Flyers on windshields needing repair

[scratchy]

One thing you need to do is make the business card you put on the window valuable. I had the printer put a seal on it that said $5 off any repair with this card. People hold the card, call and then forget to present it for the discount! It gets about 5 repairs per 100 if put out at lunch time wednesday through saturday. Sunday-Tuesdays are dead. I also put them on cars with good windshields. When they get the first chip they freak and want it fixed asap. I have had several like this.

[WIN-1]

I informed several of my classmates they had chips in their nice cars at a local college.
Apparently they resented me finding fault with their vehicles & declined free service.
This ois after I had given them some free stuff they needed for school.
I also posted a flyer advertising free repair + a cash referral & non-profit fundraiser program.
No response= APATHY?
Ken

[Nelson]

Well I got a call on one of the flyers I put out. I have an appointment for tomorrow morning. It is with a large manufacturing plant. I guess I put a flyer on the owners car that had damage on it. He wants me to repair his car and hopefully I will get some more work from there. Well I guess I am at .33% responce to the flyers I put out. I only had about 1 hour of labor putting them out and about $5.00 in materials. I would like to get about 10 more calls but I am not holding my breath. I am just glad I got a call.

Nelson

[shermfiddle]

Thats great Nelson,

If you hand write these flyers with the idea that they were written personally to the owner of the vehicle, you should get about a 2 to 5% response. Wouldn't it be nice if we all could get 33%? Lots of luck.

"I still love this business"

[Nelson]

Unfortantly it was not 33% but .33% big difference.

[shermfiddle]

OPPPP'S! I misread your percentage. Keep trying!!

[Nelson]

I have still been putting out flyers but not much of a return on them. I was putting some out the other day and a guy pulled up with a bulls eye on his windshield I gave him a flyer and told him we can fix it while he shops. He said OK and when he got done shopping he paid me and said thanks.

I am having some 18" X 24" road signs made right now. They should be ready latter today. I know I will get lots of business off them. My sign guy is only charging me 2.20 for each sign. I hope my phone starts ringing off the hook. I will let you know if this method works better.

Nelson
Glass and Dent Solutions

[Nelson]

I put out 8 signs and got 2 calls so far out of them. I have one appt. tomorrow from them. I would guess I will get more calls tomorrow.

I went to several dealerships today and did not get any jobs. They all already had a windshield guy. I did not just turn and leave I did all the proper things still nothing. One place had 10 cars with chips and they said there windshield guy was just there this morning. I asked if he was unable to do those cars and they said they were happy with what he does. I did see one of his repairs. It was a star that looked like he just put pit filler on it with curing tape and cured. Did not even remove the excess. Large area of resin on top of the star. Did not have any resin in the damage. Would have looked better if he did not even touch it.

I am getting frustrated. I think I am going to only concentrate on retail. I was hoping to have a few car lot accounts so I would have some steady business. Did you have the same frustrations in the beginning?

Nelson

[shermfiddle]

I'm not a big fan of car lots. I hate to seek the business from them because of their arrogant opinion of windshield repair guys. I believe that they feel that the repairs are going to cost them too much money and that they can reduce the amount off the vehicle for what it would cost for the repair. No regard for the customer and the product that he or she sells. I know we should encourage quality repairs at all times. I use to give them one free repair each time that I visited them about once per month. You would think they would kiss your feet but instead they could give a crap about how the time you put into the free repair. The money is in RETAIL not car lots. Try to establish 5 to 10 fleet accounts. They are a lot easier to establish. Fleet managers know how much is lost when a vehicle is down. They pay enormous amounts of money to fix a transmission, motor, etc etc. They will pay you top dollar to repair to have a reliable w/r person to care for their windshields and save them a LOT of money. It really makes you feel worthy to give them your expertise and quality repairs for a fair price and not feel like some kind of vagabond. Just my two cents worth after 8 years in this business.

"I still love this business"

[Ridge Runner]

Right on the mark Sherm,but the arrogance is toward the customer as well. I took Ricky Reed's advice & got a couple rubber stamps made @ Office Depot & am stamping all outgoing business mail. Am waiting to receive another stamp that reads "$5.00 OFF ANY REPAIR WITH THIS CARD" (per another recent post) & will stamp the back of my business cards. Also plan on getting signs made. Great idea Nelson. Thanks everyone for some really good ideas. Keep em comin!