About All Access with the Auto Appearance Institute
Welcome to The All Access Podcast from Dent Repair Now — where the paintless dent repair and automotive appearance industry comes to learn, grow, and level up.
Hosted by Gene Fetty, technician, trainer, and founder of The Institute @ Dent Repair Now, each episode dives deep into the tools, techniques, and business strategies that drive real success in today’s PDR world.
From glue pull repair and estimating to marketing, mindset, and community events — this show gives you full access to the conversations, insights, and stories shaping the industry’s future.
Whether you’re a seasoned tech, a new student, or a shop owner building your brand, you’ll find practical takeaways and fresh perspectives in every episode.
🎧 Subscribe and join the conversation —
Because at Dent Repair Now, the industry learns here.
In this episode of the All Access Podcast, Gene shares a simple but powerful idea that has shaped his entire approach to business: expect success and show up ready for it.
After nearly three straight weeks of work between Level Up training, large repairs, and studio remodeling, the shop schedule suddenly looked light. It would have been easy to assume the week was going to be slow.
Instead, Gene approached the week with a different mindset.
Show up.
Expect success.
Make it happen.
That mentality resulted in over $1,100 in additional work captured during the week, simply because the shop was open, ready, and prepared when opportunity appeared.
Gene compares this mindset to early route days in the PDR business — when showing up at a dealership, even in bad weather, often meant discovering repairs that would never have happened if he had stayed home.
The lesson is simple:
You cannot capture opportunity if you aren’t present.
Key Takeaways
1. Success Starts With Showing Up
Many technicians sabotage themselves before the day even begins by assuming the day will be slow.
Expecting failure often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
2. Action Creates Opportunity
Opportunities rarely arrive perfectly scheduled.
They appear when you're already in motion.
3. The “Pizza Shop Problem”
Gene shares a story about a pizza shop that kept reducing its hours because business seemed slow. Each time the hours were shortened, customers stopped ordering later — reinforcing the belief that the shop needed to close earlier.
Eventually, the business collapsed because it stopped being available when customers needed it.
4. Advice for Hail Chasers
If you're trying to land hail work:
Pack the truck.
Go where the storm hit.
Shake hands.
Meet people.
Success goes to the technicians who show up ready to work.
What’s Coming Next
Gene is preparing to travel to Milan for the DB Expo, where he will:
Help launch a new KECO prototype tool
Connect with European tool manufacturers
Record interviews with technicians and industry leaders
Capture behind-the-scenes content from the event
Upcoming episodes will include conversations from the show floor.
New Beginner Podcast Series
Gene also announces a new 10-episode podcast series for beginners entering the PDR industry.
The series will focus on:
Learning philosophy
Tool selection
Training strategy
What it really takes to enter the business
Episodes will release one at a time and be designed to be bingeable like a Netflix series.
9 Mar 2026
#60 Why Are PDR Techs So Obesed
Episode 60 – Shop Talk Sunday
The Obsession Behind High-Level Dent Repair
One week after the Level Up training, Gene shares feedback from students already applying techniques they learned in class.
But the big story of this episode is a brutal BMW liftgate repair that turned into one of the most difficult panels Gene has ever attempted.
The damage occurred when a liftgate was backed into a garage door. Body shops quoted replacement between $3,500–$4,500, making repair financially questionable for the vehicle owner.
Instead, the car became a live demonstration vehicle for the Level Up class.
Things didn’t go according to plan.
What should have been a quick rough-out turned into a multi-hour battle with:
Locked metal
Heavy German steel
Extreme tension setups
Hydraulic pushing
Multiple pull strategies
Eventually, through collaboration with several advanced technicians in the class, the panel started to unlock.
But the real takeaway wasn’t the repair itself.
It was the obsession that drives PDR technicians to keep chasing perfection long after the job is technically done.
Gene reflects on:
Why dent repair attracts obsessive personalities
The psychological drive to “beat the panel”
The balance between perfection and practicality
What we can learn from extreme repairs
The episode also includes tool talk featuring some new gear Gene has been testing in the shop.
Tools Mentioned
Dent Proof Epay Paddle
Izzy Does PDR Custom Hammer
A1 “Zamer” Tapper
Dent Craft Double Bend Tool
KECO K-Power
KECO Tab Straps
Anson Phenolic Tips
VIP Machined Blocks
Peak Knockdown Tips
Coming Soon
Gene and Melissa will soon be traveling to Italy for the DB Expo, with plans to record podcast content and vlog the experience.
2 Mar 2026
#59 Level Up Recap with Zan Vidic
Level Up Training Recap
Gene and Žan sit down after Level Up training to talk about what made this year’s class such a success. The training sold out quickly and brought together technicians with experience levels ranging from just a few years to more than two decades.
One of the biggest highlights was the strong camaraderie among the students. Technicians stayed late working repairs, shared techniques, and built relationships that will continue long after the class ended.
Structured Skill Progression
The class followed a deliberate progression:
Glue pulling fundamentals
Sharp dent repair
Deep sharp dents
Sharp crease repairs
Advanced smash damage
Students consistently reported learning new techniques every day and gaining new insights into repairs they previously struggled with.
The BMW Smash Repair
One of the most memorable moments of the class was working on a severely damaged BMW hatch.
Originally expected to be a demonstration repair, it became one of the most complex repairs Gene has ever attempted.
The repair required:
Advanced tension setups
Team collaboration
Structural metal analysis
Controlled unfolding
The repair demonstrated how advanced damage often requires teamwork and problem-solving beyond standard techniques.
Learning Through Different Styles
One unique feature of Level Up is having two instructors with different repair styles.
Žan’s approach:
Fast production mindset
Aggressive pushing
Cherry cap techniques
Slide hammer glue pulling
Gene’s approach:
Retail-level precision
Controlled pushing
Mini-lifter glue pulling
Paint-safe techniques
Students benefit from seeing both approaches and developing their own repair style.
The Importance of Finishing Dents
One of the biggest lessons emphasized during training was the importance of finishing dents to a higher level.
Wholesale technicians often move quickly through repairs, but true skill growth comes from pushing repairs to the highest possible quality.
Technicians who consistently push themselves toward perfection continue improving long-term.
Team-Based Repair Inspiration
The conversation highlighted the team-based repair model used by Jay Ma and Superior PDR in Taiwan.
Instead of one technician completing a repair alone, multiple technicians rotate through large repairs to maximize efficiency and results.
Follow Jay Ma here:
Instagram: @superiorpdrtaiwan
This approach proved valuable during the BMW repair where multiple technicians worked together to move locked-up metal.
Online Training Resources
Žan also introduced his new Hail Damage Pro course — a nine-hour training focused on improving hail repair efficiency and quality.
The discussion emphasized that online training can be a powerful supplement to in-person instruction.
Future Level Up Classes
Another Level Up training is planned for next year with the same three-day format and limited class size.
Join the interest list:
https://www.dentrepairnow.com/level-up
Who has been a guest on All Access with the Auto Appearance Institute
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Gene Hetland
Gene Fetty
Noah from DentOps
Ryan Hampton
Zan Vidic
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
54,969
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
41
Social presence
91
YouTube
76
Engagement
32
Contact All Access with the Auto Appearance Institute
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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