Dear Body Shop Owner: You’re Not a Librarian. You’re a Collision Repair Professional.

Every other industry charges for research.

• Accountants charge if you ask for IRS guidance

• Lawyers charge for reading case law

• Even your tax guy bills you for looking up deductions

But somehow, when you pull manufacturer procedures that explain exactly why a system needs calibration, the expectation is:

“Thanks for the lesson. Still not paying for it.”

Enough.

Final Word: If They’re Going to Make You Prove It, They’re Going to Pay for It

Start charging a reasonable Research/Documentation Support Fee.Be fair. Be transparent. But don’t eat that time anymore.

Because you’re not just fixing cars — you’re carrying the weight of a broken system that refuses to learn. And that service has value.