Oil change and service reminder.

[ncautoshop]

This may be the wrong forum. I'm looking to start sending service reminders and would like to incorporate something to the tune of "our records indicate your due for an oil change", I've also considered calling customers as opposed to mail/email. When do you send your reminders? I was thinking at the 3 month mark. An examples of service reminder letters or customer follow up letters that you might use would be a great help as well!

 

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[mccannable]

Great idea. I'm gonna make up some post cards on vista print and manually mail them.

[ncautoshop]

What kind of time frame are you thinking.

All data manage offers a follow up system but the letters seem real cheesy and "fake". If like something more personal and professional.

 

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[Joe Marconi]

More and more shops are considering calling customers in addition to sending reminders. Think about, you dentist does it, your doctor, hair salons do it, the eye doctor. It's proven that when someone is called in addition to a reminder, it increases the return rate.

[ScottSpec]

I send out email reminders and mail reminders weekly to any customer we have not seen in the last 4 months. I usually send out the email reminders a week ahead of the mail. That way if the customer responds to the email, I will save the cost of the mail. I'm going to plug my shop management web site here because that is what I use to send them. It's Smotgo.com. You can use the generic messages there or create your own. If you already have a shop management program and you can export your customers, you can upload them to the site and just use the communications tools.

 

We call customers 3 days after they have been in to say thanks and at times call customers that we have not seen or who have come up as being due for service. This has had minimal success.

 

Scott

[mikerisich]

Service reminders are a great idea. With everyone’s busy schedules, it helps to ensure that customers keep up with important vehicle services.

 

I would expand on just sending reminders at the three-month mark, though. Every driver has different driving habits; some drive 3000 miles in 3 months, others drive it in just a month and a half, and so on.

You need a means of recording and calculating reminders around each customer’s individual driving habits. For instance, software exists that does just that. As customers come to your shop, the software records and calculates the next likely service need, based on the specific driving habits involved. It then sends automatic reminders for you. The process is hands-off, allowing you to focus on other priorities.

Just like dentists, doctors and hair salons, vehicle maintenance can be predicted and arranged ahead of time.

 

[ncautoshop]

Service reminders are a great idea. With everyone’s busy schedules, it helps to ensure that customers keep up with important vehicle services.

I would expand on just sending reminders at the three-month mark, though. Every driver has different driving habits; some drive 3000 miles in 3 months, others drive it in just a month and a half, and so on.

You need a means of recording and calculating reminders around each customer’s individual driving habits. For instance, software exists that does just that. As customers come to your shop, the software records and calculates the next likely service need, based on the specific driving habits involved. It then sends automatic reminders for you. The process is hands-off, allowing you to focus on other priorities.

Just like dentists, doctors and hair salons, vehicle maintenance can be predicted and arranged ahead of time.

That's what I'm trying to do, based off guess work. What software does this?

 

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[mikerisich]

I recommend a software that does text and email reminders. It seems to get a quicker response and is more user-friendly. Some examples of these offerings include Lube Sticker Pro and SocialCRM.

[Gary A]

I use the lubesticker Pro software that Mike talks about. It is very accurate in determining the approximate next oil change date and allows me to review the calendar to see who is due for service. We can make phone calls to those customers in advance of their appointment date.

Edited April 9, 2014 by Gary A

[Jeff]

I am doing the same as Gary. That along with the Mitchell E-Crm program. I still need to do more with my FB and get the mail outs going!