A Thank You letter.

**imported_dl9589** · 06-25-2002, 10:11 PM

I would like to send out a few thank you letters to a few of the people that I have been detailing for. But am having writers block of some sort.

What do you guys use for your thank you letters?

**samiam513** · 06-25-2002, 10:30 PM

Just leave a little note on the seat. Hand writte of course. If they are a regular, and you don`t have a discount plan for regulars, then give them a little discount on the reciept.

Always remember, a little goes a long way. Example... Zaino

**imported_seres** · 06-25-2002, 10:34 PM

I did a Google search, and all I could find were letters to write after you submit a resume!! I`m having sort of a "blonde" day, so maybe tomorrow I can help out with one -- I`m usually pretty good at this!

**imported_BretFraz** · 06-26-2002, 11:08 AM

Why not just go to the Hallmark store and buy some blank Thank You cards. You can write in there whatever comes to mind. Maybe a customer`s car was especially clean; maybe they were really nice to you; maybe they gave you a referral, who knows.

Don`t be boiler plate, be personal. Think about each customer and make an appropriate comment.

**medic** · 06-26-2002, 02:16 PM

Originally posted by bretfraz

Why not just go to the Hallmark store and buy some blank Thank You cards. You can write in there whatever comes to mind. Maybe a customer`s car was especially clean; maybe they were really nice to you; maybe they gave you a referral, who knows.

Don`t be boiler plate, be personal. Think about each customer and make an appropriate comment.

I`m not a professional detailer, but as a consumer, the personal touch is key. Getting the same "form" thank you letter twice from a shop isn`t impressive and makes no difference to me; it they take the time to make an obervation or suggest something for the future, that will stand out in my mind.

Perhaps you can give a suggestion on how to prevent a problem you noticed with their car - i.e. I noticed that you had several etchings from bird droppings on your hood. Although birds cannot be avoided, the damage done to your paint can be reduced. Next time you return to your car and see a bird has tarnished your car, please spray a few squirts of this detailing spray and wipe it off with this cloth. It will save you time and money in the long run.

(make sure to give a sample bottle of QD and a towel)

**imported_Intel486** · 06-26-2002, 08:48 PM

Originally posted by medic

(make sure to give a sample bottle of QD and a towel)

hmm good idea. Give them a sample bottle and towel and then if they want more you can sell it to them. You could sell it to them cheaper than if they got it in a store.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 06-26-2002, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by Intel486

You could sell it to them cheaper than if they got it in a store.

thats exactly where the "gallon sized" containers of FI or the like come in real handy - discount pricing to your customers....... just get some dollar store spray bottles to dispense the QD in. :up

auto care usa · 06-27-2002, 06:45 PM

Guys here is another great idea for a thank you note. My customers absolutly love this and look forward to it. What I have been doing for years is this...when we are finished detailing a customers car we take a picture of it. We then take it to be developed and have the pictures blown up to postcard size. My wife then will hand write a personal thank you note to every customer. Every year we write something different. I t can be as simple as saying thanks. Or another one that I used was They say a picture is worth a thouisand words, well then start talking and tell your friends about us. We get thank you notes for our thank you notes. Has anyone ever heard of that before. How would you like to come home from work someday and open your mailbox and find a picture of your car there. People are obsessed with their cars. I don`t car if it`s a vette or a Escort, people love their cars. Some of my customer have told me that they have it on their fridge, on their computer, some even framed it. Hey guys another little trick, I put a A FRAME sign up next to the car when the picture is taken saying this vehicle has been professionally polished by AUTO CARE U.S.A. Remember don`t ever do what everybody else does or you will be like everyone else. You must set yourself apart, and do it with a touch of class. I have a ton of marketing ideas in a article that I wrote for Americas Car Care Business. It was in the April 2002 issue. Try to get it. Another great idea for you professionals out there is to have doubles made of the pictures. Put the double up on your back wall. Customers love to come in and see a picture of their car hanging on our Wall of Fame.. Like I keep telling all you Professional detailers. You must keep shocking your customers by doing the unexpected. At a later date I will be giving quite a few more great ideas to jump start your business. GOOD LUCK

**imported_seres** · 06-27-2002, 07:29 PM

autocare USA

Those are some great ideas! I love the picture into a postcard one!! :xyxthumbs

**YoSteve** · 06-27-2002, 07:35 PM

how about free massages during details? You`d have me as a customer for life

**C. Charles Hahn** · 06-27-2002, 09:05 PM

At one time I supplied the customer with this little plastic bag they could hang over the back of their seat (for trash and stuff), that had my little logo saying "We Appreciate Your Business!! C. Charles Hahn Automotive Detailing Services." on them.

I actually got a few customers that way - they were like, "we saw the car, then we saw your name on the bag and want to have you do our cars"

:up

**C. Charles Hahn** · 06-27-2002, 09:06 PM

Originally posted by YoSteve

how about free massages during details? You`d have me as a customer for life

full tank of gas included free with the detail??

**Scottwax** · 06-28-2002, 12:34 AM

I used to give out a sheet with tips on keeping their freshly detailed car looking it`s best-but I`ve run out and need to make more.

I usually just write `thank-you` on the receipt and send out Christmas cards to all my regulars each year.

**medic** · 06-28-2002, 11:11 AM

Originally posted by Shiny Lil Detlr

full tank of gas included free with the detail??

Only downside is if you fill it with the wrong grade/brand. Won`t matter for most, but some people really get bent out of shape by that.

Topping off fluids, changing air filter, etc. the basic service stuff, that would be fine.

I recently took a class about making customers happy. The instructor told us a story about a hotel he stayed at in Yuma, AZ while driving from Phoenix to San Diego one summer. It tuns out that Yuma has bugs the size of VWs, so by the time he got to this little Holiday Inn, his windshield was covered in bug carcasses. He checked in, went to his room, and after settling in, looked out the window. Down below, there was a teenager the hotel had hired cleaning the windshield of every car in the hotel parking lot. It was a very simple item, but somebody at that hotel noticed a problem all their clients had and fixed it. It wasn`t something custoemrs asked for, but most probably noticed. Those littel differences are what set you apart from all the other guys.

Point being, when you deal with customers, you should also have something that initally will set you apart from the other guys. What is a common issue in your area that people just accept, but you can do something to change? When do people come to drop off their cars (before work, weekends, etc) - is there something that you can do to make that process easier. A local dentist my friend goes to has a DSL line in the office he lets customers use - noticing that most of his clients were high tech people with laptops and that most came during the work day, this made coming to the dentist easier since you weren`t so disconnected from work for a few hours. It makes the wait in the office much faster. Again, nobody asked for the service, but when you anticipate the needs of your customers instead of react to them, that is when you develop "regulars".

**imported_Intel486** · 06-28-2002, 01:57 PM

Originally posted by medic

Only downside is if you fill it with the wrong grade/brand. Won`t matter for most, but some people really get bent out of shape by that.

Topping off fluids, changing air filter, etc. the basic service stuff, that would be fine.

I recently took a class about making customers happy. The instructor told us a story about a hotel he stayed at in Yuma, AZ while driving from Phoenix to San Diego one summer. It tuns out that Yuma has bugs the size of VWs, so by the time he got to this little Holiday Inn, his windshield was covered in bug carcasses. He checked in, went to his room, and after settling in, looked out the window. Down below, there was a teenager the hotel had hired cleaning the windshield of every car in the hotel parking lot. It was a very simple item, but somebody at that hotel noticed a problem all their clients had and fixed it. It wasn`t something custoemrs asked for, but most probably noticed. Those littel differences are what set you apart from all the other guys.

I`m not sure I`d want someone messing with any fluids in my truck. Windshield washer fluid would be the only thing. I wouldn`t do anything else unless you ask first.

You can do other stuff like when detailing their engine check to see if their hoses and belts are going bad. You can also check the air filter and fluid levels and then tell them if fluid levels are low or if anything needs changing.

One thing is make sure you provide consistant service. The customer has to know what to expect. If you dressing his dash, then you`re going to have to dress it everytime. If you left a few piece of candy in his cup hold, then you`ll have to do it everytime. If you dress his wheel wells, then you`ll need to keep doing it. Customers don`t like it when they don`t know what to expect. McDonalds doesn`t make the best burgers but people keep going to them because they know what to expect. I`m pretty sure if one time you went you got and amazing hamburger and then the next time it sucked and so on, then you would stop going there.