Customer service is a priority at Shutes Alignment & Frey Tire in ...

Hi-Tech expands services to meet customers’ demands and budgets
Continued from page 7
Barrows, who is president of the
SEMO Chapter AASP-MO and vice
president of the AASP-MO, said
belonging to organizations such as
Service Manager Jason Coleman books the repair jobs and
takes care of Hi-Tech Automotive’s day-to-day operations.
AASP-MO, AAA, and Design
Technologies in St. Louis helps keep his
technicians abreast of changes with
training. He added that networking with
neighboring shop owners is also helpful.
“We learn a lot more from one
another,” Barrows said.
“You never stop
learning in this business
and if you’re not willing
to learn, you might as
well go home, because
it changes every day.
There’s not a day or a
week goes by that you
don’t see something
new.”
Hi-Tech buys bulk oil
and grease from Wallis
Lubricant in St. Louis,
and purchases new antifreeze
and recycled
anti-freeze from
Products Plus, he said.
The shop collects all
waste oil and grease from its
own repair work, and also
serves as a collection center.
Rhyno Performance accepts
the waste oil for incineration
in a waste oil furnace,
Barrows said. Hi-Tech also
uses Products Plus to dispose
of discarded anti-freeze for
later recycling. Barrows added
that he is working with an
electrical contractor to add
more efficient lighting to be
more “green” and energy
efficient.
As a AAA Approved Auto
Repair Facility, Barrows said
Hi-Tech also takes part in
AAA’s annual Great American
Battery Roundup and
encourages customers to bring
in their old batteries.
The most enjoyable thing
about being in the auto repair
business is developing
relationships with customers,
Barrows said. “They’ll say,
‘Tom, we trust you, just fix it.
You don’t have to bother to
call us about the price.’ That’s
a good feeling.” n
Technician Jim Weisbrod changes the fuel injector on
a 1990 Chevrolet Corvette at Hi-Tech Automotive.
Newly hired Technician Shane Bowen works on
changing a valve cover gasket on a 1995 Chevrolet
Lumina at Hi-Tech Automotive.
Page 8 May 2012 Parts & People www.partsandpeople.com