New Vehicle Dealerships

[SGT]

I justed started trying to solicitate dealerships within the past week and we were able to pick up 2 so far. If you can supply any tips or insight for dealing with dealerships and there pet peeves when it comes to vendors, it would be greatly appreciated?

Also trying to get a feel for how many dealerships you service on any given day and how many repairs they need per week? I know it depends on how much work they have. I am just looking for an average across the board.

I am trying to not out grow my ability to provide the level of service we pride ourselves on.

Thanks To All.

[GlassStarz]

First remember that the easiest one to get into are the easiest to lose
Second price is all important to thes guys
Third get some kind of add on that makes you harder to replace like interior repair or paint chip/scratch repair (After adding the paint/scratch I generally just service one or two dealerships a day $300-$500 is real easy with a 5 hr day)
Fourth make dealing with them quick and easy dont spend alot of time with the mgr hes busy
Fifth dont get into the my repairs are better or give em a long bio of how you do yours different than the other guy they dont care as long as the repairs look good he could care less whether you use a $20,000 machine or a tube of super glue
i worked as a salesman in the car buisness for over 20 yrs prior to making the change and honestly have forgotten more about the buisness just today than most will evr know. Dealership work is easy to get and a steady source of income keep banging you head and keep showing up asking for the buisness even if they always say no sooner or later they will say yes
Good Luck

[SGT]

Thanks GlassStarz. Does this seem like a normal sequence?

1. Show up at dealership walk the lot(Does that include cars that are not ready for sale in the back)?

2. Go in and see the pre owned mgr with all stock numbers to get keys to make repairs

3. Make all repairs

4. Hand in invoice to get paid per your payment schedule.(Who gets invoice)?

5. Do you guys who get paid monthly also send an invoice near the end of the month that reflects all work preformed for the month?

Any other steps or what is your routine?

[johnnyone]

1 Show up and walk the lot its good exercize, the salemen will hit on you and you sell your self on them

2 Go in and meet the GM and ask if they need service

3 Go to the waiting lounge and have some free refreshment and ask the customers if they need any service

4 Make a list of all vehicles that need repair then ask the GM if you can do the repairs and about payment.

[SGT]

Thanks GlassStarz & Jonnyone.

I thought threre were alot more techs on the forum who work the dealerships. Maybe everyone just does the same process when it comes to handeling them. If anyone does anything different or just has additional inside tips, please share. Thanks.

[SGT]

Do you guys offer a volume discount?

My retail for a rock chip is $65.00, $10.00, $10.00 unless it is through insurance. I will be charging the dealerships $40.00, $10.0, $10.00. I was thinking of offering a volume dicount...

3-5 different vehicles that need repairs $35.00, $10.00, $10.00
6-10 different vehicles that need repairs $30.00, $10.00 $10.00

Do you guys charge one flat fee per windshield?

Do you charge the fee for each chip repaired, even if they are on the same windshield? (EX: if there were three chips on the same windshield, would you bill them at $40.00 dollars each=$120.00 billed)?

What do you guys charge?

[mrchip]

WHY GIVE DISCOUNTS!!!!??????
1. they can afford to pay you for your work
2. other vendors make a lot more money than windshield guys.. some vendors like pdr and paint touch up make hundreds at a stopso doing 2orr 3 repairs is small change to them
3. how about the time you spend each week and get nothing???
just because its a new car dealership doesnt mean you will get work each week
4 ws repair is the least of all the rest of vendors when it comes to getting work because some dealers have more than 1 repair guy loyalty is noy big and they just want the job done
only give a break if they are a good producing customer and then it would be a small discount maybe a second hit no charge maybe i dont like giving things away!!!

[GlassStarz]

around here the dealer rate is $25-$35 if you charge em retail you wont be there long because someone else will come in for less anyone who says dont discount to the dealer has never been to one and anyone who thinks the dealer is making buckets of money has never been in the car buisness car lots work on one of the lowest mark-ups of any buisness and ever dime counts

[sunshine wr]

Just a quick tip no-one has spoke about, mark your windshields (I use a paint marker) in some way so that you know what cars you've already checked. This will make your lot checking quicker, but always give previously checked cars a glance. I have had damage occur on test drives.

[Dave M]

Most, buy not all, dealerships will have the used car manager autherize repair work. I have one dealership that the re-con manager gives me the "ok" and some others where the service writers autherize the repair. Just find the right person plus a back-up person for the days when your first choice is not around.
Regarding the vehicles out back not ready for the retail lot....again, depends on the dealership. If the vehicle has not gone through the service dept. chances are pretty good that you will not get autherized to do a repair. Again, some dealers may feel that if the vehicle only has 30,000 miles or less that it will be a retail unit.
Good point about marking the vehicles. It will be time consuming when you first acquire an account but thereafter, it will be a breeze. I mark one corner of the w/s if it's fine, another corner if it needs a repair, another corner if I see someones old repair and finally another corner if I do the repair. This really helps in the cold months of the year!