I am looking to do work for the local dealerships here, and I wanted to get some advice from some of you who already do this. I would like to get any advice on who to talk to at the dealerships, how this service works, how warranty, insurance, all that stuff.Do you have displays setup in the dealership? Do you have catalogs with the person in charge of ordering? Do you have a price sheet you give them, or they call you for a price?When do you get paid? When you deliver the car? before?What is the most popular product/type of product installed? Satellite radio? dvd players? navigation? bluetooth car kits?Do you mainly work on new cars not sold yet? cars that are sold, but want an upgrade? How is everything priced? I'm sure the product/service is discounted, but do you suggest a selling price?These are just a few questions off the top of my head. Any discussion is welcome. Thanks in advance!
whiteblazer01 wrote:
Do you have displays setup in the dealership?
None of my dealerships have any of my stuff there for the main reason that if anything is damaged or stolen, it's out of my pocket not there's as this was an agreement from the beginning with them. This is something that you have to work out with your dealership(s) at the beginning of the work relationship.
whiteblazer01 wrote:
Do you have catalogs with the person in charge of ordering? Do you have a price sheet you give them, or they call you for a price?
They just call me when they need something that a customer wants that they can not supply with OEM products or if the customer specifically asks for an aftermarket part that they want the dealership to install for them.
whiteblazer01 wrote:
When do you get paid? When you deliver the car? before?
We have a standing 30 day for all of our accounts. This is normal but if you want to set them up as a pay for job kind of account do that but it gets old fast when you do a job every day or every other day.
whiteblazer01 wrote:
What is the most popular product/type of product installed? Satellite radio? dvd players? navigation? bluetooth car kits?
It all depends on the time of year and the products that you are wanting to sell them. I do a bit of everything from suspension lifts to adding power door locks. If the dealership doesn't have time to do a customer's vehicle for an add on, then they call me or if the dealership doesn't have a particular part that they need as as aftermarket add-on, they call me.
whiteblazer01 wrote:
Do you mainly work on new cars not sold yet? cars that are sold, but want an upgrade?
It's new, used, beat to crap...... pretty much anything that they send over to me.
whiteblazer01 wrote:
How is everything priced? I'm sure the product/service is discounted, but do you suggest a selling price?
THe discount level is applied to the dealership in relation to what they spend. I give all new accounts that spend $1000 + a month through us a 20% above cost + shipping costs. Discounts don't get that much more until they spend over $ 10,000 a month and then we give them 15% above cost + shipping. Again this is something that you have to set up with your dealership and depending on your area and competition level, you may need to go down or up from what you want. The key to success here is to get a REALLY GOOD supplier/wholesaler that can give you good price and also get you the parts when the dealership needs it.
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Jeff
Velocity Custom Home Theater
Mobile Audio/Video Specialist
Morden, Manitoba CANADA
Thanks for the info. I did end up making a basic catalog, and talking with the finance director at the Toyota dealership. He said it must be submitted to corporate, and wait for their approval. He said it could take months. Is this true? If so, is there anyway I can expedite the process?
Thanks!
whiteblazer01 wrote:
Thanks for the info. I did end up making a basic catalog, and talking with the finance director at the Toyota dealership. He said it must be submitted to corporate, and wait for their approval. He said it could take months. Is this true? If so, is there anyway I can expedite the process?
Thanks!
none of my dealers submit anything to corporate, they are privatly owned dealerships after all
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Shaughn Murley
Install Manager, Dealer Services
Visions Electronics
Red Deer, Alberta
Another thing that you can look into is body shops. We get a lot of business from body shops in my area from stolen radios.
extreme1 wrote:
whiteblazer01 wrote:
Thanks for the info. I did end up making a basic catalog, and talking with the finance director at the Toyota dealership. He said it must be submitted to corporate, and wait for their approval. He said it could take months. Is this true? If so, is there anyway I can expedite the process?
Thanks!
none of my dealers submit anything to corporate, they are privatly owned dealerships after all
Interesting, so what should I say to the guy? Because he said I have to wait a few months to hear back from corporate. I think I'm going to ask him for their number and see what he says. But I would rather do business with them, not pick fights.
Go in, drop you pants for an overhead in a demo. or a starter, do something eat the labour and profit on the job.
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Shaughn Murley
Install Manager, Dealer Services
Visions Electronics
Red Deer, Alberta