First, the Holden prices quickly rose to be less than 10% below the tariff loaded price of a Toyota, Nissan, etc. and even higher than Daihatsu and similar. But the quality remained the same. All the increased cost went into labor and profit.

Second, consumers continued to flock to the imports in droves, further depressing the AUS auto industry (in concert with other industries pursuing similar protectionist strategies) until the entire economy sank.

America is living the same nightmare — except we haven’t yet resorted to the final line of defense/capitulation — tariffs. It appears we will escape that if the D3 follow the Ford/Chrysler lead. We will not if Mr. Akerson’s view prevails.

Dear readers, this article has been chosen as the random post of the day…….

Next time you get that way, treat yourself to The Dragon — 11 miles with 300+ curves near Deal’s Gap. You will be on what is called the #1 motorcycle and sports car road in America. And there’s even a country store with a real moonshine still down by Fontana Dam. It’s a ride you won’t ever forget. The last time I did it “for serious” I was in a Triumph GT6+ roadster. I was also still “young and immortal”. Now I do it for the pleasant scenery…yeah, right!

Great perspective. Made in Detroit used to mean just that. Its a marketing label today on something entirely different. A good marketing label, but a marketing label none the less.

The Pontiac was my first love. (Outside of the true feminine type). I bought a Revell model kit of a 62 Pontiac Convertible with my paper route money and built this beautiful black convertible with fender skirts, chrome wheels, raked and just all tricked out. It was my consuming desire to own one, except girls and pursuit of same absorbed most of my cash flow.

Never did end up buying that beast, but the memories still linger.

I offer this clarification to avoid any further confusion:

Flex-Serve actually replaces the full service format, so when you combine the terms “Flex” with “Full Service”, the paradigm is confounded. If you seek an all inclusive term, we suggest “Total Service”.

The Flex-Serve paradigm consists of 3 basic components that are designed to function independently of each other for prudent oversight of operational efficacy related to true and accurate cost of overhead. Full Service lumps everything together and utilizes decentralized labor. Flex-Serve, on the other hand, centralizes labor and cross-trains all staff to function as “detailers”, not carwash attendants.

The 3 basic components of FLEX-SERVE are:
1.EXPRESS EXTERIOR vehicle washing that ideally remain in the vehicle and ride through the washing process.
2. EXPRESS AFTER-CARE where all hands-on services are performed by teams of two (2) cross-trained detail staff. A successful AFTER-CARE operation can function with a single team of two.
3. VACUUM & VENDING is a self-serve area for customers who wish to vacuum their own interiors. Vending is a collateral profit center aimed at supplying self-serve customers with beverages and sundry items.

Benefits associated with Flex-Serve are:
1. Extraordinarily efficient use of labor.
2. Instant adaptability to market conditions.
3. Requires less real estate than traditional full service operations.
4. Takes customers off-the-market from competition by offering all services at a single location.
5. Flex-Serve offers greatest net profitability.
6. Flex-Serve serves a much greater audience.
7. By offering everything that a standalone express exterior can provide… and more, it is the most stable and competitive operating platform.
8. Hours of operation tailored to each marketplace, and easily adapted to changes in demand.
9. Least exposure to adverse weather impact on business.
10. Optimizes production capacity by greater throughput of washing traffic without delay. Quick, convenient ride-through washing.
11. Less operational headaches.
12. A Flex-Serve operation can function as a very profitable carwash business, and has the option to also operate as a high-performance detail business during inclement weather and/or an after-hours detail shop serving various niche markets such as auto dealers and those consumers that are only available in evenings.

Hope this helps clarify Flex-Serve as being the quintessential automatic carwash operating platform.

Regards,
-Steve

Trackbacked on my blog …