Windshield Repair Forum

Hello All

I am just entering this business and I need some advice. What has worked for marketing? Is anyone doing just dealerships? Any help would be very appreciated.

Stan

I found this very interesting when I tried going to dealership. All the new car dealerships. Claimed that they either did headlights themselves (polishing only) or they already had someone. It seems as though all the used car lots that sold most of their vehicles 'as is' didn't care what the headlights looked like. Down here in Florida most of the cars on the road seem to have really bad headlight but either no one notices their bad lights or they simply don't care either. If law enforcement ever enforced the law regarding headlights down here than headlight restoration would pick up but even with safety laws on the books, it doesn't seem to be an issue for people thinking that there's a need to get them fixed.

I am beginning to think this is not a good business to start. Have not read any great posts about getting business.

Thanks for your reply

All dealerships have tighten their belts a bit...2009 was the worst year in automobile history. It will cycle back back up but it will take a while.

Also depends on what dealerships you talk to. Domestic dealership will spend less right now on use cars. If you go to Toyota or Honda they will tend to have more business also. Also depends where you live. I’m just launching my business next week, so I will keep you guys posted on the progress.

I have the same problem here in NC. Plenty of work, but people are not too concerned. Inspection stations are not doing their job and allowing vehicles back on the street. NC is begining to crack down on motorist, only after they have had an accident. I just picked up a dealership a few weeks ago. I am sort of grouped in with the detailing section of their shop. When they polish the lens of a tradein and it doesn't look good enough, they call me to do my magic. So far it has not generated very much work. I noticed they sometimes get the paint shop to spray the lens with some clear coat or similar product if a customer (buyer) had a complaint and was a sticking point for the purchase. I do better with the small detailers in my area. They wash & wax the vehicles then I do the headlights if they are hazed. Iam also having luck doing headlights for small car dealerships that only have a few cars. They buy at the auction for a few hundred and spend less than $100 to get it cleaned and headlights done. Then they sell the car for less than $3K within a matter of days. Very little investment or inventory. Candyman

The dealership work from the used car inventory is down and will continue to go down. The reason is that who ever is doing their used car details is also doing the headlight restoration. Not the same quality work you guys do, but enought to sell the car. I know this first hand because I own a small detail shop that details used cars for a large toyota dealership and we restore the headlights when we detail the cars. Detailers have to also get creative to keep the dealer accounts (sometimes even including the restoration as part of the detail). Im starting a new business aside from the detail company to do mobile headlight restoration for retail customers, but I will also hit up dealerships. I will hit up my local dealerships and speak to the service managers. This is another angel to the dealerships. Speak to the service manager and sell him on the idea of putting up posters and have them sell the service and then subcontract the work to you. You simply do the work at their dealership at a wholesale price, so they can mark it up for a profit. Big dealerships out here get 100's of cars a day. Im working out a plan right now with a service manager. Will keep you guys posted and good luck.

I don't get it. I have two cars, one is brand new and the other one is an 03. The 03 headlights are still looking like new but if they were to get bad I would want them fixed at least so the car's appearance doesn't look older than it really is. I actually had an article published in the local paper making people more aware regarding the safety and appearance of their vehicle. I was surprised at just how many people never took notice that their headlights were bad. I'm not sure how you can't notice something like that but even when you point it out to them they just shrug their shoulders and say that it's not that big of a deal.

I forgot to mention another source. I agreed to participate in an employee discount service for a few of the local hospitals in my area. One CEO put's out a information sheet to their employees with all the details and my information & contact number. I asked one administrator how many employees were involved and I found out about 1500 on an average, not counting the independent doctors and their staff. Thats just another source of revenue. I plan to give a few demonstrations during lunch in their cafeteria on WSR & HLR. I just need an audience to wittness the transformation and results. Word of mouth will generate business. I just did something similar for employees of a local Chic-Fil-A. One new customer after I finished. I am just planting seeds (demonstrations) and waiting for my invested time to generate revenue.

Candyman
Certified and Trained by Deltakits
Certified N.W.R.A.

When it comes to selling a service. I say have confidence, People can read if there is no confidence in the person selling the service. Be up to par with your knowledge. I asked a guy not long ago who was doing a HLR what headlight lenses were made out of and he told me they hard plastic......

That to me was a very un professional response. People want to know thier dealing with a professional. We too too many times run into a customer whom brings up the price comparrison with us and others in our area whom are offering the same services we are. I always encourage the customer to go with what feels riht to them. I also inform them of our Warranty! Our Money Back Guarantee!

Iwant my customers to know that thier purchase from me is as secure and promising as it can be. I know in fact that others in my area offering the same services I do what they charge, What thier warranties are ect. Not so I can be sure to beat them or cut thiere throat on a sale, Yet so that I will know for my own good.

What if a customers comes to your shop or gives you a call and say well I can get it here for this price. What your going to give in and do it for what the competitior is doing it or so called doing it for?

You need to know these things.

If you give a warranty wioth your HLR service Try Adding additional years to it for FREE! Not that warranties mean much as we all know businesses come and go and if a business goes out of business that means that warranty is no good...right!

Now you need to find away to assure them that warranty is good. I have a uncle who was in the textile business. He basically repaired and fabricated textile parts for a sum of 30 plus years. The last 10 years of his career before it shipped off he began giving warranties to his independent customers who owned small shops, Well even after selling his business I can recall several times him grabbing his small tool bag and delivering on his promise!

I dont know if any of this helps?