John, All dealers and large non-oem shops are dead. I am an independent with 2 trucks and adding a 3rd in march. I have found that customers medium and large are looking for Value and Integrity, which has made it a good business environment for us. It appears that most customers are just waiting for a good alternative to Dealers whom, to them, all seem the same. Over-priced, high employee turnover, billing issues, unkept promises, over-billing, poor work from under experienced/underpaid "wet behind the ears", fresh out of "autoshop" students. My advise to you is give the customer what they pay for, admit when you make mistakes, invest in your "naturals", and when you find that tech with something special, pay him well.