Oftentimes, people can get the wrong impression about the auto body shop centennial what the Body Shop does. Some people think that they work strictly on the car body only. It is assumed that in the event of a car accident, you must first go to a mechanic’s shop for repair, and then go to a body repair shop. This may be the case, but not always.
In fact, it is now not uncommon for a body care workshop to have a wide range of experts on staff. They can be mechanics, electrical technicians, and auto body experts. These can also belong to different areas of expertise. For example, some specialize in restoring the original appearance of the car with spare parts, and then move to another department to prime and prepare it for painting. From here it goes to the drawing section and finally to the finishing section. In other stores, there may be one person doing all these tasks.
When it comes time to choose a body shop, it will depend on the circumstances. If the car has had an accident that is covered by insurance, you may have a little more choice than which store to use. Some insurance companies will ask you 2-3 estimates and then make you choose the lowest estimate. Other insurance companies have a specific auto body shop they use and your car should automatically go there.
If your requirements from The Body Shop relate to a job that is not covered by insurance, you may have different expectations.
If you have a large amount of bodywork that needs to be done, you will obviously want to find a shop that has a lot of experience in auto body shop centennial in this field. On the other hand, if you only have a few minor body repairs, but paint is important, your needs will be different.
When looking for these types of services, be sure to visit two or three stores to get estimates for the work you need. While you’re taking a good look, look at the job criteria and see if you can spot some completed projects. If it is to your liking and the price is right, then your problem of finding a good auto body shop is over.
Fundamental Marketing Practices for a Body Shop
When owning a small business, the owner must keep in mind that a successful marketing strategy depends on the individual customer experience. As advanced as our technology has become and as advanced as our business practices have become, nothing has surpassed the primacy of the old phrase, “The customer is always right.” Even if the customer is wrong, he is still right. In fact, with Internet technology, customers have the ability to spread the word about a bad experience much more easily these days, with tools like blogs, community forums, social networking sites, and many others.
For example, popular Internet blogger Randy Cassingham wrote a blog entry titled “Dell Hell” and it destroyed Dell’s credibility and earnings for the rest of the year. On the other hand, a customer who walks away after loving service is your best marketing tool, especially for small local businesses like auto body shops. Every customer who walks through your door represents 5 or even 10 more potential jobs for your business. When it comes to marketing, making the customers you have happy is one of the best ways to generate more leads.
The idea that the customer is always right suggests a business mindset: Customers are the top priority. The mindset that every customer you have is the top priority in everything he does can pay huge dividends as you go about marketing your business. I say this because marketing is about making customers believe that you are the best person for the job they need to do. That requires spreading the word and using different tools at your disposal to make that happen. But all the tools in the world won’t help a business succeed if they don’t care about their customers.
You can’t have a good marketing strategy for your business if you don’t have a satisfied customer. Or to put it another way … you just can’t successfully market a brand that sucks to the customers you’ve had. It’s that easy. This is even more true for a business that relies on local residents. There is not a single device in the Internet world that replaces your services as the fundamental tool to bring you more business.
With these things in mind as the “Auto Body Marketing” blog advances to provide new ways to maximize your store exposure, here are some things to keep in mind. A business that is built on a “Customers First” strategy requires at least two practices: providing quality customer service and quality work.
Provide quality customer service
Providing quality customer service is important because of how it can affect the impression your customer has when they leave your business. We’re not suggesting that you whistle into your store with such joy that it seems like everything is perfect in your world (that’s just annoying and unrealistic). We suggest that you focus on creating an environment for your clients that leaves a lasting positive impression on them. You know what’s best for your business, so we won’t tell you to reformat everything you do in your store.
We simply recommend that you do whatever it takes to make your clients believe that the job they just gave you is important to you and that you want them to come back. Keep that principle in mind and adapt your workshop practices around it. Build a waiting room if you can and keep it clean, provide transportation for clients if they need it, have coffee available for all walk-in attendees, or whatever other little thing you think a client might find valuable.
Focusing on creating the impression that they are experimenting with your business is your top priority. CSI Complete’s John Webb says in his Body Shop Business article that auto shops should stop viewing customers as transactions and focus on building customer relationships for the sake of long-term loyalty. This is important for marketing your business because if you can manage to develop an impression on your mind as they walk away that says, “They did a great job and I will never go to another auto body shop other than the one I just visited,” then just won your business the next time they need repairs.
Even better is that you just established a marketing partner. Anytime someone close to them needs repairs, their business recommendations are easy.
Learn the best way to choose the best auto body shop
If you have a car or plan to own one, one of the most important business contacts to have with you is with a body shop. However, as there are stores of this type in each city and its surroundings, it is very difficult to choose the best among them. Here are some guidelines to help you choose a good and reliable one in your area:
1) The best way to ensure the credibility of a repair shop in your area is to consider valuable recommendations from colleagues, friends, and family, who have tried it before. This will help you get a rough idea of the total cost of services charged by the shop, the behavior of the personnel involved in the repair process, and the reliability of the company you are dealing with.
2) Another factor to consider when making a choice is whether or not the shop offers an adequate warranty on its services and the body parts used during the repair. These guarantees generally reflect a sense of trust and honesty in the staff at that particular store.
3) Also, before choosing a particular auto body shop, determine the types of payments it accepts for car repair. A store that accepts different types of payment, such as a variety of credit cards, cash, and checks, is the best option.
4) In case you have a very strict monthly budget but need to repair your car as soon as possible, it is best to choose a store that offers a variety of installment payment plans to its customers.
Even if your vehicle is working properly, it is advisable to search for the store in your area well in advance to avoid last-minute searches and hassles. Choosing the right auto body shop is a very important decision. By following the guidelines mentioned above, choosing the best one in your area will be a breeze.
