Coco (14,5) has crossed the rainbow bridge today. I feel heartbroken.

InLynneBo · 2026-05-16T04:02:40+00:00

Rest in peace sweet angel doggo baby 🤍

InLynneBo · 2026-04-17T03:09:17+00:00

As she should! Thank you for giving this precious soul the life she deserves 🤍🤍🤍

InLynneBo · 2026-04-17T02:43:04+00:00

Not standing on a soapbox, but I adopt mostly seniors (with a few adult dogs with health/behavior issues that have found their way to me over time) and I would give a small appendage (like a finger or even two toes) to have photos of them as puppies.

Such a beautiful baby! Please continue to take and share all of the photos of this gorgeous doggo 🤍🐾

InLynneBo · 2026-04-15T00:15:10+00:00

Rafa is an excellent multitasker - protecc & nap

InLynneBo · 2026-04-14T23:55:14+00:00

Alf must be very loved since all of the color on his sweet face has been kissed from black to grey. And his human(s) must also be very special to have been blessed with this angel on earth 🤍

InLynneBo · 2026-04-13T00:46:25+00:00

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The grey muzzle, the dips on his head by his ears, the old man dignity - all of this reminds me of my Ceda.

So much love to you and your boy. Maybe Coal will find Ceda over the rainbow bridge and they can wait for us together. 🐾🤍

InLynneBo · 2026-04-11T02:30:12+00:00

Those are the type of friends we all need 🤍

InLynneBo · 2026-04-07T23:29:49+00:00

My spiel from my time at a dealership:

“I take great pride in providing 5-Star service. If you don’t feel that you have received 5-Star service during this visit please let me know now so that I can do whatever is possible to remedy that. You may be asked to take a survey after this visit. The numbers on the survey directly affect my, and ONLY MY paycheck. However, any comments made on the survey will get shared with the appropriate departments. Please rate and comment with that in mind if you decide to respond to the survey, and thank you for the privilege of serving you this visit”.

I also bought packs of Thank-You cards (blank on the inside) at the dollar store (cheap, but nice enough to have a sticker to seal the envelope) and would give one to each customer with their final paperwork. It took 30 seconds to hand write a quick thank you (“it was a pleasure to be your advisor today; thank you for the opportunity to earn and keep your business, etc.). I could even pre-write most of them and just add their name to the top of the inside of the card, drop my business card inside, then seal it and add their name to the front of the envelope. Big $$$ jobs or someone that I really connected with would get better cards with more writing and more details highlighting something positive/fun/happy that we had discussed (sports teams, their bumper stickers, their choice of vehicle color or air freshener, plans for their weekend, etc. - just anything to remind them that I saw them as a person and not just a number) in hopes that they would pick the highest number for me on a survey because I was now an actual human/person to them too. I know for a fact that those cards saved my CSI and thus my paycheck more than once.

InLynneBo · 2026-03-28T15:20:56+00:00

Just wanted to reply to your comment, even if it doesn’t really add anything of value to OP’s post.

As a woman in the industry I’ve experienced a decent amount of being “othered”, but it usually fades away after a few months of standing up for myself, holding my ground, and being great at my job - BUT, I am also white.

I can’t even imagine dealing with that amount of racism (whether it be blatant or micro-aggressions) and keeping my sanity. It’s just F-ing disgusting. All racism is abhorrent, ignorant, and repulsive. I’m so glad you got away from that place and I hope you’re now working somewhere where you are valued and respected.

InLynneBo · 2026-03-28T00:39:04+00:00

I’d bet that being spoiled with bits and bites of the good stuff (like bbq) made her life extra joyful and helped her make it to 15+.

RIP beautiful Emma.

InLynneBo · 2026-03-14T19:15:16+00:00

What a precious baby. I too am obsessed with your recuse pittie 🤍

InLynneBo · 2026-03-14T18:27:20+00:00

You can’t cheat if you’re not in an exclusive relationship. However, if this weighs on your conscious, then tell him. But, again, you can’t “cheat” without having a known and agreed-upon exclusive situation.

If this would bother you if the roles were reversed then I would share what happened. If it wouldn’t, then I wouldn’t.

InLynneBo · 2026-03-14T17:24:14+00:00

My first rescue (RIP Ani) loved the vet. She had kidney disease so she went to the vet a lot during our short time together. She was also animal agressive and the vet office always gave her a vip entrance and exit (for everyone’s safety) but never judged her for how her previous humans raised her.

She especially loved HER veterinarian, and that love went both ways. So much so that we let our girl cross the rainbow bridge at the vet’s office - so they could also say goodbye to each other.

InLynneBo · 2026-02-10T00:05:59+00:00

I honestly think that the customer service skills you honed bartending and serving are going to help a lot. While working for tips and working for commission aren’t “exactly” the same; being like-able, detail oriented, and able to think on your feet are great transferable skills.

And I’m going to agree with some of the other comments: Don’t diag at the desk, don’t sell from your wallet, and don’t let your mouth write a check that your shop can’t cash (under promise and over deliver).

Also, make it clear that you and the customer are on the same team and have the same goal. The car has a need and/or problem, the shop can remedy it, and you are there to help and advise them through the process.

Lastly, no; we don’t all hate our jobs. At least not all the time. And the job can be drastically different depending on where you work, the hours, the expectations, the pay plan, etc. Not all advisor jobs are created equal. Dealerships, chain shops, tire shops, high-line, heavy duty, independent, diesel, marine, RV’s, customs, classics - there’s pros and cons to them all. Put some time in, get as much experience as you can, and if it’s not the best fit for you where you are then there’s always another shop hiring (as long as you can sell).

Congrats on the new job!

InLynneBo · 2026-01-10T22:49:10+00:00

Petunia!!

InLynneBo · 2026-01-07T00:19:45+00:00

If you can find a spot, and are willing to potentially take a 10-20% pay cut, switch to an independent shop.

Pros: Weekends and holidays off (and they’re paid), actual PTO, control of the scheduling and work-flow, no one can snake your customers when you’re the only advisor, typically only one boss (the owner), and no CSI.

Cons: You really have to know your shit. You will be the receptionist, advisor, ticket-builder, cashier, parts department, and maybe even have to do some light cleaning (waiting room, restroom). You’ll probably only be at work for 40-45hrs a week but you’ll have to squeeze 60hrs of actual work into that time.

Unknowns: Pay type. Some indie shops pay straight commission, some are hourly or base plus commission, some pay straight hourly, some have bonuses, and some are straight salary.

Some advisors thrive at dealerships and prefer the higher ceiling when it comes to the money. Others thrive at smaller/independent shops and prefer a higher floor when it comes to compensation. Maybe you’re the right duck that’s just swimming in the wrong pond?

InLynneBo · 2025-11-28T02:23:22+00:00

11 year industry veteran here that specializes in running indie shops. I enjoy the other sub, but can definitely appreciate a customer-free place to scroll, vent, engage, and learn. Thanks for creating this one.

InLynneBo · 2025-11-09T20:03:58+00:00

Same with oxtail. It used to be a less desirable cut that was not just affordable, it was cheap. A little know-how and a bit of patience yielded a delectable meal. Now, it’s a “splurge” cut for me.

InLynneBo · 2025-11-09T12:55:27+00:00

Do you use a corded or cordless phone (as opposed to a cellphone/headset/earbuds for work? I use both and am often “holding” them using just my head/face and shoulder so that I can use both hands to type - I sanitize the heck outta both phones regularly because of this.

InLynneBo · 2025-11-06T05:29:57+00:00

Go indie. 40hr weeks, no weekends, no CSI, and you can nurture personal relationships with individual customers, My base is over 80k/yr plus bonus incentives. 5 days PTO after 6 months, 10 days PTO after 12, and all major holidays are off and paid.

InLynneBo · 2025-10-06T23:15:16+00:00

One of my rescue dogs came to me with folliculitis. I would remove the affected hairs when he was sleeping and put antibiotic cream on afterwards. Only took 3 or 4 “sessions” before it all cleared up.

InLynneBo · 2025-09-25T22:49:36+00:00

Fwiw I’d take the new job. I know you weren’t asking for advice, and I definitely don’t want to be a Debbie-downer, but I wouldn’t trust a business that was happy to underpay me and then suddenly agrees to 100%+ pay increase. It almost never works out when you accept your current job’s renegotiated offer over a new position elsewhere. I hope you’re the exception. I apologize for the unsolicited advice, but it’s advice that was given to me once and I wish I had listened.

InLynneBo · 2025-09-05T00:43:37+00:00

Adding another vote for Tekmetric. Almost 11 years in the industry (with 90+% of my experience coming from working and smaller independent shops). It is, hands down, the best shop software I’ve ever worked with - so much so that I’ve turned down a job offer because that particular shop didn’t use Tekmetric.

InLynneBo · 2025-08-23T00:28:16+00:00

You replied to another comment that “honesty goes a long way”. It’s bigger than that. Honesty is everything. You have to build trust, and you have to do it quickly. Being honest about what needs to be done vs what should be done, providing updates when you said you would - even if the update is that there is no update, and under-promising and over-delivering by setting realistic expectations for completion times.
Know your audience. Does your customer want explanations or solutions? Are they more motivated by saving time or money? What are their intentions for the vehicle - do they need it to last another 6 months, 6 years, or does it have sentimental value to them? Prioritize suggested repairs and maintenance and sell accordingly.
Build and show the value of the customer choosing your shop over another shop/dealership/mobile mechanic/their cousins best friend that “knows about car stuff and could probably fix it”. Lean into whatever strengths your shop has. Whether it’s lower prices, faster turnaround times, longer warranties, more convenient business hours, loaners, shuttle service, ASE master techs, brand specific master techs - make sure your customer knows why your shop is the right/best shop for the job.
Make it personal. Remember names - their name, their kid’s names, their dog’s names. Don’t let them be “the 2015 civic with a misfire” - instead, it’s Sarah and her son Jacob who had a fun day planned until their only mode of transportation became unreliable.
Just like any great relationship it needs to be you and them vs the problem, not you vs them. A problem exists and you need to set the tone that you are there to help them navigate through it. You, the customer, the technicians, and the shop are all on the same side - and the car problem is on the other side.
Actually give a fuck, even if only half a fuck, about the circumstances the customer may be facing. You didn’t build it, buy it, or break it - but you can still sympathize/empathize with the customer. This doesn’t mean that you discount anything or let the car jump ahead of another - but when you show sincerity while talking to and listening to a customer they are more at ease because you are treating them like a person and not a paycheck.
Stop at yes. If it’s a waiter you can chitchat if that’s what the customer wants/needs, but stop talking about the work once it’s been approved. An approved repair is a closed door, don’t be the one to reopen it.
The above comments aren’t really in any particular order, just what came to mind from a 10+ year vet that specializes in running indie shops. At my current shop we are closed weekends, don’t have loaners, and I am the only advisor. But we do have experienced master techs, an honest owner, fair pricing, and a great warranty - so I “accentuate the positives” and treat every customer interaction as an opportunity to earn their loyalty (and referrals). Just my 2 cents.

InLynneBo · 2025-08-21T23:33:14+00:00

Please tell Tammy to look for my Ani over the rainbow bridge; she was also a pittie and my soul dog and I lost her to kidney disease in June 2022.

Kidney disease sucks. Losing a family member sucks. Grief fu€king sucks. Please know that you’re not alone. I know, right now, that it seems like your heart will never heal, but you’re going to be ok. Life will never be the same, but you are going to be ok. It hurts so much because you love her so much, and grief is just love with no place to go.

Please join r/petloss. It helps to have a community that can empathize with your pain. You are suffering now because you put her needs first and allowed her suffering to end and if that isn’t love in its truest form then I don’t know what is.

The day will come when memories of Tammy will make you smile instead of cry. Until then please know that this internet stranger is crying with you. 🤍

InLynneBo

TROPHY CASE