How are you guys dealing with the effects of the costs of fuel and inflation?? I have been getting a *LOT* of calls from tire kickers, and folks wanting to get it done for free. I have a bunch of regular customers that are doing without because they can't afford the needed repairs, and my service agreement renewals are way down too. I have been talking about this for the last couple of years.... and it seems that what I predicted is coming to pass.
Are you using your service call fee as a loss leader to get your foot in the door, then raise the labor rates in your flat rate book?? or... are you charging a fuel surcharge?? or??? I can tell you that folks in this area can't afford to pay the $75 service call that I charge, and assuming 30 minutes one way (with last years fuel prices) it costs me $167 to put a truck on the road. Yes I am charging a fuel surcharge for more than 15 miles one way.
I know that you guys in the big cities are getting a lot more $$$, but the same still applies to you too. At this point, I am contemplating keeping my service call fee the same for the time being, and adding to the fuel surcharge, plus increasing the labor rate in my flat rate book(again). I dunno, business is way down, and I am not seeing hardly any of the other companys trucks on the road either. How are you guys handling this??