Numbers don't Lie! $$$$

[candyman]

I just posted this and for some reason it went to hyper space. Its 2011 on the east coast and I just finished crunching the numbers for 2010.

Yellow pages 5% per customer generated cost $65.60
Radio 2% $ 387.50
Web Site 7% $ 35.92
Flyers 16% $ 1.43
Referals 31% $ 2.96
Face to Face 11% 0
Repeat 23% 0
Vehicle Logo 2% 0 Pd for in 2009
Insurance Network 2% small process fee ?

39 % WSR 61% HLR

Within 7 months in 2009, I paid for my HLR & almost all of WSR Kits and supplies, plus travel for tng. just from HLR clients.
This is a snap shot of where my leads came from and the cost to generate that lead. I live in a small town community less than 16K. I kept the yellow pages, but I have a better rate and additional ads. I also will be distributed in a higher income market, about 20 minutes away
to about 80K households that may only have a cell phone. My cell number is also listed.
I kept the web site. I need to learn how to make better use of facebook, craigs list, and google. You would think being listed by more than 100 search engines I would have more calls for my business. I do ! The problem is almost all needed replacement WS instead of repair.
I put this on here because so many new techs are asking where they can generate leads and what is productive. In 2009 I also set up on weekends at a small flea market. I didnt do that in 2010. The reason is, I had too many calls to come do a repair or restore a HL, and I wasnt getting the bang for my dollars paying for a spot, and not being there. I pass out a lot of flyers, and business cards. I spent less than $100 in 2010 for business cards. I used the free 250 card promotions by my supplier. I print my own flyers. I am planning on better leads and my customer base is spreading. which should generate more referals and repeat customers. Have a Happy New Year !

[kingmonkey]

What you need to do is find yourself a good replacement shop and see if you can earn commission or a referral fee for selling windshield replacements. I've been earning some good side money by pushing WS replacements for those that have cracked windshields. There is a shop that I've hooked up with that gives me a good discount for a new windshield. All I do is market it up, usually by $50 but I'll lower it to make a sale. I just give the shop all of the customers info and then they call them, set up the appointment and have them sign an invoice with no price. Then I go out, collect the money from the customer and give the replacement shop their cut. I don't do anything other than talk on the phone and drive a little. It's great.

Go out and find a replacement shop that services your area. Turn all of those replacements you are turning down into opportunities to earn money.

[candyman]

I thought I had a shop. They were recieving referals almost on a daily basis at no charge. Then they started advertizing repairs. They are using the little kits form the auto stores. I started referring customers to one of the bigger national companies and I have not seen a check yet for referals. I had talked to the National office and I have no idea what happen. The local, national shop said they appreciate the calls, but are not set up to pay referal fee's. At one point this year I was getting about 10 calls a week. Several of the replacement shops that were not doing repairs in my city are now doing them due to my ads and radio spots. I would have been satisfied with a $5 or $10 referal fee. That would have helped pay for my ads. I have located a old shop that has lost business to newer shops in the area, that seem to be connected to the insurance companies that also do auto body repair. I'll do his repairs and he can do the replacements. He said he would teach me the craft of WS Replacement. I dont think I want to do that at my age (58). I dont know how much a referal would be worth to some of these shops. I hear of people paying less than $175 for replacement and others more than $1000. depending on vehicle. I will pursue this though.

[Frank EU]

I dont know how much a referal would be worth to some of these shops. I hear of people paying less than $175 for replacement and others more than $1000. depending on vehicle. I will pursue this though.

We are, as you know, a genuine repair only business. I have never, and will never, work with any replacement shop. I have watched things like this going real bad, and it is always the repair only guy who's taking the loss. To each his own thing I guess, I don't want to deal with replacement shops and don't need their pathetic cash.

As for your situation: If it works out for you and that shop, that's fine. In that case I would not worry too much about the ''value'' of any referal. Live and let live.

[just chippen away]

I have worked with lots of replacement only shops and also have been burned as they learn how to do repairs themselves, Some even say "we will never do repairs, we do not like doing repairs". Most have be new shops just starting out from an another replacement shop.. I had one shop yrs ago that we worked hand in hand backing each other, and we were well known by the Insurance agents as a tag team, but he left town for Utah and restarted up there because his Grand dad was getting old and needed to get closer to family... He was the only one I did not have to wonder if he was taking advantage of my customers for his gain.

Now I am and have been working for a long time repair / replacement shop, They are in shop only. Even if they have a job they can not do I will be called in to do the job for them. We do not exchange money at all, I just know I can TRUST them. Years ago they had most of the mobile accounts I have now. No harm done. They are a two person family owned shop now days holding on by their finger tips. I know they may shut down in a yr or two then I am back to looking for a new shop. If the customer needs mobile service I just tell them I can not recommend anyone I can trust to do a good enough job to my standards. I also let them know how the scammers in town are. I tell them Just check with your Insurance agent and ask them how they would have to work on their personal vehicle...
Most of the time the customer will find a way to get the car to my recommended shop, I am trusted on my choice of vendors for their car in any field...

If you can gain the trust of your customers the will trust your recommendations...

Sorry for the off track, I was just following off Candyman and Frank.

[just chippen away]

Back on track.
I also check closely to see what works best for my money and I do not have percentages, but I ask every customer I do "how did you hear about me or why did you pick me other he others?"
Local insurance agents a good portion of referals.
I found the Yellow pages was a major flop. $225 per month and a total of 4 jobs for the yr..
Dexknows on line from the Phone book $20 per month and 20 calls or so for the yr.
Online free sites like Yahoo, Google, merchant circle, ( my main ones) and others. I can say I get 75% or so,. Some using their cell phones while still on the road.
Repeat calls are a good portion along with referred from my repeat customers.
Seeing my truck driving around gets a good repore...
1/3 page flyers droped at any spot that I know they will not be thrown out or sopport my service.

I do not do referals,,,, I tryed. They say that they do not recomend me for the money, it is the work I do and the service I provide for them.


I may even try Radio again. I have notice in radio the ones that do their own spot in there own voice and add a personal touch to the add seem to get my attention as to an add that is generic saying we can do bla bla bla for you. It is really hard to say what I mean by this...

I like doing things that would attract my attention. After 20 yrs in this line of work it seems we do find our niche that works best for us. Also by asking how and why did you call on me as to the others around....

Take it for what is is worth..

[candyman]

I do my own radio spots except one. I have four prepared 30 second commercials that rotate. I've had others business owners call to ask if I would consider doing there radio spots. I have a better insight as to the time of day and the day of week my spots should run. This is based on people I know that tell me they heard my message. I will cut back this year, but target certain days. Just prior to the local news or during is normally good in the morning at about 8am. Also during a local morning town talk show, 11am - Noon. However the most popular day is Thursday for that show, because of a particular guess host. Just by tweaking my time slot I can save about 50% over 2010, and still reach an audience age group of 35 & up. Some of my best, and the majority of my customers are above 40. They are also business owners, professionals or retired from a business.

I plan to retire later this year for a second time. I have a few viloet parking areas within 30 minutes from my home. If I play my cards correctly, I hope to secure a spot to do WSR or HLR. Both locations has parking for more than 300 cars each, plus weekly sporting and event parking at night and weekends. Iam always looking for new avenues. Has anyone on here tried this.

[Vikingfann]

On the subject of windshield replacements, I work with a local independant replacement shop. He gives me wholesale pricing. Most common vehicles more that 3 or 4 years old cost me $100. - $110. out the door including tax and labor. Mobile is an additional $20 or so but I encourage my customers to have it done at the shop (better environment and tools and it takes an hour at the most.) I normally quote $30.00 higher and I am still very competitive in pricing.

I make the appointment for the customer only and the shop does the rest. Once a week I stop in and collect my earnings in cash. All requests for repairs at the shop are forwarded to me. I didn't keep count but I probably sold 60 - 80 windshields in the last year. I've had a mutually successful relationship with this shop for about 18 months now.

Jere Ellis - owner
Attack-A-Crack Windshield Repair
Lake Elsinore, CA