Customers ‘blown away' by body shop

Dan Dayfert is manager of the Northtown Collision Centre in Amherst, N.Y. Dayfert, along with Rob Gehring, president of Fixed Performance in Huron, Ohio, discussed Northtown's successful body shop operations.

Here are edited excerpts on:

Northtown's unique collision center scheduling

Dayfert: On Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, our employees work from 7:30 a.m. till 9 p.m. The next shift comes in Thursday, Friday, Saturday — same hours. A night shift comes in Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 8 p.m. till 7 a.m.

Providing overnight repairs

Dayfert: Any estimate we know maybe we're going to repair or replace the bumper, repair or replace a fender and maybe blend the door. Small repairs like that — you can drop your car off up until about 9 p.m. and pick it up the next morning by 7.

We have a full staff on night — body man, preppers, painters and detailers, and the car's detailed and ready by 7 a.m.

Customers' use of the overnight service

Dayfert: I would say eight to 10 customers a week take advantage of this and pick it up the next morning.

Usually, they're just blown away.

Gehring: I, frankly, have never seen a better example of a body shop providing customer care as what Dan and his dealership is providing currently.