It seems that the Lake Havasau News in the USA published an article about how a shop owner in their area is having problems at one of his stores with getting enough business, so he decided to convert the shop to a do it yourself repair facility. It provides an interesting read. Do you think it will work?

Tire and Auto Service Centers’ new do-it-yourself auto repair operation sits ready for business on the scheduled opening Tuesday, 1 Feburary. The other Tire and Auto Service Centers’ location across the street will continue as a full service operation.

As the economy went south, Tim Miller, president of Tire and Auto Service Centers, noticed more people began doing routine vehicle maintenance at home. With home car repair increasing in July he closed the location in preparation of reopening that location as a do-it yourself operation. Miller said. “It’s a work in progress.”

The do-it-yourself auto repair shop concept is not new, but after Miller committed to the new project he said he checked to see if other businesses around the country were doing it and found there weren’t many.

“It will have everything you would want in your backyard garage,” Miller said Tuesday morning from the business counter of the new project at 67 Capri Lane.

“Well over 100 people have contacted (me about the new operation),” Miller said.

While impacts of the sour economy helped drive Miller’s decision, it wasn’t the only factor that led to the new project.

In addition to the cost conscious do-it-yourself maintenance people, Miller said he also started the new project because of the local community’s high interest in tinkering on muscle or classic cars and “mobile mechanics who might be tired of working in the back of a truck or their own garage.”

Customers could save as much as 75 percent on labor costs for most repairs versus full service expenses, Miller said

Customers will start by renting the bay for a certain amount of time — a 30-minute oil change would cost $10, an hour rental would cost $25, a half-day rental would cost $100 and a one-day rental would cost $200.

From there, the customers have a chance to use 250 piece professional tools, including air tools to complete their work in the fully equipped shop, Miller said. An Automotive Service Excellence mechanic would be available to coach the customers doing the work for $25 an hour, or customers can rent a technician for $50 an hour, he added.