Well, I haven't tried it, and I won't. If I am to the point where I need to hire someone, then I am at the point where I need to hire a TECH. If I can't afford the tech, then I'm not ready to hire anyone. Keep in mind, that a tech does cost more, but they also will make you money to be able to pay him, whereas the associate will only make it longer before you will be able to afford a tech. As far as following directions, why bother? It doesn't look professional to the customer, and if your taking the time to pay him, walk him through it, then remote in and fix it, pay for the fuel to get there; then why not just go there yourself and save some money?
At the time all the money was made by me being in the shop to manage they entire business. All communications and service would pass through me. All the client feedback, booking, everything. I'm quite sure I was a bit of a control freak before I hired techs. The idea of someone else doing the work drove me crazy it was a big stepping point to cross. In my case the associate did make me money by allowing me to stay in the shop 8-6 doing they above. I think if your alone and have a shop there are not many worse things you can do then having a sign on the door during business hours, something I did alot before they associates. As far as the customer they barely spoke to them always me and were made aware of exactly what was going to happen.