So I'm thinking throwing a idea out for using go pro cameras for vehicle inspections on customer cars while doing the Inspections or repairs.
My question for you guys is would you take a half hour out of your day to watch a video of your car being looked at for the recommended repairs before dumping money into things that before would have just been word of mouth.
Also, Would be good for doing actual repairs as well, such as doing timing belts. So a customer spends in-between five hundred to a thousand dollars to have a timing belt, idler pulley(s) tensioner, water pump, cam(s) seals, crank seal replaced and they don't even know were that money went. Well if they really want to know. This would also be a great opportunity.
I'm a visual person and would like to see what I would be putting my money into.

I want to know how many of you would be more willing to buy a shops product with this kind of opportuniy?
Or if there is negatives to this I would like to know why?

I would have liked to have something like this for me to look at several yrs ago when we were on vacation down in TN. Got took for a few hundred $ for a sway bar end link repair and idler arm and alignment that I would have liked to see if they actually performed.

There are times when I would use it, and other times when I would be just a eate of time. I would think that a few digital stills, offer to email them, would suffice. No need to take the time and set up lights, tripods or other mounts, edit video then send the finished product. Nope, 3-10 stills should accomplish the same thing.

But I do like the idea

I think it might be good for shooting quick videos of the problem areas once you've done the inspection. Then it's a 5 minute video tops instead of 30 minutes. On the other hand, it could take up a lot of time for someone to edit the video etc. so you're not watching someone walk back and forth between their tool box or have a conversation with another tech or something. I think it's an interesting idea that would definitely set the shop apart from others though.

Very good points you guys bring up. I don't think there would be any editiing. If the customer requests the video, they can use there fast forward button. There also would be no sound. Only recording the trouble areas is a great idea as well. Record what is being recemmended and why.
Over all I think this would just be for the inspection process, to actually be able to show why things were recommended to the consumer. There are countless times were a customer is sitting in the waiting room, then you can bring them out to the car and show them what is actually going on with there vehicle. They are more inclined to buy a service from you when they can have a visual and explanation to go with it.
even if a customer didnt want to use this tool. I think it would provide a good piece of mind that they did indeed bring there vehicle to a trustworthy shop.

I may just start my own reality show " Auto Mechs" or "Top Techs"

I think this would be good for the "First Time" customer, but I don't think a regular cutomer with a history of good results would be interested.

I was going to add my perspective, but folks like me aren't bringing things into your shop anyway (DIYers or shade tree mechanics).

I think a video with sound and narration would be your best best. Walk to problem area, start recording, narrate what's wrong and why, stop recording. Go to next spot and start recording again. That way you show the customer what's wrong visually, as well as verbally without wasting a bunch of time walking back and forth. You would need to come up with a short list of bullet points to address for each item tho. Like,
what's wrong and why
can it go without repair for now, if so how long
etc

As for video of the actual repair - I say no. You could allow potential customers to DIY by watching your video. That's how I do a lot of my stuff. I just pulled a transaxle apart for the first time, but didn't have the confidence to do so until I watched a video on youtube. I've done the same with timing belts.

J.D.

Jesus man, great points you brought up. So we did go ahead and got this setup going. In the last week we have been using it. We give the option for the customers and we have had 4 this week go for it. This is a inspection video only. As Jesus man said, it's just the high light points. Made short simple and easy to understand. The 4 that approved thought it was very informative and very helpful to were they really should be putting there money towards. Hopefully this will be gaining more interest.

Keep us posted. Would be interesting to see the statistics of how many people go for the extra repairs when shown the video vs those who do not see the video.

J.D.