Ever heard of M.A.R.S.???

[splitpit]

I'd say a guy trying to figure out how to pay for a high dollar franchise and a trailer full of equipment that he's not using! And I'm weak for pointing out that he is now the low price leader in our market area? I think not. I just think it's a ridiculous way to do business. Worried about competition? Nope, not at all. He isn't my competition. My business doesn't come from sitting on a corner with a sign. Never has. Never will. He has actually helped my business and his sign has served as a reminder to my customers that have called me. Thanks for the free advertising MARS!

[wsrusa]

The thought behind MARS doing the Free WS repair/ Tent thing is that.. Yes, they can scratch out a living doing Ins repairs and $30 dollar cash jobs in parking lots of the local Piggly Wiggly but..it's the $175 bumper job or the $75 cig burn repair is where he will really cash in. This WSR is only to open the door to more/higher paying work.

[wsrusa]

It's not just the franchise they have to pay for the tents are leased from corporate MARS (The big corporate MARS logoed tents not the standard ezee up) are leased @ 75 bucks per week with a 5k deposit. Plus MARS hits them up for 15%

[Brent Deines]

I have to admit that I know very little about the M.A.R.S. business model, but I have had some experience with franchises.

In the mid 90s I sold my glass shop, windshield repair business, and pressure wash business to purchase a tool franchise. I went to a week long training class with a bunch of people that had never owned their own business, so I was convinced I would be more successful than the rest of the group. As it turned out however, I was one of the first ones to throw in the towel. My tool business was a disaster from the start, and after about 6 months of losing money every day I just couldn't take it any longer. Within a couple of years, most of the people I attended training with had also gone out of business, and many of them had gone broke.

If I had to guess I would say that the tool company offering that particular franchise has been sued many times by disgruntled franchisees, but I don't think that is much different than any other franchise. Most people that get into business for themselves fail, and some of us fail several times before we find something that works for us. Still, I know several people that purchased the same franchise I did and have done very well with it, so I don't think it is fair to judge a franchise solely by the number of people who purchase it and fail. In my case I was disappointed in myself for not doing my homework, not in the company that offered me the opportunity.

As for prices, I think windshield repair is a very valuable service and I think a good windshield repair technician should be well paid, so I hate to see price wars of any kind, and believe they are as bad for customers as they are for windshield repair technicians. However, some companies have done very well by offering cut rate prices. Two come to mind, maybe you have heard of them. McDonald's and Wal-Mart. These companies are hated and envied by their competitors because they have found a way to make a lot of money by selling their products for less than anyone else. You may or may not like them, but you have to respect their ability to succeed in very competitive industries.

And about those tents. I never tried that method of marketing, but I know a lot of technicians that have made a great deal of money from tent locations. I also never advertised "free" windshield repairs, but I understand the thought process behind this type of advertising. It is a "free" service to many consumers in that it costs them nothing out of their pocket if they run the claim through their insurance company. If you feel this is unethical you shouldn't do it, but others have the legal right to use this form of advertising if they don't feel it is unethical.

My point is not to argue for or against M.A.R.S. or their business practices, but simply to point out that there are many different ways to be successful in the windshield repair business. Frankly I'm glad that my competitors don't all do things exactly the same way I do. Watching your competitors, even those that you have issues with, is a great way to fine tune your own business.

Although it is often tempting to bash competitors, I personally don't think it is a good idea. By doing so you will give them a ton of free publicity. Just my humble opinion.

[jayjacque]

Just throwing in opinions here, you understand. Nothing in stone. But I'm kinda turned off at the whole "franchise craze" if you will. I believe it works for well established household name businesses, where a franchise is much more of a sure thing as long as you have the cash investment. But then there are a whole lot of little known companies in all kinds of industries and trades that are trying to sell themselves as famous enough or a sure thing enough to get people to buy in. The one we were looking at wanted somewhere between 60 and 70 thousand as well as a monthly percentage from now til kingdom come. It just didn't make sense when most of our prospective clients had never even heard of that company.

[splitpit]

to me, the whole "free windshield repair" gimmick to lure customers. along with dirt cheap, cut-rate repairs, only serves to damage the WSR industry and take away from the professionalism of reputable technicians. If you have to use a gimmick to lure in customers and you have to price yourself well below your competition to make a sale, then it's only a matter of time before you fail. Some of us have worked very hard to build our businesses and establish ourselves as professional, honest, and reliable wsr technicians and I for one hate to see some of these roadside clowns doing a disservice to the industry as a whole.

Just my 2 cents.

[swalt]

Well this may be of the subject a bit, but why have a cash price that is lower than the price for insurance jobs ? Brent your comments above on this MARS subject are correct and to the point.

[GlassStarz]

The "Free Windshield Repair Gimmick" as you call it is a mainstay of this industry every major supplier shows you how to do it and how to make a living at it. I guess you dont do ins work? or dont tell a customer that thier ins comapny will pay for th repair?
Myself I do dealership work but started out doing the "Free windshield Repairs" and it worked well
Adertise in a way that gets them to you and explain the fine print when they get there evry industry in the world does it that way be it furniture or automobiles if you dont like it dont do it just dont knock it it was being used before you showed up and will be long after you are gone
I only say this because there are a lot of new guys who read this board and the FWR technique is a valid way for them to enter the field

[splitpit]

Call it what you will, but it's still a gimmick! It's a slick willy approach to doing business and you shouldn't have to explain fine print to anyone when running your business. When did they start advertising FREE AUTOMOBILES and FREE FURNITURE? I must have missed that!

[GlassStarz]

Obviosly you dont get it so I will move on to things condusive to making a living