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It all seems to work. As Don takes over full ownership of the business
from his father, Airport Transmission continues to be a growing success.
With over 10,000 sq ft under roof and 13 lifts, it takes ten employees
including three full-time builders to keep up with their daily operation.
The work load is driven by a
number of things, not the least of which is an excellent reputation in the
community, and referred customers.
A full page Yellow Pages ad helps, but
it was a television ad that Don put together that has been
something of a coup for the business.
The spot is simply Don talking to the camera; not so much about
transmissions,
but about the responsibility he feels his business has to the economic
health of the community. Don reinforces the practice of his business; how
they employ local people to repair, install and maintain transmissions,
and don’t use transmissions remanufactured out of the area and shipped in,
as many of his competitors do.
He stresses Airport’s emphasis on quality, and how they stand behind their
rebuilt transmissions... to the
tune of ;
four-year, fifty-five thousand mile warranties...
with some warranties extended to 75,000 miles. They offer free pick up and delivery, and can offer their own financing.
Airport Transmission is also an authorized repair facility for many
after-market
warranty insurance programs.
Don said they can offer such
solid warranties because their work holds up. Each of his experienced
builders is granted the latitude to rebuild transmissions as they know
best, using kits of their choice, all quality parts and upgrades, and
high-quality torque converters.
They know they’re high-quality, Don said,
because they’re the ones that build them.
It makes little sense, Don said,
to rebuild what you know is the best possible transmission, and then take
your chances on the torque converter. Burned too often, they bought a
converter remanufacturing operation and moved the equipment to their shop
in Rochester.
Under the name “Custom
Converters,” 20 to 30 top-quality torque converters are rebuilt
each day for their use, as well as for sale to other shops.
The converter
operation will soon expand even more as Don intends to purchase the
manufacturing equipment from another shop and add it to the Custom
Converter operation.
Did I mention that Airport Transmission is big on customer service? Don
said, “We’ll do whatever we need to do to take care of our customer.”
Part of that means, in his opinion, not using remanufactured
transmissions. “I’ve never been sold on the remanufacturing concept,” he said,
preferring instead to rebuild each unit and returning it to the vehicle
it came from. “I think it makes for fewer problems in the long run.”
About 40% of their work comes from wholesale fleet accounts,
local government, utility
companies, and other organizations with large vehicle fleets. They also
are affiliated with several local general repair garages, with which they
cross-refer vehicles, depending on need.
To reward shops or others that
refer customers to Airport, Don often gets inventive. He often passes out
tickets to sporting events, gift certificates, movie tickets, and tickets
for the newly opened high-speed ferry that runs between Rochester and
Toronto.
Don’s father, Marvin, joined ATRA around the time he first opened for
business. Don saw the benefit of belonging to the organization, but wanted
to see more of an association presence in the greater New York area. He
also felt that the area would support a continuing series of technical and
management seminars if ATRA would be willing to provide them. To help move
that along, Don spearheaded the creation of the Empire States Chapter of
ATRA, and ran for a spot on the International Board. He won, and has been
very active in ATRA business since.
He was right about the need-for
seminars in his area: in the past year or so, ATRA has provided training
seminars in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PA, New York, and Atlantic City,
NJ. They’ve been well-attended, and have resulted in several shops joining
the association.
More seminars are slated for the near future.
Getting to know Don Swartz and Airport Transmission a little better
was a well-spent opportunity.
It’s nice to know that a young businessman will continue to contribute so
much to his community, and the legacy-business started by his father.
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