Advertise on podcast: Repair Shop Reckoning

In this episode, Kevin breaks down his exact service advising system step by step from the first phone call to after-hours pickup. This isn’t theory. It’s a process built from getting burned, plugging holes, and tightening the operation until the front office actually controls the day. We talk about: -Why most shops lose trust on the phone in the first 10 seconds -How “free estimates” screw your techs and kill customer confidence -The check-in process Kevin uses to eliminate wasted time and miscommunication -How they use AI to capture the full customer story, write cleaner estimates, and stop details from getting lost -The workflow that keeps keys, approvals, parts, and tech time organized -Why the customer experience is the difference between getting shopped on price or getting trusted If your front office feels chaotic, your estimates sit too long, your techs get stuck waiting, or customers constantly question your value this episode is a blueprint.  Subscribe on YouTube for the full episode and weekly shop truth. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Featuring George Ryan, Body Shop Manager at a Mercedes-Benz dealer in upstate New York, this episode is a straight-up masterclass in why shops are sick of getting jerked around by insurance companies—and what it looks like to push back with facts, laws, and zero fear. George’s perspective hits different because he’s lived both sides of the table: he grew up in a body shop, worked as a tech, then spent 20 years inside insurance (including overseeing DRP operations across 13 states and 300+ shops) before coming back to the shop world. Translation? He knows the games. He knows the scripts. And he’s done letting them run the show. You’ll hear how New York’s regulations (like the 48-hour supplement window and the 6-day inspection rule) can be used to stop the stall tactics, how insurers try to steer repairs toward cheaper parts and slower processes, and why dealership-level repairs—especially on Mercedes—don’t play nice with “Amazon parts” logic. In this episode, we get into: -Why “appraisers” are really adjusters (and what that means for your money) -The daily war: supplements, desk reviews, delays, and puppet scripts -How shops can prep the customer before the insurance company turns it into a circus -OEM vs aftermarket battles on high-end vehicles—and why the “policy” excuse is trash -The insanity of paint/material audits, pour sheets, and nickel-and-dime fee fights -The bigger problem: an industry getting squeezed while techs age out and joy gets sucked dry -A call to action to stop fighting alone—and start organizing shops who are done bending over If you’ve ever felt that “here we go again” moment when an adjuster walks into your shop… this one’s for you. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

This episode of Repair Shop Reckoning didn’t end the way we planned due to technical difficulties, but the conversation was too real not to release. Jessica shares her story of starting in the trade at 16, helping build a successful mobile operation into a shop, and then watching it fall apart because of bad leadership, flat rate abuse, unpaid labor, and broken promises. From 1099 misclassification to technicians doing office work for free, this episode exposes exactly how good shops fail and good techs burn out. We break down what happens when a shop grows without systems, boundaries, or accountability and why flat rate without structure destroys morale. Jessica opens up about being overworked, underpaid, and finally walking away to start her own mobile business. We also talk about being a woman in the trade, earning trust through competence, choosing profitable work as a mobile tech, and why customers follow technicians not shop names. This episode is raw, honest, and unfinished because real shop life is messy. Jessica will be back, but this conversation stands on its own. If you are a technician fed up with bad shops If you are a shop owner growing faster than your systems If you are thinking about going mobile or starting your own business This episode is for you! Repair Shop Reckoning isn’t about complaining. It’s about calling out what’s broken and showing what actually works. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Featuring Kevin Brown, host of Repair Shop Reckoning, and Jason Tracey — this one is a full-blown reality check for shop owners who are sick of getting squeezed from every direction. Kevin doesn’t sugarcoat it: the collision world is sliding into a Race to Zero where shops keep dropping prices to “win” work… and end up financing repairs out of their own pocket. Meanwhile, insurers keep tightening the screws, MSOs keep setting the “standard,” and the customer gets caught in the middle with cheap parts, fear-based steering, and word-track manipulation. This episode is not for the “pros” who already have their numbers dialed in. It’s for the owners who feel like they’re drowning, constantly negotiating backward, and wondering why they’re working harder than ever but not getting ahead. What we get into: The Race to Zero and how it quietly bankrupts good shopsWhy MSOs (885 shops strong) shift pricing power away from independentsThe truth about DRPs, steering, and “out of network” fear tacticsState Farm logic gymnastics: premiums up, labor rates down… same excuseOne-party checks and why they wreck repair outcomes (and your time)Why free estimates are a trap and how admin/estimate fees protect your shopStorage fees done right (and why documentation is everything)The “cheat code” that changes adjuster behavior: reply-all transparencyWhy Kevin records calls, tracks everything by VIN/claim number, and covers his ass like a proThe real lesson: insurance companies don’t own your business — unless you let themKevin also drops hard-earned shop-floor tactics: charging appropriately for time, marking up sublet work correctly, refusing to renegotiate supplements after the work is done, and setting boundaries that force respect. The Takeaway  If you don’t know your costs, you’ll keep saying yes to bad work, bad parts, bad margins, and bad months. If you do know your numbers you can push back, stay profitable, and stop letting insurers dictate how you run your shop. Buckle up. This one’s for the owners ready to stop bending over and start building a business that actually lasts. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

What happens when you put a real Corvette guy in the room… and let him talk? In this episode, Kevin sits down with Alan Johnson from Matick Chevrolet, one of the most dialed-in Corvette minds you’ll hear anywhere. This isn’t “car talk” for clicks. It’s a deep dive into what’s actually happening inside GM right now… and why so many dealerships are falling behind. They hit everything from the 3.0 Duramax being the best-kept secret in the truck world, to the reality behind the 6.2 uncertainty, to what really creates trust and consistency in a dealership: systems, talent development, and leadership that gives a damn. And then they go straight into the chaos that sparked this episode: the brake fluid war. If you’ve ever heard someone say “brake fluid is sealed, it doesn’t matter,” Alan is about to ruin your day...in the best way possible. This is the intersection of: -High-performance driving -Real-world dealership service operations -Maintenance that actually keeps people safe -And the uncomfortable truth about how the industry is being gutted by short-term thinking If you’re a technician, shop owner, advisor, service manager, or car nerd who actually wants to understand what’s real… this one hits hard. Here is how you can find Alan on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drivenwithalan Instagram: @drivenwithalan YouTube:  @drivenwithAlan ​ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

This episode is for new shop owners, mobile mechanics, and anyone thinking about going out on their own. Kevin sits down with Ben Higgins, owner of The Wrench Wagon, for a real conversation about what actually happens when you transition from technician to business owner and why so many good techs fail once they open their own shop. This is not another episode bitching about flat rate, dealerships, or customers. This is about responsibility, pricing, leadership, and survival. Kevin breaks down why being busy does not mean you are profitable, how sympathy brain quietly destroys shops, and why undercharging feels generous but guarantees burnout. They talk openly about pricing mistakes, staffing realities, knowing your numbers, and the mental shift required to stop thinking like a tech and start thinking like an owner. If you are a mobile mechanic or a one man operation, this episode gives you clarity on what to take on, what to avoid, and how to build a business that actually supports your life instead of consuming it. This is mentorship most shop owners never get until they have already paid for it in lost money, stress, and regret. If you are early in your journey, this episode can save you years. If you are struggling right now, this episode will explain why and show you a path forward. Repair Shop Reckoning is not about bitching about the things that are. It is about ownership, leadership, and doing the hard things that keep shops alive. You have the power if you take the reponsibility! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

WARNING: This episode is not scripted, polished, and it sure as hell is not safe for soft ears... Welcome to the Christmas Special you always dreamed of. A behind the scenes look into shop life, recorded with the full Garrett Truck and Auto crew. The team come straight from the shop, with the doors open and the truth turned all the way up. No guests. No filters. Just the people who actually do the work sitting down and talking about what really happens when you are building a shop, a team, and a culture from the ground up. We start by doing something most shops never do publicly. Everyone around the table owns their screw ups. Real mistakes. Real consequences. From missed cotter pins and wrong parts to wiring nightmares, bad calls, and expensive lessons that stuck because they had to. This episode pulls back the curtain on what shop culture actually looks like when accountability is real. People get called out. People get corrected. People learn. And then they get better. That is the difference between yelling for ego and demanding excellence because lives, reputations, and paychecks depend on it. We dig into flat rate, leadership, policies and procedures, and why so many shops fail to take care of their people even when they think they are trying. You will hear why most owners are stuck, why technicians are pissed, and how bad systems create bad behavior on both sides of the counter. This is also a direct response to the internet narratives. The clips. The comments. The people who think shop culture can be judged from fifteen seconds on social media. So Kevin brought the team on to speak for themselves and explain what it is actually like to work here, why people stay, why people grow, and why the shop works. If you are a shop owner trying to build something real If you are a technician tired of broken systems If you care about doing the job right and going home proud This episode is for you. And this is only Part One of Two! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning: Race to Zero, Kevin and Jason go straight at the root problem most people keep dodging. Flat rate is brutal, but the real villain is wasted time caused by bad leadership, weak policies, and broken processes. When the parts department is late, when the advisor does not verify parts, when approvals drag, when meetings steal wrench time, when techs are forced to do unpaid DBIs and research, the technician eats it. Every single time. Kevin breaks it down in a way that is impossible to ignore, using simple math that hits you right in the paycheck. Ten minutes a day turns into thousands per year. Fifteen minutes here, twenty minutes there, and suddenly you are working for free while management stares at an “efficiency” report like it is your fault. Then it gets real with a story that nails the whole system. Kevin takes his team out for a big dinner and the restaurant absolutely melts down. Out of basic items. Orders coming late. Chaos in the kitchen. And the only person keeping the experience from turning into a full dumpster fire is the waiter, running his tail off trying to cover for everybody else’s incompetence. Now imagine that waiter is paid by survey. That is the dealership CSI nightmare in a nutshell. The tech can do everything right, fix the car, go above and beyond, and still get crushed because the coffee was bad, the snacks ran out, the wait was long, or someone else dropped the ball. A survey based on the whole experience would kill him even though he was the only one doing his job. If you are a shop owner, a manager, a service advisor, or a tech who is sick of getting robbed by inefficiency, this episode is for you. You will learn:Where flat rate time really disappears (and why it is almost never the technician’s fault)The policies and procedures that protect technician paychecksWhy you cannot “fix efficiency” by stopping production with more meetingsHow leadership can build a support system so flat rate stops becoming unpaid laborWhy techs have to start pushing back when the system is designed to drain them Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Welcome to another episode of Repair Shop Reckoning! Buckle up, because this one is a straight punch to the throat of the collision industry. Kevin sits down with Jim Gray, partner at Motor City and a 40-year veteran of the collision world, to break down everything the insurance companies never want shop owners, techs, or customers to know. If you think you’ve heard Kevin talk shit before… this episode takes it up ten levels.  Jim exposes how DRPs really work, why adjusters with zero hands-on experience dictate how trained techs “should” repair cars, and how insurance companies flat-out manipulate labor rates, parts sourcing, supplements, and customer claims to pad corporate profits. The stories in this episode are so insane you almost wouldn’t believe them, until you realize every shop in America has lived the same nightmare.  This episode is not theory. It is not opinion. It is the lived reality of two shops who deal daily with: Surprise inspections from adjusters who have never fixed a car in their lifeDRP rules that punish shops for doing repairs the right wayInsurance companies writing garbage photo estimates, mailing checks directly to customers to avoid supplements, and then blaming shops for the chaosLabor rates being CUT while tech shortages get worseAdjusters arguing repairs without ever seeing the damn vehicle“Profit calculators” that magically make your profit disappearDRP scare tactics that manipulate customers into thinking independent shops are riskyEndless hours of unpaid admin work forced onto shops because insurance companies eliminated adjustersBut this episode goes deeper into culture, leadership, and the bitch generation that cannot survive in a real shop environment. Jim and Kevin call out weak work ethics, victim mentalities, and the fantasy-land expectations younger techs walk in with.  At the same time, they break down what REAL leadership looks like inside Motor City: structure, autonomy, accountability, standards, loyalty, and taking care of the guys who earn it. No fake praise. No trophies. Just grown-ass men doing real work for real money. If you run a shop, manage techs, work in the industry, or simply want the truth behind the b******t this is the episode you send to everyone. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

This one started with a viral TikTok clip, a little heat, and a whole lot of misunderstanding but instead of hiding behind keyboards, we did what grown men are supposed to do when Kevin picked up the phone. And then invited them onto Repair Shop Reckoning. In this episode Kevin sits down with Mr MasterTech and Chris MF Craig two guys who had every reason to throw shots at each other online and we hash out what is really broken in this industry. No filters. No corporate polish. No pretending. We dig into the truth behind flat rate, dealership leadership failures, parts shortages, warranty disasters, and why both techs and shop owners feel like they are getting screwed from every direction. Dustin opens up about how he clawed his way from poverty to becoming one of the most skilled transmission guys around. Chris breaks down the advisor and technician disconnect that destroys shops from the inside. And Kevin tells the unvarnished truth about what it actually takes to lead a shop, protect your people, stay profitable, and not lose your damn mind. This conversation proves one thing Men with grit can disagree, debate, and still shake hands like professionals if they are not scared to talk face to face. And trust me. We go deeper, darker, and more real than anything the comments section has ever seen. Inside This Episode -The TikTok beef that turned into one of the best conversations we have ever had -Why dealership flat rate is broken beyond repair -What customers never admit and why it costs shops thousands -How bad leadership ruins technicians long before flat rate ever does -Real stories of comebacks, blown engines, sand dune idiots, and it was not me liars -Why independent shop owners must stay profitable to protect their people -The truth about warranty times, advisor pay plans, and manufacturer games -What real accountability and real culture actually look like If you are sick of corporate spin, fake influencers, and soft takes from people who have never held a wrench, this episode will hit you right between the eyes. Three men. One podcast. Zero bullshit. This is how you Change The Industry. One honest conversation at a time. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

This one is for the keyboard warriors and the men that are soft as tissue. The TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE...BUT FIRST IT WILL PISS YOU OFF. Or if you are our type of people it will make you laugh your ass off. We sure had a ton of fun recording it. In this episode Kevin brings in two of his own, Phil at the front counter and Jake the Marine turned mechanic, to pull the curtain back on what really happens inside their shop and why weak men do not last there very long. For everyone in the comments screaming toxic culture and bad boss because they saw a clip where Kevin said get your head out of your ass or watched the alignment guy walk out this is the answer. Not from internet experts but from the guys who actually work there every day. Phil and Jake talk about the constant stream of techs who oversell themselves in the interview then fold the first time someone calls them on their work. The front end specialist who could not set a steering wheel straight. The kid who said he could drive stick but could not get a truck onto a lift. The loop tech who ignored clear instruction and cracked a coolant filter then quit when it got hard. They break down what real accountability looks like in a shop that charges serious money and refuses to send junk out the door. You will hear the story of the loose tie rod that fell apart after a decline, how they owned it, paid the tow, fixed it right, and why you have to know your numbers and charge properly if you want to be able to stand behind your mistakes like that. You will also hear what real culture sounds like when you are not hiding behind HR talking points. Snowball fights in the lot. Pranks and sarcasm that fly in every direction. Busting each others chops and then dropping everything to help a coworker or a customer in a bind. They talk about the homeless guy sleeping in a customer bus, the lady with the mold filled coach and a short week in the hospital, the guy who paid dirt cheap for a liftgate and got exactly what he paid for. Underneath all the jokes is a simple message... Weak men quit because they cannot handle standards, can not handle correction, and can not handle the pressure of being responsible for heavy equipment rolling down the road. Strong men stay, grow, and laugh through the chaos because they know the difference between abuse and accountability. If you are a shop owner or a tech who is tired of being lectured about your tone by people who have never held a wrench this episode will feel like home. If you think reading a wiring diagram is toxic or believe every hurt feeling is a safety violation this episode will probably piss you off. Either way you will finally get a real peek inside their shop culture from the only people qualified to talk about it. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Buckle up because this one comes in hot. Kevin sits down with Check Engine Chuck for a brutally honest, no filters allowed conversation about what is really happening inside repair shops today. And it hits every nerve in the industry. This episode does not just talk about soft techs or generational gaps. It digs into the harsh truth that most techs never see and most owners are too scared to say. From the pressure of being the one who has to make the final call, to the nonstop BS of inflated resumes, fake specialists, and new hires who collapse the first time you hold them accountable, Kevin and Chuck break it all wide open. They dive into why shop culture has gotten weak, why pride in the trade is disappearing, and why too many owners sabotage themselves by not trusting the systems they built. They talk real ownership, real responsibility, and the real difference between being tough and being toxic. This episode is a warning, a wake up call, and a punch in the mouth for anyone who needs to hear it. It is honest, it is raw, and it is exactly what the industry has been avoiding for far too long. Stories You Will Hear in This Episode: Why owning a shop means the buck always stops with youThe truth about techs who claim they are specialists but cannot back it upThe collapse of shop culture when no one can take criticismWhat accountability actually looks like in a real shopWhy pride and grit still matter more than certificationsHow owners destroy their own businesses by overriding their systemsWhat separates the techs who survive from the ones who crumbleThe real reason shops are struggling to find and keep good people Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

Buckle up because this week Kevin and Jason crack open the ugly truth behind the collision repair industry, and it’s a full-on reckoning. Kevin goes off on how insurance companies have hijacked the business by setting prices, dictating parts, and forcing shops into losing money on every “approved” repair. From fake adjusters behind desks to clueless inspectors who’ve never turned a wrench in their life, the industry’s gone off the rails.  They dive deep into how independent collision shops are being crushed by corporate control, fake “prevailing wage” surveys, and AI-driven desk estimates written by people who couldn’t tell a fender from a file cabinet. Kevin lays out real-world examples that will make any shop owner’s blood boil. From motorhomes patched with bondo to adjusters arguing over $600 supplements after promising to pay.  But this isn’t just a rant, it’s a roadmap. Kevin shares how he’s outsmarting the system by expanding into trailer repair, sandblasting, and parts sales to keep profit margins alive while others drown in red tape.  Stories You’ll Hear in This Episode: Why collision shops are going broke faster the harder they workHow insurance “desk adjusters” and AI estimates are wrecking the tradeReal examples of fraud, cheap parts, and complete industry insanityWhy Kevin refuses to cut corners — even when insurance pushes shops to do itThe $90,000 engine story that proves doing it right still mattersHow adding trailer repair saved Motor City Truck Collision from the chaos Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

This one’s personal. In this special episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin sits down with his wife of 29 years, Marilyn Brown.  The woman who’s been there since the beginning. From beer bottles at Frigate’s in Walled Lake to building a family, surviving broke-as-hell Christmases, and running businesses together, nothing’s off-limits in this conversation.  They dive into the real side of marriage and entrepreneurship — the fights, the forgiveness, and the funny-as-hell moments that kept them going. Marilyn opens up about raising kids, dealing with exes, working her way up in corporate life, and eventually running the backend of Kevin’s shops. Together, they break down what it really takes to stay married, stay sane, and stay in business when life keeps throwing punches. You’ll laugh, you’ll shake your head, and you might even feel a little better about your own chaos. Because at the end of the day success, marriage, and business all come down to the same rule: work your ass off, tell the truth, and don’t hold grudges. Topics Covered:The wild story of how Kevin and Marilyn met (and the beer bottle incident 🤕)What it’s really like being married to a mechanic-turned-business ownerParenting, adoption, and surviving blended-family chaosThe early days of being broke and building from nothingWhy communication (and not giving a damn what people think) saves marriages and businessesPayroll screwups, scammers, audits, and the emotional roller coaster of owning a shopThe difference between loyalty and permission in relationships and leadershipWhy feelings don’t belong in management meetings Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.

What happens when a dealership tech decides he’s done turning wrenches for someone else and builds his own shop from the ground up? In this episode, Kevin Brown sits down with Donovan from Cypress Ridge Automotive, a former Ford dealership tech who walked away from the flat rate life, built a shop in his backyard, and turned it into a thriving business. The two dig into what it really takes to go from tech to business owner, the learning curve, the emotional rollercoaster, and the financial gut punches no one warns you about. From six liters and CP4 disasters to dealing with one time use bolts, credit card fees, and bullshit warranty times, Kevin and Donovan get real about the chaos, the craftsmanship, and the cost of doing business in today’s repair world. They also dive into the industry’s bigger problems, overpriced diesel repairs, bad engineering, tech turnover, and the dealerships that still don’t get it, while comparing old school wrenching to the tech heavy future of EVs and Tesla simplicity. If you’ve ever thought about going out on your own, this episode is your wake up call. Donovan proves you can do it, but only if you’re willing to bet on yourself, learn your numbers, and build something that lasts. Topics Include: • Leaving the dealership grind and starting from zero • Learning business before taking the leap   •The emotional reality of owning a shop • Diesel repair chaos and one time use parts • Flat rate vs hourly pay, what really works • Taking care of your team and knowing your numbers • Why EVs are setting the new standard for simplicity • And why letting customers bring their own parts makes you a dumbass This one’s for the guys in the bay, the owners sweating payroll, and the ones bold enough to build something of their own. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support.