Automotive News - January 7, 2008 - (Page 27)

JANUARY 7, 2008 • 27 service & parts Simple safety: Green, amber, red Color-coded inspection forms help dealerships build business Donna Harris dharris@crain.com hicles that come to its service department. The dealership has doubled its tire sales in that period, says Mickey Blank, parts and service director. “Customers come to expect that inspection,” says Blank, who adds that the dealership’s brake and battery sales also are growing. One-stop shop Performance Auto Mall, of Chapel Hill, N.C., uses color-coded sheets when it inspects buyers’ Chevrolet, Acura and Subaru vehicles. Steve Kramer, director of fixed operations, says one in three customers returns for service work suggested by the inspections. “The forms are a visual tool that makes sense to the customer,” Kramer says. “The inspections also raise awareness of dealerships as a one-stop shop. A lot of people are still under the impression that they go to the tire store to get tires or a quicklube for oil changes.” The Thomassen dealerships in Charles Town, W.Va., sell Ford, Mercury, Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. General Manager Terry Mezzatesta says most customers whose vehicles get color-coded inspections return for service. “I like the impression the form gives the customers,” Mezzatesta says. “It shows that you are looking out for their interest.” c Dealers and automakers are promoting vehicle safety checks — and building service business — with color-coded inspection forms. The forms are part of an industry push to simplify inspections, improve customer communication and get more vehicle buyers back to dealerships for service. Chrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda and Toyota are especially active in urging dealers to use their versions of the color-coded inspection sheets. A green-coded form tells a service customer a vehicle is good to go. The amber code suggests the car or truck may need service soon. The red code means repair work is considered urgent. Dealers long have used safety inspections to sell service work. But previous checklists often were long and confusing. The simpler forms help build customers’ trust, dealers and industry officials say. © GM CORP. Dealers and automakers find that color-coded forms for safety checks on tires and other vehicle equipment can increase business. “We want to be transparent with customers,” GM spokeswoman Pam Flores says. boost their business an average of 15 percent. Steve Herston, service director of Noonan Pontiac-GMC in suburban Detroit, estimates the color-coded forms have increased his shop’s business by about 10 percent. “These forms not only help us upsell the customer, but get them back Chrysler’s color-coded inspection form alerts customers to repair work that should be done immediately. in the door later on,” Herston told Automotive News. “Customers’ responses have been positive. If they do not get the form on the dash, they wonder what’s going on.” Over the past two years, Greentree Toyota, of Danbury, Conn., has done color-coded inspections of tires, brakes and batteries on all ve- Business booster GM has provided its color-coded inspection sheet to dealers for two years. According to GM research, service departments that use the form http://www.Pick-n-ClickAds.com http://www.Pick-n-ClickAds.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - January 7, 2008

Caddy V-8 is endangered species An industry turns green -- let's talk JAPAN TRIUMPHANT Ford, Microsoft to offer 911 service in Sync GPS will track fuel price Brose buys Siemens motor unit as step toward N.A. growth Expanding Meridian sees bright future Federal-Mogul CEO to stay Harbour Consulting sold Soft market threatens Tundra sales goal Ford dumps volume targets for dealer bonuses How HCCI engines work Visteon: 'We're leaner and smaller' Ford doubles regional promo money Gasoline-diesel combo moves closer to reality Rethinking retail: A hot topic at World Congress Denso expands hybrid plant CAFE fines may yield meager grants Some pay raise: To $8.3 million from $1 New Chrysler purchasing chief looks to Asia BMW adds jobs to boost S.C. output Continental layoffs follow production cuts at Chrysler Study: Indirect loan delinquencies soar No more peekaboo for Camaro Saturn's Lajdziak: GM is 'where I wanted to be' LETTER TO THE EDITOR Why buy Japanese? Here's an answer CAFE will put new entrees on auto show menu What an exciting way to start 2008 LETTER TO THE EDITOR 84-month financing is nothing new LETTER TO THE EDITOR GM ad policy shift is good for dealers JAMES B. TREECE Detroit show gets back on a global track LETTER TO THE EDITOR Too many dealers: Blame greed LETTER TO THE EDITOR Why not learn from Toyota? LETTER TO THE EDITOR A hot news item? Nah; it's 9 years old Suppliers to the 2008 Saturn Vue Supplier personnel Haldex farms out brake work The theme: Green and mean Dodge Ram gets interior upgrade BMW's 1-series coupe gets a soft-top counterpart Chrysler eye candy includes green jelly bean Chinese automakers increase their presence Concept offers a peek at Explorer's likely successor Ford goes global in styling its B-cars Forum concept is a clubhouse on wheels Dealers Simple safety: Green, amber, red Lexus SUV luxury will grow on you Personnel Gas prices boost Nissan car sales as trucks tank This year's U.S. sales forecast: Gloomy Ford: Tata is lead bidder for 2 brands Ex-Toyota manager goes to Audi Hyundai has new N.A. chief TRW buys Delphi brake assets Who's No. 1? Time for an official review Waning interest Solstice outguns Miata - again Once more into the legal fray? Lifan is the latest Chinese wannabe Things are looking up (and down) for MG Who has 1st Mustang - and what's it worth?

Automotive News - January 7, 2008

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