Ep 77 - Eric Merchant and Andrew Klement | Free Diag But Still Pay Your Techs!

About this episode

My marketing before and after signing up with Turnkey Marketing is pretty scary. In a good way. Get your marketing right today HERETekmetric opened my eyes to just how much a good SMS will do for a shop. Their software is top of the line, and with them, so is my shop. Try them for yourself HEREMake your techs happier with Detect Auto. They'll stop getting "check noise" or "check vibration" from advisors with the customer concern tool. It will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. Book a demo HEREFor years I thought I could handle the hiring process on my own. But, after far too many bad hires, it was clear I needed help. Promotive came through for me with a rock star hire in just a few days and I couldn't be happier. Swallow your pride and bring in Promotive for that open position you have at your shop today. You can thank me later. Learn more HEREAI for Shop Owners: Open the Hood of the Future is happening June 12-13 at Carfix in Raleigh, NC. Use AI to your advantage! Register HEREToday, Mike Allen is joined by Eric Merchant and Andrew Klement to talk about Eric's recent shop expansion and how Andrew has found IMMEDIATE success with free diag. Yes, he pays he techs, he just doesn't charge the customer for the diag. Don't get your panties in a wad! Timestamps:00:00 The Free Diag Debate: Paying Techs and Shop Owner Risks00:53 Live from Ignite 2026: Scottsdale (or “Snotsdale”) and Shop Size Rivalries02:58 Landing Airplanes on Shops & Zeb the Legend05:46 Meet Andrew: Quitting a Job & Opening His Own Shop07:58 Used Alignment Machine Drama & DIY Repair Stories10:00 The Swingline Stapler Mystery – Office Space Reference Exposed12:11 Barrett-Jackson Recap and Shop Marketing Tactics14:13 Paying Techs Fairly, Navigating Free Diag, & Owner Lessons Learned16:32 Charity Work & Community Service: Shop Owner Outreach18:53 YouTube Fame from Contractor Nightmares21:26 Confession Call-Ins and Vanity Phone Number Strategies31:43 Bonus: Crushing Spirits at the Elite Pro Service Racing Challenge32:56 Alignment Maintenance Advice & $14K in Equipment Headaches35:14 Wrapping Up: Shop Ownership is Never Boring