christian break down the uncomfortable truth: Our industry is crumbling because no one is taking responsibility — not the associations, not the manufacturers, and often not the dealers. This episode exposes what's REALLY broken, and what must happen to save automotive before it's too late.

#FixedOps #ServiceManager #DealershipLife #AutomotiveIndustry #ChrisCollins #ServiceDriveRevolution #AutoDealership #ServiceAdvisor #LeadershipDevelopment #NADA #AutomotiveTraining #ShopCulture #DealershipTraining #AutoIndustryProblems

🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

🛑 Book a free 15-minute discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/

🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR

🛑 Grab Chris's New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

Service Managers and Fixed Ops leaders: Are you losing control? If you're struggling with inconsistent productivity, low technician morale, and a shop where management has lost authority, you know the stakes are high. Your culture is toxic, and it's killing your business.

In this episode of SDR #334, Chris Collins and Christian deliver the essential 6-STEP BLUEPRINT for service managers ready to stop the chaos, regain authority, and rebuild a high-performance team. This process is tough, but it's the ultimate cheat code for leadership success.

This episode provides the actionable strategy to fix your shop's toughest problems, including:

✅ The counter-intuitive first step: Connect before you correct. Don't try to muscle your authority back.

✅ How hiring new blood immediately signals the end of the "old regime."

✅ Transforming chaos into "Law & Order" to boost tech productivity

✅ The surprising truth: Your "grumpy" techs crave approval and acceptance more than anyone.

✅ Using Gamification and the Daily Scoreboard for instant efficiency gains and accountability.

✅ Broadening your technicians' perspective by teaching them how a financial statement works.

If you are a leader dealing with a tough shop culture right now, watch this episode. Learning to fix this problem one time will be the single most valuable lesson of your management career.

#ToxicShopCulture #ServiceManager #TechnicianMorale #FixedOps #ServiceAdvisor #DealershipLife #AutoRepairShop #ShopProductivity #ChrisCollins #ServiceDriveRevolution #AutomotiveLeadership #TechRetention #DealershipTraining #shopculture

🛑 On-Demand Training For Huge Results: https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

🛑 Book a free 15-minute. discovery call for coaching that grows your profits: http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

🛑 Best-selling books on making your Fixed Ops a money printer: https://chriscollinsinc.com/shop/

🛑 Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR

🛑 Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

What's really changed in the car dealership service drive—and what hasn't?

In this special roundtable edition of SDR #332, Chris Collins and the team break down decades of experience in Fixed Ops leadership, revealing the timeless lessons every service manager and advisor needs to know. From culture to communication, this episode uncovers why the fundamentals of great leadership haven't changed—even as technology, customer expectations, and CSI metrics evolve.

In this episode, you'll learn:

✅What's new (and what's not) in today's car dealership service drive

✅Why accountability and clarity still drive the best performance

✅How top-performing service departments build culture and consistency

✅Leadership takeaways from Top Dog 2025 and years of real dealership coaching

✅The #1 mindset that separates average service managers from great ones

Whether you've been in Fixed Ops for 20 years or you're just stepping into a management role, this roundtable gives you a clear roadmap for leading your team, improving culture, and mastering the service drive.

💬 What's changed most in your dealership over the years? Drop a comment below — we want to hear your take!

#serviceadvisortraining #fixedops #servicemanager #sdr #servicedriverevolution #chrisbulldogcollins On-Demand Training for Huge Results - https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bottom line. http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleaderbook.com

Grab our best selling books for your team: Your 90-Day roadmap to your best Fixed-Ops month ever starts here: https://swiy.co/F-ln

Millionaire Service Advisor also includes our 11-step Circle of Trust System: https://swiy.co/F-lq

Your service department's biggest problem might not be your advisors, your techs, or your customers—it's your culture.

In episode #331 of SDR, Chris Collins and Coach Christian expose the top seven service department culture killers that are quietly destroying dealership performance, morale, and profitability.

If you're a Service Manager or Fixed Ops Director, you'll learn:

• Why unclear goals and weak leadership breed chaos
• How toxic and low performers destroy team morale
• Why most managers confuse effort with results
• How to rebuild your dealership culture from the ground up

Plus: hear Chris's hilarious (and painful) story of trying to get his own car serviced — and how that experience proves how broken many dealership systems really are.

Whether you run a high-volume store or a small service department, this episode will help you build the culture your team deserves — and your numbers demand.

#serviceadvisortraining #fixedops #servicemanager #sdr #servicedriverevolution #chrisbulldogcollins

OnDemand Training FOn-Demandor Huge Results - https://shorturl.at/j7J8u

Schedule a 15-minute intro call with our team to find out how Chris Collins Signature Coaching can grow your bottom line. http://bit.ly/CCIschedule

Got a question? Call us at 1-833-3-ASK-SDR Grab Chris' New Leadership Book I AM LEADER: https://iamleader.com

Grab our best selling books for your team: Your 90-Day roadmap to your best Fixed-Ops month ever starts here: https://swiy.co/F-ln

Millionaire Service Advisor also includes our 11-step Circle of Trust System: https://swiy.co/F-lq