Customer Service

In addition to my editorial duties with AMT magazine, I have also taken over as editor for another magazine here at Cygnus -- Light Truck and SUV. This month I am working on a cover story on the team from Galpin Auto Sports (GAS). You may have heard of GAS. They do the MTV show Pimp my Ride. They bring a beat up car into the shop and do a total makeover on it. When it leaves, it usually has lots of customizations including new interior, entertainment system, engine and paint job.  During the inverview with GAS president Beau Boeckmann, I asked him what the secret of his success was. "Make sure you always put your customer first," he said. "If you work to make money, that money may not come. If you work to satisfy your customers, the money will always come." Simple words, but something to think about. We must always do our best and go out of the way to please Our customers. And remember that customers aren't just those customers that come in the shop. We can also have internal customers. For example, the paint shop has customers in the other departments that are counting on them doing a good job. If we let down our customers, our business will hurt. I got to spend a lot of time with the technicians at GAS. There are some very talented technicians in the shop. But it was quickly evident that the success of GAS is due in large part to the employees' positive can-do attitudes. Every single employee knew the importance of excellent customer service, and they all went out of their way to make sure every customer was 100 percent satisfied. Combine that with their high level of talent, and you have a recipe for success. It's easy to see why they have enjoyed the success they have had over the years. Thanks for reading! Joe Escobar