{"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":"The Collision Industry's Race to Zero","slug":"the-collision-industry-s-race-to-zero","published_at":"2026-06-19T11:00:02+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning-7416916/the-collision-industry-s-race-to-zero","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning-7416916","url":"https://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-collision-industry-s-race-to-zero--72589069","audio_url":"https://api.spreaker.com/download/episode/72589069/rsr_insurance_game.mp3","summary":"In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin takes on one of the most controversial topics in the collision repair industry: Who decides what a repair is worth? Too many shop owners have accepted the idea that an insurance estimate is the final word. Kevin argues that's exactly the mindset that has created what he calls the industry's \"Race to Zero\"—a constant push toward lower labor rates, reduced markups, shrinking profits, and shops working harder while making less. This episode breaks down why insurance estimates are not contracts, why knowing your numbers matters more than ever, and why so many shop owners are unknowingly giving away profit every single day. You'll hear why: The insurance company is not your customer Labor rates should be based on your costs, not what an adjuster wants to pay Short pay billing isn't something to fear Why Kevin refuses to hand over vendor invoices How third-party adjusters influence repair costs And why accepting less than your business needs hurts more than just your shop Kevin also shares real world stories involving insurance negotiations, supplements, storage fees, customer responsibility, and the importance of documenting everything. At the heart of this episode is a simple but powerful message: If you don't know what it costs to run your business, somebody else will decide what your business is worth. The shops that survive and thrive aren't the ones chasing every job or accepting every insurance decision. They're the ones that understand their numbers, stand behind their value, and refuse to participate in the Race to Zero. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/repair-shop-reckoning--6688688/support .","meta_description":"In this episode of Repair Shop Reckoning, Kevin takes on one of the most controversial topics in the collision repair industry: Who decides what a repair…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3617,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/repair-shop-reckoning-7416916/episodes/the-collision-industry-s-race-to-zero/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/the-collision-industry-s-race-to-zero.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}