{"podcast":{"title":"Repair Shop Reckoning","slug":"repair-shop-reckoning-7416916","podcast_index_feed_id":7416916,"rss_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/show/6688688/episodes/feed","website_url":"https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688","image_url":"https://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/a38e18411320853387e4ba9306142b39.jpg","author":"Loud Mouth Studio","episode_count":63,"summary":"Repair Shop Reckoning is the no-nonsense, hard-hitting podcast where host Kevin Brown pulls no punches in bringing you the raw truth about the collision and repair shop industry. Forget the corporate sugarcoating—this show dives into the gritty reality of what really goes on behind the scenes. Whether you’re a shop owner, a mechanic, or just someone tired of the BS, Kevin’s got the hard-earned expertise and unapologetic opinions you need. Each episode tackles the biggest issues, challenges, and game-changing tips in the industry, giving you the tools to cut through the noise and level up your shop. Buckle up—it’s time to get real. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support .","last_synced_at":"2026-07-17T20:21:36.202254+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning-7416916"},"episode":{"title":"How The Race To Zero Is Killing The Independent Collision Shops","slug":"how-the-race-to-zero-is-killing-the-independent-collision-shops","published_at":"2026-01-16T12:00:09+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning-7416916/how-the-race-to-zero-is-killing-the-independent-collision-shops","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning-7416916","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/how-the-race-to-zero-is-killing-the-independent-collision-shops--69458873","audio_url":"https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/69458873/rsp_snake_farm_audio.mp3","summary":"Featuring Kevin Brown, host of Repair Shop Reckoning, and Jason Tracey — this one is a full-blown reality check for shop owners who are sick of getting squeezed from every direction. Kevin doesn’t sugarcoat it: the collision world is sliding into a Race to Zero where shops keep dropping prices to “win” work… and end up financing repairs out of their own pocket. Meanwhile, insurers keep tightening the screws, MSOs keep setting the “standard,” and the customer gets caught in the middle with cheap parts, fear-based steering, and word-track manipulation. This episode is not for the “pros” who already have their numbers dialed in. It’s for the owners who feel like they’re drowning, constantly negotiating backward, and wondering why they’re working harder than ever but not getting ahead. What we get into: The Race to Zero and how it quietly bankrupts good shops Why MSOs (885 shops strong) shift pricing power away from independents The truth about DRPs, steering, and “out of network” fear tactics State Farm logic gymnastics: premiums up, labor rates down… same excuse One-party checks and why they wreck repair outcomes (and your time) Why free estimates are a trap and how admin/estimate fees protect your shop Storage fees done right (and why documentation is everything) The “cheat code” that changes adjuster behavior: reply-all transparency Why Kevin records calls, tracks everything by VIN/claim number, and covers his ass like a pro The real lesson: insurance companies don’t own your business — unless you let them Kevin also drops hard-earned shop-floor tactics: charging appropriately for time, marking up sublet work correctly, refusing to renegotiate supplements after the work is done, and setting boundaries that force respect. The Takeaway If you don’t know your costs, you’l…","meta_description":"Featuring Kevin Brown, host of Repair Shop Reckoning, and Jason Tracey — this one is a full-blown reality check for shop owners who are sick of getting sq…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3616,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/repair-shop-reckoning-7416916/episodes/how-the-race-to-zero-is-killing-the-independent-collision-shops/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning-7416916/how-the-race-to-zero-is-killing-the-independent-collision-shops.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}