windshield repairs at a carwash

[noname]

There is a huge commercial, retail gas bar and carwash that will be opening in my area in the spring. For tent, parking lot, auto dealers, fleet, insurance and all the other business models I have no problem understanding the concept. However I don't really understand how the carwash marketing works. Does it matter if it is auto. or wandwash ? Are the repairs typically done before or after the prospect washes their car. Is it sort of a weekend business. Is compensation generally paid to the car wash owner? If anybody has any info or better yet direct expeirance that would be great. Up here in Canada it'll be a few months before a venture like this will be viable, but I guess it never hurts to plan early.

[GLASSTIME]

I waited a bit before chiming in on this. There has been alot of talk on the foum about this topic. Here is my opinon and soley mine. Personally I don't think it's the best idea and here's why. There are alot of "SCAMMERS" out there that are setting up at Self Serve and Automatic Carwashes and attacking every customer that comes through. I have noticed it is mostly the ones in my area that offer the "FREE VACUUM AREA" this allows the person to approach the customer while they are getting out of there vehcile and offer to demo a spray wax or clean there windshield with some sort of "HOT NEW PRODUCT".

As they are cleaning your WS they are scanning for chips. I've notice they don't "DRY" any of the "Chips" out or apply a "Chip Saver" or a protective cover to any chips before entering the wash. I'm unsure what there success ratio is when speaking of failed repairs. I could imagine it could be up there. Another thing is these are guys who work for a company, they do not own the business and they don't carry business cards or have you sign anything or give you anything with there contact information on it.

Almost all of these companies have now picked up and moved or at least we aren't seeing them around here anymore!

I think I would much rather strike a deal with some of your local retailers such as NAPA, AUTOZONE, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS or any other parts or Automotive related business. You could simply ask them if they would be interested in hearing how they could increase there traffic as well as there bottom line! Surely they will say yeah what you got? Tell them what you do and let them know you partner with local Automotive related companies in the area. Basically you set up a tent in there lot and for every repair or for every person walking into the store they will recieve a store coupon, maybe this coupon will allow them to take 10% from there total purchase in the store.

Now you have them thinking.. What's in it for you? Well, you definately need to sponsor the deal along with the business you've struck the deal with. What they see is one, they can get 10% in the store today off there total purchase , get a FREE Repair and walk away feeling as the winner!

I just don't think the CARWASH thing is the route to go. Sorry if I went off left field here just trying to lend some food for thought!

Goodluck!

[noname]

Thanks for your opinion and reply. I'm sure that not all parking lot repair kiosks are created equal, however the same can be said for fixed locations. I feel that I would stop short of calling them all scammers. Some who do not offer cards, contracts etc. are following a specific business model namely low overhead. Having 5 customers come to you is cheaper then going to 5 customers vis mobile service. This model is similar to a snow cone stand, just set up when business is brisk. Almost all business's are the same following the 80/20 rule. Working Monday to Friday gererates about the same cash as a busy Saturday.

[GLASSTIME]

To each their own!

I can't expressed to you enough how much "Professionalism" matters to a consumer. People out there are wanting business and they have the master plan to make it work, yet they lack "Professionalism" Geez! I feel if you don't have cards, print material ect. I don't and will not do business with them. Same goes if their vehicle is presentable, clean, organized, clean cut, sharp dressed, in my opinion when someone has all of this criteria! I feel they have at least enough passion for what they do for a living that they will almost always do a incrediable job for me. I work hard for my money and when I purchase something wether it's for my business, my family, my house I always expect the best regardless.

By not having proper print material how can you ecpect to have crediability in this industry. There's just too many Scammers ding improper repairs leaving not only a "Scar" on consumers but on the entire industry as a whole. This is definately a very touchy subject and honestly this isn't the place to exclaim my thoughts as I can get a little offensive!

I say do it right or don't do it at all.

In regards to

Having 5 customers come to you is cheaper then going to 5 customers vis mobile service.

That's a personal preference. I would rather go to the 5 customers, why? Well that;s simple. I've done the tent operation and can tell you for the 8 hours I set out there on a very , very busy area in my area should I include, I can do double. This is because I'm not playing the wait game, I
m able to come to them. What would you rather do? Sat for 8 hours and do 10 repairs (We will assume you have a good day) or go out to the customer and do 20? It's truly a personal preferance.

JMHO

[SanAntonioWindshield]

I waited a bit before chiming in on this. There has been alot of talk on the foum about this topic. Here is my opinon and soley mine. Personally I don't think it's the best idea and here's why. There are alot of "SCAMMERS" out there that are setting up at Self Serve and Automatic Carwashes and attacking every customer that comes through. I have noticed it is mostly the ones in my area that offer the "FREE VACUUM AREA" this allows the person to approach the customer while they are getting out of there vehcile and offer to demo a spray wax or clean there windshield with some sort of "HOT NEW PRODUCT".

As they are cleaning your WS they are scanning for chips. I've notice they don't "DRY" any of the "Chips" out or apply a "Chip Saver" or a protective cover to any chips before entering the wash. I'm unsure what there success ratio is when speaking of failed repairs. I could imagine it could be up there. Another thing is these are guys who work for a company, they do not own the business and they don't carry business cards or have you sign anything or give you anything with there contact information on it.

Almost all of these companies have now picked up and moved or at least we aren't seeing them around here anymore!

I think I would much rather strike a deal with some of your local retailers such as NAPA, AUTOZONE, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS or any other parts or Automotive related business. You could simply ask them if they would be interested in hearing how they could increase there traffic as well as there bottom line! Surely they will say yeah what you got? Tell them what you do and let them know you partner with local Automotive related companies in the area. Basically you set up a tent in there lot and for every repair or for every person walking into the store they will recieve a store coupon, maybe this coupon will allow them to take 10% from there total purchase in the store.

Now you have them thinking.. What's in it for you? Well, you definately need to sponsor the deal along with the business you've struck the deal with. What they see is one, they can get 10% in the store today off there total purchase , get a FREE Repair and walk away feeling as the winner!

I just don't think the CARWASH thing is the route to go. Sorry if I went off left field here just trying to lend some food for thought!

Goodluck!

Question. I'm new to the windshield business and was wondering about the 10% coupon with the Auto Part shop. Do these shops give you this authorization? Or you have to work it out?

[WindshieldScott]

We are currently working on this and so far, we have had to go work it out with the Auto Parts stores. (Sorry if this is a little late in the response. But I just registered.)

[WW973]

I waited a bit before chiming in on this. There has been alot of talk on the foum about this topic. Here is my opinon and soley mine. Personally I don't think it's the best idea and here's why. There are alot of "SCAMMERS" out there that are setting up at Self Serve and Automatic Carwashes and attacking every customer that comes through. I have noticed it is mostly the ones in my area that offer the "FREE VACUUM AREA" this allows the person to approach the customer while they are getting out of there vehcile and offer to demo a spray wax or clean there windshield with some sort of "HOT NEW PRODUCT".

As they are cleaning your WS they are scanning for chips. I've notice they don't "DRY" any of the "Chips" out or apply a "Chip Saver" or a protective cover to any chips before entering the wash. I'm unsure what there success ratio is when speaking of failed repairs. I could imagine it could be up there. Another thing is these are guys who work for a company, they do not own the business and they don't carry business cards or have you sign anything or give you anything with there contact information on it.

Almost all of these companies have now picked up and moved or at least we aren't seeing them around here anymore!

I think I would much rather strike a deal with some of your local retailers such as NAPA, AUTOZONE, ADVANCE AUTO PARTS or any other parts or Automotive related business. You could simply ask them if they would be interested in hearing how they could increase there traffic as well as there bottom line! Surely they will say yeah what you got? Tell them what you do and let them know you partner with local Automotive related companies in the area. Basically you set up a tent in there lot and for every repair or for every person walking into the store they will recieve a store coupon, maybe this coupon will allow them to take 10% from there total purchase in the store.

Now you have them thinking.. What's in it for you? Well, you definately need to sponsor the deal along with the business you've struck the deal with. What they see is one, they can get 10% in the store today off there total purchase , get a FREE Repair and walk away feeling as the winner!

I just don't think the CARWASH thing is the route to go. Sorry if I went off left field here just trying to lend some food for thought!

Goodluck!

hey the scammers ur talkin about and they are the worst the like to just throw some pit fill on and scrape or they will try to sell a repair that is just a diviot and get ins to pay right now i got some of them in my area and i go there when i have nothing to do and i hold a sign that says dont do it yoll be sorry there scamers