Free 4 Tire Rotations Every Visit

[bsilcox]

OK, I think I get it! So here is another question that has been posted. What is everybodys opinion about FREE/No Charge 4 Tire Rotations every service visit?? I do not mean If the customer came back 2 days or a wekk later but a regular customer and/or a new customer in the drive and as a service process you offer a FREE/NC 4 Tire Rotation. The Question is, Is this a good process to have or a give a-way not needed to attract and keep your customer base??

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Bob Silcox

[jazdale]

Maybe...
Discount Tire used this approach. Free rotations and flat-fixes just to keep them in your mind when you finally did need tires.

[arnien]

Sam's Club and I believe Walmart does this if you buy the tires there.

[Mike Vogel]

Try offering free tire rotations with the purchase of four tires. Keeps them out of the tire store, is a $200 value if you figure $19.95 x 10 rotations (every 5k miles). Works good for us.

[TheOne]

Free tire rotations work well, but make some requirements that produce profit.

Free tire rotation with tire purchase. Must pay for balance every other rotate. Must pay for alignment every 12,000 miles. There is no value, if there is no cost.

[KA]

We provide free lifetime rotation ( to original owner ) with purchase of 4 tires.
We stress to them to do it every 2nd or 3rd oil change.Balancing not mandatory but suggested as a customer pay item. We had tire sales increase 42% from 2007 to 2008.

[NOBLT921]

How do you account (pay) for the free tire rotations? Is it a straight expense to the service department, or is there some recouping of the cost in some other form or fashion?

[lostgopher]

A few years ago, we were having some tire selling issues, because the customer wanted to know the bottom line price. Tires, mount and balance, disposal. We were losing sales because first we would price the tires, then add the labor, and other things on the top. Mainly because our service dept was taking a "A" tech to do this tire work, and charging the full flat rate charge. So then I came up with a percentage formula, which was a cost plus so much for everything except the state sales tax. Then these tickets were broken down to be 75% for the tires and 25% for the labor, disposal,and shop supplies. Which is broken down into percentages again to cover things. I also pointed out, that if the initial cost plus of the tire percentage could be worked to include some free rotations, road hazard, and repairs if they wanted to work it that way.Basically it was a way that the customer could have these services, but they actually were prepaying for them. Another suggestion that I came up, was to give each tire sale a coupon book, which would have free/discounted tire rotation, as well as discounts on alignment, shocks, brakes, tune up, fluid changes, even another set of tires. Another suggestion was to make sure that it was tied to shop work, like free tire rotation with oil change. Also put a time limit on the coupons to be used up in a 2 to 3 year period. We use the cost plus to sell tires, but have never used the rest of the ideas.