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Angela's Articulate Collection of Car Service Secrets, Tips and Tricks

Hi, my name is Angela, and as the wife of a mechanic, I was constantly tripping over car parts and complaining about the rows of project cars lining our garden. However, after a few years, I quit complaining and actually found joy in the art of auto repair. Inspired by that classic book, "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", I decided to start working on cars with my husband. This blog is the culmination of everything I have learned and more. I hope you enjoy reading it and that my tips and ideas guide you toward a healthier car and a happier, safer driving experience.

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Angela's Articulate Collection of Car Service Secrets, Tips and Tricks

Why Car Manufacturers Set Aside Money for Customer Retention

by Keith Simpson

These days, there's a tremendous amount of competition in the automotive marketplace, and the leading manufacturers are very keen to retain or improve their market share. So, whenever somebody buys a brand-new vehicle, a certain amount of the cost is dedicated to the marketing budget and that all-important customer retention. Some companies go out of their way to make a customer feel special at every touchpoint, and this can often include a scheduled major service. How could your dealership make you happy when you need to present your vehicle for a comprehensive checkup?

Avoiding Inconvenience

Many people use their vehicle every day in order to get back and forth to work, transport their kids to school or ply a trade. In fact, if they are without their mode of transportation for even a short amount of time, they may run into significant problems.

Vehicle manufacturers understand this issue and do not want to upset their customers by depriving them of their wheels. Yet, they will be at pains to encourage a client to bring their vehicle in for a scheduled service and for a number of reasons. Most important of all, they want to ensure that the car is maintained correctly and does not run into issues that may lead to a breakdown.

Customer Retention

Occasionally, the cost of a major service is contained in the vehicle's purchase price. Otherwise, the owner may need to pay a certain fee for the parts and labour involved in this check. If the manufacturer has set aside some of their initial marketing allocation towards ongoing customer satisfaction, they may maintain a fleet of courtesy cars at the service location, and these vehicles will be earmarked for incoming clients.

Keeping the Customer Happy

In this case, they will allow the customer to take one of the courtesy cars while their primary vehicle is in the service bay. They will do so at no cost to the client but as a simple courtesy to make sure that the customer can continue to meet their daily obligations without hardship.

Requesting Your Car

So, if you need to take your vehicle in for a service appointment soon, talk with the company about a courtesy car. Remember, the manufacturer will often have priced this into their customer satisfaction and retention program and will have the keys to a suitable alternative vehicle waiting for you.

Contact an automotive service company for more information about a car service courtesy car.

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