Car fixer, MBA

It’s not often that one comes across a mechanic who can talk about the philosophy of Martin Buber and the economic theory of Milton Friedman while fixing your car. Then again, there aren’t many mechanics who started out as a seminarian and ended up as a car repair shop owner who just happens to have an MBA degree.

"When I was a seminarian in a Benedictine Abbey formation house in San Beda College, a fellow postulant and I would help a monk assigned in motor pool with all the car repairs. It was there that I discovered my interest in car repairs and decided to make a career of it," said Danilo Maramba, president and general manager of 249 Motor Works.

Maramba put up his own business in 1996, a year after managing the motor shop of a family friend. The car repair shop was named after its location at 249 Kanlaon St. in Quezon City.

"I started with P1 million in capital, which I used to purchase the necessary tools and machineries as well as office equipment. It was really hard at first, especially financially. There came a point when I could not meet on time the payment of salaries. It was scary, because I had only myself to depend on," he said.

Within a year, Maramba got his investment back. He put up a second outlet in Baler St., also in Quezon City, and a third outlet in his hometown of Dagupan, Pangasinan. "It’s difficult to have a business partner, especially when it comes to making decisions. But I have an industrial partner who also acts as the general manager for the Dagupan branch," he said.

Keeping ahead

In a business characterized by rampant pirating of clients, 249 Motor Works keeps ahead by offering personalized service at affordable prices. Senior technicians attend seminars on such subjects as upgrades in vehicle painting, which they are expected, in turn, to teach to their subordinates. The work of all 45 members of the technical staff in the three branches are also constantly evaluated.

The car repair shop also offer free services such as the handling of the required paperwork for claims from insurance agencies and the Land Transportation Office and a 24-hour towing service from anywhere in Metro Manila to any of its shops.

"We have had our share of occasional customer problems but these are all part of doing business," said Maramba. "There have been instances when a customer would come to us without telling us that there is already a broken part. They would then come back to accuse us that the part broke after they brought the vehicle to us for repair. There are also some customers who will pay only what they want to pay."

Trend

Although profitable, 249 Motor Works and other three-star motor shops now face direct competition from five-star motor shops, which have entered the out-of-warranty repairs business.

To stay ahead, 249 Motor Works intends to satisfy the needs of its impressive portfolio of high-profile clients, which include ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. and all Avis Rent-a car and metered taxi cabs. It is also expanding to Mandaluyong this year and to Cebu next year.

"Some competitors just do this for the money. Me? I do this for love. I guess it is very important that you work with passion and treat the customers like your friends," he said.

Judging from its volume of business, 249 Motor Works has a lot of friends.