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

[Brent Deines]

Have you never received an offer for something free only to find out that you had to pay for shipping. How about when a car dealership says they will give you $10K for your trade in, but you then find out that the cash price they quoted you before you mentioned the trade went away. How about free shipping on an item that is overpriced to start with? Are these gimmicks? Of course they are. Are they lies? No. Is it illegal advertise this way? No. Is it effective? You bet. It's called marketing, and many successful businesses use these "gimmicks" quite effectively. If you don't like gimmicks, more power to you. I don't like many of them either, and choose not to use them in my business, but I don't think it is my place to slam my competitors just because they choose a different style of marketing than I do.

The feedback that I hear from technicians that use this method of advertising is that know one thinks they are going to get a free repair, so the first thing they ask is "what's the catch?" What happens after that is the technician is given the opportunity to explain that many insurance companies waive the deductible and pay for the entire cost of the repair, so there is no out of pocket expense to the customer. I am told that there are very few complaints from customers about the advertising technique, and in fact many customers compliment the technician on their creativity.

I will admit my dog in the fight here. Delta Kits used to sell banners that said "Free Windshield Repair". We discontinued sales of this product over a year ago because we don't want "anyone" to think we are promoting an unethical practice, but in my personal opinion there is nothing unethical about it. It's simply marketing, nothing more and nothing less.

It would be interesting to hear from technicians who have used both the "Free" banners, and banners that simply say "Rock Chip Repair" to see if they have noticed any difference in the effectiveness of the advertising. I would expect "Free" banners to be slightly more effective, but probably not all that much. That's just a guess though, I have never taken a poll of any kind on this topic.

Let's not let this become another war. There is plenty of room for multiple opinions.

[splitpit]

I'm not going to war with anyone. Simply stating my opinion, not bashing. I believe what I believe, just as you do.

[splitpit]

We can't all be in agreement on this forum. We all have various opinions. Doesn't make one right and one wrong. I don't like gimmick marketing while others see nothing wrong with it. I would not do business with someone whose marketing choice is to try to lure me with a gimmick. Those tactics turn me off and turn me away. Others are drawn in by it. I'm just more straight forward and above board in what I do so by nature I find gimmick marketing offensive. But I know there are those who find it an acceptable way of doing business.

[wsrusa]

The failure rate of a MARS franchise is well over 65% (closer to 70% if you count the guys who went back to work for WalMart to pay off their business loans)

The Free Repair marketing is something Eric Howe (Optic Kleer ) brought to MARS with him from the UK. Anyone who has had the pleasure of meeting Eric knows he is a dynamic individual who has a true passion for "windscreen" repair as he calls it. If Eric had of franchised his Optic-Kleer business as he did in the UK it would have done well here in the US. Eric is a man of high character and would stand behind his franchisee to see then succeed.

The franchise route isn't for everyone trust me! My experience with MARS is that they are nothing more than a check cashing service. No support or marketing they are /were built to sell franchises not to service/support them. Hell, I know franchisees who went 6 months with out getting statements, tech support calls go unanswered, messages, emails never returned. Then they sell a franchise tio a guy litterally across the street from you.

[SGT]

This is not ment to rub salt in any open wounds but I am curious how much research some of you do before jumping into making a major decision such as buying a franchise or anything that will possibly have serious negative effects on your business?

What was it about this MARS that made you select it over say SUPER GLASS or other?

What facts made you say, "Now that is a great franchise"?

I merely ask becuase I over investigate most things that will have a major impact on me to a brain exploding point. Now this certainly does not guarantee me success but it does provide me with the knowledge to make the most educated decision I can.

[Brent Deines]

I merely ask becuase I over investigate most things that will have a major impact on me to a brain exploding point. Now this certainly does not guarantee me success but it does provide me with the knowledge to make the most educated decision I can.

What...you over investigate? Just kidding you Brian. If more people took the time to do their homework, there would be a lot fewer business failures. I know I ignored some things that should have kept me out of the tool business, and I paid dearly for it.

[wsrusa]

It is tough to do research in the recon industry. Looking into your specific market you can stake out dealerships, venture in , ask question but that is it Most of the time you are given a "list" of people to call. With MARS these folks are pre-screened & compensated. It is typically called steering. If a reference gives a "negative" reference they are removed from the call list and scolded or worse threatened with litigation. Since a majority of their business is wholesale (dealership) driven they don't advertise so finding other folks to talk with can be difficult.

Most of the folks going into this are from diverse backgrounds with little or no experience and "just wanna be my own boss". It's a quick 49k for the company and you sink or swim

Luckily for me I can swim I realized shortly after my 1 year anniversery that it was every Martian for himself

[GlassStarz]

The reason many fail is this is a sales job and many get into it thinking they will succeed because they can do the repairs the truth of the matter is the 3 things you need are Sales ability ,Sales ability and Sales ability and we all know most people cant sell lots of folks buy a kit some buy a franchise others buy an existing company all think this is an easy buisness and do some homework but complain about everything from guys on the corner to low prices when the truth to failure is in the mirror
My advice is do whatever you need to do to learn to sell the have seminars sell books ,tapes you name it do one do em all just learn to sell

[screenman]

Not very often I say this but GlassStarz is bang on the money. Sell, sell,sell and then sell some more. I have tried the free screen repair idea and although I did not like standing and waiting I did do

[splitpit]

I agree with you GlassStarz. The reason why my business is very successful is sales ability, sales ability, sales ability. The reason I'm not sitting on a corner waiting for customers is sales ability, sales ability, sales ability! The reason why I'm able to get a fair price for my work, is sales ability, sales ability, sales ability. When I look in the mirror, I smile at my success!
You are so right, sell, sell, sell!